Personal finance in Saudi Arabia 2026: licensed banks ranked
A ranking of Saudi banks by their standard personal finance (tawarruq or murabaha cash financing, not cards, car or home finance). Only banks licensed by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) are included; because SAMA's website could not be read by our collector, the licence is taken from the licence statement each bank publishes on its own site (royal decree or Council of Ministers resolution). Finance companies, microfinance, intermediaries and comparison sites are excluded. As the rate we use the lowest annual percentage rate (APR) a bank publishes in its personal finance examples, as a percentage of the reference of 3.87% (the median at launch). It is the lowest advertised example, usually for a salary-transfer customer, not what most applicants pay, and banks use different amounts and terms, so each card shows the example. Finance is an obligation: it must be repaid with profit, and the rate depends on the applicant and the bank's decision. This ranking is not a recommendation and promises neither approval nor a rate. Compare Scores only within Saudi Arabia. Score is not for sale; paid placements, if any appear, will be a separate labelled block.
| # | Company | Who it serves | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riyad Bank (loans) | 78 | 1957 | Yes | 101% | Licensed Fees published Online application |
| 2 | Al Rajhi Bank (loans) | 72 | 1988 | Yes | 141% | Licensed Fees published Online application |
| 3 | Arab National Bank (loans) | 64 | 1979 | Yes | Not verified | Licensed Fees published Online application |
| 4 | SAB (loans) | 64 | 1978 | Yes | 83% | Licensed |
| 5 | Saudi Investment Bank (loans) | 60 | 1976 | Yes | Not verified | Licensed Fees published |
| 6 | Alinma Bank (loans) | 58 | Not verified | Yes | 99% | Licensed Fees published Online application |
| 7 | Bank Albilad (loans) | 56 | 2004 | Yes | 122% | Licensed Fees published Online application |
| 8 | STC Bank (loans) | 48 | 2021 | Yes | 98% | Licensed Fees published Online application |
-
- Licensed since
- 1957
- Licensed by the regulator
- Yes
- Published rate, % of country reference
- 101%
Pros
- Long licence history
- Licence confirmed by the official list or a stated licence number
- Fees or full loan terms are readable without login
- Publishes how to complain
Cons
- An arrangement fee can apply
Details Visit site ↗ 92% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1988
- Licensed by the regulator
- Yes
- Published rate, % of country reference
- 141%
Pros
- Long licence history
- Licence confirmed by the official list or a stated licence number
- Fees or full loan terms are readable without login
- Publishes how to complain
Cons
- An arrangement fee can apply
Details Visit site ↗ 92% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1979
- Licensed by the regulator
- Yes
- Published rate, % of country reference
- Not verified
Pros
- Long licence history
- Licence confirmed by the official list or a stated licence number
- Fees or full loan terms are readable without login
- Publishes how to complain
Cons
- An arrangement fee can apply
- A charge can apply to early repayment
Details Visit site ↗ 77% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1978
- Licensed by the regulator
- Yes
- Published rate, % of country reference
- 83%
Pros
- Long licence history
- Licence confirmed by the official list or a stated licence number
- Publishes how to complain
- Long support hours
Cons
- An arrangement fee can apply
- A charge can apply to early repayment
Details Visit site ↗ 80% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1976
- Licensed by the regulator
- Yes
- Published rate, % of country reference
- Not verified
Pros
- Long licence history
- Licence confirmed by the official list or a stated licence number
- Fees or full loan terms are readable without login
- Publishes how to complain
Cons
- An arrangement fee can apply
Details Visit site ↗ 67% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- Not verified
- Licensed by the regulator
- Yes
- Published rate, % of country reference
- 99%
Pros
- Licence confirmed by the official list or a stated licence number
- Fees or full loan terms are readable without login
- Publishes how to complain
- New customers can apply online
Cons
- An arrangement fee can apply
Details Visit site ↗ 71% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 2004
- Licensed by the regulator
- Yes
- Published rate, % of country reference
- 122%
Pros
- Licence confirmed by the official list or a stated licence number
- Fees or full loan terms are readable without login
- New customers can apply online
Cons
- An arrangement fee can apply
Details Visit site ↗ 78% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 2021
- Licensed by the regulator
- Yes
- Published rate, % of country reference
- 98%
Pros
- Licence confirmed by the official list or a stated licence number
- Fees or full loan terms are readable without login
- New customers can apply online
Cons
- Licence obtained recently
- A charge can apply to early repayment
Details Visit site ↗ 80% backed by facts
Not ranked yet: not enough verified data
These services are known to us, but we haven't verified enough facts to rank them fairly.
