The only bank in Kuwait to have obtained this ISO certification


Feroz Noorani

KUWAIT: Kuwait International Bank (KIB) was recently inspected by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in relation to the ISO 22301:2012 certification requirements for Business Continuity Management (BCM) Systems. The BSI concluded that KIB satisfies all requirements of the ISO standard, thereby re-certifying the Bank's Business Continuity Management system for three more years until 2022. The surveillance assessment was conducted without any non-conformity and as per the report, the BCM system managed under KIB's Risk Management, continues to achieve its intended outcomes.

KIB was originally awarded the ISO 22301:2012 certification in 2013, and has been re-certified in 2016 and now in 2019. KIB continues to be the only bank in State of Kuwait to have obtained this ISO certification, as a result of its proactive risk management and its endeavor for continued implementation of a sound and effective business continuity process.

On this occasion, Feroz Noorani, Chief Risk Officer and General Manager of Risk Management at KIB, expressed his delight and gratitude for having the Bank once again awarded the ISO re-certification, saying: "At KIB, we maintain a robust and effective Business Continuity Management system and Crisis Management plan that ensures that our key services and operations can continue effectively and smoothly in the event of any disruption. This reaffirmation of our ISO certification demonstrates our commitment to delivering exceptional banking services to our customers at all times - even during crisis situations."

Noorani lauded the efforts of KIB Executive Management and all KIB employees who have demonstrated their strong understanding of the Bank's policies and procedures, as well as their role during the auditing process and readiness for any eventuality of business disruption or a crisis. He also noted, the significant role all employees play in improving the Bank's business operations and continuity of services at all times. The ISO report has also commended the Bank's Executive Management for its effective role in ensuring the successful implementation and readiness of all procedures and processes at all times. Noorani added that "The ISO 22301:2012 re-certification for Business Continuity Management is a testament to KIB's track record in providing excellent customer service while maintaining internationally accepted standards at all times".

An internationally reputable certification, the ISO 22301:2012 was developed to ensure effective implementation of business continuity within organizations even during crisis scenarios. Accordingly, adhering to ISO 22301:2012 aims at protecting institutions from both severe and minor incidents that might disrupt workflow by providing effective emergency response plans and proper crisis management. BSI is one of the largest certification bodies across the globe and is also the national standards body of the UK. By providing organizations with set business standards, reviewing operations and providing certifications for proper implementation of management system standards, BSI helps them improve performance, reduce their risk and help them become more sustainable.