Credit Cards

Terms & Conditions

All credit cards issued by Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait shall be subject to the following Terms and Conditions and to any amendments thereto made by the Bank, from time to time.

The following Terms and Conditions, whenever used herein, unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings:

The "Bank": Means Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait K.S.C.P.
The "Card": Means Visa or Master Card or i-card issued by the Bank to the Cardholder including any additional card issued to another person named by the Cardholder
"The Customer": is the natural or juridical person to whom the card is issued, on which all transactions and dues are registered on special account for the card at the bank.
"Cardholder": Means the Customer to whom the card is issued, and whose name appears in print thereon; and the Bank, upon the request of the Cardholder, may issue additional card to another person to be named by the said Customer in accordance with the Terms and Conditions stated herein, and any amendments thereto. Concerning companies, the cardholder is the manager or the authorized signatory on behalf of the company and he is the person who signs the credit Card Application request and receives the card on which his name is printed on the card, all amounts related to the card transactions and dues to the bank will be debited from the company account.
"Card Account": Means the special account of the Cardholder with the Bank to which all amounts related to the Card transaction and dues to the Bank in accordance with the Terms and Conditions are debited.
"Personal Identification Number (PIN) ": Means the Card’s secret special number delivered by the Bank to the Cardholder in a sealed envelope.
"Credit Limit": Means the maximum amount permitted by the Bank from time to time for using the Card within a certain period of time and which should not be exceeded by the Cardholder.
"Transaction": Means buying goods, receiving services, cash withdrawals or other actions taken by means of using the Card.

The Card shall be signed by its holder whose name appears in print thereon upon receipt from the Bank, and its PIN shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed to others. The Cardholder is responsible for that and for signing all receipts, invoices and all other documents related to the Card Transactions and/or the additional Card’s Transactions by using the same signature appearing on the Card, and without affecting his continued obligation under these documents in the event this procedure has been violated.
The use of the i-card is limited to internet shopping only and cannot be used for cash withdrawals from ATMs or for purchases from shops through POS terminals.
The Cardholder undertakes to use the Card within the Credit Limits authorized by the Bank from time to time and not to exceed them; in which case the Cardholder and Customer shall be responsible for making full payment of the amounts made in excess and any interest due to the Bank immediately; in addition to all other due amounts resulting from using the Card or additional Card by another person, with or without the Cardholder’s and the Customer’s consent.
The Customer and the Cardholder shall be jointly and severally responsible for the Card, its use and the use of the PIN, and shall be liable for all consequences resulting therefrom, in particular, in cases of loss, theft, damage , or misuse either by the Cardholder or others, with or without his consent, and the Customer and the Cardholder shall be obliged to indemnify the Bank for any damages or losses resulting therefrom.
In case of the Card’s loss, theft or damage, the Cardholder/Customer shall be responsible to immediately notify the Bank’s card services department or the closest office relating to the Card abroad. If the notification is given by phone or fax, it must be confirmed in writing within a period of seven days. In all cases, the Cardholder/Customer shall be responsible for any and all liabilities arising as a result of the use of the Card and up to the date on which the Bank receives such written confirmation. A replacement Card may be issued to the Cardholder upon payment of the required fees.
The Bank shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever for the manner in which the Cardholder uses or misuses his Card. The Bank shall also not be responsible if the Card is dishonored by any institution, company or others; nor for any flaws or defects in the goods or services arising from the use of the Card by the Cardholder, and the Bank shall not be responsible for any losses or damages resulting from any failure or breakdown of the ATMS or card accepting machines inside or outside Kuwait, irrespective whether the reasons were technical or for any other reason. The Cardholder explicitly acknowledges that he holds the Bank harmless and free from any and all liabilities that may result from any of the aforesaid, and that he shall not refrain from settlement of any amounts debited to the Card Account because of any dispute or claim in relation thereto. The Cardholder also shall not have the right by any means, to demand a set-off between his obligations towards the Bank and any rights due to him by any party with whom he had dealt with by using the Card.
