Beginning on May 22nd, CCB will raise the daily limit for cash withdrawals by Dragon Debit Cards at all self-service facilities. The limit will be increased from 5,000 yuan per day per card to 20,000 yuan. Holders of Dragon Finance Cards or CCB Savings Cards would be able to enjoy the same withdrawal limits at self-service facilities (including ATMs and deposit-cum-withdrawal machines) owned by CCB or other UnionPay members. On May 20th, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) issued the “Circular on the Improvement of Services in Settling Personal Payments” (hereinafter called “the Circular”). The Circular lays down specific requirements to PBOC branches and commercial banks on modifying and improving services related to the settlement of personal payments and on strengthening the management of payment settlement operations. It has also adjusted certain stipulations set in the 1999 PBOC circular on “Management of Bank Card Operations” by raising the ceiling for withdrawals made at ATMs. According to the Circular, the present ceiling of 5,000 yuan for daily cumulative withdrawals by debit cards at ATMs will be raised to 20,000 yuan. It further allows the banks to determine the daily cumulative withdrawal limit within the 20,000 yuan ceiling according to the different customer needs, service capabilities and safety control levels of the banks. In order to offer maximum convenience to its customers, CCB has decided to set the withdrawal amount to the upper limit allowed. A person-in-charge from CCB pointed out that CCB considers it important to deal with the phenomenon of long queuing times in banks, a problem which has recently drawn much public concern. So far, a number of measures have been implemented to effectively alleviate this problem, for example, by quickening the pace of renovating its outlets and installation of self-service facilities, by reengineering operation processes at the outlets, etc. By taking the lead to adjust the daily withdrawal limit of Dragon cards at ATMs, CCB is launching an important measure based on its insistence on practising a "customer focus’ operating philosophy and on providing its customers with convenient services. Ever since its joint-stock reform and listing, CCB has been using its operating philosophy of “customer focus” as a central theme to optimise its operations, renovate its products and services and intensify its marketing and customer service efforts. The result has been a rapid yet steady expansion of all aspects of its business and a significant increase in its overall operating capabilities. For this, CCB has won the wide recognition and acclaim from the public in general and from domestic and overseas investors in particular. Recently, for example, it has been listed a top 10 “2007 Most Valuable Chinese Brands” by the Hurun Report, named a 2006 World Best Bank in China by Global Finance magazine of UK and voted consumers’ “Most Beloved Brand” by the China Enterprise Reputation & Credibility Association (Overseas). |