KUCHING: OCBC Bank believes that there is great potential for business and market growth in Sarawak and is looking forward to be more actively involved in the development of Kuching and the rest of the state.

This confidence can be seen via its RM6 million investment on fittings, renovation and upgraded machines for the transformation exercise of its Kuching branch to offer customers enhanced level of service, interaction and convenience.

“We see Kuching as a community whose people are constantly on the lookout for sophisticated products and services to help spur their personal and business activities in order to achieve their aspirations,” said OCBC Bank director and chief executive officer Jeffrey Chew.

“There are several residential areas in and around the vicinity that we believe have always responded very enthusiastically to what we have to offer.

“In addition, there is a vast number of businesses operating here and we believe our business banking services would remain of great interest to them,” Chew said at a press conference to introduce the new-look Kuching branch at Gateway Kuching, Jalan Bukit Mata yesterday.

“Beyond this, Kuching remains an important hub, together with Miri, from which we reach out to a broader community within Sarawak,” he added.

Chew said customers can count on OCBC leaders like Kuching branch acting senior manager and consumer business head Jessie Lim as well as business banking head Ting Kee Suen, who is also Miri branch senior manager.

Chew said the bank had been in the state for 60 years and looked forward to continue growing and progressing with the people here.

With the unveiling of the transformed Kuching branch, OCBC Bank has now transformed seven of its 29 branches nationwide since launching the exercise last July.

The transformation for all branches throughout the country is expected to be completed in a year or two.

Chew said the revamp was an important part of the bank’s continuous transformation process and a reflection of its desire to serve customers better and make their visits to the bank as enriching as possible.

Through the enhanced range of services and facilities housed in the branch design, Chew said OCBC customers can expect smoother service delivery for convenience and comfort, with streamlined processes that do not compromise on customer care or experience.

“The aim of our customer engagement concept, showcased in the branch design, is to make it easier for customers to approach and start a conversation with the bank,” he said.

Chew said through the branch transformation initiative, new digital platforms in the form of user-friendly ‘Touchpoints’ and LCD displays allow customers to interact freely with the bank without having to join the main queue for conventional services.

“Customers trying out these new customer-interfaces can easily find out more about the bank’s products and services, current promotions, customer rewards and even gain simple tips on money management,” he added.

At the main service counter, the use of ‘Teller Assisted Units’ or TAU for counting notes makes over-the-counter cash transactions more efficient and transparent.

“As the cash is counted by TAU and not the tellers, customers are able to receive ‘real-time’ indication of the total sum of cash in the transaction via a display screen, giving them greater peace of mind and increasing service efficiency,” said Chew.

Other upgraded offerings at the branch include the self-banking lobby known as the OCBC Fastlane, the retail customer service area and teller services, the business banking centre and the premier banking centre.

The fully-automated Fastlane features cash and cheque deposit machines alongside automated teller machines (ATMs) which are operational 24 hours, fully covered by CCTV and protected round-the-clock by security personnel, seven days a week.

In conjunction with the branch transformation exercise, customers are invited to take part in a series of ‘surprises’ including special fixed deposit rates until Dec 12 and a chance to win up to RM3,000 when they sign up for selected products and services on or before Nov 26.

OCBC Bank Kuching branch occupies a total space of 16,000 sq ft and is open from 9.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.