RHB BANK INTRODUCES ITS FIRST EVER CAFE WITHIN THE BANK IN ITS NEW PREMISES IN DAMANSARA UTAMA

Petaling Jaya, 29 August 2002-When it comes to customer convenience and service, RHB Bank Berhad ("RHB Bank") has moved a step ahead with its introduction of the first ever café within the bank concept in Malaysia, bringing a whole new dimension to more personalised customer service in banking halls.

Customers coming into the RHB Bank branch in Damansara Utama can now enjoy a cup of coffee, a snack or even lunch at RHB Bank with the opening of the San Francisco Coffee café at the ATM lobby of the bank branch.

RHB Bank Head of Consumer Banking, Peter England, said today, "We've had tremendous response since our opening August 19 and our customers as well as some non customers have been enjoying the new facilities and café in our new premises here in Damansara Utama." RHB Bank has installed its latest ATM and cash deposit machines and consumer banking sales executives are on hand to meet customers at the café to help them with their banking needs.

"We are introducing a new banking lifestyle here, one of convenience, comfort and of course better security. Our ATM lobby is well lit and the café is open extended hours so many of our customers have said they now feel more safe and assured especially when making ATM withdrawals at night in this area. It's been a hive of activity here since our café bank opened."

On the concept of the café bank, Mr England said the move was in line with RHB Bank's new consumer banking strategy for its branch and sales and service network. RHB Bank has targetted its Consumer Banking business as the key driver of its banking strategy and has over the last 12 months, upgraded and refurbished a number of branches in the Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Bahru. "We have converted these branches to become more consumer focussed and we have a Consumer Banking Manager to head each of these branches. Our concept is to focus on sales and service rather than the traditional bank branch where the focus has been more on operations," he added.

RHB Bank is also moving aggressively in its plans to offer one-stop financial services via its branches and sales and service outlets. Within its Consumer Banking Division, RHB Bank is now offering Investment Services and will be introducing by October, financial planning for customers. The Bank has invested RM 4.5 million to establish its financial planning business which includes state of the art financial planning tools and a team of financial planners located in the Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Bahru and East Malaysia.

RHB Bank's network of 185 branches across Peninsular and East Malaysia are supported by mobile sales teams in the Klang Valley and key regional centres. Currently, Consumer Banking revenue contributes approximately one third of the entire bank revenue and moving forward, RHB Bank is set on the consumer sector being a leading growth component over the next 4-5 years. Consumer Banking in RHB Bank over the last 12 months has grown by 15%. Key drivers of growth have been home loans, which grew by 27% and credit cards, which grew by 60%.

Issued by RHB Public Affairs & Communications. For further information, please contact Celina May Ong at Tel:03-92802535.