STANDARD CHARTERED SETS TO GO ONLINE

Me Standard Chartered Online - Personalised Internet Banking Service
tailor-made to meet every customer's needs any time, anywhere

(Hong Kong, 27 November 2000) Standard Chartered Bank today announced the launch of "Me Standard Chartered Online", an interactive and personalised Internet banking and investment service for individuals and SMEs. "Me Standard Chartered Online", available starting from tomorrow, is the first of its kind in the Hong Kong banking industry to provide personalised banking and investment services on the Internet.

"Me Standard Chartered Online" is designed to provide all online customers with a brand new banking experience. The service strives to understand the needs of every customer and enable all customers to be in control of their own banking needs and instill a personal experience. The service offers unique features including a personal home page for customers, Service Ambassador of their choice, online account opening service and real-time financial news by e-finet.

Online customers can choose a virtual "Service Ambassador" to guide them through the entire banking experience. They can open new bank accounts and the entire procedure can be completed online. A wealth of useful online bilingual financial news and information in collaboration with e-finet, a leading online financial information service provider in Hong Kong, will be provided to customers. Customers can choose to receive personalised financial information directly on their "Me Standard Chartered Online" personal homepage.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mr E. Mervyn Davies, Group Executive Director, Standard Chartered said, ""Me Standard Chartered Online" is Standard Chartered's first initiative in providing a series of online personalised banking services to our customers. With the increasing popularity of Internet usage in Hong Kong, this is the right time to launch this new service to provide our customers with a personalised and convenient banking experience. Online connectivity gives customers round-the-clock access to our banking service. As soon as customers get connected, they can plan and manage their own finances that are personalised to meet their needs at any time, anywhere. Standard Chartered is committed to playing a key role in nurturing an e-culture in the banking sector."

Mr Peter Wong, Chief Executive and General Manager of Standard Chartered Bank, Hong Kong, said, "We are proud to be the first bank to offer such an unique personalised Internet banking service in the market. "Me Standard Chartered Online" will strengthen our service offering to customers and cultivate a new relationship online. With this innovative service offering, our customers will be able to enjoy new experiences in managing their own finances. So log on to the future of Banking!"

Other services provided include account balance review, fund transfer, online application, securities trading, pre-set stock watch and credit card related services including payments and applications.

The new "Me Standard Chartered Online" will be available to Standard Chartered account holders starting from tomorrow. Customers logging on to the Standard Chartered Bank web site (www.standardchartered.com.hk) will be able to enjoy this new and personalised banking experience anytime, anywhere.

To encourage new and existing customers to try this new online service, Standard Chartered Bank launches a series of promotional incentives. All phone banking customers will be eligible to purchase a bargain-priced IBM NetVista PC, with free peripherals including printers, scanners and three-month's free broadband Internet access. This IBM PC includes a built-in shortcut icon to link users directly to "Me Standard Chartered Online".

All customers who login to the new service during the promotional period will also be enrolled in a Grand Lucky Draw. First Prize will be two round-trip tickets to Silicon Valley. Second and Third place prizes are an IBM NetVista PC and an IBM Workpad PDA respectively.

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