Bahrain Development Bank bags two wins at Asian Banking & Finance Retail Banking Awards 2025

The financial institution emerged as the recipient of the SME Bank of the Year - Bahrain and SME Digital Innovation of the Year - Bahrain categories.

Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) was recognised at the Asian Banking & Finance Retail Banking Awards 2025 for driving small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) growth and reimagining SME banking in the Kingdom.

Growth and innovation

BDB, which was established in 1992, has been supporting Bahrain’s economic diversification by empowering entrepreneurs and enabling business growth.

As Bahrain’s first financial institution dedicated entirely to SMEs, BDB offers a wide range of financing solutions. These solutions, which are tailored to the needs of startups and growing businesses, include both conventional and Islamic financing, starting from BD3,000, with flexible repayment terms and grace periods to help businesses confidently manage their cash flow.
BDB also partnered with the Labour Fund “Tamkeen” to subsidise Sharia-compliant financing, giving SMEs easier and more affordable access to capital.

BDB addresses short-term liquidity challenges as well with its Invoice Discounting via the digital platform tijara. With this service, businesses receive early payments on outstanding invoices, which improves cash flow and supports day-to-day operations.

The bank also includes targeted support for key sectors, such as the Riyadat Women Finance Scheme, which offers tailored funding for women-led businesses; and the 0% interest Agriculture and Fisheries Loans, which help farmers invest in equipment and fishermen maintain their tools and vessels.

Furthermore, the bank plays a major role in building the SME ecosystem. The Riyadat Centre, developed with the Supreme Council for Women, provides subsidised office space and business support for women entrepreneurs. 

At Sitra Mall, BDB boosts local commerce and creates new business opportunities by leading a revitalisation initiative. Additionally, the Hoorat A’ali Farmers Market offers local farmers a direct sales platform whilst promoting sustainable agriculture.

BDB also works hand-in-hand with national partners, including the Ministry of Industry & Commerce (MOIC), Export Bahrain, and the Mazad digital auction platform, to shape SME policies, expand access to new markets, and facilitate business asset sales.

With a clear mandate and a commitment to innovation, BDB continues to lead SME banking in the Kingdom.

The tijara platform

BDB has taken a bold step into the digital future with tijara, the Kingdom’s first fully digital banking platform. Launched in 2021, this was built specifically for SMEs.

tijara, which represents a major milestone in BDB’s mission to simplify finance, is driven by the company’s innovation-first strategy. It was designed from the ground up to meet the needs of SMEs. The platform eliminates many of the traditional barriers to banking by offering a user-friendly digital experience, from account opening to financing and transactions, which is accessible 24/7 via web and mobile.

One of its standout features is the ability to open a call account online in just minutes. Entrepreneurs can also apply for financing of up to BD 15,000 entirely online, with a quick and simple approval process. 

For those seeking to ease short-term cash flow challenges, tijara offers Invoice Discounting. It also has a competitive profit rate of 3.5%, around-the-clock access, and needs no complex paperwork or in-person visits.

The platform’s mobile-responsive design puts the user first, an ease of use that has helped bring digital banking to previously underserved segments.

Moreover, beyond banking, tijara plays a key role in supporting Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030. It aligns with national goals to boost innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital infrastructure. BDB’s agile development approach means the platform is constantly evolving, with customer feedback driving regular updates and new features.

Asian Banking & Finance Retail Banking Awards recognises the outstanding entities in the retail banking landscape, and serves as a platform to highlight their innovative solutions, retail products, digital banking breakthroughs, and exceptional customer experiences.

The ABF Retail Banking Awards is presented by Asian Banking & Finance Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be recognised for your company's cutting-edge products, services, and solutions that made a positive impact on your customers, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez-Difuntorum at [email protected].