(16 September 2005 – Cambodia) Visitors to the temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia will no longer have to rely solely on travellers cheques after ANZ announced it has opened four branches in the capital Phnom Penh.Branches in Siem Riep, the town closest to the famous temples, and Battambang in the country’s west will follow within six months.
ANZ will also roll out a network of 16 off site ATMs – the first ATMs in Cambodia – through an alliance with Caltex and Total service stations.
The moves come 10 months after ANZ formed a joint venture with Cambodian telco Royal Group.
The bank will also establish its ANZ Royal Internet Banking service for personal and business customers and enable mobile phone top ups through its ATM network in association with Mobitel.
ANZ group managing director for Asia Pacific, Elmer Funke Kupper, said the bank had recruited and trained more than 90 new staff members, installed the country’s first world class banking system, and created a brand in Cambodia.
“To achieve all this in less than a year is a tribute to the work of our staff here in Cambodia and in Australia, and the ‘can do’ attitude of our partner, Royal Group,” he said.
He said ANZ Royal had already attracted over US$31 million in deposits and opened accounts for more than 1,300 customers, many of whom had never previously used the banking system.