NEW DELHI, July 26: HongKong Bank is set to expand its operations in the country by opening atleast three more branches in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, a senior bank official said. "We have written to RBI for their permission to open branches in Ahmedabad, Pune and Hyderabad," says PTI quoting ZJ Cama, deputy chief executive, India, Hongkong Bank. Apart from these cities, we also plan to open branches in Chandigarh, but we have not, yet approached RBI, he said.At present, Hongkong Bank, part of HSBC group, has presence in Mumbai, New Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai, Bangalore and Visakhapatnam.
British Bank of Middle East, also part of HSBC group, has been permitted by RBI to open a branch in New Delhi, he said. This bank has branches in Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram and deals only with non-residents Indians accounts.
Elaborating on the banks further expansion in its personal banking sevices in the country, Cama said 14 more automatic teller machines (ATM) would be installed by the end of thisyear, taking total ATMs to 69.
On Hongkong Bank's other plans to provide better services to its customers, Cama said bank plans to introduce new retail assets products like home maker loan, home equity loan and personal overdrafts.
Under home-maker loan scheme, the bank would provide loans for building houses while under the home equity scheme loan would be provided for internal construction along with for other household products. "These products would be launched after complete market research is completed," Cama said, adding these new products will provide value for money for thecustomers alongwith superior services.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.