The Card shall remain, at all times, the property of the Bank and it is the responsibility of the Cardholder to return it whenever so requested by the Bank.
All amounts due to the Cardholder as a result of issuing and using the Card shall be charged in Kuwaiti Dinars; and for this purpose amounts relating to any Transaction in foreign currency has to be exchanged for the local currency (Kuwaiti Dinars) at the spot rate of the Kuwaiti Dinar applicable at the Bank against the relevant foreign currency at the date the Bank receives statement indicating such amounts. All amounts due shall be debited to the Card Account on the day deemed appropriate by the Bank, plus an applicable added conversion rate and fees which is determined by the Bank and the companies issuer of the card. In the event cash withdrawal at any ABK ATMs, a cash fees at a rate of 5% of the transaction amount shall be applied at a minimum of one Kuwaiti Dinar, and in the event of cash withdrawal at any other bank ATMs (Local - International), cash fees at a rate 5% of the transactionamount shall be applied at a minimum of one Kuwaiti Dinar.
This is without prejudice to the Bank’s right to amend the rate of the commission/fees at any time, and to notify the Cardholder accordingly and this rate on the statement of account, shall be deemed to be a notification to the Cardholder.
The Cardholder/Customer shall be responsible for keeping sufficient funds in his account enough to pay for all amounts, withdrawals and such other Transactions resulting from the issue and use of the Card. If the Cardholder Account has a zero credit balance or if the credit balance is insufficient to pay for the amounts due to the Bank, then the debit balance shall be deemed as immediately due and payable and in this case, the Bank shall have the right to charge on the debited account, which is not paid, a monthly commission fee for administration and follow up of the Card Account and the Bank’s deals with foreign institutions in relation thereto will be applied based on the approved commission and fees table, in addition to a default rate based on the highest rate announced by CBK on the date of delay and as per the Bank policies and procedures.
This without prejudice to the Bank’s right to amend the rate of the commission/fees at any time, and notify the Cardholder/ Customer accordingly and this rate when registered in the statement of account shall be deemed to be a notification to him.
The following amounts shall be charged in Kuwaiti Dinars on the Card Account:
1. Membership fee payable once every year during the membership years on such a date as determined by the Bank. Customer/Cardholder has to submit in writing his intention not to renew the Card 45 days before expiry, or otherwise the Card will be renewed automatically for another period and charges will be applied.
2. Amounts due as a result of the use of the Card, Flexible Payment Service and commissions in addition to the expenses including the cost for cables, telexes, telephones calls, facsimile messages and others and all expenses and charges arising from the demand of the Cardholder/ customer to settle all his debit balances.
3. All fees and commissions which are deducted by the banks and other institutions for the use of the Card by the Cardholder.
The Cardholder may avail himself to use the “Flexible Payment” service which is allowed by the Card, and in this case, he is allowed to pay part of the total amount of the transaction for each month provided that what is being paid monthly shall not be less than 8.33% of the total outstanding amount due and charged on the Card Account, with his obligation to pay all the amounts which exceeded his maximum Credit Limit. The Bank shall charge fees for the use of this service. The Bank shall charge fees on the debit balances for the use of this service , calculated in accordance with the discount rate prescribed by the Central Bank + 2.5 % + 0.5% Monthly Service Charge , and shall also charge fees at a rate of 1.5% monthly on the installment amounts which the Customer fails to pay on their due date .
The Bank shall have the right, at any time, to reduce the maximum Credit Limit for the Cardholder/Customer and also to stop the “Flexible Payment” service after the Cardholder is notified at his mailing address with the Bank. In the event of stopping such service, the total outstanding balance shall become due and payable immediately to the Bank without the need for further notify to the Cardholder/Customer.
