Saudi National Bank (SNB)
traditional bank
The Saudi National Bank (SNB), formed in 2021 through the merger of NCB (National Commercial Bank) and Samba Financial Group, is the largest bank in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world by assets. Headquartered in Riyadh, it holds over SAR 1.1 trillion in assets and operates across 11 countries. SNB serves Saudi nationals and Iqama-holding expatriates residing in the Kingdom; non-residents cannot open personal accounts. Multi-currency accounts cover SAR, USD, EUR, GBP, and AED. Business banking supports Saudi-registered entities under the Vision 2030 investment drive, with trade finance, project finance, and SME lending. US persons are not accepted due to FATCA compliance constraints. Digital banking via the SNB AlAhli app offers bill payment, SADAD integration, and inter-bank SARIE transfers. Accounts carry no monthly fee on salary-credited accounts; fees apply when minimum balance falls below SAR 5,000. SNB is a critical banking partner for expatriate workers across construction, oil and gas, and professional services sectors in the GCC.
Details
- Headquarters
- Saudi Arabia
- Currencies
- 5
- Monthly Fee
- Free
- Non-Residents
- Not accepted
- US Persons
- Not accepted
- Debit Card
- Available
- Business Account
- Available
Opening Requirements
- •Saudi Iqama (residency permit) or Saudi national ID
- •Passport (for non-Saudi nationals)
- •Employment contract or salary certificate
- •Minimum salary of SAR 3,000/month for standard accounts
- •In-person visit to a Saudi branch
- •Mobile number registered in Saudi Arabia
Restricted Nationalities
Not available to nationals of: united-states, israel, north-korea, iran, syria
Nationality Acceptance Matrix
Who this provider will and will not onboard. Refusals are listed first. Sourced from the provider's own published terms and recent public onboarding reports — confirm with the provider before applying.
| Nationality | Accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| us | NO | US persons not accepted — SNB does not onboard US nationals due to FATCA compliance complexity. |
| iran | NO | Blocked — Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 (restored 2023 but sanctions exposure remains); Iranian nationals not accepted. |
| cuba | NO | Blocked — OFAC Cuba sanctions apply to USD-clearing transactions; SNB effectively excluded. |
| north korea | NO | Blocked — UN/OFAC DPRK sanctions. |
| syria | NO | Blocked — Arab League and UN sanctions; SNB does not onboard Syrian nationals. |
| uk | YES | UK nationals accepted if holding a valid Saudi Iqama (residency permit); in-branch opening required. |
| eu | YES | EU nationals accepted with valid Saudi Iqama; employment contract or salary certificate required. |
| russia | YES | Russian nationals accepted if Iqama-holding; Saudi Arabia has not adopted Western sanctions against Russia; standard KYC applies. |
| china | YES | Chinese nationals accepted with valid Iqama; significant Chinese construction and investment workforce in KSA. |
| myanmar | YES | Accepted with standard KYC; Saudi Arabia does not impose blanket Myanmar sanctions; Iqama required. |
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Sources & last verified
- Last verified 2026-06-15