Banking

Financial services giant Citi has reached a deal to become the preferred credit card of Dallas’ American Airlines Center and its major league sports tenants.

The Toronto Raptors and BMO Financial Group have announced a multi-year partnership for the company to join Canada’s sole NBA basketball team as title sponsor and official bank.

Saudi Arabian bank Samba Financial Group has signed up as a commercial partner of Spanish Liga football club Barcelona.

Turkish banking group DenizBank has agreed a three-year title sponsorship deal with the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) for its Champions League club competition.

The Welsh Rugby Union and banking group NatWest have agreed a four-year extension of their NatWest RugbyForce grassroots initiative.

Danish trading and investment firm Saxo Bank has confirmed an extension to its title sponsorship of Riis Cycling for 2014, securing the future of the UCI World Tour team for another year.

Nordic-based financial services group Nordea has extended its title sponsorship of the Scandinavian Masters European Tour golf tournament for the next three years.

Chicago-based BMO Harris Bank has announced a sponsorship agreement with NHL ice hockey franchise St Louis Blues.

The Spanish football league, the Liga de Fútbol Profesional, is looking to sign up to four new global partners in a push to exploit the league’s international commercial potential.

The England and Wales Cricket Board signed a £2m ($3.1m/€2.4m)-per-year agreement in August with NatWest bank in the first deal under a new sponsorship structure.

English Premier League champion Manchester United has announced regional sponsorship agreements with Commercial Bank of Qatar and Emirates NBD Bank.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has launched the country’s first domestic club league, with government-owned bank Caixa Econômica Federal coming on board as its main commercial partner.

Scotiabank has agreed a deal to become the official bank of Canadian ice hockey team the Vancouver Canucks.

Florida-based savings and loans association BankUnited has entered into a sponsorship agreement with NFL American football team the New York Jets.

The Belgian arm of Dutch financial services firm ING has extended its sponsorship deal with the Belgian Football Association (URBSFA/KBVB) through to the end of the 2018 Fifa World Cup.

UAE Pro League football club Al Nasr has signed a one-year extension to its partnership with Emirates NBD which will see the banking group continue as its main sponsor.