Muscat – Bank Muscat, the leading financial services provider in the Sultanate of Oman, continues to reinforce its role in promoting financial inclusion and raising awareness on financial literacy as part of its commitment to sustainable development and empowering all segments of society. Coinciding with the Global Money Week held from 20^th–24^th April and Arab Financial Inclusion Day, celebrated annually on 27^th April, the Bank recently organized a series of training workshops in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. These sessions targeted students from various schools across the Sultanate as part of Bank Muscat’s “Maliyat Academy” initiative. The workshops are part of the Bank’s ongoing efforts to instill sound financial knowledge among school students, equipping them with skills to manage financial resources effectively and make well-managed financial decisions. This initiative is a key component of the Bank’s broader strategy to promote financial awareness and deliver innovative banking solutions that support financial inclusion and contribute to building a more financially literate and stable society.

Enhancing financial literacy is essential in today’s rapidly evolving economic landscape, where income sources and spending patterns are increasingly diverse. A solid understanding of financial concepts empowers individuals to manage their finances wisely, make strategic decisions, and explore paths to saving and investment. Financial literacy extends beyond basic budgeting and arithmetic, as it includes a deeper grasp of concepts such as risk and return, financial planning, smart saving, secure financing options, and even personal crisis management. Ultimately, improved financial awareness contributes to cultivating a responsible economic citizen who understands the impact of individual financial choices on the national economy and contributes positively to community development through proper spending and investment practices.

The training workshops reflect the ongoing collaboration between Bank Muscat and the Ministry of Education for the third year, and they fall as part of the “Maliyat Academy”, one of the Bank’s CSR pioneering initiatives. Since the launch of the initiative in 2023, more than 130 teachers and career guidance specialists from various governorates within the Sultanate have received training. These specialists trained over 488 teachers who have reached more than 23,000 students across more than 400 schools throughout the country.

Commenting on the initiative, Talib Saif Al Makhmari, Head of Community & Media Relations at Bank Muscat, said: “We take pride in the successful partnership with the Ministry of Education. “Maliyat Academy” is one of the impactful CSR-related programme of the Bank, given its significant role in enhancing students’ financial understanding and skills. Instilling financial literacy at an early age helps prepare future generations to handle financial responsibilities with confidence and intelligence. It reduces harmful consumer behavior and enhances individuals’ ability to achieve financial independence. Bank Muscat is committed to embedding these values and educating the public on modern, effective methods of managing and growing their finances.”

Talib Al Makhmari added: “Promoting financial awareness through curricula, media, and educational programmes is a long-term investment in individuals and a cornerstone of building a strong, economically resilient society capable of facing future challenges. The training workshops strengthen the initiative by investing in training the trainers from teachers and guidance specialists from all governorates. Looking ahead, the Bank is focused on expanding the initiative to reach even more schools and students across Oman.”

The “Maliyat Academy” initiative is part of Bank Muscat’s broader sustainability and social responsibility efforts, specifically targeting younger generations. It equips them with essential financial skills to make wise spending decisions from an early age and which are especially vital to overcome today’s economic challenges and their implications for individual and family financial stability. Additionally, Bank Muscat offers the Maliyat online platform, a free digital resource that provides financial literacy courses for people of all ages, including individuals with visual and hearing impairments. This programme further demonstrates the Bank’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, ensuring financial education is accessible to everyone. Until date, over 32,700 individuals from diverse backgrounds have benefited from the platform.

As part of its unwavering commitment to promoting financial inclusion, Bank Muscat is dedicated to serving various segments and groups of society, including people with disabilities. The Bank offers comprehensive banking services and solutions at its branches across the Sultanate, ensuring facilitated service accessibility for all customer segments, thus, meeting their diverse needs and aspirations. In coincidence with the Arab Financial Inclusion Day, the Bank recently launched an awareness campaign on social media platforms on the importance of money management to achieve a sound financial future. The campaign aimed at encouraging all members of society to register on the “Maliyat” platform to learn more about the financial services available to them according to their age group. Reaffirming its efforts in serving the needs of customers with special needs, the Bank also recently launched the Braille-enabled Debit Card for people with visual disabilities. The card is the first of its kind in the Sultanate and aims to provide a convenient and comfortable banking experience for target customers, enhancing their ability to access banking services easily and conveniently at all times. The launch of this card complements the series of banking services provided to people with disabilities in 60 of the Bank’s branches across the country. The Bank has also organized sign language training courses for a number of its employees working in a number of branches across different locations, and launched a number of initiatives in cooperation with various relevant institutions and associations. A notable example of the Bank’s initiatives targeting this segment of the society is the “Himma Marathon,” which aims to enhance the integration of this segment into society and provide an opportunity for people with physical, mental, and hearing disabilities, as well as those with autism and Down syndrome, to showcase their athletic abilities and talents. Bank Muscat will continue its prominent role in promoting the concept of financial inclusion and providing the best banking services for all customers, with the aim of providing a distinctive banking experience that meets their aspirations and needs.