HSBC expands on the Czech market
Prague, March 26, 2008 – HSBC, the 3rd largest banking and financial group in the world, has today officially launched HSBC Premier, the first ever truly Global wealth-management proposition. HSBC has also announced that they will be expanding their Commercial Banking offering by opening up their international services to small and medium sized enterprises.
HSBC Premier is HSBC’s highly successful new banking service that has recently been launched around the world – it will bring new levels of banking service and technology to the Czech market. Mr. Guy Hamilton, CEO of HSBC CEE, explains the strategy: “With Premier, we leap-frog the competition to fill an unmet need for an investment and global banking service designed for affluent clients. We provide global banking services through our international financial network, provide 24/7 cutting edge internet and mobile banking, and do not charge fees for qualified investors”.
Mr. František Kopřiva, Country CEO, said: “Our launch of Premier makes HSBC the first in the Central and Eastern Europe to launch such a service, it has been exceedingly popular since it was globally re-launched at the end of last year and now serves more than 2 million customers in 36 countries around the world. Czech Premier customers will get the same level of service regardless of whether they are in Prague, London, New York, Hong Kong or Bangkok. Our customers will be able to manage all their accounts and investments around the world from one place, ask for emergency assistance in any of the 10,000 HSBC branches or even open up a new overseas Premier account before leaving the Czech Republic . It is the first truly global banking service.”
With regard to Commercial Banking Mr. Kopriva added: “In recent years there have been more and more successful Czech companies with business interests abroad. We believe that HSBC’s unique ability to offer international business insight coupled with sophisticated cross-border banking will be of great appeal to these customers. It’s a widely accepted fact that when companies are running an international business they would prefer to send their money around the world to a bank they recognize from their own city-centre. Our market-leading expertise in not only international trade and treasury, but also general business banking services makes HSBC an obvious choice for any commercial banking partner with global ambition.”
HSBC Bank plc started its operations on the Czech market in May 1997. Until 2007 it provided a complex range of banking services to large local and international companies, and access to HSBC’s personal investment products for individuals. HSBC Holdings plc, headquartered in London, is one of the biggest banking and financial services corporations in the world. With 10 000 branches in 83 countries and territories and 315 thousand employees, HSBC provides services to 125 million clients.
HSBC beat Citigroup and Bank of America to the top position in The Banker magazine and Brand Finance’s ‘Top 500 Bank Brands 2008’. HSBC was the only bank in the entire index to achieve the highest brand rating of triple A.
Media enquiries:
Ondřej Pospíšil
tel.: +420 607 111 616
ondrej.pospisil@hsbc.com
www.hsbc.cz
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