Brunei Bank collects ‘firsts’

Baiduri means ‘emerald,’ the green precious stone that has been much admired and loved by many throughout history. Associated with grandeur, faithfulness and friendship, the stone has had a history as far back as 3000 BC, when they were the established gemstones in India, Egypt and Rome. It is no wonder, therefore, that the founders of Baiduri Bank felt an affinity with the stone which symbolises the Bank’s mission to provide innovative and comprehensive financial products and services to the Brunei community.

Established in 1994, Baiduri Bank is a member of the Baiduri Bank Group, one of the largest providers of financial products and services in Brunei Darussalam. Baiduri Finance, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Baiduri Bank which came into existence in 1996, has already captured a significant part of the automobile finance business; it is now the country’s leading automobile finance company.

The bank’s shareholders include Baiduri Holdings, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Brunei Technical Services and BNP Paribas. With a strong combination of local commitment and global expertise, the group is acknowledged as one of the leading banks in the country, with a track record of financial innovations and pioneering services. Its core business includes banking services to institutions and corporations, retail banking, consumer financing and wealth management.

Wide choice in product and delivery
Baiduri Bank’s payment card business has the largest card member and merchant base in the country. It is the first and only bank in Brunei to hold franchise to four major card brands, namely American Express, Visa, MasterCard and UnionPay, offering the widest range of payment cards to meet the needs of different customer segments.

Baiduri Bank Group’s network consists of 12 bank branches, a finance arm with two branches, and 28 ATM locations, all of which are strategically located in order to serve the Brunei population of 400,000. ATMs are equipped with cash and cheque deposit functions in addition to cash withdrawal, bill payment and fund transfer functions. Furthermore, enhanced internet banking services and a mobile authentication and transaction platform for payment and value-added services give customers extra convenience to meet the needs of specific customer segments.

Close cooperation and strong synergy developed between businesses has contributed to significant growth in business volumes and activities, with solid performance recorded across the entire spectrum of the group, resulting in continuous growth.

Baiduri Bank’s operating profit has grown steadily each year over the last 10 years, earning it numerous international awards – the latest being Company of the Decade for Brunei, awarded by World Finance. Total assets of the group at the end of 2010 stood at BND2.7bn ($2.1bn), ranking the group among the top financial institutions in Brunei.

Leadership and innovation
Renowned in the Brunei market for its strength, commitment and innovation, Baiduri Bank has many ‘firsts’ to its name. Some major innovations of the last decade are:
– the first to offer in-store and in-mall banking seven days a week,
– the first to offer internet banking,
– the first and only bank in Brunei to hold franchise to four major payment cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express and UnionPay,
– the first to offer co-brand cards with American Express and national carrier Royal Brunei Airlines,
– the first and only bank to provide money remittance facilities under the Western Union agency,
– the first and only bank to introduce the next generation mobile suite of services which provides 24-7 banking services via mobile phone,
– the first and only bank to introduce multi-currency ATMs dispensing US dollars, Singapore dollars, Brunei dollars and euros.

Customer-centric
Baiduri Bank’s strong desire and ability to develop its client relationships, streamline processes to improve customer services and respond to market changes have definitely contributed to its success thus far.
Embracing international best practice, Baiduri Bank’s Credit Administration Department and subsidiary Baiduri Finance are certified to ISO9001, the hallmark of operating excellence. They remain the only two units in the Brunei financial industry to have obtained this internationally recognised seal of quality.

All these, together with its complete and diversified range of products and services catering to individuals, companies, government and the public under one roof create a winning combination for continued success.

Today, Baiduri Bank is acknowledged as an award-winning local bank, using local resources, market intelligence and adopting international best practices to deliver world-class innovative financial services to the people of Brunei Darussalam, the ‘Abode of Peace.’

For more information Tel: (673) 226 8300; Email: bank@baiduri.com; www.baiduri.com