Bahrain Development Bank Has Launched A New Online Banking Platform

Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) announced a new digital banking platform for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) called “tijara”, which empowers businesses to apply for loans online in the kingdom.

The launch, which coincides with the United Nations' Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises Day, is a significant step forward in Bahrain Development Bank's strategy to drive digital transformation and support the growth of small businesses and start-ups in Bahrain by providing efficient and simplified banking solutions.

The platform will be available at the initial phase only to selected BDB customers and will be available for all customers in the next phase, the announcement of the same will be made later this year and will include additional BDB products and services.

Customers who use the new platform will be able to register and go through biometric verification on the website. Customers can also apply for BDB's newly launched 'Express' loan. It is short-term financing of up to BHD 15,000 and tracks the progress of their application online.

BDB focuses on the financing and development of SMEs in the Kingdom, and this service comes on the heels of last year's SME boom, during which Bahrain's commercial registration numbers skyrocketed and a new wave of regional entrepreneurs emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic.