At least 3,000 people to use internet banking services of HSBC Bank Armenia by end of year

YEREVAN, September 15. /ARKA/. Minimum 3,000 clients will be using Internet banking services of HSBC Bank Armenia by the end of the year, CEO of HSBC Bank Armenia Tim Slater said. Under favorable conditions the number of users is to reach 5,000 people, he said.

Today 900 people take the advantage of the bank’s Internet banking services. 6 million people use the service every day in 42 countries. Number of registered users reaches 14 million people.

The Internet banking service was introduced by the bank in the country on July 1.

In July 2009, HSBC bank’s Internet banking services were recognized by Global Finance magazine as the best ones in 42 countries, Slater said.

The new service gives clients an opportunity to use their accounts, make transfers, open new time deposits 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Slater said.

The bank ensures the security of the service at several levels, including through a security device that prevents a transaction unless the code is entered.

The Internet-banking system gives clients an opportunity to operate their accounts with no need for visiting the bank.

Another advantage of the new service in Armenia is that 9 million Armenians living abroad can manage their accounts in Armenia by phone and through Internet, Slater said.

It is $2 million investments, which is equal to the amount required for creating four new bank branches, Slater said. This demonstrates that HSBC Bank Armenia is consistent in its efforts to improve the quality of the banking services, he added.

The bank’s retail business regional manager for Armenia and Georgia Artem Grigoryan said that no additional software is required for using the new service. All services not connected with cash transactions (opening, performing transactions in Armenia and abroad and from one account to another, sending notifications to the bank about changing the data, and etc.) are available through Internet banking, he said.

For getting connected to Internet banking system clients have to pay 10,000 drams ($26.5) for free use of the service till the end of the year, Grigoryan said.

HSBC Bank Armenia closed joint stock company, daughter bank of HSBC Banl plc, was registered on September 25 1995. HSBC Bank plc holds 70% of the shares of HSBC Bank Armenia with the remaining 30% belonging to foreign Armenian investors. The bank became member of NASDAQ OMX Armenia at the end of January 2009. –0--