NBB launches digital multi-currency debit card feature

By Milan Rojan

National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has launched a multi-currency debit card feature, allowing customers to manage and spend in multiple currencies through its mobile banking app.

The feature was made available to customers with Express Saver savings account debit cards and has enabled users to link up to eight foreign currencies to a single card. It was designed to support customers travelling abroad, as well as students studying overseas, by providing access to local currencies through one debit card.

Supported currencies have included the US dollar, British pound and euro, alongside GCC currencies such as the Saudi riyal, Qatari riyal, Omani rial, Kuwaiti dinar and UAE dirham.

NBB has said customers can fund their accounts in the relevant local currency through the app and link the balance to their existing debit card. This has enabled users to make payments directly in the selected currency when travelling or shopping online, without requiring a card replacement.

Subah Al Zayani, chief executive officer – Retail Banking at NBB, has said the feature has been developed to address the needs of customers managing spending across different countries and currencies.

The bank has positioned the launch as part of its wider focus on digital banking and improving customer convenience. By allowing customers to manage multiple currencies from within its app, NBB has sought to simplify cross-border spending while giving users greater control over their foreign-currency balances.

The multi-currency feature is now available through the NBB App for eligible Express Saver savings account debit cardholders. The launch has further expanded NBB’s digital retail banking capabilities, particularly for customers who regularly make international payments or spend overseas.