KUALA LUMPUR (July 18): United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd (UOB Malaysia) has shifted its Main Bazaar branch in Kuching, Sarawak to iCom Square, offering its customers with a broader range of services including wealth advisory services and wealth management solutions.

UOB Malaysia said the provision of dedicated wealth services in Kuching is in line with an increase in the bank’s wealth management portfolio in Sabah and Sarawak, which has grown by 15% in the past year.

Its chief executive officer Wong Kim Choong said in configuring the new branch, the bank drew on its insights into and understanding of the needs and goals of its customers amid their changing lifestyles.

“An increasing number of our customers work in and around the iCom Square commercial centre. With the relocation of our branch and configuration of the premises, our customers will have added convenience and greater accessibility to our branch and to our range of services,” he said in a statement.

“We know that our customers increasingly use their mobile phones or go online to access information, to conduct simple banking transactions and to manage their accounts. They are now less likely to visit the branch for basic transactions. Instead, they are more likely to visit the branch for customised services such as financial advisory. Taking this into account, we have made the first floor a dedicated Wealth and Privilege Banking Centre to provide our customers with a comfortable space to discuss their wealth management needs," added Wong.

In line with the bank’s focus to harness digital innovation and in keeping with its customers’ preference to access information through their mobile devices, the branch is equipped with a Quick Response (QR) Code Wall. This will enable customers to access information about the bank’s products and services quickly and conveniently through their mobile device.

This is the first of UOB Malaysia’s branches tofeature a QR Code Wall. The bank plans to equip further branches with this digital facility in the coming months.

In addition to serving the personal wealth needs of its individual customers, the UOB Kuching branch at iCom Square will operate as a one-stop banking centre for its corporate, commercial and business banking customers.

The branch also features a special exhibition charting the history of UOB’s founder, Kuching-born Datuk Seri Wee Kheng Chiang. The late Wee had laid the foundation for UOB and was instrumental in leading the bank’s growth across Asia.

Wee had also made significant contributions to Sarawak as a philanthropist and prominent businessman. He was widely regarded as the “Father of Philanthropy” in Sarawak for his support of causes affiliated to education, Chinese associations, culture, sports and the underprivileged.