Overview

National Microfinance Bank (Al Watani) was established in 2004 as a private shareholding company through a partnership between the King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD), the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), and a number of private-sector shareholders. The company is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Jordan.

Since commencing operations in 2006, Al Watani has expanded its reach to serve more than 80,000 clients through a network of 35 branches across all governorates of Jordan.

Al Watani is recognized as one of Jordan’s leading microfinance institutions, dedicated to empowering individuals and owners of small and micro enterprises by providing access to financial services that help them grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

The institution contributes to national efforts aimed at reducing poverty and unemployment while promoting financial inclusion through sustainable financing solutions and financial services tailored to small business owners, entrepreneurs, women, and youth, enabling them to expand their businesses and generate sustainable sources of income.

Areas of Work

Al Watani offers a diverse range of financial solutions and services designed to meet the needs of various target groups, including:

• Financing for small and micro enterprises.
• Financing for entrepreneurs and productive projects.
• Education and vocational training loans.
• Energy- and environment-related financing solutions.
• Electronic payment services and digital wallets.
• Financial literacy, awareness, and capacity-building programs.
• Implementation of programs and initiatives that promote financial literacy and economic empowerment through training, skills development, and the dissemination of financial and digital knowledge.

Leadership in Digital Transformation

Al Watani is considered a regional pioneer in leveraging technology to advance the microfinance sector. In 2014, it became the first microfinance institution in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to fully adopt digital transactions through tablet devices. Since then, it has continued to enhance its digital offerings through smart applications, e-wallets, electronic payment services, and digital branches.

Impact and Achievements

Over more than two decades of operation, Al Watani has achieved significant economic and social impact, including:

• Providing more than 793,000 loans with a total value exceeding JOD 973 million.
• Expanding financial services across all governorates of Jordan through a network of 35 branches.
• Women represent 75% of the institution’s total clients.
• Youth beneficiaries account for 53% of all financing provided.
• Establishing more than 200,000 electronic wallets to support the transition toward digital financial services.
• Processing more than 1.3 million electronic payment transactions through its clients.
• Obtaining the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information Security Management System Certification, reaffirming its commitment to the highest standards of governance and information security.