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Tag: bank

  • Standard Chartered Bank: Employee Was Right To Hand Over Money To Robber

    Standard Chartered Bank: Employee Was Right To Hand Over Money To Robber

    A teller who handed over about $30,000 in cash to a robber at Standard Chartered Bank’s Holland Village branch on Thursday did the right thing, according to the bank, which has tightened security there with a security guard.

    Yesterday, an islandwide manhunt continued for the Caucasian man who had brazenly walked into the bank around 11.25am, slipped the teller a piece of paper with his demands, then got away with the money on foot.

    The branch did not have a security guard then, but a bank spokesman said it had “in-branch security measures” such as closed-circuit TV cameras and staff “are well trained to respond to such situations”.

    The teller acted in line with the bank’s protocols and “in the best interests of our customers and our colleagues”, the spokesman added. “Everyone was safe.”

    She also said the bank has taken immediate action to further enhance security, without giving details, citing ongoing investigations.

    Yesterday, a Certis Cisco security guard was present at the Holland Village branch, but this is understood to be a temporary measure.

    Banks contacted said it is not mandatory for banks to have security guards, although many do.

    The Straits Times observed yesterday that of the six banks – HSBC, StanChart, OCBC Bank, DBS Bank, Citibank and Maybank – in that stretch of Holland Village, the last two were the only ones that appeared not to have a security guard.

    An industry source said bank staff are instructed to hand over money peacefully during a robbery so as not to endanger the safety of staff and customers.

    “We always tell staff – don’t attempt to bring attention to the robbery. You don’t want to agitate the robber or antagonise him. What if he pulls out a gun and it turns into a hostage situation? That’s even worse,” he said.

    Most banks that The Straits Times contacted yesterday said the latest incident has not prompted a review of their security measures, since these are regularly updated.

    DBS said its branches are “equipped with robust security systems and features”.

    A spokesman for OCBC said it has measures such as round-the-clock surveillance cameras and Certis Cisco guards. United Overseas Bank said its branch employees and security personnel have been reminded to be extra vigilant.

    It is understood that the police are studying CCTV footage from the vicinity of Holland Village to identify the suspect, who was described as a Caucasian wearing a grey hoodie and mustard trousers. No weapon was seen during the robbery, which was over in minutes.

    Business returned to normal yesterday along the stretch where the StanChart branch is located. Before the bank opened at 10am, customers were already waiting in line.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

     

  • Perbankan Islam Tumbuh Pantas Tetapi Masih Boleh Diperluas

    Perbankan Islam Tumbuh Pantas Tetapi Masih Boleh Diperluas

    BANK Islam tumbuh lebih pantas daripada bank konvensional tetapi ia terlalu tertumpu dalam beberapa negara utama sehingga terlepas peluang membangunkan sektor perbankan Islam sejagat, menurut satu laporan firma runding cara sejagat, Ernst & Young.

    Bank Islam di enam negara utama iaitu Qatar, Indonesia, Arab Saudi, Malaysia, Amiriah Arab Bersatu (UAE) dan Turkey menguasai AS$625 bilion ($812 bilion) sehingga akhir tahun lalu atau 80 peratus daripada pasaran kewangan Islam sejagat.

    Jika mengambil kira Bahrain, Pakistan dan Kuwait, perkongsian pasaran mencecah 95 peratus.

    Laporan itu menganggarkan aset perbankan Islam dalam enam negara utama dijangka mencapai AS$1.8 trilion menjelang 2019.

    Ia tumbuh 1.9 kali lebih pantas daripada bank konvensional dari 2009 hingga 2013.

    “Apabila Turkey dan Malaysia meningkatkan lagi rentak pertumbuhan dan bank-bank Saudi meneruskan rombakan bagi banknya agar mematuhi syariah, kami jangkakan perkongsian pasaran negara-negara utama itu akan mencapai 80 hingga 90 peratus daripada pasaran sejagat,” kata rakan kongsi Pusat Kecemerlangan Perbankan Islam Sejagat Ernst & Young, Encik Ashar Nazim.

    Beliau menambah bahawa industri juga akan meraih manfaat apabila lebih banyak negara seperti Mesir, Pakistan, negara-negara Afrika Utara seperti Tunisia, Algeria dan Maghribi menembusi sektor itu.

    “Namun, tanpa rombakan undang-undang dan sokongan pemerintah yang kukuh, rentak pertumbuhan industri perbankan Islam dijangka sederhana,” tambah Encik Ashar.

    Kekurangan pakar dan kurangnya kesediaan meneroka pasaran luar negara juga boleh menjejas pertumbuhan industri itu di samping menyekat pertumbuhan keuntungan bank Islam.

    Secara purata, pulangan terhadap ekuiti (ROE) bagi 20 bank Islam terbaik di dunia adalah 11.9 peratus bagi tempoh lima tahun sehingga 2013.

    Ini berbanding pulangan terhadap ekuiti sebanyak 14.5 peratus bagi 20 bank konvensional, tambah laporan itu.

    Bank Islam mempunyai saiz satu perempat daripada saiz bank konvensional.

    Walaupun Singapura tidak mempunyai penduduk Muslim sebagai penduduk majoriti, Penguasa Kewangan Singapura (MAS) berkata potensi pertumbuhan bagi kewangan Islam di Singapura amat kukuh, dengan lebih banyak bank luar negara menawarkan produk mereka.

    Penolong Pengarah Urusan MAS, Encik Ng Nam Sin, sebelum ini berkata MAS komited mengembangkan “sektor penting ini”.

    Malah, dengan permintaan daripada masyarakat Islam dan pelabur bukan Islam, kewangan Islam kini sama menonjol sejajar dengan khidmat kewangan konvensional.

    Beberapa bank Timur Tengah pula, seperti Qatar National Bank, bank terbesar di rantau itu, difahamkan berminat mengembangkan khidmat kewangan Islam di sini.

    “Potensi pertumbuhan bagi kewangan Islam di Singapura kukuh dan MAS komited mengembangkan sektor penting ini dalam industri khidmat kewangan,” ujar Encik Ng.

    Beliau menambah bahawa matlamat MAS ialah menggembleng kekuatannya dalam perbankan borong, pengurusan aset dan pasaran modal bagi mengembangkan kewangan Islam.

    Menurutnya, pendekatan serampang tiga mata dilaksana MAS bagi mengembangkan industri itu di sini.

    Pertama, ia memastikan medan permainan sama rata bagi kewangan Islam dan kewangan konvensional.

    Kedua, ia akan juga mempromosikan pembangunan bakat karyawan kewangan Islam di sini.

    Ketiga, MAS akan turut serta dalam memupuk piawaian antarabangsa bagi industri itu dengan menjadi anggota majlis Lembaga Khidmat Kewangan Islam (IFSB).

     

    Source: http://beritaharian.sg