# ila Bank

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/ila-bank
> research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-07
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [ila Bank — official](https://ilabank.com/)

## Overview

**ila Bank** is **Bahrain's first cloud-based digital + mobile-only bank**, powered by **Bank ABC** (Arab Banking Corporation) <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Bahrain report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BH)</sup>. **Launched November 2019** as the **region's first exclusively cloud-based digital retail bank**. **2025 growth**: **~40% customer growth since 2023** + **140+ app updates since launch**.

**2025 — ila Bank Global Finance Awards record haul** <sup>[3][3]</sup>:
- **Named "Best Mobile Banking App in the Middle East"** at Global Finance Best Digital Bank Awards 2025
- **Earned a record 11 awards across Bahrain + Middle East**

**ila Bank's Islamic banking innovation — alburaq** <sup>[4][4]</sup>: **New Islamic banking experience in Bahrain** — distinctive Islamic-cloud-native banking offering.

**Multi-country expansion**: **Bahrain primary + Jordan** — Bank ABC's regional ila Bank rollout (ila Jordan launched 2024).

## History

**November 2019 — ila Bank launches by Bank ABC** <sup>[2][2]</sup>: Region's first exclusively cloud-based digital retail bank in Bahrain.

**2020-2024 — 140+ app updates** + multi-country expansion (Bahrain primary + Jordan).

**2024 — ila Bank Jordan launch** as Bank ABC's regional expansion.

**2025 — ~40% customer growth since 2023 + 11 Global Finance Awards including Best Mobile Banking App in the Middle East** <sup>[3][3]</sup>.

**ila Bank's alburaq Islamic banking experience launch** <sup>[4][4]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **ila Bank** (Bank ABC subsidiary).

**Parent**: **Bank ABC (Arab Banking Corporation; BSE: ABC)** — Bahrain-headquartered pan-Arab bank.

**Regulators**: **CBB (Central Bank of Bahrain)** + **CBJ (Central Bank of Jordan)** for ila Jordan.

## Technical integration

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Channels** | ila Bank mobile app (iOS + Android; mobile-only banking) + ila Bank cards |
| **Identifiers** | Phone + email + card number |
| **BH rail** | **[EMVCo MPM](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/emvco-mpm)** (Bahrain national QR) |
| **License** | Bank (ila via Bank ABC subsidiary) — region's first exclusively cloud-based digital retail bank |
| **Sub-products** | ila Bank Account + ila Bank Cards + ila Bank Savings + ila Bank Loans + alburaq Islamic banking experience |
| **Multi-country**: Bahrain primary + Jordan (2024 launch) |

## Users & growth

**2025 baseline** <sup>[3][3]</sup>:
- **2023-2025 customer growth**: ~40%
- **App updates since 2019 launch**: 140+
- **2025 Global Finance Awards**: 11 awards across Bahrain + Middle East
- **2025 distinctive recognition**: Named "Best Mobile Banking App in the Middle East" at Global Finance Best Digital Bank Awards 2025
- **Multi-country**: Bahrain primary + Jordan (2024 launch)

## Use cases

Bahraini + Jordanian mobile-only digital banking (deposits + cards + savings + loans); alburaq Islamic banking experience; multi-country Bank ABC regional digital banking footprint; region's first cloud-based digital retail bank.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: **ila Bank** (Bank ABC subsidiary).

**Parent**: **Bank ABC (Arab Banking Corporation; BSE: ABC)** — Bahrain-headquartered pan-Arab bank with multi-country MENA presence.

**Major Bahraini digital + payment competitors**:
- **[BenefitPay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/benefitpay)** (BENEFIT Company 17-bank Bahraini consortium; BH national wallet)
- **NBB Mobile** (National Bank of Bahrain)
- **BBK Mobile** (Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait)
- **Al Salam Bank Mobile**

**Major MENA digital-banking competitors**:
- **[Wio Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/wio-bank)** (UAE; 250K retail + 120K business; AED 50B+ deposits)
- **[Mashreq NEO + NEOPAY (UAE)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/mashreq-neo)** (UAE; 4.8-star app + NEO PLUS Saver 6.25% + NEOPAY $22B + Nov 2025 NEO Pakistan)
- **[Liv (by Emirates NBD)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/liv)** (Emirates NBD digital subsidiary; UAE)
- **[Hala](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/hala)** (Saudi SME comprehensive infrastructure)

