OCBC Launches RM2 Million Advertising Campaign To Reach Out To SMEs

Written by Writer on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

OCBC Launches RM2 Million Advertising Campaign To Reach Out To SMEs

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) — OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Bhd is reaching out to business-banking customers, especially small-and medium-scale enterprises through a rare RM2 million institutional advertising campaign that centres on how the bank innovates to make life easier for businesses.

Its director and chief executive officer Jeffrey Chew said the campaign launched on Oct 8 and runs through the first quarter of 2009 is part of the banks initiative to lend support to businesses that might find the going tough during the current economic uncertainties.

It is also to boost their use of OCBCs convenient approach to business banking, he said.

“In the wake of the current global situation, we believe businesses need to gain a sense of self-belief amidst the uncertainties. This is best attained on the backdrop of knowing that your business partners are firmly behind you throughout the journey,” he said in a statement today.

The campaign, featuring newspaper advertisements and billboards, centres on how OCBC makes business banking easy for its customers by removing obstacles previously deemed unavoidable.

A similar campaign is also being rolled out in Singapore.

“The SME business has always been important to OCBC Bank and will continue to be as demonstrated by our long history with this segment.

“Our recent initiatives, the growth weve achieved and we being recognised as the only foreign bank to be accorded the CGC Top SMI Supporter Award-Financial Institution,” Chew said.

To ensure it is able to meet the needs of the SMEs in Malaysia, OCBC Bank has a significant number of Relationship Managers spread throughout the country who serve as experts in financing schemes for various businesses including oil and gas, construction, plantation, shipping and many others.

In August, the bank introduced OCBC SME Hotline to make it easier for clients facing financing issues to get in touch with the bank.

In 2007, OCBC Bank approved RM3.8 billion in loans to SMEs.

This year, the bank has already sanctioned more than RM3 billion and expects to achieve a double digit growth for 2008.

– BERNAMA