3.
7 Products & Services
Bank Asia has on offer a broad array of innovative financial services specially designed to
match the specific requirement of the clientele ranging from large corporate houses, small and
medium enterprises, to private individuals. The team of professionals assists the clients in
finding the most appropriate financing package to help the clients realize their short-term goals
and long-term aspirations. Bank Asia offers several products and packages through different
banking systems. Such are-
(I) Corporate Banking
Corporate Banking unit offers banking products and services to the corporate clients customized
to meet the specific needs of those organizations. Apart from the traditional current and short-
term deposit facilities, Bank Asia helps in import and export financing through different
services offered to their corporate clients. The products and services offered by Bank Asia
Limited to the corporate clients can be divided into the following categories.
Bank Asia presents several effective credit schemes for corporate clients. The major programs
are:
Working Capital Financing
Term Loans
Equity Financing
Structured Finance
Other than these schemes the bank may arrange consultative and documentary services for
corporate clients. Thus Bank Asia supports big businesses and industries of the country in
their endeavor for expansion and growth.
Payments and Cash Management: Account Management Services,
Countrywide Payments/Countrywide Collections, etc.
Customized Loans
Trade Services include Export Services, Import Services, Trade Express, Document Tracker etc.
Electronic Banking: Cash Management Services and Trade Services
(II) International Trade, Remittances
International Division at the Head Office is fully equipped with expertise including
computerizes operations to deal with foreign trade and foreign exchange operations of all
kinds including L/C, Bills, Travelers Cheques, Foreign Drafts, TTs, Remittances from
Bangladeshi staying abroad and handling students remittance studying abroad, etc. Such
operations are conducted through 18 AD (Authorized Dealer) branches throughout the
country.
Bank Asia Ltd has launched Foreign Remittance in September 2003. Starting from a unit under
Scotia Branch, Dhaka, this operation is now handled by a dedicated team of young energetic and
yet highly experienced officers. Bank Asia, now-a-days, has Agency Arrangement with 34
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Exchange houses in various countries around the world like UK, USA, Canada, UAE, Kuwait,
Mauritius, Oman & Malaysia. Moreover, global brands like Western Union, Xpress Money and
Instant Cash Worldwide are also satisfactorily been served by Bank Asia Ltd. Some other
companies like Placid NK Corporation, IME, Merchantrade, and Choice Money Transfer
etc. has gone beyond their originating countries and has become global brands. Bank Asia is
proud to be an active participant in their growth.
(III) Syndication Financing
On many occasions, the financial requirement of the client, particularly for new investments
is so large that it is not possible for Bank Asia to meet the demand from the Banks own
resources, and also because of regulatory restrictions. In such cases the syndication
department is entrusted with the responsibility of raising the required funds through
syndication arrangement with other banks.
(IV) Small and Medium Enterprises
Bank Asia has entered into an agreement with South Asian Enterprise Development Facility (a
concern of the IFC) for Technical Assistance and training program for creating a Small and
Medium Enterprise lending segment. Under the agreement SEDF has conducted an in-house
diagnostics of the existing facility to assess the quality of corporate governance, credit risk
management structure, sales and delivery channels, quality of information technology, and the
MIS structure. Such a SME product named Shachondo Loan has already launched in two
semi-urban branches in Dhaka and Chittagong.
(V) Retail Banking
Retail Banking provides individual and self-employed customers with a wide range of banking
and related financial services. These includes
Savings Account Any Branch Banking
Current Account Short Term Deposit
SMS Banking Personal Installment Loan
Bonus Savings Schemes Real time online Banking
Personal Credit Deposit Pension Scheme (DPS)
Evening Banking Fixed Deposits
Monthly Benefit Plus (MB +) Double Benefit Plus (DB +)
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3.8 CSR activities of Bank Asia Limited
Bank Asia has been conscious of corporate social responsibility from the very beginning of its
operation in 1999. The Bank looks beyond short-term quantitative gains and concentrates on
issues which make the financial institution socially responsible and thus expects a sustainable
balanced growth. Bank Asia has three major CSR programs. These are as follows:
1. Higher Study Scholarship
2. Ophthalmological Operation
3. Operating Computer Learning Centers
Higher Study Scholarship
Bank Asia provides higher scholarship to rural poor meritorious students, who are studying in
important subjects in public universities. So far (since 2005) 215 students have been awarded
the scholarship. Of them, 94 scholarships have been provided this year. Total expenditure of
scholarship this year is Tk. 53.08 lac for this purpose while Tk.1.57 crore till date. Next year
we have a plan to provide 100 more scholarships, which will raise beneficiary numbers to 334,
and budget will be Tk 10.64 million/Tk 1.64 crore. The scholarships are given on the basis of
SSC and HSC results.
