12 June 2006
Customer banking service and convenience increasing in the region

Standard Chartered, one of the leading international banks in the UAE, has opened its first Sales and Service centre at Dubai Marina and announced the launch of its first mobile ATM, as part of the Bank's aim to be one of the leading banks in the region.

The new Sales and Service Centre was inaugurated by Owen Belman, Consumer Banking Head, UAE & Oman and is located at Dubai Marina's South Podium. 

"The Dubai Marina is a prime location for our new Sales and Service Centre, and gives our customers easy and convenient banking access," said Proctor.

"This is all part of our strategy to extend and grow our distribution footprint throughout the region and have as many branches, sales & service centres and ATM sites as we can across the UAE."

Managed by a team from 11am to 8pm seven days a week, the Sales and Service Centre will allow customers to apply for credit cards, loans, new accounts and enquire about the broad range of Standard Chartered services. An ATM and a Cash Deposit Machine (CDM) located at the Centre allow customers to withdraw cash and make deposits 24 hours a day.

In addition, Standard Chartered has also launched its first mobile ATM, allowing customers to access cash withdrawal, loan and account facilities from a variety of outdoor sites across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.  

"Mobile ATMs are a relatively new and novel concept to the UAE, and our highly visible mobile ATM truck is another example of our vision for providing customers with easy access to their finances, at times and places to suit them," said Belman.

The Standard Chartered mobile ATM will be on the move through various high-density locations in Dubai, including Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah, Bur Dubai, Deira, and will also be available at key events held throughout the year in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

It supplements the Bank's established regional branch network, and will be open from 9am to 9pm, seven days a week. A full range of banking services will be available through the mobile ATM, such as cash withdrawal, account opening, credit card applications, as well as personal and auto loans. 

"These new consumer banking initiatives are all part of Standard Chartered's extensive distribution plan to enhance the Bank's UAE footprint, and to provide easy and convenient banking access for our customers," Belman concluded.

Meanwhile another five offsite ATMs in key locations in Dubai have joined the Bank's existing base of 30 outlets across the UAE.

-Ends-

Standard Chartered - leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East
Standard Chartered PLC is listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and is ranked in the top 25 among FTSE-100 companies, by market capitalisation.

Standard Chartered has a history of over 150 years in banking and is in many of the world's fastest growing markets. It has an extensive global network of over 1,200 branches (including subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures) in 56 countries in the Asia Pacific Region, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the United Kingdom and the Americas. As one of the world's most international banks, Standard Chartered employs almost 44,000 people, representing 89 nationalities, worldwide.

Standard Chartered's strengths lie in its breadth, diversity and balance and is trusted across its network for its standard of governance and corporate responsibility. The Bank is committed to all its stakeholders by living its values in its approach to managing its people, exceeding expectations of its customers, making a difference in the communities that we operate in and working with its regulators.

Standard Chartered uniquely derives 95% of profits from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Serving both Consumer and Wholesale Banking customers, the Bank combines deep local knowledge with global capability to offer a wide range of innovative products and services as well as award winning solutions.

Some of the major awards won in 2005 by the Bank include:

1. IFR Asia's Domestic Bond House of the Year

2. Finance Asia's Best Local Currency Bond House & Best Securitisation House

3. Asia Risk's Interest Rates Derivatives House of the Year

4. Trade Finance's Best Trade Finance Bank in Sub Saharan Africa

5. Global Custodian's Best Agent Bank in Asia

6. The Asset's Best Cash Management Bank for South Asia

7. Retail Banker International's Best Retail Bank in Asia Pacific.

For more information on Standard Chartered, please log on to www.standardchartered.com

For further information please contact:
Niall McLoughlin
Head of Corporate Affairs,
Standard Chartered Bank
Tel: +9714 (0) 4 5070467 
Mobile: +971 (0) 50 6251329
Email: niall.mcloughlin@ae.standardchartered.com

For further information please contact:-
Sanjoy Chowdhury
Senior Manager
Regional Corporate Affairs
Standard Chartered Bank
Tel: +9714 (0) 4 5070518
Mobile: +971 (0) 50 4579720
Email: Sanjoy.Chowdhury@ae.standardchartered.com

© Press Release 2006