Sandakan, 11 January 2008 – The Alliance Financial Group is entrenching its presence and underscoring its commitment to Sabah through the transformation of two of its existing branches to better serve the community in Sabah.
Alliance Financial Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Bridget Lai, today officially opened the Bank’s newly renovated branches located at Jalan Tiga, Sandakan town centre, and at Mile 4 ½, Jalan Utara, Bandar Kim Fung.
“Alliance Bank has a strong presence in Sabah and we have grown together with the state and its people, meeting their needs every step of the way. The transformation of our Sandakan and Bandar Kim Fung branches is a testament of the Group’s continued commitment and contribution to the economic development of Sabah and our customers.
“Sandakan, with a population of over 220,000, is a thriving township with a diverse economic base that includes agriculture and tourism. As a community-centred bank Alliance Bank will participate fully in the town’s growth by offering full fledge banking services and a suite of innovative products to meet the lifestyle needs of our customers and the needs of a thriving business community,” said Datuk Lai.
Both Alliance Bank’s Sandakan and Bandar Kim Fung branches offer a wide range of modern day banking facilities that goes beyond transactional banking. Alliance Bank’s customers and businesses are able to enjoy full fledge banking facilities at the Sandakan branch which includes personal banking, share trading, SME business financing, whereas the Bandar Kim Fung branch offers day-to-day banking facilities with the exception of privilege banking and share trading services.
Datuk Lai also added that as a customer-focused bank, Alliance Bank intends to live up to its brand promise of Banking Made Personal through product innovation and continuous improvements to its banking facilities and its delivery channels. As such, most of its branches house a 24-hour e-Banking lobby, a customer sales and service lounge, a Share Trading section, a Privilege Banking Centre, an Alliance Business Centre complemented with a Corporate Banking section and Alliance Investment Bank Berhad (AIBB) branch.
“We have dedicated teams of staff manning every centre. The Privilege Banking Centre is manned by our Customer Relationship Managers who are able to offer financial advisory services to the Bank’s high-net worth customers, while the Alliance Business Centre has a team of financial experts offering financial advice to aid the SME and corporate businesses. At the AIBB branch, our team of knowledgeable investment bankers specialising in end-to-end investment banking servicing from origination to execution to distribution, will provide advisory services to help our clients take their business to the next level,” said Datuk Lai.
In addition to the facilities, the exterior of the Alliance Bank branches sport a bold, modern and contemporary look and feel. The branch façade is now a recognisable trademark synonymous of the Alliance brand and its brand promise of personalised banking services.
“At Alliance, we believe that banking is relationship-based and we want to continue to nurture this relationship. The look and feel of the Sandakan and Bandar Kim Fung branches reflect our commitment towards the community and the value we place on them. To further reinforce this commitment, you will be pleased to know that in this year, Alliance will continue to grow its branch network and strengthen its branch footprints, nationwide, where our branches will be our key distribution channel for Alliance’s Consumer and Commercial banking businesses,” she said.
To date, Alliance Bank has a total of 84 branches inclusive of its Alliance Rakan branches. Out of 84 branches, 15 branches are located within Sabah.