Watani Financial Brokerage Company (WFBC) is a historical Kuwaiti brokerage entity. The Capital Markets Authority cancelled all its securities-activity licences and removed it from the licensed-persons register effective 29 June 2025 after its merger into Watani Investment Company. The successor received the transferred exchange-broker activity and subsequently became a qualified securities broker. NBK now markets the domestic service as NBK Brokerage–Wasata under Watani Investment Company. Its current client channels and fee documents should be distinguished from the legacy WFBC company page, which still describes the former firm in the present tense.[1][2][3][6][4]
Broker essentials01
Watani Financial Brokerage Company (WFBC) at a glance
| Measure | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Entity status | Historical: WFBC licences cancelled and register entry removed effective 29 June 2025. | Source 1 |
| Successor | Watani Investment Company K.S.C.C. | Source 2Source 5 |
| Current domestic brand | NBK Brokerage–Wasata, registered under Watani Investment Company. | Source 6 |
| Current Wasata contact | 1807050; [email protected]. | Source 6 |
| Fee-document discrepancy | Two official Wasata schedules give different listed-market rates and minimums; confirm the signed successor tariff. | Source 8Source 7 |
Accounts and eligibility
Sections ↑Account comparison02
Which company handles the relationship?
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Former WFBC account | The merger dissolved WFBC and transferred its liabilities to Watani Investment Company.Source 2Source 6 |
| New Wasata application | The current NBK page identifies NBK Brokerage as a Watani Investment Company brand.Source 2Source 6 |
| Legacy paperwork | Keep the former account reference and statements when asking the successor to reconcile holdings, cash or unresolved instructions.Source 2Source 6 |
Account comparison03
Current Wasata opening checklist
Account comparison04
Application route and branch availability
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Opening process | Visit a listed NBK branch to complete and sign the Wasata client agreement, or print the form and take it to the branch.Source 6Source 4 |
| Named application locations | Boursa, Shamiya, South Surra, Jahra and Fahaheel.Source 6Source 4 |
| Branch-count inconsistency | The same page advertises six service locations but names five for applications. Confirm the intended location before visiting; the legacy WFBC page’s seven-location list is not a current directory.Source 6Source 4 |
Products and markets
Sections ↑Specifications05
Domestic service carried by the Wasata brand
Specifications06
Products and contracts that remain separate
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Wasata | Domestic listed and OTC securities service described on the current bank page.Source 6Source 9 |
| NBK Brokerage Regional | A separately described online service for Kuwait, GCC and Egyptian markets.Source 6Source 9 |
| NBK Brokerage US and Sharia | Separate products linked in group navigation; their accounts, tariffs and protection arrangements should not be assigned automatically to a former WFBC relationship.Source 6Source 9 |
Commissions and other costs
Sections ↑There is no single unambiguous current listed-share tariff in the public Wasata documents. The NBK bank page and the NBK Wealth download expose different undated schedules. Both are reproduced below with their source context. Neither should be described as a current WFBC tariff: WFBC’s own licence has ended.[8][7][1]
Pricing & charges07
Listed-market charges: NBK bank-linked schedule
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Premier, Main and REITs | 0.15% of trade value.Source 8 |
| Minimum | 500 fils (KWD 0.500) when trade value is below KWD 333.33.Source 8 |
| Off-market negotiated and swap trades | 0.20%, plus a KWD 75 transaction fee.Source 8 |
| Regular-trade clearing charge | 500 fils (KWD 0.500) when trade value is KWD 50 or more.Source 8 |
Pricing & charges08
Listed-market charges: NBK Wealth Wasata schedule
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Premier market and REITs | 0.10%, minimum 250 fils (KWD 0.250) below KWD 250.Source 7 |
| Main market | 0.15%; the printed minimum line states 250 fils for trades below KWD 165. The literal threshold is retained rather than silently changed to a calculated break-even value.Source 7 |
| Off-market negotiated and swap trades | 0.20%, plus KWD 75 per transaction.Source 7 |
| Regular-trade clearing charge | 500 fils (KWD 0.500) for trades of KWD 50 or more. The Arabic figure resolves a malformed English unit label.Source 7 |
Pricing & charges09
OTC charges in the NBK Wealth schedule
Pricing & charges10
OTC special transactions: NBK Wealth value bands
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Below KWD 50,000 | 0.50%, minimum KWD 3.Source 7 |
| KWD 50,000–249,999 | 0.40%, minimum KWD 3.Source 7 |
| KWD 250,000–999,999 | 0.30%, minimum KWD 3.Source 7 |
| KWD 1,000,000–4,999,999 | 0.10%, minimum KWD 3.Source 7 |
| KWD 5,000,000 and above | 0.05%, minimum KWD 3.Source 7 |
Pricing & charges11
Why the listed-market discrepancy matters
