Public Bank Corporate Profile Essay

Conceptualised as ‘a bank for the public’ by its Founder and Chairman, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow, Public Bank commenced business on 6 August 1966, and was listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) on 6 April 1967. To-date, the Public Bank Group has grown into a premier banking group in Malaysia, with overseas market presence in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Hong Kong, China and Sri Lanka. As a leading financial services provider in Malaysia, the Public Bank Group offers a comprehensive range of financial products and services covering, amongst others, personal banking, commercial banking, Islamic banking, investment banking, share broking, trustee services, nominee services, sales and management of unit trust funds, bancassurance and general insurance products. With a total of 377 branches and employing over 17,600 people, the Public Bank Group caters to the financial needs of over eight million customers in Malaysia and in other countries in which the Group operates. With total assets of RM274.62 billion as at the end of 2012, the Public Bank Group is the third largest banking group in Malaysia and ranked number six by asset size in Southeast Asia. Public Bank is the largest non-government-linked corporation in Malaysia with a market capitalisation of RM57.52 billion as at the end of 2012. With its unbroken track record of strong and consistent profitability in the last 46 years, the Public Bank Group has demonstrated its strong and consistent ability to execute and meet its key performance indicators and brand promise to its customers. The PB Brand has been built based on integrity, honesty and excellent service delivery. These are complemented by accountability, excellent corporate governance, strong corporate culture, prudent management and competitive products and services. Focused and Consistent Growth Strategy The Public Bank Group adopts a focused and consistent growth strategy, which is to pursue organic growth in the retail banking business focusing on retail consumers and small- and medium-sized enterprises (â€Å"SMEs†), and strives to further increase its leadership in this broad-based retail banking market. Growth in the retail banking business is consistently focused on retail lending, deposit-taking and fee-based businesses. To drive business growth and increase its market share in retail banking, the Public Bank Group leverages on its well-established customer service infrastructure and processes and practices to deliver prompt and consistent service to meet the needs of its customers. Core Business Growth In the retail lending business, the Public Bank Group remains focused on growing its loans in residential mortgages, passenger vehicle financing and lending to SMEs. In an intensely competitive market where loan products are highly commoditised, the Group actively competes in the market for business growth and increased market share by differentiating itself through its highly efficient customer service delivery standards. As at the end of 2012, Public Bank maintained its leading position in residential mortgages, passenger vehicle financing and commercial property financing in Malaysia, with market shares of 19.1%, 26.4% and 33.7% respectively. Over the years, the Public Bank Group has been building a strong franchise in the deposit-taking business. Customer deposits have been growing steadily both in terms of the deposit customer base and the amount of deposits placed with the Group. As at the end of 2012, total deposits from customers of Public Bank in Malaysia recorded a growth rate of 13.0%, which is above the domestic banking industry’s growth rate of 8.4%. This reflects the high level of confidence that customers place in Public Bank to safeguard their funds. Public Islamic Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Public Bank, started its full-fledged Islamic banking business in 2008. It will continue to focus on Islamic consumer financing and retail commercial lending to SMEs. The Public Bank Group continues to intensify its effort to grow fee-based businesses through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual, which contributes a significant proportion of the non-interest income of the Group. Public Mutual has remained a dominant player in the private sector fund management industry in Malaysia with a leading market share of 40.8% as at the end of 2012 due to its superior fund performance, strong distribution capabilities and strong brand. Multiple Delivery Channels The Public Bank Group has a large and well distributed branch network of 255 branches in Malaysia to better service its large customer base of individuals and business enterprises. The Group further expanded its wide network of self service machines to 522 Automated Teller Machines, 532 Cheque Deposit Machines, 405 Cash Deposit Terminals and 186 Cash Recycling Machines for greater customer convenience. The Group has also expanded its internet banking and mobile banking service capabilities for greater access by customers to its banking services. The Group will continue to tap on its large sales and marketing force and strategic alliance with key partners to deliver high value products and services to its customers. Regional Player Today, the Public Bank Group’s overseas operations comprise 122 branches, with 83 branches in Hong Kong, 3 branches in China, 24 branches in Cambodia, 7 branches in Vietnam, 4 branches in Laos, a branch in Sri Lanka and 3 representative offices in Shanghai, Shenyang and Taipei. Strong Financial Ratings The Public Bank Group continues to be accorded strong credit and financial ratings for its consistent record of prudent management, strong risk management, excellent corporate governance, strong and consistent financial performance, superior asset quality and healthy capitalisation. Standard & Poor’s reaffirmed Public Bank’s A- long-term rating and A-2 short-term counterparty credit rating with stable outlook. Moody’s Investor Service reaffirmed Public Bank’s long-term deposit rating of A3 and revised its short-term deposit rating to P-2 based on Moody’s new Consolidated Global Bank Rating Methodology, with stable outlook. Rating Agency Malaysia reaffirmed the Bank’s long-term rating of AAA, the highest rating accorded by Rating Agency Malaysia, and its short-term rating of P1. Awards and Accolades The Public Bank Group continues to earn recognition and trust for its strong and sustained financial performance and prudent management. In 2012, Public Bank was honoured with 36 awards, including many best bank awards and excellence in corporate governance by national and international publications. These were in recognition of the Public Bank Group’s sustainable financial performance and excellence in the key areas expected of a banking institution by its stakeholders. Public Bank’s Founder and Chairman, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow, continues to be honoured with awards of excellence for his sterling leadership and extraordinary achievements, as well as enormous contributions to the Public Bank Group and to the banking industry in Malaysia and in the region. Corporate Social Responsibility As a responsible corporate citizen, the Public Bank Group remains committed to uphold its corporate social responsibility (â€Å"CSR†) in the areas of nation building, development of the market place and enrichment of the work place. The Group supports the community through programmes such as education, graduate employment, professional development and environmental conservation as well as in support of the underprivileged. The Public Bank Group’s CSR at the work place includes initiatives to enhance the core competencies of the staff, so as to further raise their contribution, productivity and efficiency. The Group believes that in fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities, the Group also enhances its corporate image, reputation, goodwill and brand value. Our Commitment In spite of its success, the Public Bank Group will never rest on its laurels. Given the increasingly challenging economic environment, the Group will continue to strive harder to deliver value to its stakeholders. To its customers, the Group will continue to provide competitive financial products and services to meet increasingly sophisticated customer demand. To its shareholders and investors, the Group will continue to enhance shareholder value with its strong financial performance. To its staff, the Group will continue to invest in human capital development initiatives to enhance core competencies and productivity.