Bank Dhofar Whistleblowing Policy & Anti Bribery & Corruption Policy Statement

Introduction

The Whistleblowing Policy establishes a secure, confidential, and transparent mechanism for employees, customers, vendors, and other stakeholders to report concerns related to unethical behavior, misconduct, violations of laws or regulations, or any activity that may compromise the integrity of the Bank. The policy aims to foster a culture of accountability and protect individuals who report concerns in good faith.

The Anti Bribery and Corruption Policy outlines the Bank’s zero tolerance approach toward bribery, corruption, improper influence, or facilitation payments. The policy aims to prevent, detect, and respond to bribery or corrupt practices in accordance with local and international laws.

Scope

These policies apply to all employees, management and Board members of Bank Dhofar including Islamic window, vendors, suppliers, intermediaries, and consultants and any third party acting on behalf of the Bank.

What Can Be Reported
Unethical, Illegal, or Fraudulent Acts

• Unacceptable practices that are unethical, illegal, dishonest, fraudulent, or corrupt
• Acts that may subsequently cause a miscarriage of justice
• Manipulating financial standards, records, reports, or auditing standards
• Falsifying documents, invoices, or financial records
• Unauthorized transactions or manipulation of accounts
• Misuse of bank funds or assets

Conflicts of Interest

• Employees using their position for personal gain
• Favoring relatives, friends, or specific vendors
• Involvement in business decisions where personal interests exist
• Acceptance of gifts or incentives from any person inside or outside the bank with the intent of gaining preferential treatment

Financial Crimes

• Money laundering
• Terrorist financing
• Bribery and corruption
• Offering, giving, or receiving bribes
• Kickbacks, facilitation payments, or secret commissions
• Any attempt to improperly influence a bank employee or official
  

Misconduct Related to Products, Marketing, and Reporting

• Misleading marketing or sales practices to achieve targets or personal benefits
• Manipulating or misreporting information for incentives or gain
  

Human Resources & Workplace Misconduct

• Harassment, victimization, discrimination, or bullying in the workplace
• Breach of workplace security, safety standards, or health hazard protocols

Information Security & Data Protection

• Misuse or unauthorized disclosure of customer information or data

Supplier, Third-Party, and Vendor Misconduct

• Supplier or third party misconduct
• Vendors engaging in corrupt or unethical practices
• Agents or intermediaries offering improper advantages
• Suspicious billing, inflated invoices, or irregular vendor payments

Breach of Internal Policies & Code of Conduct

• Material or persistent breach of the bank’s code of conduct
• Violations of internal policies, procedures, or regulatory obligations

Protection Against Retaliation

The Bank is committed to creating a safe environment where employees and customers can report concerns without fear. To support this, the following principles apply:

• Zero Tolerance for Retaliation: No one may threaten, intimidate, or treat a person unfairly for reporting a concern in good faith.
• Reporting Protection: Anyone who reports a suspected violation—employees or customers—is protected from negative consequences such as demotion, harassment, exclusion, or any other retaliatory actions.
• Confidential Handling of Reports: All reports are managed with strict confidentiality. The identity of the whistleblower will only be shared when legally required and in very limited circumstances.
• Good-Faith Reporting: Individuals who raise concerns honestly and based on a reasonable belief are fully protected, even if the issue is later found to be unsubstantiated.
• Misuse of the Policy: To maintain the integrity of the process, deliberately false or malicious reports will not be accepted.