Hang Seng Bank is enhancing its securities services by making special offers to shareholders of the Tracker Fund of Hong Kong (TraHK) from 21 November 2000 to 31 January 2001, and opening all its branches with counter services, including those at MTR stations, for securities trading from 27 November 2000. Moreover, the bank has lowered the minimum balance requirement for its Bank-In-One Account, which offers securities trading, from HK$10,000 to HK$5,000.

Hang Seng Bank's securities services are available through the Internet, telephone banking, mobile banking and branches. As online trading takes off on a worldwide scale, the bank has not missed out on the phenomenon, reporting a steady growth in online accounts.

At a press conference to announce the latest enhancements, Mok Wai-kin, managing director and general manager of the bank, commented: 'Since the launch of online securities trading through our e-Banking Services in August, the number of online securities accounts has grown rapidly to over 31,000. Now more than one-third of our e-Banking customers have online securities accounts and about 36% of securities trading transactions are conducted online. Despite the growing popularity of online securities trading, there are still customers who prefer to buy or sell stocks over the counter. By increasing the number of our securities trading outlets from eight branches to 139 branches, customers will find it convenient to place orders in person.'

The improved services outlined by Mr Mok come hot on the heels of straight-through securites trading, which has been available since 10 November when the Broker Supplied Systems of AMS/3 were implemeted by the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.

Other special offers until 31 December 2000 include a one-time online securities trading brokerage fee waiver, half-yearcustody fee waiver, and stock deposit charge waiver of up to HK$1,000 per month for new customers who open a securities account under their Bank Smart Account or Bank-In-One Account. The Bank-In-One Account is an integrated account for customers to handle their banking and investment needs through branches, Hang Seng e-Banking, phone banking and mobile banking. Customers can manage their Hong Kong dollar and foreign currency savings, time deposits, current account, securities and investment funds in one account.