ALLIANCE BANK BUSINESS PLATINUM MASTERCARD CARD OFFERS INNOVATIVE FEATURES TO MEET BUSINESS NEEDS

Kuala Lumpur, 2 November 2006 – Alliance Bank today launched its first Alliance Bank Business Platinum MasterCard Card, signifying another bold step in its plans to be a reliable long term partner to the business communities in enhancing their market competitiveness with effective cash management, accessible capital financing and efficient business cost management.

The Alliance Bank Business Platinum MasterCard Card is an innovative business credit card with a comprehensive range of features to meet the real needs of businesses. Designed to enhance business competitiveness and efficiency, the new card is earmarked to corporations, small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and entrepreneurs.

“Alliance Banking Group sees opportunities in its Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, Islamic Banking and Investment Banking capabilities through the building of synergistic alliances among these businesses to deliver multi-product financial solutions to valued clients to provide customers a more cohesive and relationship approach through the entire value chain of offering,” said Alliance Banking Group Chief Executive Officer, Bridget Lai.

“Through the MasterCard Global Commercial Products suite, we have leveraged on our strength and strategic knowledge in Commercial and Corporate Banking to better understand the needs of the SMEs and corporations, and to tap on this segment to cross sell our Consumer Banking products and services.

One of the segments of the Alliance Bank Business Platinum MasterCard Cardis the SMEs, which currently make up over 500,000 or 99% of all enterprises in Malaysia. The card will give them the competitive advantage needed by providing efficient cash management, capital financing and efficient cost management tools,” said Lai, when she launched the Alliance Bank Business Platinum MasterCard Card.

With an extensive acquisition campaign and multi-pronged distribution capability, Alliance Bank remains confident that the new Alliance Bank Business Platinum MasterCard Card will boost higher volume to the current 250,000 Alliance Bank credit card base.

According to Peter Gordon, Vice President, Global Commercial Products, MasterCard Worldwide, the program offers a powerful, flexible, and creative payment solution built with corporate and small business owners in mind. While helping simplify business owners’ procurement processes, it also maximizes cost savings, by managing a company's expenditures and streamlining financial processes.

“The launch of the Alliance Bank Business Platinum MasterCard Card card reaffirms Alliance Bank as an innovative bank in Malaysia as it continues to introduce products that specifically address the needs of their customers,” added Gordon.

MasterCard, committed to furthering the growth of the industry, through initiatives such as these identified the SME market as an untapped SME business potential for the brand.

The Alliance Bank Business Platinum MasterCard Card offers an interest free repayment period of 30 days, which is longer than the industry average of 20 days. This feature is attractive to companies as they would have more time on their side in managing the company’s cash flow effectively. Alternatively companies can opt to receive a cash rebate of 13% on interest paid to enjoy access to lowered capital financing.

The card also offers a reward program wherein the businesses can accumulate loyalty points and redeem for business equipment, furniture and points for free travel. Purchases are also accorded privileges by Alliance Bank merchant partners such as free installment and flexible payment plans. There is also no commission charged if the card is used for travelers’ cheques and travel insurance.

Another unique feature of the card is its flexible credit limit, where companies can set their own limit on each card for each cardholder, thereby enabling more efficient tracking of business expenditures.

As an integrated financial solutions group, Alliance Bank is able to provide companies, big and small with total financial solutions for every need, from consumer banking, to corporate and institutional banking or stock broking.

-End-

About Alliance Bank
Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad has had five decades of proud history in contributing to the financial community with its innovative and entrepreneurial business spirit. Since its inception the Bank has been an integral part of Malaysia’s history. Over the past 50 years the Bank has grown from strength to strength by observing the basic tenets of prudent financial management, an honourable approach to doing business and an unwavering innovative and entrepreneurial spirit.

Alliance Bank is an integrated financial services group offering a complete range of financial products and services, ranging from consumer, commercial and corporate banking services, fund and asset management to investment banking, corporate finance, debt capital market, equity capital market and a wide range of stockbroking services, including institutional and retail share trading, share margin financing, inter-broking services, underwriting and placement, research and nominees and registration services.

Alliance Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysian Plantations Berhad. Today Alliance Bank employs over 3,700 people and has 77 branches in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

About MasterCard Worldwide
MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link between financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes more than 16 billion payments each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial institution customers and merchants. Through its family of brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®, MasterCard Worldwide serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to www.mastercardworldwide.com.