The online personal banking services the Hang Seng Bank's customers can enjoy include account enquiries, fund transfers, time deposits and rate enquiries.

Vincent Cheng, vice-chairman and chief executive of the Hang Seng Bank, said: "Our Personal e-Banking services in the mainland will enhance our services and help maximize the acquisition of new customers."

"This is an important step forward in our plan to eventually become one of the most prominent foreign banks in the mainland," he added.

In Hong Kong, the bank's Personal e-Banking services have proved highly popular since their launch in August 2000, with more than 250,000 customers currently registered. In November 2002, online transactions accounted for 12 percent of the bank's total transactions.

Founded in 1933, Hang Seng Bank, a principal member of the HSBC Group, is the second largest listed bank in Hong Kong in terms of market capitalization. It operates 158 branches and automated banking centers in Hong Kong, and a network of six branches and representative offices in the Chinese mainland.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2002)