**Regulators**: **CBB (Bahrain) + CBJ (Jordan for ila Jordan)**.

## Fun facts

- **Bahrain's first cloud-based digital + mobile-only bank** (November 2019 launch).
- **Region's first exclusively cloud-based digital retail bank**.
- **~40% customer growth since 2023** + **140+ app updates since launch**.
- **2025 Global Finance Awards record haul**: 11 awards across Bahrain + Middle East.
- **2025 named "Best Mobile Banking App in the Middle East"** by Global Finance Best Digital Bank Awards 2025.
- **Bank ABC (Arab Banking Corporation) parent** — Bahrain-headquartered pan-Arab bank.
- **alburaq Islamic banking experience** — distinctive Islamic-cloud-native banking offering.
- **Multi-country**: Bahrain primary + Jordan (2024 launch).

## Comparison

| Feature | ila Bank | [BenefitPay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/benefitpay) (BH national wallet rival) | [Wio Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/wio-bank) (UAE digital bank rival) | [Mashreq NEO + NEOPAY (UAE)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/mashreq-neo) (UAE Mashreq digital banking rival) | [Liv (by Emirates NBD)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/liv) (UAE Emirates NBD digital subsidiary rival) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **ila Bank (Bank ABC subsidiary; pan-Arab parent BSE: ABC)** | BENEFIT Company (17-bank Bahraini consortium) | Wio Bank PJSC (ADQ + Alpha Dhabi + e& UAE + FAB) | Mashreq Bank PSC (DFM: MASQ; Al Ghurair Group + Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Chairman) | Liv (Emirates NBD subsidiary) |
| Type | **BH first cloud-based digital + mobile-only bank + multi-country BH + JO + alburaq Islamic banking experience** | BH national mobile wallet + national QR | UAE full-banking-license digital bank + SME + retail + Invest | UAE Mashreq digital banking (NEO PLUS Saver) + NEOPAY merchant-acquiring + NEO Pakistan | UAE digital-only lifestyle bank |
| Country | BH primary + JO (2024 launch) | Bahrain | UAE | UAE + Pakistan (NEO PK Nov 2025) | UAE |
| Distinctive | **Region's first cloud-based digital retail bank; ~40% growth since 2023; 140+ app updates; 2025 Global Finance Awards record 11 awards + "Best Mobile Banking App in the Middle East"; alburaq Islamic banking; Bank ABC pan-Arab parent** | 17-bank Bahraini consortium; Pay10 Sibos India Oct 2025 cross-border | 4 UAE national strategic shareholders; Euromoney Best Digital Bank SMEs 2025 | UAE's most-rewarding savings rates 6.25%/5%; NEOPAY $22B; Sep 2023 Alipay+ partnership; Nov 2025 NEO Pakistan Islamic-first | First MENAT digital joint accounts; Liv X crypto Mar 2025 |

## Status

**Active, Bahrain's first cloud-based digital + mobile-only bank** <sup>[2][2], [3][3]</sup>:
- **ila Bank (Bank ABC subsidiary)** since November 2019.
- **~40% customer growth since 2023 + 140+ app updates since launch**.
- **2025 Global Finance Awards record 11 awards** including "Best Mobile Banking App in the Middle East".
- **alburaq Islamic banking experience** + multi-country Bahrain + Jordan (ila Jordan launched 2024).
- **CBB + CBJ regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://ilabank.com/ "ila Digital Bank — Bahrain official"
[2]: https://ilajordan.com/news/Bank-ABC-launches-ila--its-digital-mobileonly-bank-in-Bahrain "Bank ABC launches ila digital mobile-only bank — ila Jordan"
[3]: https://ilabank.com/news/ila-Bank-Earns-Top-Honors-at-Global-Finance-Awards-2025--Including-Best-Mobile-Banking-App-in-the-Middle-East "ila Bank Global Finance Awards 2025 record 11 awards + Best Mobile Banking App in Middle East — ila Bank"
[4]: https://thedigitalbanker.com/ila-banks-alburaq-offers-a-new-islamic-banking-experience-in-bahrain/ "ila Bank alburaq Islamic banking — The Digital Banker"
[bh-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BH

- [1] [ila Digital Bank — Bahrain official][1]
- [2] [Bank ABC launches ila digital mobile-only bank — ila Jordan][2]
- [3] [ila Bank Global Finance Awards 2025 record 11 awards — ila Bank][3]
- [4] [ila Bank alburaq Islamic banking — The Digital Banker][4]
- <sup>[Bahrain report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BH)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/BH-bahrain.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [ila-bank.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/ila-bank). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.