National Bank of Oman (NBO), the sultanate's second-largest lender by assets, has picked four banks for a potential US dollar-denominated benchmark bond issue, a document from arranging banks said on Monday.

The bank has mandated Credit Agricole, HSBC , National Bank of Abu Dhabi, and Standard Chartered to arrange investor meetings in the Middle East, Europe and Asia starting on September 25.

A Reg S only bond offering may follow subject to market conditions, the source said.

National Bank of Oman is rated BBB plus by Fitch and A3 by Moody's. – Reuters