All articles by Duygu Tavan
Duygu Tavan
OCBC revamps,expands Malaysia branch network
Singapore-based OCBC bank is investing in a revamp and expansion of its Malaysia branch network The bank is estimating to spend about MYR100m (32.8m) to invest in new branches, expansion of existing ones and an upgrade of banking technology. Part of the strategy is to double the number of its Al-Amin branches, which offer Islamic banking services, by opening five more units in 2011.
Polish Bank BPH targets retail banking account growth of 15%
Polish bank BPH is targeting to grow its retail customer bank accounts by 100,000, or 15%, by the end of the year, the banks deputy president told RBI. Grzegorz Jurczyk, deputy president of Bank BPH, told RBI that it was difficult to stand out in the Polish banking market in terms of individual banking products.
Portugal’s Banco Best launches family PFM tool
Portugal-based Banco Best, the online subsidiary of Banco Espirito Santo,has gone live with an online personal financial management tool (PFM) aimed at the whole family. Banco Bests PFM tool groups expenses and income according to specific categories and provides detailed reports on the family budget.
Lloyds in 3-year outsourcing deal with Parseq
Lloyds Banking Group has signed a three-year outsourcing deal with digital technology and turnkey solutions provider Parseq to deploy the vendors debit and credit processing software The multi-million pound deal is a renewal of the existing contract between the vendor and the Lloyds TSB and willextend to the Halifax and Bank of Scotland brands within Lloyds Banking Group.
Central Bank of China orders retail banking fees cut
The Central Bank of China (CBC) is to abolish a number of fees banks charge for retail banking products and services, such as opening and closing accounts. The CBC said that the new regulations jointly issued by the CBC, the China Banking Regulatory Commission and the National Development and Reform Commission will enhance Chinese banks social responsibilitiy.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Get industry leading news, data and analysis delivered to your inbox
Nigeria’s Fidelity Bank launches e-bill service for land fees with AGIS
Nigeria-based Fidelity Bank has introduced a new service to comply with the countrys ambitions to transform Nigerias banking standards to comply with international regulatory criteria.
Canara agrees 5-year deal with Wipro
India-based Canara bank has inked a 5-year deal with Wipro Infotech to upgrade the lenders core banking software within its rural business units India-headquartered Wipro will centralise IT at Canara Banks three Regional Rural Bank (RRB) divisions across India comprising a branch network of 900 units and offices. The centralisation of the branch networks IT will also include the integration of training centres, data centres, disaster recovery centre and network operations centre.
International Bank of Qatar upgrades online payment security
As online payments start to accelerate in the Middle East, the International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) has upgraded its online banking security in partnership with both Visa and MasterCard The head of retail banking at IBQ, Philip King, said that the partnership with the two card issuers provided the banks customers with extra security and fraud protection when making purchases online.
Bulbank launches women-only product range
The series titled Donna is a package programme including women-oriented deposit, consumer and investment loan offerings as well as a credit card and will be offered in-branch. Although the product launched in time for World Womens Day on 8 March, the banks deputy head of retail banking, Tsvetanka Mincheva, said that the product range will be permanent.
Barclays to shutter 1 in 5 Spanish branches
Less than two weeks after announcing its retreat from the Russian retail banking market, Barclays is planning to slash its Spanish branch network by closing almost 1 in 5 branches. Just two years after opening 98 branches across Spain, Barclays the largest international lender in Spain – will now axe 100 of its 590-strong branch network in the country and reduce its work force by 16% to about 3,700 employees.