4 April 2005 QFBs TO DOUBLE RETAIL PRESENCE THROUGH atm 5 Expanded QFB Shared ATM Network now live ABN AMRO, Citibank, HSBC, Maybank and Standard Chartered Bank today announced the launch of atm 5 a newly formed Shared ATM network combining the reach of the five Qualifying Full Banks (QFBs). The expanded network will increase the competitive strength of the five participating banks, providing their customers with greater convenience and accessibility. Under atm 5, customers of the five QFB banks have access to over 115 ATMs at more than 78 locations islandwide. For a start, they will enjoy cash withdrawal and account balance enquiry services. The number of ATMs and range of services will be added over time, to meet customer needs. Customers can continue to use their existing ATM cards to access atm 5. A service fee of S$0.30 will be levied for each successful cash withdrawal performed by customers on ATMs of the other participating banks. HSBC, Maybank and Standard Chartered started a QFB Shared ATM network in 2001, a historic move marking the first time that QFBs have joined forces. Nippi Kochhar, Managing Director, Consumer Clients- South East Asia, ABN AMRO Bank, said: "ABN AMRO is pleased to be able to provide greater convenience to clients through the atm 5 partnership. For the bank, we will continue to invest and double our ATM network by end of the year. We aspire to build life time relations with our preferred banking clients through increasingly offering an integrated experience to them that bundles all needs." 1
Lee Ah Boon, Citibank Singapore s Country Business Manager for Global Consumer Banking said: At Citibank, we are committed to provide our customers wider choice of accessing their accounts, 24 hours, seven days a week. Our recent local incorporation of our consumer banking business in Singapore and the significant investment we are making to add new branches and ATMs reaffirms our commitment to the community. atm 5 is a new and exciting phase in providing our customers greater convenience through the QFB shared ATM network. Tom Tobin, Head of Personal Financial Services, HSBC said, "We are pleased to be part of this atm 5 initiative to expand the shared ATM network among the QFBs. The additional ATM locations will provide HSBC customers with greater convenience in assessing their accounts which is another step forward in our efforts to harness QFB benefits to serve our customers. Along with HSBC's QuickCash facility available at a major supermarket chain, customers will be able to make cash withdrawals at close to 300 locations. Pollie Sim, Executive Vice President and Head, Retail Financial Services, Maybank in Singapore said, As the QFB with the largest service network in Singapore, Maybank is pleased to have the opportunity to further expand our presence with this new partnership. atm 5 will increase Maybank s reach in Singapore by three-fold, or an additional 88 service points. This is likely to grow even further as the partners increase their service network. We believe that our customers will welcome atm 5 as it will enable them to enjoy greater convenience and wider access to their Maybank accounts in Singapore. Peter Flavel, Head of Consumer Banking, Standard Chartered Singapore said, "We welcome the two new members to the network. With this collaboration, our customers have greater accessibility and convenience. Our aim is to continue to translate QFB privileges into benefits for customers and deliver higher quality service to customers. This, together with our EFTPOS facilities, have further strengthened our competitiveness and network." 2
ABN AMRO Netherlands-based ABN AMRO is a leading international bank with total assets of EUR 608.6 bln (as at 31 December 2004). It has over 3,000 branches in more than 60 countries and territories, and has a staff of about 100,000 full-time equivalents worldwide. ABN AMRO is listed on the Euronext and New York stock exchanges. ABN AMRO operates through three Strategic Business Units, each responsible for managing a distinct client segment. Wholesale Clients provides integrated corporate and investment-banking services to corporate, institutional and public sector clients worldwide. Consumer & Commercial Clients focuses on retail and SME clients in three home markets the Netherlands, the US Midwest and Brazil and in a number of selected growth markets. Private Clients & Asset Management provides private banking services to wealthy clients and investment products to financial intermediaries and institutional clients. CITIBANK Citigroup (NYSE: C), the leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, insurance, securities brokerage, and asset management. Major brand names under Citigroup s trademark red umbrella include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Smith Barney and Banamex, and Travelers Life and Annuity. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com. HSBC The HSBC Group's international network comprises more than 9,800 offices in 77 countries and territories operating in the Asia Pacific region, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. Serving over 110 million customers around the world, HSBC has assets of US$1,277 billion at 31 December 2004. Its unique characteristics are summarised today in the description 'The world s local bank'. In Singapore, HSBC opened its first branch in 1877. Today, HSBC is a Qualifying Full Bank offering an extensive array of corporate and personal financial services to meet the needs of customers ranging from large multi-national corporations to local enterprise and individuals. Through an international network linked by advanced technology, including a rapidly growing e-commerce capability, HSBC provides a comprehensive range of financial services. Available through a host of delivery channels such as internet banking via www.hsbc.com, these include: commercial banking; corporate, investment banking and markets; and private banking; as well as personal financial services. 3
MAYBANK Maybank is among the top five banks in ASEAN with total assets of S$75 billion as at June 2004. Maybank was also ranked number nine in the recent Survey on Asia's Strongest Banks, conducted by The Asian Banker Journal. Maybank s biggest overseas presence is in Singapore, where it is a Qualifying Full Bank (QFB). Its profile and presence is now more visually apparent due to the strategic placement of its 27 service locations, the most extensive amongst the QFBs in Singapore. Maybank s 22 Branches and 30 ATMs are conveniently located in both the business districts and the heartlands. Maybank has always been customer-centric and is continually pursuing initiatives to better serve its customers in anticipation of their evolving needs. For more information, visit www.maybank.com.sg STANDARD CHARTERED leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East Standard Chartered employs 33,000 people in over 550 locations in more than 50 countries in the Asia Pacific Region, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the United Kingdom and the Americas. It is one of the world s most international banks, with employees representing 80 nationalities. In Singapore, Standard Chartered Bank is a Qualifying Full Bank with an extensive network among the international banks and employs over 2,500 people. With 20 branches, 31 ATMs and 24 Cash Deposit Machines island-wide, Standard Chartered is the only international bank to offer NETS payment services. Standard Chartered is the regional hub for the Bank s business in South East Asia. In addition, the Bank s global Consumer Banking and Wholesale Banking businesses are managed out of Singapore. For more information, visit www.standardchartered.com.sg 4
For further information, please contact: ABN AMRO Ms Lim Li Koon Wholesale Clients Communication Tel: 6231 8465 E-mail: li.koon.lim@sg.abnamro.com CITIBANK Mr Adam Abdur Rahman Corporate Affairs Tel: 6328 5425 email: adam.abdur.rahman@citigroup.com HSBC Mr Goh Kong Aik Group Public Affairs Tel: 6530 5126 email: kongaikgoh@hsbc.com.sg MAYBANK Ms Priscilla Loke Corporate Affairs Tel: 6533 7167 / 9683 0638 Email: ploke@maybank.com.sg STANDARD CHARTERED BANK Ms Evangeline Tan Manager, Corporate Affairs Tel: 6530 3447 E-mail: Evangeline.Tan@sg.standardchartered.com 5