Founded in 1985 as the Istanbul Branch of Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, T-Bank has grown to become an independent institution in 1991 under the name Bahreyn ve Kuveyt Bankası a.ş. The bank underwent a series of acquisitions until 1997 when it was acquired by Mehmet Nazif Günal and was renamed as MNG Bank a.ş. In January 2007, the bank was acquired by Arab Bank and Bankmed, who obtained 50% and 41% of the shares, respectively, while Mr. Günal maintained a stake of 9%. The Bank was renamed Turkland Bank a.s, better known as T-Bank. The new shareholders increased the bank’s capital and introduced a series of reforms which included: setting up a new management team, restructuring the bank, and upgrading the core banking system.
In July 2010, Bankmed increased its shareholding from 41% to 50% by acquiring the remaining 9%, previously owned by Mr. Günal. In the following years up to 2013, the shareholders increased the bank’s capital through two injections in 2011 and 2014 from TL 170 million to TL 650 million with a partial contribution from a new shareholder, Arab Bank Switzerland in 2011. The current partnership structure is as follows: Bankmed 50%, Arab Bank PLC 28%, and Arab Bank Switzerland 22%.
Since its acquisition in 2007, T-Bank has emerged as one of the fastest growing mid-sized banks in Turkey. The bank operates within a network of 34 branches, offering timely and tailor-made solutions to the commercial business sector as well as to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). T-Bank provides a comprehensive range of services including treasury and cash management, investment services, and trade finance. The bank also selectively offers a range of personal banking services primarily to the owners of the companies they are dealing with.