National Bank of Egypt Strengthens Community Development Efforts and Advances Sustainable Development Goals
hamdy Abdelrashid
The National Bank of Egypt (NBE) continued to reinforce its national role as a key partner in supporting Egypt's comprehensive community development agenda through a strategy aimed at creating sustainable social impact and improving the lives of citizens across the country. The bank's initiatives are aligned with Egypt Vision 2030 and the Central Bank of Egypt's strategy to promote sustainable economic and social development.
As part of this commitment, the bank allocated approximately EGP 2 billion in 2025 to finance a wide range of development programs and community initiatives.
Mohamed El Etreby, Chief Executive Officer of the National Bank of Egypt, said the bank's community development strategy in 2025 successfully expanded its reach across Upper Egypt, implementing a broad portfolio of initiatives in healthcare, education, economic empowerment, and social protection. He noted that these efforts have improved access to essential services for underserved communities while delivering tangible and sustainable development outcomes, with healthcare remaining a top priority in line with the Central Bank of Egypt's national development agenda.
El Etreby emphasized that serving society remains at the heart of the bank's national mission, stressing that community development is a long-term responsibility rather than a series of temporary initiatives. He added that the bank remains committed to supporting projects that generate measurable improvements in people's lives.
Dina Abu Taleb, Head of Marketing and Community Development at NBE, said the bank adopts an integrated development approach based on addressing the specific needs of local communities, particularly in Egypt's most underserved governorates, especially Upper Egypt. She explained that the bank conducts comprehensive field assessments before launching projects to ensure resources are allocated effectively while strengthening partnerships with government entities and civil society organizations to maximize development impact and expand the reach of its initiatives.
Mohamed Awara, Director of Community Development at NBE, highlighted the bank's growing focus on healthcare, noting that approximately EGP 862 million was allocated in 2025 to support more than 15 hospitals, medical centers, and healthcare facilities across Egypt.
The bank's healthcare initiatives included supporting 57357 Children's Cancer Hospital, helping provide treatment for approximately 1,800 children with cancer, in addition to financing the ECMO Unit at Cairo University Hospitals to supply life-saving medical equipment for nearly 180 critically ill patients. NBE also contributed to completing the development of the northern building, outpatient clinics, isolation units, and bone marrow transplantation facilities at the National Cancer Institute.
The bank further supported Al Nas Hospital by funding cardiac surgeries, catheterization procedures, and therapeutic endoscopies for 278 pediatric patients.
NBE also partnered with Ahl Masr Hospital to equip a 14-room adult intensive care unit, enabling treatment for approximately 330 critically injured burn patients annually, while also financing comprehensive treatment, surgeries, intensive care, and hospitalization for approximately 125 burn victims of different age groups.
The bank renewed its cooperation with Nile Al Amal Hospital, supporting 1,150 specialized pediatric surgeries and the establishment of a fully equipped cardiac intensive care unit. It also supported Wahat Nour El Hayat Association by providing advanced rehabilitation equipment in Sohag and financing rehabilitation programs for 200 children.
Additional contributions included upgrading four operating rooms at Abu El Reish Japanese Children's Hospital and supporting the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation by financing open-heart surgeries and therapeutic catheterization procedures for both children and adults, while also helping equip adult patient wards and reception facilities at the Global Heart Center in Cairo.
Beyond hospital support, NBE financed medical convoys covering all governorates of Upper Egypt, delivering healthcare services to more than 19,000 beneficiaries, including surgical procedures and medical treatment for over 6,000 patients, significantly expanding healthcare access in remote and underserved communities.
In the education sector, the bank allocated approximately EGP 239 million during 2025 to support schools and educational institutions, contributing to improved learning environments and educational services.
The bank has now supported the development of approximately 258 schools nationwide and provided more than 1,300 scholarships in partnership with institutions including Elsewedy University of Technology and Nile University. It also delivered specialized training programs for public-school teachers, benefiting more than 7,000 students while expanding educational opportunities and enhancing youth employability.
NBE also continued supporting scientific research by financing stem-cell research projects for diabetes patients conducted at the Center of Nephrology and Urology, Mansoura University, reflecting its commitment to medical innovation.
Supporting persons with disabilities remained another strategic priority. During 2025, the bank provided 340 wheelchairs, benefiting more than 5,000 individuals and promoting greater social inclusion and mobility.
During the holy month of Ramadan, the bank launched a series of humanitarian initiatives, including organizing nine Ramadan tents across Upper Egypt that served more than 28,000 meals, while distributing approximately 143,000 food boxes to vulnerable families nationwide. Around 700 NBE employees volunteered to support food distribution and community outreach programs, reinforcing the bank's culture of volunteerism and social responsibility.
NBE also continued supporting hospitals and charitable organizations, including 57357 Children's Cancer Hospital, Ahl Masr Hospital, and the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation, in addition to expanding medical convoy services in underserved areas.
As part of its human and urban development efforts, the bank allocated more than EGP 239 million in cooperation with Orman Association to develop fully equipped housing units for low-income families in Upper Egypt. The initiative includes constructing and delivering ready-to-live homes in governorates such as Minya, Aswan, and Luxor, with additional housing projects planned for the coming years.
To promote economic empowerment among women and youth, NBE supported entrepreneurship and workforce development through specialized vocational training programs implemented in cooperation with Tawasol Association for the Development of Istabl Antar, Nidaa Foundation, Enactus Egypt, and Beshara Foundation. The bank also contributed to strengthening entrepreneurship centers and business incubators to improve the quality of innovation-driven startups and facilitate their transition into successful small and medium-sized enterprises.
Environmental sustainability and cultural heritage preservation remained key priorities, with NBE allocating approximately EGP 508.5 million in 2025 to environmental protection and heritage conservation projects.
Among its flagship initiatives, the bank signed a cooperation protocol with Gebretk Marine and Environmental Activities Company to support the restoration of coral reefs affected by climate change in the Red Sea through an EGP 8.5 million contribution. The project includes coral reef cultivation, establishing coral nurseries, supporting scientific research, promoting eco-tourism, training more than 120 volunteer divers, and organizing environmental awareness and beach-cleaning campaigns involving over 600 volunteers.
The bank also contributed to supporting the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum in November 2025, recognizing the landmark event as an opportunity to showcase Egypt's ancient civilization and cultural heritage to the world while promoting tourism and national identity.
In addition, NBE contributed EGP 50 million to the Martyrs, Victims, and Injured Armed Forces and Terrorist Operations Honor Fund, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the families of martyrs and national initiatives.
The bank's outstanding community development efforts earned widespread international recognition in 2025. NBE received the Best CSR Bank Egypt 2025 award from International Business Magazine, the Socially Responsible Bank of the Year award from Global Business Magazine, the Best CSR Bank in Egypt 2025 award from Global Business Review, and the Best Bank for Corporate & Social Responsibility (CSR) award from Brands Review Magazine, recognizing its continued leadership in corporate social responsibility and sustainable community development.