NBK Launches AI Masterclasses to Build Future-Ready Banking Leaders in Kuwait
NBK launches 'Preparing for the Future' AI masterclasses to upskill executives. The program targets growth, customer experience, risk, and faster operations.
NBK launches executive AI masterclasses to drive the next phase of banking performance
Artificial intelligence is moving from buzzword to operating advantage. To stay ahead, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has launched "Preparing for the Future," a series of advanced AI masterclasses under its AI Leadership Program, focused on upskilling senior executives.
The goal is clear: build top-level fluency in AI so leaders can deploy it with intent across the bank-identifying growth, improving customer outcomes, and tightening operations.
What the program covers
The masterclasses introduce executive management to current AI capabilities and practical applications. Sessions are led by Warren Knight, a digital leader with deep experience advising regional and global institutions on AI strategy and execution.
NBK's stance is that AI is more than a tool; it is a core driver of business model change in banking. The program equips leaders to apply AI against concrete priorities: analyzing large datasets to spot new revenue opportunities, improving customer acquisition, and building new products and services.
Where AI moves the needle in banking
- Growth: Use predictive analytics to surface high-value segments, next-best offers, and pricing opportunities.
- Customer experience: Personalize interactions at scale while reducing friction across onboarding and service.
- Risk and compliance: Strengthen fraud detection, AML monitoring, and credit decisioning with machine learning.
- Operations: Automate routine work, streamline workflows, and reduce turnaround times.
- Decision speed: Provide real-time insights to leadership for faster, data-backed choices.
NBK's people-first approach to AI
Emad Al-Ablani, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, underscored that investing in people is central to sustainable growth and continued market leadership. The bank will keep rolling out innovative development programs that reflect market shifts and the latest technology to build a resilient workforce.
He noted that NBK's learning strategy is inclusive and in line with leading international standards, enabling employees to handle future challenges as technology advances. By strengthening AI literacy and execution across teams, NBK is reinforcing its long-term objectives.
Al-Ablani also highlighted that AI and digital change now influence strategy and planning across the sector. Institutions that read these trends early will set the pace on performance and growth.
Strategic signals for executive teams
- Make AI fluency a leadership competency. Executive buy-in turns pilots into enterprise results.
- Prioritize high-ROI use cases first: fraud, AML, credit, personalized offers, and process automation.
- Invest in data quality, governance, and model risk management to scale safely.
- Pair technology with talent. Train, upskill, and embed AI into daily decision-making.
NBK's position in the market
NBK continues to lead in Kuwait and the region with a responsible path to digital transformation. The AI masterclasses are part of a broader commitment to empower talent, speed up innovation, and set new standards for AI-driven change in banking-creating durable value for customers and shareholders.
Further reading and resources
