30 May 2010
HSBC's new global premium current account

Offers enhanced deals on credit cards, assets, and insurance

Advance will replace the existing Status proposition

Today HSBC is launching its global current account and banking service 'HSBC Advance' to UAE consumers. The new account offers an enhanced level of service and benefits over regular 24 x 7 bank accounts, but also gives customers access to preferential rates and prices on HSBC products and services.

Ishrat M Kiyani, Head of Premium Banking & Wealth Management of HSBC, said: "Advance brings together the best of HSBC for our customers, combining best buy products and our international banking resources and expertise. We believe HSBC Advance has an unrivalled mix of ongoing benefits such as no annual fee Platinum MasterCard credit card, free life cover and travel insurance, together with exclusive discounts on our products and services which our customers can benefit from as their financial needs change. Also importantly we provide the Advance proposition in a Shariah compliant manner as Amanah Advance to cater for customers who have a preference for Islamic banking."

For launch, HSBC Advance account includes the following exclusive benefits and offers:

• Team of relationship managers

• Dedicated teller and area in branches

• Preferential rates on assets

• No annual fee Platinum credit card / Amanah Advance Platinum credit card

• One free telegraphic transfer per month

• Free cash withdrawals and balance enquiries in home country

• Free internet, phone banking services and SMS

• Interest bearing current account / Profit-sharing Amanah advance account

• Free life cover of AED35,000

• Free Travel insurance / Travel takaful

• Preferential rates on selected insurance products / Amanah Takaful products

• A full range of wealth products to cater for any financial goal or need

• Access to a team of accredited financial planners

• International recognition

• Global emergency encashment of up to $10,000

• Global view and Global transfers - the ability to view your accounts around the world on a single log on and to transfer money between them seamlessly and in real time.

• International account opening at 50% recommended retail price.

HSBC Advance has already launched in several countries* and will continue to be rolled out in countries where HSBC has a retail banking presence. As a global product, HSBC Advance customers will benefit from global recognition in over 8,500 HSBC branches across the world and have access to emergency funds should they need it.

For UAE customers, HSBC Advance will replace 'Status' in the bank's portfolio of current accounts, with existing customers automatically being given access to HSBC Advance's benefits at no additional fee to them.

Customers with savings and investments of over USD 100,000 with us have access to HSBC Premier, the bank's first class service. Offering all the benefits of HSBC Advance and more, including the preferential prices and rates, Premier has no monthly charge and draws together customers' banking, wealth and international requirements into one readily accessible place.

-Ends-

HSBC Amanah
HSBC Amanah is the global Islamic financial services business of the HSBC Group. It was established in 1998 with the aim of making HSBC the leading provider of Islamic financial services worldwide. With established and successful operations in the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and the UK, HSBC Amanah represents the largest and most comprehensive Islamic proposition of any international bank.

HSBC Amanah won the Best International Islamic Bank award by Euromoney in 2010. It was also the only international bank to appear in the top 20 of The Banker's Top 500 Islamic Institutions Ranking 2009.

For more information about HSBC Amanah please visit: www.hsbcamanah.com

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited (HSBC)
HSBC is the largest and most widely represented international bank in the Middle East. HSBC Bank Middle East Limited has 46 branches throughout the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Algeria and the Palestinian Autonomous Area. In addition to the branch network the Bank maintains representative offices in Tehran, Iran and Tripoli, Libya. This extensive regional coverage is strengthened by another member of the HSBC Group, HSBC Bank Egypt SAE; and by its associated companies; The Saudi British Bank; British Arab Commercial Bank Limited; HSBC Saudi Arabia Limited; SABB Securities Limited; SABB Takaful Co.; and Dar Es Saalam Investment Bank.

For further information please contact:
Media enquiries to Andrea Jaishankar,
Manager Communications,
HSBC Bank Middle East Limited
04 4235635
andreajaishankar@hsbc.com

*HSBC Advance has is already available in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Panama, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, UK, Brunei, India, Philippines, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Jersey and Turkey.

© Press Release 2010