The Phone Banking Roaming Service gives customers 24-hour free access to account management. Customers in Mainland dialling local number 95588 will be connected to the phone banking system of ICBC (Asia) or ICBC Hong Kong Credit Card Centre in which they can manage current account, investment account or credit card account. At the same time, customers in Hong Kong can dial local number 218 95588 to manage their ICBC accounts in the Mainland. This new service enables our customers to manage their accounts in both places flexibly without incurring IDD charges.

Mr Fong Yuen Kwai, Head of Retail Banking of ICBC (Asia) said: ¡§The Phone Banking Roaming Service is a brand-new service co-managed by ICBC and ICBC (Asia) and it is the very first banking service with free roaming between Hong Kong and Mainland. This service truly removes geographic borders and allows customers to conveniently manage their accounts and access to other banking services anywhere and at any time. With the gradual integration of economy of Hong Kong and China, personal and commercial business transactions are increasing constantly. ICBC Phone Banking Roaming Service is the ideal banking solution for customers who always travel between Hong Kong and Mainland.¡¨

¡§The Phone Banking Roaming Service for the first time integrates account management of savings account, investment account and credit card account,¡¨ added Mr Fong, ¡§thus enhancing the existing phone banking systems. This is actually realizing our ongoing goal of providing value-added services to our customers, depending on the close relationship with our parent company - ICBC.¡¨

The Phone Banking Roaming Service offers comprehensive account management services: general banking services, including account balance enquiry, fund transfers and foreign exchange, enquiry on deposit and interest rate, fixed-term deposit; investment banking services, including stock trading and account balance enquiry; credit card services, including enquiry on account balance and application status. Customers may approach any branch of ICBC (Asia) to open a 349 Super Account or investment account together with a phone banking account. Except for enjoying immediate use of the Phone Banking Roaming Service, successful applicants will also receive an exquisite welcome gift, offered on a first-come-first-served basis while stocks last.

About Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited
ICBC (Asia) is a full licensed bank incorporated in Hong Kong with its shares listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (stock code: 0349). ICBC (Asia) has 20 branches and one wealth management center in Hong Kong. ICBC (Asia) is principally engaged in banking, financial and financial related services with focus on commercial retail banking business as well as corporate banking business. ICBC (Asia) is the flagship of ICBC Group¡¦s banking business in Hong Kong. ICBC (Asia) became the sixth largest bank (in terms of total assets) among listed banks operating in Hong Kong, after its acquisition of Belgian Bank (formerly Fortis Bank Asia HK). ICBC (Asia) was assigned A2/Prime-1 long-term/short-term deposit ratings and D Bank Financial Strength Rating (BFSR) by Moody¡¦s Investors Service on 16 April 2004.

About Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
ICBC is the largest commercial bank in the Mainland China, with total assets amounted approximately RMB5,300 billion and over 22,000 domestic outlets. It is the holding company of ICBC (Asia).

For further information, please contact:
ICBC (Asia)
Hilda Chow
Tel: (852) 2801 8171

t6.communications limited
Jenny Lee or Angus Ho
tel: 2511 8388 / fax: 2511 8238
URL : http://www.t6pr.com
email: enquiry-at-t6pr.com (use "@" to replace "-at-")