By Jacqueline David
KUCHING: Affin Bank Berhad will be setting up eight new branches by year-end to strengthen its presence in Sarawak.
Six additional branches will be opened in Kuching, one in Bintulu and another in Miri.
Its president and group chief executive officer Datuk Wan Razly Abdullah Wan Ali said presently there are six branches in the state, three here and one each in Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.
“We expect to amplify our presence in Sarawak by year-end,” he said during the bank’s media engagement at a hotel here Sunday.
“We have got our approval and we will do the renovation within these three to four months.”
He said the new branches will integrate Affin Bank and Affin Islamic, thus operating on a dual banking branch concept.
Pending Bank Negara approval the existing Northbank Kuching branch which now operates on a dual concept will be the only branch to incorporate the triple banking branch concept, integrating Affin Bank, Affin Islamic and Affin Hwang Investment Bank.
“We are waiting for BNM’s approval for the integration of Affin Hwang Investment Bank,” he said.
In a related development Wan Razly said the bank is ready to help empower and support small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
“SMEs are a high-risk segment in the market and we can help those involved in the SME industry in various ways, including helping them finance their projects as well as financing capital expenditure,” he said.
“In addition, we are also able to help these SME industry players through revenue collection services through our terminals, at our branches by using Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) that use our electronic data capture (EDC) network.”
During the recent Sarawak Women’s Day celebration in Sibu, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had announced a special allocation of RM25 million to help women entrepreneurs start and expand their businesses.
According to Abang Johari, women entrepreneurs who are successful, have the skills to do business, and want to expand their business, but lack of capital, should approach the bank for the loans, as the money would be deposited in Affin Bank.
Wan Razly said Sarawak has a lot of schemes, and that this is one of the first for SMEs in Sarawak.
He is optimistic that Affin Bank is making strides towards becoming a major player in the banking industry.
