HSBC BANK ARMENIA EXPECTS THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS USING INTERNET BANKING SERVICES TO GROW TO 2000

ARKA
DECEMBER 16, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, December 16, /ARKA/. HSBC Bank Armenia Chief Executive
Director Tim Slater told ARKA they expect the number of their clients
using Internet banking services to grow from current 1600 to 2000.

In an interview with the agency he said Internet banking is available
in 46 countries and in 42 it was recognized as the best Internet
banking service.

He said HSBC Bank Armenia has also 12,000 customers using Telephone
banking services. The bank has invested USD$2 million this year to
introduce these services, which Tim Slater described as the bank’s
main achievement in the outgoing year.

‘We have offered our clients a wide choice of banking instruments,
available at our 7 branches and 50 ATMs. Telephone banking is available
from 8 am to 23 pm, while Internet banking is available round the
clock,’ he said.

Among other achievements of the bank he pointed out the establishment
of the Administrative Center to move out back-offices in. This has
increased the bank’s efficiency. ‘At the same time we are focusing
on so-called Status clients. They are those who have deposited in our
bank about 35 million Drams. Their number is expected to grow to over
450 by the end of the year,’ he said.

HSBC Bank Armenia is a subsidiary of HSBC Bank plc. It was registered
in Armenia in 1995.

Seventy percent of its hares are held by HSBC plc and 30% by Armenian
overseas investors. HSBC Bank Armenia joined NASDAQ OMX Armenia in
2009 January. M.M.