StanChart to target affluent customers

StanChart’s retail business is one of the first divisions the Asia-focused lender has targeted with cuts, announcing last month it would axe 4,000 retail jobs or 5 per cent of its global workforce and close 80-100 branches.

The cost cuts and the shift to wealthy clients in Asia, the Middle East and Africa come as Sands, who some investors would like to see replaced, is under increasing pressure to revive the bank’s fortunes after a troubled two years.

“We’re steering away from clients who just want a personal loan to those who’ll buy multiple products,” Karen Fawcett, global head of retail clients at StanChart, said.

The bank’s retail division contributes 30 per cent of its revenues. Affluent and business customers represent just one fifth of its 10.4 million retail clients but account for about half of the division’s profits.

Revenues from those clients have grown by 10 per cent in recent years, compared with zero growth for revenue from less wealthy customers, Fawcett said.

Amid calls from some of the lender’s top investors to stand down, it was reported that Sands had told senior staff that succession planning has already begun.