Mr. Eisa M. Al Eisa, Samba's MD & CEO, has announced that Fitch Ratings, a leading global rating agency, has upgraded Samba's Long Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to A+ from A with Stable Outlook, which is one of the highest among the banks in the Kingdom, and it is also in line with upgrading the Saudi Arabia's sovereign long-term local and foreign currency IDR. Fitch also upgraded Samba's Support Rating Floor to A+ from A. Other ratings reaffirmed were S/T Foreign Currency IDR: F1; Support: I; and Individual B.

Al Eisa has also announced that Samba Financial Group has posted net profits of SR1,224 million during the second quarter of 2008, up by 2% over the first Quarter 2008 which was SR1,201 million. The net profits of the first half 2008 (ending on 30 June 2008) stand at SR 2,425 million, lower by 5.6% compared to SR 2,568 million in the first half 2007. Al-Eisa also indicated that Samba has managed to grow significantly its core business activities. Compared with the same period last year, the net Special Commission Income increased by 6.6% to SR 2,510 million, Asset Management Income by 21.6%, Other Fees and Commissions by 50.8%, Foreign Exchange income by 19.1%, and net Investment Gains by 97.4%.