Qatar National Bank probes alleged hack

Doha / AFP

Qatar National Bank (QNB) said it is investigating an alleged hack which potentially exposes the names and passwords of a large number of customers.
Media reports claimed that a 1.4GB trove of documents has been leaked online anonymously.
Among the information reportedly leaked are the bank details of several journalists working for satellite broadcaster Al-Jazeera.
Another folder leaked apparently revealed details of the work of internal and overseas intelligence agencies, according to reports on various publications including the Doha News website.
In a statement posted online, Qatar National Bank refused to say whether the leak had happened, but said it was looking into the claims.
“QNB Group places the highest priority on data security and deploying the strongest measures possible to ensure the integrity of our customers’ information,” the statement read.
“QNB is further investigating this matter in coordination with all concerned parties.”
QNB is one of the largest banks in the Middle East, and earlier this month reported a first quarter seven per cent increase in profits to almost $800 million, despite the impact of low global oil prices.
QNB is a Qatari commercial bank headquartered in Doha. As of 2014, it is the second largest bank in Africa and the Middle East in terms of assets. It was founded in 1964 and currently has subsidiaries and associates in 27 countries spanning three continents. The bank’s ownership is evenly divided between the Qatar Investment Authority and the private sector.
As of 2015, the bank has 615 subsidiaries and associates in 27 countries. Its first branch in the GCC was opened in Oman in 2007. QNB acquired a majority stake in Indonesia’s Bank Kesawan in January 2011 and rebranded it as QNB Kesawan. In January 2013, it purchased an additional 49.9 percent stake in the Tunisian-Qatari Bank from the Tunisian government, bringing its total stake 99.9 percent.
It renamed the bank to ‘Qatar
National Bank Tunisia’ in the April 2013.

In March 2013, it purchased 100 percent of National Société Générale Bank‘s shares in Egypt, rebranding it as QNB Al Ahli.