HSBC Vietnam launched HSBC Premier on May 5, the first globally linked and comprehensive banking service for the company's growing number of affluent customers in the country.

HSBC Premier provides customers with the ability to move around the world without changing their banking methods. Premier customers will benefit from cross-border banking and will have the ability to take their accounts, credit history and banking relationships with them wherever they go, said Lindsay Rajah, Head of Personal Financial Services.

To be eligible for Premier, a customer must maintain a minimum banking balance of 1 billion VND, or 50,000 USD.

"According to our analysis, around 10 percent of the deposit account holders in Vietnam fall into this category. These customers are increasingly internationally-oriented, sophisticated and knowledgeable," said HSBC Vietnam CEO Tom Tobin.

With Premier status, Vietnamese customers will also be able to access 350 international Premier Centers in major cities around the world, and more than 6,000 branches with Premier service points.

Participants will be able to use a globally accessible number for HSBC's 24-hour worldwide emergency service, which can provide customer's with card replacements and a minimum of 2,000 USD in emergency cash.

Customers will be able to transfer funds between self-named accounts within HSBC worldwide online for free.

Later this year, Wealth Management services will provide participants with global market information as an additional benefit for signing up for the service./.