Standard Chartered to axe up to 100 bank branches next year

Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered plans to cut up to 100 retail branches next year, or 8 per cent of its network, to help save US$400 million a year to improve profitability.

"We recognise our recent performance has been disappointing and are determined to get back on to a trajectory of sustainable, profitable growth, delivering returns above our cost of capital," finance director Andy Halford said in slides accompanying his presentation to investors.

Ten years of record earnings for Standard Chartered came to an abrupt halt in the summer of 2012 when it had to pay US$667 million for violating United States sanctions on Iran. It has since been hit by surging bad debts in key markets such as China and India.

Standard Chartered said returns at its retail bank were being held back by high costs and that it aimed to cut 80 to 100 branches, out of 1,248 it had at the end of June.

Halford said the bank was aware of investor concerns, including whether its cost cutting went far enough and whether its capital was high enough. He also acknowledged their concerns over a rise in bad debts and non-performing loans and whether management was doing enough to tackle problems.

"We understand and are responding to the challenges we are facing," he said. "You will see further progress in 2015."

The slides said the bank aimed to increase assets under management in its wealth management and private banking businesses by 10 per cent or more next year, from US$66 billion and US$56 billion, respectively, at the end of June.

It is also aiming to get more out of its corporate finance bankers. It wants that business to show a 10 per cent or more increase in deals and a similar rise in revenues from its eight priority markets and in revenues per banker.

In retail, where Standard Chartered has more than 10 million customers in 34 countries, it plans to put more focus on its 1.6 million priority retail customers and 400,000 business clients.