First Women Bank Limited is a unique financial institution and commercial bank of its kind in the world. It is the only bank in Pakistan that has a mandate to cater to the financial and business needs of women and provide them with easy access to credit for enterprise development. The FWBL Vision and Mission statements reaffirm this commitment. Pakistan earned the status of being a pioneer the world over in setting up this unique institution, observing which, India and Tanzania also followed suit. Initially, the FWBL model worked on catering to women at all levels of economic activity – micro, small, medium and corporate. Over the years, with the promotion or specialization of Microfinance banks which are set up to cater to the financial needs of low-income communities, FWBL has shifted its focus to a range of financial services (SME) other than Microfinance. Now, credit-worthy business concerns, irrespective of gender, can avail loans on a competitive basis. The Bank remains true to its roots as a women-centered organization, and facilitates the financial inclusion of customers who have availed financing facilities and are maintaining their savings and other business accounts. The Government of Pakistan owns majority shareholding (82.64%) in the Bank, while the remaining shares are held by the five big commercial banks – NBP, HBL, MCB, UBL and ABL. The Bank has short-term entity rating of A2 and long-term entity rating of A-. Being a commercial bank is of the utmost importance to help FWBL be a sustainable financial institution; hence, it has taken a strategic shift from its slogan of ‘by women, for women’, to a Bank manned by competent individuals to avail the benefits of diversity. FWBL has also opened up its market to men as well; however, its product development focuses specially on women’s business needs. It ensures that its products and services:
- Are easily accessible to women.
- Improve women asset ownership.
- Improve women participation in the labor force.
- Fulfill social responsibility for its users and end users.
FWBL is fully committed to Pakistan’s national and international commitments highlighted in the Beijing Platform for Action, 1995, the National Plan of Action for Women, 1998, and the National Policy for Development & Empowerment of Women. The Bank aims to conduct its business in a manner that creates value for its customers, clients, partners, shareholders and, mostly importantly, society. It understands that being a good corporate citizen starts with serving responsibly. It has engrained this philosophy in its business operations, in its culture and in its business decisions.
First Women Bank Ltd. has a wider vision than any other commercial bank to cater to women’s economic needs and to encourage them into trade, business, industry and the practice of their professions to promote economic prosperity and self-reliance in women of urban and rural areas.
OUR VISION
To create value for our stakeholders, and contribute towards country’s economic development through mainstreaming woman by creating enabling environment as the dynamic agent of change and prosperity.
OUR MISSION
To be a sustainable bank offering efficient, cost effective and need based financial products and services with special focus to address women’s banking needs through strategic alliances. Improve governance through capacity building and restructuring of the Bank.
CORE VALUES
- Customer Centric
- Performance Oriented
- Honesty, Trust & Integrity
- Liberating People Potential
PACRA RATING
Rating Types
Entity
Current
(28-JUN-22)
Previous
(28-JUN-21)
Long Term
A-
A-
Short Term
A2
A2
Outlook
Developing
Stable
In 1989, the establishment of FWBL was an innovative and bold step conceived by the then Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto (Shaheed). She envisioned a Bank that would undertake the conduct of all forms of business of Banking Company in a manner designed to meet the special needs of women, and to encourage and assist them in the promotion and running of trade and industry in practicing their profession.
The Bank came into being as an affirmative action of the Parliament to indicate the Government’s commitment to providing women (who form about half the population) access to formal financial services. The Bank was incorporated as a Scheduled Commercial Bank in the Public Sector as a Public Limited Company on 21st November, 1989 under the Companies Ordinance 1984 as a joint venture of the five largest Commercial Banks and the Government of Pakistan.
The Bank commenced its business on 2nd December, 1989 with a paid-up capital of PKR 100 Million; 90% of which was contributed in varying proportions by the five leading banks of the country. They were:
- National Bank of Pakistan
- Muslim Commercial Bank Limited
- Allied Bank Limited
- Habib Bank Limited
- United Bank Limited
- 10% of the remaining capital came from the Federal Government
The core purpose of the Bank was to mobilize funds, providing saving solutions to customers and channeling those funds to potential borrowers. The Bank availed this opportunity fully and initiated many non-traditional banking and women-centric products / projects which met with great success. The Bank was a pioneer in introducing:
- Microfinance to women under the Group Guarantee Scheme (which was later adopted by microfinance institutions that came into being) and initiated micro and small lending programs in the suburbs and rural areas close to the FWBL branch network.
- Many non-traditional products for the capacity building of women to help them undertake income-generating projects.