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Illustration: KWD 100 Premier trade | The bank-linked minimum gives KWD 0.500 brokerage plus KWD 0.500 clearing: KWD 1.000. The Wealth schedule gives KWD 0.250 plus KWD 0.500: KWD 0.750.Source 8Source 7 |
| Illustration: KWD 10,000 Premier trade | The bank-linked schedule gives KWD 15 brokerage; the Wealth schedule gives KWD 10. Add the applicable clearing charge in either case.Source 8Source 7 |
| Practical confirmation | Ask Wasata which signed schedule applies to the account and transaction. The undated public PDFs do not establish which one supersedes the other.Source 8Source 7 |
Trading and order handling
Sections ↑Process12
Current Wasata dealing and monitoring
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Execution channel | Specialised brokers and branch trading halls are explicitly advertised.Source 6 |
| Mobile app | The bank page describes monitoring listed trades, real-time quotes, daily summaries and fund transfers.Source 6 |
| Order-entry scope | That wording does not establish that every order type can be entered in the app. Confirm the available order channel with the Wasata desk.Source 6 |
Process13
Records retained from the former service
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Daily summaries | The legacy WFBC page described post-session summaries by email, fax or SMS; the current Wasata page also advertises these channels.Source 4Source 6Source 2 |
| Clearing statements | The legacy service supplied Kuwait Clearing Company account statements.Source 4Source 6Source 2 |
| Reconciliation after merger | A former WFBC statement and the successor’s current account statement should be reconciled by security, quantity and cash balance when a discrepancy arises.Source 4Source 6Source 2 |
Funding, withdrawals and transfers
Sections ↑Process14
Cash and account administration
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Bank account | Required for a current Wasata application.Source 6Source 2 |
| Mobile transfers | The Wasata page advertises fund-transfer functionality; it does not publish a complete bank-arrival timetable.Source 6Source 2 |
| Cheque deposits | The current service lists cheque deposits among its administration services.Source 6Source 2 |
| Old beneficiary instructions | For a former WFBC account, obtain the successor’s current funding instructions before remitting to an old corporate name.Source 6Source 2 |
Process15
Legacy holdings and corporate entitlements
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Dividends | WFBC’s legacy description included collection through Kuwait Clearing Company.Source 4Source 2Source 6 |
| Statements and transfers | Use the successor to investigate a missing security, dividend or transfer, providing the former account and clearing records.Source 4Source 2Source 6 |
| Withdrawal versus settlement | A daily summary or visible portfolio balance is not itself a promise that cash can be paid immediately; the current Wasata service page does not state a withdrawal cutoff or guaranteed payout period.Source 4Source 2Source 6 |
Regulation, custody and protection
Sections ↑Protections & eligibility16
Regulatory events and effective dates
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| 29 June 2025 | Effective date of WFBC licence cancellation/register removal and the transferred exchange-broker permission for Watani Investment Company.Source 1Source 2Source 3 |
| 10 July 2025 | CMA issued Resolutions 128 and 129 recording the transfer and cancellation.Source 1Source 2Source 3 |
| 4 December 2025 | Watani Investment Company’s qualified securities broker activity became effective.Source 1Source 2Source 3 |
| 7 December 2025 | CMA published the qualified-broker announcement.Source 1Source 2Source 3 |
Protections & eligibility17
What the merger establishes
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Former company | WFBC was dissolved through the merger; it is not separately authorised to accept new business under its former licence.Source 1Source 2 |
| Successor company | The regulator identifies Watani Investment Company as the recipient of the business liabilities and brokerage permission.Source 1Source 2 |
| Continuity of claims | The transfer of liabilities provides the successor identity for enquiries; the resolutions do not specify an individual client’s final cash or securities entitlement.Source 1Source 2 |
Protections & eligibility18
Limits of bank-group protection claims
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Bank relationship | NBK is the successor company’s shareholder. This does not make a securities position a bank deposit.Source 5Source 6Source 9 |
| Trading loss | The current Wasata page warns that investing can result in losses.Source 5Source 6Source 9 |
| Compensation cap | The cited merger and service documents do not specify a fixed investor-compensation or insurance limit for Wasata.Source 5Source 6Source 9 |
| Overseas regimes | No FSCS, SIPC or other overseas protection is inferred from separate NBK-group products.Source 5Source 6Source 9 |
Support and service continuity
Sections ↑Process19
Current Wasata service contacts
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Telephone | 1807050.Source 6 |
| [email protected].Source 6 | |
| Published office | NBK Headquarters, level 34, Jaber Al-Mubarak and AlShuhada Street, Block 7, Plot 6, Sharq, Kuwait.Source 6 |
