They are young, enthusiastic, and make a great professional pairing. Noor Al Saati and Fatema Bastaki joined heads at Bahrain Credit to create Imtiaz for Her – a credit card specially designed for women.
Noor has a degree in business informatics, and has been with Bahrain Credit ever since she graduated in 2007. Banking and finance graduate Fatema has been with the company since 2013 after a stint in media and public relations. “Bahrain Credit is my second home,” says Noor. “I started in the contact centre department as a loan representative.”
Fatema came on board to kick-start the firm’s public relations department. “This job was a big career change,” she says. “It has since developed my organizational skills and added solid weightage to my professional progress.”
The two are currently co-brand managers for Imtiaz For Her, the only ladies credit card in the Kingdom, powered by Mastercard. Noor says: “I am proud to be working on this product since day one, putting ideas into actions, turning them into reality.” Fatema adds: “The card is developed by women for women. Imtiaz for Her is more than a project to me; it is a lifestyle tool that I love sharing with other women.” Months of detailed analysis was done to comprehend families’ spending decisions, and the woman’s say in then. Further scrutiny of the Bahraini workforce structure identified women as significant contributors to the nation’s economy.
Noor explains that the look and feel of the card and its elegant, ladylike packaging reflects the card holder’s personality, her pride and power. “It is a carefully developed value proposition featuring a wide range of merchants who specifically provide women- and family-related services and products. It offers better choices, additional discounts and rewards.”
Fatema continues: “Imtiaz for Her stands for ambitious women, what they believe in and for women’s empowerment. It’s a game changer within the female community. It’s our way of rewarding women in the country for their significant role in society,” she says.
It’s clear that merchants and customers have received this financial instrument well in its first year. Fatema and Noor are proud of the positive feedback received from stakeholders and delighted by the fact that Imtiaz for Her is a key player in empowering women.
When asked how it has been working together, both ladies have a glowing response. “Never underestimate the power of women working and connecting with each other. It is wonderful to work closely with a like-minded, successful woman, like Noor, who is also a strong and inspiring mother,” Fatema says. “It’s not about gender, but of commitment, attributes and sharing a goal. It is a myth that two women cannot work together; in fact, great ideas come to life when we do!”
Noor states: “Fatema and I have been friends before this project; we enjoy working and facing challenges together. It is really important to take good care of your partner and to build a healthy bond with them. Our different backgrounds and qualifications helps us give our work the very best. In a lot of situations working with women may be easier because we understand each other best. However, successful women can efficiently work with both genders to achieve a common goal.”
Going forward, Fatema aspires to be a board member one day, making important decisions and changing the low statistics of females at higher corporate levels. “I aspire to lead by example and leave a mark in empowering other women,” she says. Noor has become more passionate about women’s needs and aims to raise awareness of the important role they play in society. She says: “I would say to young women to take chances even if they feel they’re not ready, because opportunity does not knock on random doors.”
