The National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (RAKBank) has teamed up with FC Barcelona to become its official bank in the UAE in a strategic three-year partnership.
The tie-up, which includes the option for a two-year extension, will see the launch of new co-branded products including credit and debit cards, the bank said in a statement on Wednesday. RAKBank will also offer BarcaRewards, a programme that offers football benefits such as access to FC Barcelona-branded merchandise and opportunities to watch matches in Barcelona.
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"We are very pleased with the strategic alliance between RAKBank and FC Barcelona," RAKBank's chief executive Peter England said. "The spirit of football is timeless and we aim to deliver unique value propositions through the RAKBank co-branded credit, debit cards, and other banking products."
The partnership with RAKBank is the latest in FC Barcelona's regional tie-ups. It counts among its regional sponsors companies including Saudi Arabia's Samba Financial Group and Dubai's Emirates NBD, according to the club's website.
RAKBank signed the agreement with FC Barcelona at an event in the presidential box at the club's Camp Nou on Tuesday, the football team said on a statement on its website. FC Barcelona’s chief executive Oscar Grau and RAKBank’s managing director of personal banking Frederic de Melker attended the ceremony.