OCBC says bodily branches related because it opens life-style banking centre in Orchard Street

SINGAPORE – The bodily department community stays an vital channel for OCBC Financial institution to attach with its clients, in accordance with group CEO Helen Wong, at the same time as digital banking continues to develop.

OCBC can also be searching for to redefine banking at its branches with the official opening of its built-in life-style and banking centre in Wisma Atria shopping center, within the coronary heart of Singapore’s Orchard Street procuring belt.

Talking on the official opening on Friday, Ms Wong stated: “Whereas many transactions will be accomplished on-line, the face-to-face interplay that branches facilitate is invaluable”.

She added that clients need face-to-face advisory for wealth administration or advanced selections involving their house mortgages.

For Mr Sunny Quek, OCBC’s head of world client monetary providers, the financial institution department is a crucial touchpoint for purchasers as a result of “once you face an issue, you possibly can come to the department and we’ll repair it for you immediately, as an alternative of you having to take care of chatbots or the contact centre”.

The Wisma outlet is OCBC’s newest department that has life-style components, following a model refresh of three different branches with the approach to life idea this yr – Ang Mo Kio Central, Jurong Level and Tampines.

At 20,000 sq ft, it’s second in dimension solely to OCBC’s headquarters within the Raffles Place space.

The department gives a full suite of banking providers alongside retail and eating choices, together with a bookshop, a homeware and life-style merchandise retailer, an artwork gallery, a restaurant and an omakase restaurant, all below one roof.

There are additionally pods and rooms to facilitate non-public discussions with clients.

Mr Quek goals to create a retail expertise the place “banking just isn’t proper in your face”, but when a buyer wants banking providers, he can get assist from financial institution workers anyplace inside the department.

Mr Dallas Goh, 31, was one OCBC buyer who popped by to take a look at the Wisma department.

He stated it’s a good idea with books and a restaurant, however for him, a brief queue is extra vital to finishing his banking transactions as quickly as potential.

Ms Yustina Quek, credit score analysis analyst at monetary analysis agency CreditSights, stated this technique is a part of OCBC’s effort to refresh its branding.

“You needn’t simply go to the financial institution branches since you need to deposit your cash otherwise you need to do different banking transactions,” she stated.