- Computer Literacy Training to a large number of women through its Computer. Literacy Centers located in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
The Bank also took a number of unprecedented initiatives, such as:
SHELTER PROJECTS
In early 90’s, under the Shelter Project, FWBL provided loans to women who could not afford shelter. The funds were disbursed for the upgradation and construction of houses located in slum areas (katchi abadis), regularized under the Sindh Goth-Abad Scheme.
FWBL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING CENTERS
In its early years, FWBL took special steps to impart training to women who wanted to run their businesses but were held back by the not yet mature economic and financial environment. The idea was to train and empower women entrepreneurs so that they can avail loan facilities from FWBL and start their own businesses.
FWBL UNDP PARTNERSHIP
Under this partnership with UNDP, FWBL provided its micro-borrowers the opportunity to sell their products by exhibiting at stalls at Sunday Bazaar in Islamabad.
FWBL- CIDA PARTNERSHIP
In the early 2000s, First Women Bank Ltd. was recognized by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the most prestigious development agency of the world, as a unique institution catering to the special needs of women in Pakistan. FWBL and CIDA entered into a 3-year collaboration to provide financial assistance in the two important areas of focus for the Bank i.e. setting up Financial Services Desks and Training & Capacity Building of FWBL employees.
FWBL/ILO/IPEC
To combat child labor in the carpet weaving industry, FWBL collaborated with ILO and directly financed women micro-borrowers in rural areas. The Bank disbursed micro-credit to 2,921 women living below the poverty line in 162 villages, with 100% recovery rate. Under this Project, 5,842 children were weaned out of child labor and educated through non-formal educational centers.
JAFAKASH AURAT
The Ministry of Women Development collaborated with First Women Bank Ltd. for the economic empowerment of rural women – PKR 35 Million was provided for the pilot project, with a revolving credit line of PKR 20 Million. The major objective of the Project was to enable the poorest of the poor women in rural areas to supplement their livelihood by supporting micro-enterprise development, through strong linkages between micro-credit and skill development, thus leading to their economic empowerment.
FWBL UNIDO PARTNERSHIP
In 2011, First Women Bank Ltd. became the strategic partner of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for the implementation of the Women Entrepreneurship Development Program (WED).
In the same year, FWBL set up the Women Entrepreneurship Development Division and also launched its Capacity Building & Training Program.
Later the Bank changed its strategy, focusing on building its own capacity to design and deliver financial services primarily needed by women and their families.
FWBL GEP
In 2011, Aurat Foundation awarded a grant of PKR 13.8 million to FWBL under the Gender Equity Program (GEP), supported by the American people through USAID for a period of 02 years, where FWBL collaborated with training institutes of high repute to provide training to women.
In 2015, First Women Bank Ltd. received another grant of PKR 27.5 Million under the Gender Equity Program by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Aurat Foundation. This Grant was purely for the purpose of supporting research and financial inclusion of the women of Pakistan. This also helped FWBL in the capacity building of its staff through trainings on Leadership, Customer Service & New Product Development.
Ms. Dalia Hazem Gamil Khorshid
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Mr. Nayef Musallem Hamad Hamrour Alameri
Independent Director
Mr. Suliman Abdullah S Alfallaj
Independent Director
Mr. Hamdan Mohamed Ahmed Saeed Aldahmani
Independent Director
Mr. Daud Bin Farooq
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Mr. Adnan Zafar
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Mr. Ali Rashed Mohammad Rashed Alrashdi
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Ms. Dalia Hazem Gamil Khorshid
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Mr. Nayef Musallem Hamad Hamrour Alameri
Independent Director
Mr. Suliman Abdullah S Alfallaj
Independent Director
Mr. Hamdan Mohamed Ahmed Saeed Aldahmani
Independent Director
Mr. Daud Bin Farooq
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Mr. Adnan Zafar
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Mr. Ali Rashed Mohammad Rashed Alrashdi
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Mr. Aamir Zuberi
Chief Risk Officer,
Head Risk Management Division
Head Risk Management Division
Mr. Farrukh
Iqbal Khan
President & Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Dildar Ali Khawaja
Head of Audit,
Audit Division
