Strong Competition Between Warba Bank and CIH Bank Over the Largest Arab Banks by Deposits Ranking
The First Bank ranking of the largest 100 Arab banks by deposits at the end of 2025 revealed the continued intensity of competition among Arab banks within the mid-tier segment, amid the relative convergence in deposit portfolio sizes among several closely ranked banks.
In this context, strong competition has emerged between Warba Bank and CIH Bank to break into the list of the top 50 Arab banks by deposit size.
According to the ranking, Warba Bank came in 50th place after recording deposits of approximately $11.40 billion by the end of 2025, while CIH Bank ranked 51st with a deposit portfolio totaling $10.91 billion, leaving a gap of no more than $488 million between the two banks, reflecting the close proximity in size between them.
To anticipate the potential direction of competition by the end of 2026, customer deposit growth at both banks was analyzed over the period from 2022 to 2025. Warba Bank recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9%, with its deposit portfolio rising from $8.74 billion at the end of 2022 to $11.40 billion by the end of 2025.
In contrast, CIH Bank achieved a faster growth pace, recording a CAGR of around 22%, as its deposits jumped from approximately $5.99 billion at the end of 2022 to $10.91 billion by the end of 2025. This rapid expansion significantly narrowed the gap with Warba Bank.
Based on these figures, and assuming the continuation of the current growth rates, projections indicate that CIH Bank could overtake Warba Bank by the end of 2026. CIH Bank’s deposits are expected to rise to approximately $13.32 billion, compared with around $12.45 billion for Warba Bank, potentially leading to a shift in their positions within the ranking of the top 50 Arab banks by deposits.
These indicators reflect the growing intensity of competition for mid-tier positions within the ranking, particularly given the narrow differences in deposit volumes among several banks. As a result, maintaining positions within the list is becoming increasingly tied to the ability to achieve sustainable growth and accelerate the expansion of deposit bases in the coming periods.