The Cardholder may avail himself to use the "Flexible Payment" service which is allowed by the Card, and in this case, he is allowed to pay part of the total amount of the transaction for each month provided that what is being paid monthly shall not be less than 8.33% of the total outstanding amount due and charged on the Card Account, with his obligation to pay all the amounts which exceeded his maximum Credit Limit. The Bank shall charge fees for the use of this service. The Bank shall charge fees on the debit balances for the use of this service , calculated in accordance with the discount rate prescribed by the Central Bank + 2.5 % + 0.5% Monthly Service Charge , and shall also charge fees at a rate of 1.5% monthly on the installment amounts which the Customer fails to pay on their due date .
The Bank shall have the right, at any time, to reduce the maximum Credit Limit for the Cardholder/Customer and also to stop the "Flexible Payment" service after the Cardholder is notified at his mailing address with the Bank. In the event of stopping such service, the total outstanding balance shall become due and payable immediately to the Bank without the need for further notify to the Cardholder/Customer.
The Cardholder/Customer hereby, authorizes the Bank to use any credit balances, monies, deposits or rights in any of his accounts maintained with the Bank or any of its branches, subsidiaries and affiliates inside or outside Kuwait, or at any other banking institution inside the State of Kuwait, irrespective of the names or types of such accounts, for the settlement of any debit balances resulting from issuing and using the Card and completing the account entries for this purpose, without the need for any notice, warning or any other legal action and the Customer shall not be released from his obligations thereunder, except for as much as has been actually settled, from such debit balances.
The Customer/ Cardholder Acknowledges that the load/reload transactions and all other Card transaction performed on the Card are free from any suspicious Money Laundering and/or any Terrorism Financing activities. The Customer/ Cardholder declares that they shall abide by the Laws and Regulations regarding Anti Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing in addition to any other financial crimes.
The Cardholder/Customer may, at any time, request to cancel or not to renew the Card, by notifying the Bank in writing, provided that he returns the Card which is to be cancelled or not to be renewed, to the Bank.
The Bank, at its own absolute discretion at any time, may cancel the Card or reject its renewal and without giving any reasons, in particular, in cases when the Cardholder, or the additional Cardholder violates any of the Terms and Conditions stated herein, or misuses the Card; or in case of attachment of his monies, liquidation, bankruptcy, insolvency or generally stopping payment, or his demise, loss of capacity, or closing of his account whether at his own request or at the Bank’s decision or in case that the KYC updates are not provided and/or AML/CFT laws and regulations are not complied with”.
In this case the debit balance shall be charged to the Card Account and shall become immediately due without the need of taking any further legal action; and the Customer shall be immediately liable to pay the balance to the Bank, stop using the Card and return it to the Bank, and shall continue to be liable to pay all the amounts due for the use of the Card.
In all cases, and irrespective of whether the Card is cancelled or not renewed by the Bank or at the Cardholder’s/Customer’s request, the Cardholder/Customer shall notify the companies, institutions and others which provide him with goods and services on a continuous basis as per the Card to stop making deductions from the Card Account, and the return of the Card and its receipt by the Bank without any reservation, shall not be held as a release of the Cardholder/Customer of his liabilities towards the Bank and the Cardholder and the Customer shall remain liable jointly towards the Bank for a period not less than sixty days from the date of returning the Card. In all cases, the Cardholder and the Customer jointly are obliged to settle the Card Account and to pay any liabilities arising from the use thereof.
The invoices, receipts and other documents relating to the Transactions, do not originally return to the Bank and are not kept there, but are notified to the Bank in order to be charged on the Card Account. In accordance with the international system for credit cards and its determination of the time limits after which the Cardholder/Customer can not demand for photocopies of such documents, the Cardholder, declares, explicitly, that he is not allowed to demand from the Bank to produce photocopies of such invoices and receipts or other documents relating to the Transactions after the lapse of 60 days from the date of the Transaction.
The Bank shall send to the Cardholder/Customer a statement of account of the Card on regular basis every month and such statement of account shall be deemed correct unless the Bank receives from the Cardholder a written objection thereto within forty five days from the date of the Transaction(s) being charged in such statement, and the Cardholder/ Customer shall be deemed to have received the statement of account unless he notifies the Bank within ten days from the date specified for its dispatch of his non-receipt of such a statement.