Bank Asia gives scholarships for higher study to the meritorious students in the rural areas,
where the Bank has branches. A total of 134 (one hundred thirty four) students have been
selected for Bank Asia Higher Study Scholarship for the current year.
Ophthalmological Operation
The Bank bears entire cost of cataract-related eye operations, whose parents are poor and
cannot afford the high cost of operations. Since 2006, 874 operations have been conducted
under the program at a cost of about Tk 92 lac (till July, 2010). Most of the children are leading
normal life and learning education.
Computer Learning Centers
Bank Asia, with the help of D-net, is operating 13 Computer Learning Centers (since 2006) in
rural areas, where rural youths learn computer education. A total of Tk 4.7 lac has been spent
for operational cost of these centers this year. Besides, 12 more learning centers have been set
up this year involving Tk.1.58 million/Tk.15.76 lac as a part of our expansion program. So far,
about 3000 youths received computer training though these centers, and cost involvement in this
CSR program is Tk.1.03 crore (till Dec. 2009).
Organizing Eye Camp: Bank Asia started eye screening of 10,000 children in 50 schools in
four upazilas of Kishoreganj district namely, Tarail, Sadar, Hossainpur and Pakundia with the
help of Kishoreganj Eye Hospital of Nari Uddog Kendra (NUK). If the pilot program, involving
Tk.5 lac, is successful we will cover whole the district and subsequently whole the country to
save eyes of the children of the nation.
Blood Donation: Bank Asia every year organizes blood donation programs where Bank staffs
donate blood. As recognition, Bank Asia received the Highest Blood Donation Organization
Award from the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Blood Centre in this (2010) year. Bank
Asia spent Tk 1 million/10 lac for organizing blood donation program.
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Conservation of Environment: Bank Asia has been one of the pioneers in supporting
environment friendly CNG projects by financing CNG conversion and CNG filling stations. It
always averts financing in environment hazardous business. The Bank has decided not to
finance any tobacco related business,
and all offices of the Bank are declared smoking free zone. Bank Asia is committed to
protect the environment, and in the effort to do so has undertaken beautification and
maintenance of the main highway Pragati Sarani from Natun Bazar to Railway Crossing
near Airport Road. Financing in solar panels for urban households is under process.
Disaster Management: Bank Asia donated Tk. 25 lac to the Prime Ministers Relief Fund as
financial assistance to the victim families of devastating fire at Nimtoli and building collapse at
Begunbarui in first week of June, 2010 that caused loss of more than hundred lives, leaving
hundreds of people severely injured. Besides, the Bank donated blankets among cold-hit people
in the district of Rajshahi, Pabna and Bogra districts.
Sports: During the event of South Asian Games (SAF Games) Bank Asia contributed Tk 5 lac
for smooth organizing of the program. Bank Asia also contributed Tk 20 lac for purchasing car
presented to cricketer(s) of Bangladesh National Cricket Team for their emphatic win against
New Zealand.
Culture and Heritage: Bank Asia is dedicated to protect culture and heritage of the country. In
respect to the martyred freedom fighters, Bank Asia donated Tk 1 crore for Multijuddha
Jadughar Nirman, Tk2 lac to Muktijuddher Smritisangrakshan Kendra for the international
conference on Human Rights.
Poverty Eradication Program: The Bank has disbursed Tk 62.76 crore (Tk 40.11 crore
directly and Tk 22.65 crore through NGO linkage) as short and long-term credit in
agriculture/rural credit sectors during last six months (Jan 1-June 30, 2010). This financing
helped create innumerous employment opportunities in farms, especially in the fields of crops
and fisheries. Of the total amount, Tk 10 crore has been disbursed for poverty alleviation in
rural areas.
Bank Asia through its 10 SME Service Centers and 46 Branches in urban and rural areas
provides Tk. 21.75 crore credit to small and medium enterprises for expansion or promotion
of their business which ultimately create productive new off-farm employment.
Other Health Programs: Assist construction of hospital (Islamia Eye Hospital Tk 20 lac,
TMSS Tk 5 lac), donate microbus for running mobile hospital (of Bir Sreshtha Matiur Rahman
Foundation-Tk 15 lac), rehabilitation of paralyzed people (CRP-Savar Tk 3 lac), support
accident victims (Tarail-Tk 1.97 lac), kidney and cancer patients, Tk 0.43 million to Marie
Stopes Clinic, etc.
Others Csr/Donation Program: Bank Asia also donated Tk 10 lac to FBCCI Foundations
One Businessman: One Family program. Besides, Bank donated Tk 5 lac for Women
Entrepreneur Award and Tk 4.8 lac for support to victim Army Family of BDR carnage.
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