Al Baraka Bank South Africa wins dual honours in prestigious IFN Best Banks Poll 2025
22 April 2026
In a year defined by trade tensions, global uncertainty, and economic headwinds that tested even the strongest institutions, Al Baraka Bank South Africa emerged with top honours on the international stage.
The Bank was named:
- Best Islamic Bank in South Africa
- Best Islamic Retail Bank in South Africa
in the prestigious IFN Best Banks Poll 2025, with the awards presented in Kuala Lumpur on 22 April 2026.
Conducted by Islamic Finance News (IFN), widely regarded as the global voice of the Islamic financial markets, the annual poll recognizes leading institutions across the world based on industry participation and reader votes. The awards are among the most respected benchmarks in the sector, celebrating institutions that demonstrate resilience, innovation, service excellence, and market leadership.
For Al Baraka Bank South Africa, the recognition reflected more than strong performance in 2025 — it underscored over three decades of partnership with customers, communities, and businesses across South Africa.
Commenting on the achievement, Shabir Chohan, CEO of Al Baraka Bank, said:
“In a challenging global environment, this recognition is particularly meaningful. It affirms our ability to remain resilient, relevant, and customer-focused while staying true to the principles of Shariah-compliant banking. We are honoured to be recognized by the industry and grateful for the trust our clients continue to place in us.”
For more than 30 years, Al Baraka Bank South Africa has delivered ethical banking solutions designed around real needs and long-term value. Its diverse product suite includes Vivere, the Bank’s innovative global lifestyle and multi-currency offering, Takaful solutions, property and vehicle finance, business and commercial finance, tailored investments, wealth management tools, savings solutions, and convenient transactional banking services for individuals and businesses.
The Bank also continued to support customers through digital banking channels, cross-border solutions, and customer-focused products that combined convenience with ethical financial principles.
The dual accolade highlighted Al Baraka Bank South Africa’s continued success in combining values-driven banking with innovation, accessibility, and service excellence.
Nasir Seedat, GM of Retail, Wealth and Marketing added:
“When you bank with purpose — rooted in Shariah principles and committed to real people and real communities — excellence becomes the standard. These awards belong to our clients, our staff, and every stakeholder who has been part of our journey.”
As South Africa’s only fully-fledged Islamic bank, Al Baraka Bank South Africa continues to play a leading role in advancing ethical finance in the country while delivering competitive, customer-focused solutions for a changing world.
About Al Baraka Bank South Africa
Al Baraka Bank South Africa is a fully Shariah-compliant bank offering a comprehensive range of ethical banking products and services for individuals, businesses, and communities. Its solutions include finance, investments, wealth management, Takaful, transactional banking, and innovative lifestyle offerings such as Vivere. The Bank is committed to promoting fairness, transparency, and shared value through its operations.