Banking Leadership Award

Evaluation

100% automatic, from the data and evidence you submit

Minimum score to win

70 / 100

Measurement period

The full financial year 2025 (or the latest financial year completed before nominations open); growth is measured against financial year 2024

Who can apply

• A commercial or universal bank licensed by the central bank
• Operating for at least 3 years before the start of the measurement period
• Audited financial statements for the measurement period with an unqualified opinion from an independent external auditor
• Capital adequacy ratio above the regulatory minimum throughout the measurement period
• No material regulatory or judicial sanction against the entity during the measurement period

Indicators and weights

1. Return on equity versus the sector

   The entity’s return on average equity minus the average return on equity of the banking sector in the same country for the same year as published by the regulator, in percentage points (neutralises inflation and market conditions)

   20%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • ≥ 3 percentage points 100
   • 0 – < 3 percentage points 70
   • -3 – < 0 percentage points 40
   • -100 – < -3 percentage points 15

   Evidence

   Audited financial statements and the regulator’s statistical or stability report giving the sector average

2. Cost efficiency versus the sector

   The country’s banking-sector average cost-to-income ratio minus the bank’s cost-to-income ratio (operating expenses divided by total operating income) for the same year, in percentage points; a positive value means the bank is more efficient than the sector

   15%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • 10 – < 100 percentage points 100
   • 5 – < 10 percentage points 80
   • 0 – < 5 percentage points 50
   • -100 – < 0 percentage points 20

   Evidence

   Audited financial statements and the central bank’s financial stability report or statistical bulletin giving the sector average

3. Asset quality versus the sector

   The bank’s non-performing (stage 3) loan ratio divided by the country’s banking-sector average NPL ratio at year end; 0.5 means the bank’s ratio is half the sector average

   15%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • ≥ 1 times the sector average 15
   • 0.8 – < 1 times the sector average 45
   • 0.5 – < 0.8 times the sector average 75
   • 0 – < 0.5 times the sector average 100

   Evidence

   Credit risk note in the audited financial statements or Pillar 3 disclosures, and the financial stability report giving the sector average

4. Provision coverage of non-performing loans

   Total expected credit loss allowances divided by non-performing loans at year end

   15%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • ≥ 100 % 100
   • 70 – < 100 % 80
   • 50 – < 70 % 50
   • 0 – < 50 % 20

   Evidence

   Credit risk note in the audited financial statements

5. Capital adequacy headroom

   Total capital adequacy ratio minus the regulatory minimum applicable to the bank including buffers, in percentage points

   10%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • ≥ 7 percentage points 100
   • 4 – < 7 percentage points 80
   • 2 – < 4 percentage points 50
   • 0 – < 2 percentage points 20

   Evidence

   Pillar 3 disclosures or the capital management note

6. Deposit growth versus the sector

   The bank’s customer deposit growth minus the country’s banking-sector deposit growth for the same year, in percentage points

   15%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • ≥ 5 percentage points 100
   • 0 – < 5 percentage points 70
   • -5 – < 0 percentage points 40
   • -100 – < -5 percentage points 15

   Evidence

   Audited financial statements and the central bank statistical bulletin

7. Complaints escalated to the regulator

   Customer complaints escalated to the central bank or banking ombudsman during the year per 10,000 active customers (measures service quality and first-time resolution regardless of bank size)

   10%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • ≥ 6 per 10,000 customers 10
   • 3 – < 6 per 10,000 customers 40
   • 1 – < 3 per 10,000 customers 70
   • 0 – < 1 per 10,000 customers 100

   Evidence

   Count of complaints referred by the central bank or ombudsman and the number of active customers at year end

Each indicator gives 0 to 100 points; its share of the total is its weight. Ties are decided by the indicators listed first in the scorecard; payment or package never affects the score.

1. Done

   Nominations open

   26 October 2026 · 13:10

2. Upcoming

   Nominations close

   27 November 2026 · 01:10

3. Upcoming

   Judging starts

   27 November 2026 · 01:11

4. Upcoming

   Judging ends

   4 December 2026 · 13:00

5. Upcoming

   Results announced

   4 December 2026 · 13:10

Times are in Asia/Riyadh (UTC+03:00).