| Postal address | P.O. Box 4950 Safat, 13050 Kuwait.Source 6 |
Process20
Successor complaints unit
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Company | Watani Investment Company K.S.C.C.Source 5 |
| Telephone | +965 22006421.Source 5 |
| [email protected].Source 5 | |
| Address | NBK Tower, floor 35, Block 7, Plot 6, Sharq, Kuwait; P.O. Box 4950 Safat, 13050.Source 5 |
Process21
Disruption and contact security
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Business continuity | The successor describes tested business-continuity and disaster-recovery plans, including an alternative operating location and annual testing.Source 5Source 6 |
| Credential requests | NBK’s official page warns against sharing OTPs, PINs, CVV or other personal banking information in unsolicited calls or messages.Source 5Source 6 |
Research and additional services
Sections ↑Availability22
Administration and information services
The successor also provides asset management and other investment services through separate arrangements. A former WFBC brokerage relationship does not by itself establish access to every NBK Wealth fund, advisory mandate or international platform.[5][9]
Company and legal identity
Sections ↑Regional comparison23
Former entity and successor
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Former legal company | Watani Financial Brokerage Company.Source 1Source 2Source 5Source 6 |
| Successor legal company | Watani Investment Company K.S.C.C., incorporated in Kuwait on 8 June 2005.Source 1Source 2Source 5Source 6 |
| Ownership of successor | The successor’s current corporate page identifies National Bank of Kuwait S.A.K.P. as its 100% shareholder.Source 1Source 2Source 5Source 6 |
| Current domestic brand | NBK Brokerage–Wasata; NBK identifies the brokerage brand as registered under Watani Investment Company.Source 1Source 2Source 5Source 6 |
The legacy WFBC page remains accessible and still contains a present-tense CMA licensing claim. The later regulator decisions establish the legal position: WFBC’s licence and register entry ended in June 2025. Current Wasata marketing belongs to the successor and should be read with its own contract.[4][1][2][6]
- Headquarters
- Kuwait
Legal entities & licences
These are source-dated records, not a blanket assessment of the broker. Read each issuer, identifier, status and scope together.
Watani Financial Brokerage Company
No separate licence entry is recorded in this panel.
Practical account considerations
Sections ↑Scenarios24
Documents for a former WFBC account enquiry
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Missing holding or dividend | Former account number, latest clearing statement, relevant trade confirmation and issuer-event details.Source 4Source 2Source 8Source 7Source 5 |
| Uncompleted cash movement | The old instruction or receipt, beneficiary details and successor account reference.Source 4Source 2Source 8Source 7Source 5 |
| Fee disagreement | Trade confirmation and the account’s signed tariff, specifying which official Wasata schedule is being applied.Source 4Source 2Source 8Source 7Source 5 |
| Formal complaint | Submit the chronology and supporting records to Watani Investment Company’s complaints unit and keep a copy.Source 4Source 2Source 8Source 7Source 5 |
WFBC’s historical identity remains useful for locating old statements and understanding the merger. New applications, current instructions and unresolved account administration belong with the successor’s Wasata service.[1][2][6]
Sources & further reading
- Kuwait CMA Resolution 129 of 2025 — cancellation of WFBC licences and register removal Capital Markets Authority, Kuwait · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Kuwait CMA Resolution 128 of 2025 — transfer of brokerage activity to Watani Investment Company Capital Markets Authority, Kuwait · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Kuwait CMA — Watani Investment Company qualified-broker licence announcement Capital Markets Authority, Kuwait · Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- NBK Wealth — legacy Watani Financial Brokerage company page NBK Wealth · Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- NBK Wealth — Watani Investment Company legal identity, complaints and continuity NBK Wealth · Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- National Bank of Kuwait — current NBK Brokerage–Wasata service and opening requirements National Bank of Kuwait · Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- NBK Wealth — Wasata fees and commissions download NBK Wealth · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- National Bank of Kuwait — Wasata fee schedule linked from current bank page National Bank of Kuwait · Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- NBK Wealth — separate NBK Brokerage Regional service NBK Wealth · Accessed 27 Oct 2026
This profile reports dated public information, including broker-published services and terms. It does not independently test or guarantee execution, pricing or withdrawals. Inclusion is not an endorsement. Permissions and protections apply only to the named legal entity, service and client category; check the current official records and your contract.