FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Standard Chartered Marathon Savings Account
Higher Daily Interest with HKD Savings Interest Rate up to 3.6% p.a.
[Hong Kong - 21 January 2008] – The enthusiasm for the Standard Chartered Marathon continues to grow, with a record breaking number of nearly 50,000 participants this year! To celebrate the widespread enthusiasm for this annual
sporting event, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (“SCBHK”) is offering higher interest rates and more flexibility for customers through its Standard Chartered Marathon Savings account, the first banking product that embraces the marathon spirit.
“The Standard Chartered Marathon has become the most popular and largest participatory sporting event in Hong Kong; and we hope to leverage the public’s tremendous support of the marathon to benefit other community initiatives as well. This year, we have launched our ‘Race for the Living Planet - Environment Pledge’ to encourage members of the public to make their own personal environmental pledges. In addition, we are also incorporating the marathon spirit into our banking products upholding our commitment to serve our customers in many innovative ways,” said Mr. Ben Hung, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of SCBHK.
Since its initial launch in 2006, the Marathon Savings Account has been well received by customers. This year, to coincide with the Marathon’s new 10km Race route and the relocation of the finishing line for all races to Victoria Park, the Account will feature even more new offers for customers.
“The Marathon Savings Account opens up a whole new way for customers to grow their wealth,” said Ms. Pauline Lai, General Manager of Consumer Transaction Banking for SCBHK. “The Account allows our customers to enjoy savings interest
rates of up to 3.6%p.a.; and also offers them the flexibility and liquidity to seize every investment opportunity to grow their wealth.”
Beginning from today until 7 March 2008, customers who open a Marathon Savings Account with new funds of HK$50,000 will enjoy bonus interest in 2 phases:
Phase 1:
Enjoy interest rates of up to 2.8% p.a.* from the opening date of the Marathon Savings Account until 31 May 2008
Phase 2:
Enjoy interest rates of up to 3.6% p.a.* from 1 June 2008 to 30 September 2008
Bonus interest will be calculated at the bonus interest rate and compounded daily; and will be credited to the customer’s account every month. To enjoy extra interest,
customers can deposit IPO refund cheques into their Marathon Savings Account up to 30 September 2008.
* Bonus interest rate applicable to Marathon Savings Account will be determined with reference to SCBHK’s then prevailing highest-tiered interest rate for Hong Kong Dollar Savings Accounts. If market interest rates change, the bonus interest rate applicable to the Marathon Savings Account will be adjusted accordingly. To celebrate this year’s marathon, customers will receive a Standard Chartered Marathon Limited Edition New Balance Wristband Watch upon successful opening of a Marathon Savings Account. In addition, customers who open a Marathon Savings
Account before 31 January 2008 with a designated amount of new funds will receive a digital camera worth over HK$3,000. This promotion will last until 7 March 2008.
To encourage runners to keep up the marathon spirit, the Marathon Savings Account will continue to sponsor the “Marathon Savings Challenge Award” this year. The first
local male and female runners to cross the finish line in the full marathon will win cash prizes of HK$30,000 each, sponsored by the Standard Chartered Marathon Savings Account.
For more information on the Standard Chartered Marathon Savings Account, please visit the Standard Chartered website at www.standardchartered.com.hk *** End ***
To download today’s event photos, please visit: http://218.188.194.204/~bblue3/msa08.zip
For media enquiries please contact: Cathy Kwong / Gabriel Kwan Regional Corporate Affairs, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited Tel: 2820 3083 / 28203036 Or Bbluesky Company Limited Evon Yap Tel: 9257 4534 / 2234 6424 Cherry Chan Tel: 9739 7932 / 2234 6424
Notes to Editor: Hong Kong Standard Chartered – leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East The history of Standard Chartered in Hong Kong dates back to 1859. It is currently one of the SAR’s three note-issuing banks. Standard Chartered incorporated its Hong Kong business on 1 July 2004, and now operates as a licensed bank in Hong Kong under the name of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Chartered PLC. Standard Chartered PLC is listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and is consistently ranked in the top 25 among FTSE-100 companies by market capitalisation. The London-headquartered group has operated for over 150 years in some of the world’s most dynamic markets with an extensive global network of over 1,400 branches (including subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures) in over 50 countries in the Asia Pacific Region, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the United Kingdom and the Americas. Its income and the number of employees have more than doubled over the last five years primarily as a result of organic growth and supplemented by acquisitions. As one of the world’s most international banks, Standard Chartered employs almost 60,000 people, representing over 100 nationalities, worldwide. This diversity lies at the heart of the Bank’s values and supports the Bank’s growth as the world increasingly becomes one market. For more information on Standard Chartered, please log on to www.standardchartered.com