- Bank AlJazira (loans) (49% backed by facts)
How we calculate the Score
35%
Licence
Whether the lender appears in the regulator's official list, or states its licence number on its site, and how long it has held a licence or registration. Where the register shows no date we use the year stated on the official site, which can be the founding year. A licence means supervision; it does not make a loan cheap or safe for you.
30%
Transparency
Whether a fees document or the full loan terms can be read without logging in, whether the lender publishes how to complain, and whether its terms state that early repayment is free. A statutory early repayment charge counts as a charge.
25%
Cost
The published rate of the standard cash loan as a percentage of the country's reference rate, the median of the rates we collected at launch (100% equals the reference; the score falls from 50% to 200%). The original rate with its example amount and term is shown beside it. The basis differs by country, so compare only within one country. We also count whether the standard terms have no arrangement fee. This factor deliberately weighs less than licence and transparency.
10%
Service
Whether a new customer can apply online, weekly hours of general support, and the maximum amount and term compared within the country. A larger or longer loan is not better for you: more time usually means more interest paid. That is why these two facts carry little weight.
What to check in a loan offer
A loan is an obligation
You commit to fixed payments for the whole term, whatever happens to your income. Late or missed payments can bring extra charges and harm your credit history, and the lender can take legal steps to recover the debt.
Verify the licence
Look the lender up in the official list of the central bank or financial regulator by its exact legal name and compare the website address. Fraudsters copy the names of real lenders. A real lender does not ask for an upfront payment to release a loan.
Read the rate as an example
The published figure is an example or a lowest rate. Your rate depends on your income, credit history, amount and term, and the lender may refuse. Read the individual offer before signing.
Look at the total to repay
Compare the total amount repayable, not only the monthly payment. A longer term lowers the payment but usually raises the interest you pay overall.
Check fees and insurance
Look for arrangement fees, early repayment charges, late payment charges and whether insurance is required. Each of these changes the real cost. The figures must be in the pre-contract information.
Know how to complain
Complain to the lender in writing first and keep the reference. If the reply does not resolve it, contact the financial ombudsman, where one exists, or the regulator. If you have trouble repaying, contact the lender early and consider free independent debt advice where available.
Frequently asked questions
Who supervises banks and personal finance in Saudi Arabia?
The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) licenses and supervises banks and finance companies. Each bank in this ranking states on its own site that it is licensed and supervised by SAMA.
How can I check that a bank is licensed?
Look the bank up in the list of licensed banks on the Saudi Central Bank's website (sama.gov.sa) by its exact legal name, and compare it with the licence statement in the footer of the bank's site. A licensed bank never asks for an upfront payment to release financing.
Which rate do you compare?
Saudi banks publish examples of their financing prices with an annual percentage rate (APR) on product pages and on a page usually called Prices of Financing and Savings Products. We take the lowest APR in a bank's personal finance examples. Banks also charge an administrative fee, listed in their tariff, so read the tariff and the example together before you sign.
Can I repay personal finance early?
Yes, banks allow early settlement, but several state that a part of the future profit is charged when you settle early. The amount is in the bank's tariff and your contract; where the bank publishes it, the card shows the quote.
Is this a recommendation, and can a lender buy a place?
No. This is not financial advice or a recommendation. Score is not for sale: no bank can pay to change its position. If paid placements ever appear, they will be a separate block labelled Sponsored.