Al khaliji focusing on modern, alternate service channels

08/03/2012 09:10 AST

Al khaliji has the spotlight on developing alternate modern channels for customers, said bank’s Group CEO Robin McCall.

“These days more than 70% of customer transaction is done through electronic channels. So we will concentrate on developing alternate modern channels so that customer reliance on branch network can be reduced,” McCall told Gulf Times here yesterday.

Asked why al khaliji was focusing more on the corporate side of business than retail, McCall said: “Yes, we are predominantly a corporate and treasury-led institution. The bank’s clear and distinctive strategy is Qatar-centric, corporate and treasury led and fully aligned to the economic realities of the regions where we have a presence.”

McCall said al khaliji would add branches “selectively”. Currently, the al khaliji group has eight branches.

For al khaliji, he said, “brand equity and visibility through branch network is important. That’s something we are working on. We will ensure we will get the brand equity out.”

He said there is a strong global interest on Qatar, which is maintaining a good rate of growth. Qatar’s vision is also praised globally.

“In Qatar, we should enjoy a double-digit growth in the foreseeable future. A lot of banks are obviously tapping the debt capital market on the basis they can get a source to secure long term funding, which reduces the assets – liability mismatch,” McCall said.

Building on its previous achievements, al khaliji’s priority for 2012 is to strengthen the customer proposition by broadening the bank’s channel and product offering while optimising efficiency. Qatar’s growth momentum will continue to create favourable opportunities, he said. The bank will enhance international connectivity across the group and ensure its risk appetite remains appropriate to market conditions.

“We will continue to reinforce our brand value of trust and integrity in all dealings with our customers,” McCall said.

Al khaliji has posted a full-year net profit after tax of QR487mn.

Gulf Times