Virtual Pet Coinbank a hit amongst young savers

Datuk Bridget Lai with Dato' Dr. Dionysius Sharma, CEO and Executive Director of WWF-Malaysia
and his team at the cheque presentation.

Kuala Lumpur, 30 April 2009 - Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad (Alliance Bank) recently contributed RM40,000 to WWF-Malaysia through its successful partnership in the Virtual Pet Coinbank Campaign to save the endangered species.

"We are proud to collaborate with WWF-Malaysia in its ongoing efforts to promote awareness of endangered wildlife species. These funds will be used towards saving our environment today for our children of tomorrow. Not only are we doing our part in conserving our natural heritage for future generations, we also encourage everyone to save for their future," said Datuk Bridget Lai, Group Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad and Director of Alliance Financial Group Berhad. "The deposit-linked savings campaign is part of our financial literacy programme to educate our customers on the importance of good financial management, which should start from a young age".

The campaign, initiated by Alliance Bank in January 2008 as part of its financial literacy programme, aims to promote awareness in saving endangered species whilst at the same time, encourage savings amongst customers. For every RM3,000 new deposit by existing customers, the Bank donates RM2 to WWF. In appreciation of their participation, customers will also receive a limited edition of the Virtual Pet Coinbank. The coinbank comes in three attractive and colourful designs; Atan (orang utan), Tigar (tiger) and Turto (turtle). Information sheets attached to the coinbanks create awareness of the need to save the endangered species.

The Virtual Pet Coinbank Campaign has proven to be popular among young savers and due to the overwhelming response, it was extended a further four months.

Over the years, the population of orang utans, tigers and turtles has declined significantly mainly due to the degradation of natural habitats and wildlife trade. As a result from this, the orang utan population in Sabah has dropped from 20,000 in the mid-80s to approximately 11,000 individuals in 2003 while tiger numbers in Peninsular Malaysia have decreased from about 3,000 in the 1950s to about 500 today. The leatherback turtle is also not spared from the danger of extinction. Its numbers have declined by more than 99% since the 1960s.

"Throughout the campaign period, we witnessed the commitment by Alliance Bank to ensure our message of saving the endangered species reached across to its customers. Instilling a love for nature and our endangered species, like good financial management, should start from a young age," said Dato' Dr. Dionysius Sharma, CEO and Executive Director of WWF-Malaysia.