Audit Division
Mr. Aamir Zuberi
Chief Risk Officer,
Head Risk Management Division
Head Risk Management Division
Mr. Faisal Hussain
Head Business Division
Mr. Furqan Yaser
Company Secretary & Head Legal,
Legal Division
Mr. Irfan Malik
Head of Operations,
Operations Division
Mr. Muhammad Farrukh
Chief Financial Officer,
Finance Division
Ms. Nazia Zeeshan
Head Treasury Division
Mr. Syed
Muhammad Raza
Head of IT,
Information Technology Division
Ms. Zarina Sial
Head of Compliance & Head HR Additional Charge
Ms. Sakina Alam
Head of HR,
Human Resource Division
Ms. Zarina Sial
Head of Compliance,
Compliance Division
Nazia Zeeshan
Mr. Aamir Zuberi
Chief Risk Officer,
Head Risk Management Division
Head Risk Management Division
Mr. Dildar Ali Khawaja
Head of Audit,
Audit Division
Mr. Faisal Hussain
Head Business Division
Executive Committee
- Mr. Farrukh Iqbal Khan (President & CEO FWBL)
- Mr. Aamir Zuberi Head Risk Management (Chief Risk Officer) – Member
- Mr. Faisal Hussain (Head Business Division) – Member
- Mr. Furqan Yaser (Company Secretary / Head Legal) – Member
- Mr. Irfan Malik (Head Operations) – Member
- Mr. Muhammad Farrukh (Chief Financial Officer) – Member
- Ms. Nazia Zeeshan – Head Treasury Division
- Mr. Syed Muhammad Raza (Head IT) – Member
- Ms. Zarina Sial (Head Compliance & Head HR Additional Charge) – Member
Assets & Liabilities Management Committee
- Mr. Farrukh Iqbal Khan (President & CEO FWBL)
- Mr. Aamir Zuberi Head Risk Management (Chief Risk Officer)
- Mr. Muhammad Farrukh – Member (Chief Financial Officer)
- Mr. Faisal Hussain – Member (Head Business)
- Ms. Nazia Zeeshan – Head Treasury Division
COMPANY SECRETARY & HEAD LEGAL
- Mr. Furqan Yaser
LEGAL ADVISORS
- Mr. Abdul Hameed Chohan ASC (Central Region)
- M/s. Imran Ameer Law Associates (South Region)
- Ms. Shahina Akbar ASC (North Region)
- M/s Bahzad Haider Law Associates (HR HO Karachi)
AUDITORS
- BDO Ebrahim & Co
TAX CONSULTANTS
- Grant Thorton Anjum Rahman, Chartered Accountants
First Women Bank Limited is a unique financial institution and commercial bank of its kind in the world. It is the only bank in Pakistan that has a mandate to cater to the financial and business needs of women and provide them with easy access to credit for enterprise development. The FWBL Vision and Mission statements reaffirm this commitment. Pakistan earned the status of being a pioneer the world over in setting up this unique institution, observing which, India and Tanzania also followed suit. Initially, the FWBL model worked on catering to women at all levels of economic activity – micro, small, medium and corporate. Over the years, with the promotion or specialization of Microfinance banks which are set up to cater to the financial needs of low-income communities, FWBL has shifted its focus to a range of financial services (SME) other than Microfinance. Now, credit-worthy business concerns, irrespective of gender, can avail loans on a competitive basis. The Bank remains true to its roots as a women-centered organization, and facilitates the financial inclusion of customers who have availed financing facilities and are maintaining their savings and other business accounts. The Government of Pakistan owns majority shareholding (82.64%) in the Bank, while the remaining shares are held by the five big commercial banks – NBP, HBL, MCB, UBL and ABL. The Bank has short-term entity rating of A2 and long-term entity rating of A-. Being a commercial bank is of the utmost importance to help FWBL be a sustainable financial institution; hence, it has taken a strategic shift from its slogan of ‘by women, for women’, to a Bank manned by competent individuals to avail the benefits of diversity. FWBL has also opened up its market to men as well; however, its product development focuses specially on women’s business needs. It ensures that its products and services:
- Are easily accessible to women.
- Improve women asset ownership.
- Improve women participation in the labor force.
- Fulfill social responsibility for its users and end users.
FWBL is fully committed to Pakistan’s national and international commitments highlighted in the Beijing Platform for Action, 1995, the National Plan of Action for Women, 1998, and the National Policy for Development & Empowerment of Women. The Bank aims to conduct its business in a manner that creates value for its customers, clients, partners, shareholders and, mostly importantly, society. It understands that being a good corporate citizen starts with serving responsibly. It has engrained this philosophy in its business operations, in its culture and in its business decisions.
First Women Bank Ltd. has a wider vision than any other commercial bank to cater to women’s economic needs and to encourage them into trade, business, industry and the practice of their professions to promote economic prosperity and self-reliance in women of urban and rural areas.
