HSBC named best bank in 2008

HCM City (VNA) - The Hong Kong-Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has been
named Best Bank in Vietnam by The Asset Magazine in its Triple A Country
Awards for 2008 for excellence in banking and finance within Asia .

This is the second time the bank has been recognised with the award, after
scooping it in 2006.

"HSBC is very proud to be named Best Bank in Vietnam for its achievements
from October 2007 to September 2008," said Thomas Tobin, President and CEO
of HSBC in Vietnam .

Winning the award for the second time confirms customers' trust in HSBC as
well as showing recognition from independent industry leaders for its
world-class products and services and ongoing commitment to excellence, he
added.

The award recognised a chain of HSBC's achievements in 2008, including being
one of the first foreign banks to obtain a licence for local incorporation
and the first foreign bank to increase its stake in a local joint stock bank
to 20 percent, namely in the Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint
Stock Bank (Techcombank), one of the largest and best managed joint stock
banks in Vietnam.

HSBC Vietnam is now the country's largest foreign bank in terms of
investment capital, transaction network, varieties of products and the
numbers of staff and custormers.

The Asset Magazine selected the award winners according to their financial
performance, size of operation, spread of business, investment banking
performance, corporate and transaction banking performance, contributions to
the domestic market and client testimonials.-Enditem