WAM Abu Dhabi, May 17th, 2012 (WAM) -- The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) has won the Best Payments Infrastructure Project in the Asian Banker Award 2012 for the Bank's transformational payment engine rolled out last year.

In naming NBAD's project the Best Payments Structure for Mid-Tier Banks Award 21012, Asian Banker Summit said: "NBAD has gained significant competitive advantage in the region as a result of it". The project automated nearly all of NBAD inward and outward payments processing, which significantly improved customer service quality because it expedited transactions and reduced dramatically reduced chances of error. NBAD implemented this system across its operations in the UAE as well as in Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Jordan.

"Implementing this project has enabled NBAD to improve service to our clients in the UAE and the wider Arab world," said Nigel Carrington, the Head of Operations at NBAD.

The prestigious Asian Banker Awards is judged by prominent international bankers, and information technology professionals and academics. A stringent three month long evaluation process determined the winners from across the Asia Pacific and the Middle East region.

NBAD collaborated with its partner, Polaris, to implement this project.

"I want to thank dedicated staff in NBAD from Retail Operations Centre and Information Technology Department; and our partner, Polaris, for their hard work and accomplishment," said Srood Sherif, the Group Chief Information Officer of NBAD. "A lot of hard work was put into that project by NBAD and Polaris and credit goes to all involved." Jamal Abboud, the Head of Business Services at NBAD's Information Technology, received the award on behalf of the bank.

WAM/ES/AM