OUR VISION
To create value for our stakeholders, and contribute towards country’s economic development through mainstreaming woman by creating enabling environment as the dynamic agent of change and prosperity.
OUR MISSION
To be a sustainable bank offering efficient, cost effective and need based financial products and services with special focus to address women’s banking needs through strategic alliances. Improve governance through capacity building and restructuring of the Bank.
CORE VALUES
- Customer Centric
- Performance Oriented
- Honesty, Trust & Integrity
- Liberating People Potential
PACRA RATING
Rating Types
Entity
Current
(28-JUN-22)
Previous
(28-JUN-21)
Long Term
A-
A-
Short Term
A2
A2
Outlook
Developing
Stable
In 1989, the establishment of FWBL was an innovative and bold step conceived by the then Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto (Shaheed). She envisioned a Bank that would undertake the conduct of all forms of business of Banking Company in a manner designed to meet the special needs of women, and to encourage and assist them in the promotion and running of trade and industry in practicing their profession.
The Bank came into being as an affirmative action of the Parliament to indicate the Government’s commitment to providing women (who form about half the population) access to formal financial services. The Bank was incorporated as a Scheduled Commercial Bank in the Public Sector as a Public Limited Company on 21st November, 1989 under the Companies Ordinance 1984 as a joint venture of the five largest Commercial Banks and the Government of Pakistan.
The Bank commenced its business on 2nd December, 1989 with a paid-up capital of PKR 100 Million; 90% of which was contributed in varying proportions by the five leading banks of the country. They were:
- National Bank of Pakistan
- Muslim Commercial Bank Limited
- Allied Bank Limited
- Habib Bank Limited
- United Bank Limited
- 10% of the remaining capital came from the Federal Government
The core purpose of the Bank was to mobilize funds, providing saving solutions to customers and channeling those funds to potential borrowers. The Bank availed this opportunity fully and initiated many non-traditional banking and women-centric products / projects which met with great success. The Bank was a pioneer in introducing:
- Microfinance to women under the Group Guarantee Scheme (which was later adopted by microfinance institutions that came into being) and initiated micro and small lending programs in the suburbs and rural areas close to the FWBL branch network.
- Many non-traditional products for the capacity building of women to help them undertake income-generating projects.
- Computer Literacy Training to a large number of women through its Computer. Literacy Centers located in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
The Bank also took a number of unprecedented initiatives, such as:
SHELTER PROJECTS
In early 90’s, under the Shelter Project, FWBL provided loans to women who could not afford shelter. The funds were disbursed for the upgradation and construction of houses located in slum areas (katchi abadis), regularized under the Sindh Goth-Abad Scheme.
FWBL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING CENTERS
In its early years, FWBL took special steps to impart training to women who wanted to run their businesses but were held back by the not yet mature economic and financial environment. The idea was to train and empower women entrepreneurs so that they can avail loan facilities from FWBL and start their own businesses.
FWBL UNDP PARTNERSHIP
Under this partnership with UNDP, FWBL provided its micro-borrowers the opportunity to sell their products by exhibiting at stalls at Sunday Bazaar in Islamabad.
FWBL- CIDA PARTNERSHIP
In the early 2000s, First Women Bank Ltd. was recognized by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the most prestigious development agency of the world, as a unique institution catering to the special needs of women in Pakistan. FWBL and CIDA entered into a 3-year collaboration to provide financial assistance in the two important areas of focus for the Bank i.e. setting up Financial Services Desks and Training & Capacity Building of FWBL employees.
FWBL/ILO/IPEC
To combat child labor in the carpet weaving industry, FWBL collaborated with ILO and directly financed women micro-borrowers in rural areas. The Bank disbursed micro-credit to 2,921 women living below the poverty line in 162 villages, with 100% recovery rate. Under this Project, 5,842 children were weaned out of child labor and educated through non-formal educational centers.
JAFAKASH AURAT
The Ministry of Women Development collaborated with First Women Bank Ltd. for the economic empowerment of rural women – PKR 35 Million was provided for the pilot project, with a revolving credit line of PKR 20 Million. The major objective of the Project was to enable the poorest of the poor women in rural areas to supplement their livelihood by supporting micro-enterprise development, through strong linkages between micro-credit and skill development, thus leading to their economic empowerment.
FWBL UNIDO PARTNERSHIP
In 2011, First Women Bank Ltd. became the strategic partner of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for the implementation of the Women Entrepreneurship Development Program (WED).
In the same year, FWBL set up the Women Entrepreneurship Development Division and also launched its Capacity Building & Training Program.
