Hong Leong upbeat on new platinum cardKUALA LUMPUR: Hong Leong Bank Bhd, which launched Malaysia's first platinum business credit card with a cheque facility, anticipates 10% of new card bookings to come from this product in the next 12 months.
Group managing director Yvonne Chia said apart from new card bookings, she was positive the new product would be well - received and contribute 10% to 20% in total card receivables over a three-year period.
"We consistently adopt a customer-centric approach, taking extra care to understand their needs and desires. The bank employs sophisticated consumer analytics to enable us to understand and design products that are relevant and needed.
"Because of this, we are able to build long-lasting relationships with our customers while acquiring new ones who find our products that most suit their requirements," she said yesterday after launching the new card, targeted at small business owners.
According to Chia, the bank saw great potential and opportunities in the small business segment as close to 500,000 small business owners in Malaysia comprised mainly sole proprietors.
Furthermore, a high percentage of them still relied on their own funds and family or friends to finance their business operations, she noted.
Research had shown that more than 40% of small business owners used their personal credit card for business payment with the balance paying by cheque and cash.
This product provides a flexible payment solution, giving business owners accessibility to pay for business-related expenditure via credit card or cheques.
General manager for credit cards and personal financial services Margaret Then said in the financial year ended June 30, 2007, the bank's credit card business grew more than 35% as opposed to the industry's 20%. In the past two years, its credit card growth had also outpaced the industry's growth, she added.
"Among the features business owners can expect from this card are longer interest-free credit period of up to 60 days for all retail transactions and a cash rebate of 20% on interest charged on cash transactions," Then said.
Other benefits include waiver of annual fee (save on fees just by charging two times monthly or a total of RM15,000 per annum) and insurance privileges, such as comprehensive travel protection of up to RM2mil and retail purchase protection of up to RM10,000 per occurrence.
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