Business Banking

Deutsche Bank Asia Pacific named 'Bank of the Year'

Deutsche Bank announced that it has received one of the highest industry accolades in Asia, being named 'Bank of the Year' 2007 by International Financing Review Asia (IFR Asia).

This is the second time in three years that Deutsche Bank Asia Pacific has been awarded IFR Asia's 'Bank of the Year' in its annual review, having won the award in 2005.

"Deutsche Bank has grown massively while still retaining a spirit for experimentation and creative banking," said IFR Asia Editor Jasper Moiseiwitsch. "It has the brains...and the brawn.... It has trading floors in every Asian market of significance and it will be the bank to beat for many years to come", Moiseiwitsch said.

"In gross league table terms, across all assets (bonds, loans, equity and equity-linked), across Asia Pacific ex-Japan, the bank has seen deal flow rise 2-1/2 times since 2002", he added.

Chief Executive Officer Deutsche Bank Asia Pacific, Colin Grassie said, "To receive IFR Asia's Bank of the Year 2007 Award is significant and valued recognition of the innovation and excellence our 14,000 staff across Asia Pacific strive to deliver to clients."

IFR Asia also awarded Deutsche Bank Asia Pacific: Best Derivatives House Asia; Best Derivatives House - Equities; Best Derivatives House - Fixed Income and Commodities, and Best Australia/New Zealand Securitisation House in its 2007 awards.

In its award overview, IFR Asia broadly recognised Deutsche Bank for its ability to execute some of the region's most sophisticated trades; the speed with which the bank innovated upon regulatory change in China and India; its league table presence; and Deutsche Bank's strength in certain products, including bonds and convertible bonds.

Deutsche Bank was also a key factor in five deal-of-the-year awards, including: Best Vietnam Capital Markets Deal (Vinashin Bond); Best Singapore Capital Markets Deal (DBS bond); Best Macau Capital Markets Deal (Melco PBL Gaming Macau financing); Best Syndicated/Leveraged Loan (Tata Steel's financing backing its acquisition of UK-based Corus Steel); and Best Investment Grade Bond (ICICI three-tranche bond).

IFR Asia's end-of-year awards are keenly contested by all major investment banks and are recognised in the industry as a benchmark of performance and excellence in the region. Awards winners use the results when marketing for new business to clients.

'Sisu Udana Kusalatha Pranama' from People's Bank

People's Bank will hold its annual 'Sisu Udana Kusalatha Pranama' scholarship presentation ceremony today at the Staff Training College of People's Bank.

The scholarship scheme held in conjunction with the anniversary of the Bank, will award scholarships to 51 students who have excelled at the 2006 G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination.

The ceremony is being held for the 14th consecutive year, having been initiated in 1993. Students have been chosen for the scheme according to results certified by the Department of Examinations, on both district and national levels.

They are also students who have succeeded at the first sitting of the examination. People's Bank provides funds for two years to these students for their higher education needs.

This scholarship scheme, a corporate social responsibility drive by People's Bank, aims to make a valuable contribution to the student population of Sri Lanka through involvement in the education sector.

It is also conducted in appreciation of the achievements of talented students, thereby nurturing the prolific growth of the future generations of the nation. The 'Sisu Udana Kusalatha Pranama' scholarship presentation ceremony will be held under the patronage of Chairman, People's Bank W. Karunajeewa.

It will also be attended by Chief Executive Officer/General Manager Asoka de Silva and the corporate management of People's Bank, together with students, their parents and the Principals of their respective schools.

NDB Bank Partners with EDEX

EDEX has gained a reputation of excellence throughout the past four years, since its initiation. Functioning as the largest Higher education and Career guidance fair, it is organised annually by the Royal College Old Boys Union in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. The past years have seen this project grow to unprecedented heights.

Due to its prestige and success, EDEX has gained much popularity amongst the Colombo student population and has been the leading educational and careers fair and has drawn a broad spectrum of students to university graduates.

It has turned in to the ideal platform for youth in the country to initiate and achieve educational and career excellence as it offers seamless choices, countless options and great new opportunities to any one who visits.

Chief Executive Officer of NDB Bank Nihal Welikala, said NDB Bank, as a responsible corporate entity, extends its patronage towards EDEX 2008 as the official bank, with its mission of contributing to economic development in Sri Lanka and ensuring the long term stability of the younger generation with its noble vision "To empower Sri Lankan youth to be globally competitive".

He said that good education is a lifetime investment. It offers many opportunities to achieve ambitions in life. Considering this booming need, NDB Bank introduced "Dream Maker Education Loan" which will help youth to over come financial obstacles that prevent them from reaching their ambitions.

Dream maker Education loan is probably only of its' kind in the market, which allows parents to borrow on behalf their children to facilitate the larger financing requirements for higher education.

The scheme is commonly used by working students specially funding for professional Qualifications and MBAs.

Fair scheduled to take place at the BMICH Colombo from January 18 to 20 and Queens Hotel Kandy on January 22 and 23, the fifth edition of this annual event expects participation by more than 120 exhibitors and visitor numbers mostly youth to top 100,000, according to its organisers, the Royal College Union.

Commercial Bank to stay open on Hadji Festival Day

More than 100 branches of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon will stay open for business on Friday, December 21, a Statutory Public and Bank holiday on account of Id-Ul-Alha (Hadji).

Bank has announced that all its branches in the Districts of Colombo and Gampaha (numbering 81), as well as its branches in Kalutara, Batticaloa, Kuliyapitiya, Peradeniya, Ratnapura and Wennapuwa will function on this day, in addition to its 22 Supermarket Banking Counters and the Holiday Banking Centres at Colombo 7, Negombo, Galle City and Ampara, which are open on a 365 day basis.

Announcing the decision to keep these branches open on December 21, a spokesman for the Commercial Bank said: "We have many corporate sector clients who will be working on this day thereby needing access to banking services.

In addition to this the increasing numbers of personal customers who visit our Holiday Banking Centres indicate a need for banking services on holidays. In response to this need, we have increased the number of branches that open on holidays", spokesman said.

Customers visiting these branches on holidays would be able to carry out all over-the-counter banking transactions irrespective of where their accounts are held, opening of accounts and obtaining foreign exchange for travel overseas.

These branches will be kept open from 09.00 am to 01.30 pm.