(From left:) Tuan Haji Yahya b. Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance Islamic Bank Berhad; Tuan Haji Megat Dziauddin b. Megat Mahmud, Chairman, Alliance Islamic Bank Berhad; Dato' Thomas Lee, Chairman, Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad; Ms. Phebe Yee Pei Pei, Sales & Operations Manager of Alliance Bank Ampang Point branch; Datuk Bridget Lai, Group Chief Executive Officer, Alliance Financial Group; Ms. Liew Swee Lin, Group Head - Consumer Banking; and En. Rozaidi Ali, Sales Manager of Alliance Bank Ampang Point branch.

Selangor, 15 May 2008 - The Alliance Financial Group is poised to cater to the growing demand for Islamic banking products and services with the opening of the new Alliance Bank Ampang Point branch which offers a full range of Alliance Islamic products and services.

Speaking at the official launch of the RM1.6million branch, Alliance Financial Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Bridget Lai said that the setting up of an Alliance Islamic Bank desk within the branch will further complement the Bank's existing range of conventional banking product and service offerings, making the branch a true one-stop banking centre for residents and workers in the vicinity.

Also present during the launch were Chairman of Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad, Dato' Thomas Lee, Chairman of Alliance Islamic Bank, Tuan Haji Megat Dziauddin bin Megat Mahmud, and Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Islamic Bank, Tuan Haji Yahya bin Ibrahim.

"With the recent setting up of the Alliance Islamic Bank, the Alliance Financial Group aims to grow our market share of the Islamic financial segment. We will do so by capitalising on our existing conventional banking sales and distribution channels to market and promote our Islamic banking products and services. We are committed to giving our customers and Malaysians the choice they so desire with this parallel banking system.

"With Alliance Bank's branches situated in key market segments across the country, we have identified specific branches that will be our main platforms to promote and market our Islamic banking products and services" said Datuk Lai.

Alliance Bank Ampang Point offers full fledged Islamic products and services via its Alliance Islamic Bank to cater to the financial needs of residents and businesses in the vicinity. The branch also boast of specially-trained Alliance Islamic banking personnel who are well-versed with the finer points of Islamic banking to provide specialised information and counsel on Shariah-compliant banking products and services.

Alliance Islamic Bank has, among its portfolio, Malaysia's first Islamic deposit-linked home financing facility - the Alliance i-WISH Home Flexi, which allows Malaysians to own their homes faster; Alliance CashVantage Personal Financing-I, a new two-tiered personal financing that offers 35% lower repayment for the first year. On the wealth management front, the Alliance Dana Adib Fund and Alliance Islamic Money Market Fund, were ranked top 10 in the world in the Islamic funds category for year 2006 by Eurekahedge, the world's largest independent hedge fund research company.

In addition to the Islamic banking services, Alliance Bank Ampang Point also features a 24-hour e-banking lobby, safe deposit box (SDB) facility and a dedicated Kids' Corner to keep customers' children occupied.

Recognising that banking is ultimately relationship and human based, Alliance Bank has dedicated teams of trained and knowledgeable staff to cater to the needs of its cross-section of customers.

"As an integrated financial solutions provider, Alliance Bank aims to build long-term relationships with all our customers by catering to their specific needs at different stages of their personal and business life cycle. One of the most effective ways to do this is via our branches, our first point of contact with our customers and the community," added Datuk Lai.

Alliance Bank Ampang Point is located at the Ground and Mezzanine floors, 65 Jalan Mamanda 9, Ampang Point, Taman Dato Ahmad Razali, 68000 Ampang, Selangor. The branch is headed by its Sales Manager Rozaidi Ali and Service and Operations Manager Phebe Yee Pei Pei.