BECOMING A relationship manager at American Express Bank these days means learning skills similar to those taught at an expensive European private finishing school.
All new employees, whatever their background, are put through a two-week induction course which includes learning social and business etiquette.
How to match a shirt, suit and tie, how to shake hands and how to dine with clients are all part of the training programme that aims to groom employees for the American Express 'professional look'.
'Financial markets change rapidly, therefore clients' portfolios need constant monitoring and re-balancing. Our clients have to trust the people that invest for them. Our philosophy is not to push products. We tell wealth managers not to 'churn' customers,' American Express Bank vice-president and head of financial advisory services Lina Cheng said.
Recruits also receive training in financial advisory services, global wealth management, compliance, product knowledge and technical skills. However, training does not stop after the first two weeks.
'Training is ongoing. It is important to be up-to-date with market movements. Every morning at 8.30 all
wealth managers receive daily market briefs and details about the latest market knowledge, and every second Tuesday all wealth managers are briefed in person by Alan Luk, American Express treasurer and head of global financial markets in North Asia,' Ms Cheng said.