The Bank’s books and records shall be conclusive evidence to prove the rights and obligations of the Customer while dealing with the Bank and the Customer declares that the charge of any amount or Transaction in his statement of account is binding on him and is deemed as conclusive evidence of his dues and obligations arising from the issuance and the use of the Card.
In the event that the Customer disputes a Card Transaction, it must be reported within 45 days from transaction date to any ABK branch or ABK Call Center, and the Customer will be required to provide all the necessary documentation needed for the investigation. The Chargeback process will determine the acceptance or decline of disputed Card Transaction amount.
The Bank shall award the Customer/ Cardholder specific benefits and rewards for the use of the eligible Card. The Bank shall have the right to determine the benefits or rewards obtained according to a third party agreement with companies offering such benefits to the Bank to offer it in consequences to the Cardholder/ Customer, the Bank shall from time to time amend, withhold or cancel benefits or rewards at its sole direction. The Cardholder/Customer Acknowledge that these benefits and rewards granted to him by the Bank are subject to the Bank sole direction and agrees any future cancelation or amendments on these benefits and rewards whenever the bank decides without stating reasons. The Cardholder/Customer herby undertakes to keep the bank informed and authorize the Bank to update any changes in Customer/Cardholder email ID, Telephone number, and address that the bank may informed of or be available with the Bank to all companies offering the rewards and benefits related to the Card and herby authorize the Bank to contact these companies and update them with the information mentioned above.
The Cardholder/Customer hereby authorizes the Bank to obtain from the Public Authority for Civil Information his business and residence address and any change thereto, and declares to the Bank his agreement to provide the Authority, when needed, with this authorization.
The Bank, upon the Customer’s request, may issue an additional Card to another person to be named by the said Customer provided that the value of the Transaction made by means of using the additional Card shall be debited to the Card Account of the Customer at the Bank, and the Customer in such case, shall be liable, jointly with the additional Cardholder, for any amounts becoming due or any consequences resulting therefrom. The additional Cardholder shall be subject to the Terms and Conditions for issuing and using the Card. The Bank may, without giving any reason, refuse or cancel at any time, any additional Card in accordance with Article 16 of these Terms and Conditions or upon a written request made by the Customer or the additional Cardholder, provided that the Card that is to be cancelled, is returned to the Bank.
The Customer hereby acknowledges that his address as shown on the required application constitutes his chosen domicile for all purposes relating to this Card and any dispute or litigation that may arise in connection therewith, before the courts at all levels, including any obligatory enforcement procedures, and all correspondences statements of accounts and legal notices sent to him by the Bank to this address or by fax or registered / preferred mail, shall be deemed to be valid and legally served on him, and any change of this domicile or the post office box number or fax number, shall have no legal effect until the Bank receives notice in writing for such change.
The Bank reserves the right to amend any of these Terms and Conditions at any time, and any amendment announced by the Bank or any of its branches or by any other means deemed appreciate, shall be constituted as valid and effective amendment as from the date thereof, and shall be binding upon the Cardholder/Customer .
Politically Exposed Person (PEP): any natural person, whether as customer or beneficial owner, who is or was entrusted with a prominent public function in the State of Kuwait or in a foreign country, such as Head of States or of governments, senior politicians, senior government, judicial or military officials (colonel rank and above), senior executives of state owned corporations, and important political party officials. The definition also includes any person who is or has been entrusted with a prominent function in an international organization, such as directors, deputy directors and members of the board. This term also includes up to second degree family members and close associates.
Unless otherwise there are any special laws relating thereto, these Terms and Conditions shall be subject to the laws of the State of Kuwait, and to the jurisdiction of the Kuwaiti courts only and we accept the local jurisdiction of the courts of the capital of Kuwait for any dispute arising therefrom.