Later the Bank changed its strategy, focusing on building its own capacity to design and deliver financial services primarily needed by women and their families.
FWBL GEP
In 2011, Aurat Foundation awarded a grant of PKR 13.8 million to FWBL under the Gender Equity Program (GEP), supported by the American people through USAID for a period of 02 years, where FWBL collaborated with training institutes of high repute to provide training to women.
In 2015, First Women Bank Ltd. received another grant of PKR 27.5 Million under the Gender Equity Program by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Aurat Foundation. This Grant was purely for the purpose of supporting research and financial inclusion of the women of Pakistan. This also helped FWBL in the capacity building of its staff through trainings on Leadership, Customer Service & New Product Development.
Ms. Dalia Hazem Gamil Khorshid
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Mr. Nayef Musallem Hamad Hamrour Alameri
Independent Director
Mr. Suliman Abdullah S Alfallaj
Independent Director
Mr. Hamdan Mohamed Ahmed Saeed Aldahmani
Independent Director
Mr. Daud Bin Farooq
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Mr. Adnan Zafar
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Mr. Ali Rashed Mohammad Rashed Alrashdi
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Ms. Dalia Hazem Gamil Khorshid
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Mr. Nayef Musallem Hamad Hamrour Alameri
Independent Director
Mr. Suliman Abdullah S Alfallaj
Independent Director
Mr. Hamdan Mohamed Ahmed Saeed Aldahmani
Independent Director
Mr. Daud Bin Farooq
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Mr. Adnan Zafar
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Mr. Ali Rashed Mohammad Rashed Alrashdi
Nominee Non-Executive Director
Mr. Aamir Zuberi
Chief Risk Officer,
Head Risk Management Division
Head Risk Management Division
Mr. Farrukh
Iqbal Khan
President & Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Dildar Ali Khawaja
Head of Audit,
Audit Division
Audit Division
Mr. Aamir Zuberi
Chief Risk Officer,
Head Risk Management Division
Head Risk Management Division
Mr. Faisal Hussain
Head Business Division
Mr. Furqan Yaser
Company Secretary & Head Legal,
Legal Division
Mr. Irfan Malik
Head of Operations,
Operations Division
Mr. Muhammad Farrukh
Chief Financial Officer,
Finance Division
Ms. Nazia Zeeshan
Head Treasury Division
Mr. Syed
Muhammad Raza
Head of IT,
Information Technology Division
Ms. Zarina Sial
Head of Compliance & Head HR Additional Charge
Ms. Sakina Alam
Head of HR,
Human Resource Division
Ms. Zarina Sial
Head of Compliance,
Compliance Division
Nazia Zeeshan
Mr. Aamir Zuberi
Chief Risk Officer,
Head Risk Management Division
Head Risk Management Division
Mr. Dildar Ali Khawaja
Head of Audit,
Audit Division
Mr. Faisal Hussain
Head Business Division
Executive Committee
- Mr. Farrukh Iqbal Khan (President & CEO FWBL)
- Mr. Aamir Zuberi Head Risk Management (Chief Risk Officer) – Member
- Mr. Faisal Hussain (Head Business Division) – Member
- Mr. Furqan Yaser (Company Secretary / Head Legal) – Member
- Mr. Irfan Malik (Head Operations) – Member
- Mr. Muhammad Farrukh (Chief Financial Officer) – Member
- Ms. Nazia Zeeshan – Head Treasury Division
- Mr. Syed Muhammad Raza (Head IT) – Member
- Ms. Zarina Sial (Head Compliance & Head HR Additional Charge) – Member
Assets & Liabilities Management Committee
- Mr. Farrukh Iqbal Khan (President & CEO FWBL)
- Mr. Aamir Zuberi Head Risk Management (Chief Risk Officer)
- Mr. Muhammad Farrukh - Member (Chief Financial Officer)
- Mr. Faisal Hussain – Member (Head Business)
- Ms. Nazia Zeeshan – Head Treasury Division
COMPANY SECRETARY & HEAD LEGAL
- Mr. Furqan Yaser
LEGAL ADVISORS
- Mr. Abdul Hameed Chohan ASC (Central Region)
- M/s. Imran Ameer Law Associates (South Region)
- Ms. Shahina Akbar ASC (North Region)
- M/s Bahzad Haider Law Associates (HR HO Karachi)
AUDITORS
- BDO Ebrahim & Co
TAX CONSULTANTS
- Grant Thorton Anjum Rahman, Chartered Accountants
