Bangkok--1 Jun--Bangkok Bank
Bangkok Bank joins the nation in paying respect to His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of the 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne by introducing a special edition Be 1st card and fixed deposit account passbook which carry the emblem of the celebration.
The bank has also organized various activities in tribute to the King, including the ordination of 61 staff as Buddhist monks, a nationwide blood drive, a special page on its website for customers and the public to send messages to the King, a singing event by branch staff nationwide on June 5, and the donation of a school building in the Phichit province by the end of this year.
Bangkok Bank Chairman Chatri Sophonpanich introduced the special edition Be 1st card and fixed deposit account passbook on May 30, 2006 by opening an account under his name.
The products are available to customers from any Bangkok Bank branch nationwide until stock lasts. Customers who apply for the Be 1st card will also receive a yellow polo shirt with the anniversary emblem stitched to the pocket as a special gift.
Bangkok Bank Executive Vice President Bordin Unakul said the bank had made plans early to pay respect to the King with an official celebration. It asked for official permission from the Bureau of the Royal Household to print the emblem of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty’s accession to the throne on the passbook and Be 1st card. In addition, the bank has also organized other activities to allow customers, the general public, and staff to join the special occasion.
“At Bangkok Bank we hold an enormous amount of respect for His Majesty the King and the work he does for the people of Thailand,” Mr. Bordin said.
“On this auspicious occasion, Bangkok Bank joins people from all walks of life, as well as other organizations, in appreciation of His Majesty the King’s steadfast devotion, natural brilliance and adherence to a strict code of ethical behavior, which enables all Thai people to live in peace under his reign.”
Mr. Bordin said His Majesty the King’s many notable achievements in alleviating hardship, enhancing rural development, peacemaking, sustaining Thai culture, and encouraging people to live a self-sufficient life continue to inspire and motivate everyone at Bangkok Bank to achieve greater things for the benefit of customers and the nation.
“We want the special edition passbook and Be 1st card to help customers remember this very special year,” said Mr Bordin.
The two products are just one part of the bank’s celebrations of the King’s anniversary. Customers are invited to honor His Majesty by posting their thoughts and memories on Bangkok Bank’s website www.bangkokbank.com . Messages posted on the website will be given to the Bureau of the Royal Household to be passed on to the King.
The bank is participating in a blood drive with the Thai Red Cross Society to obtain 600,000 cubic centimetres of blood from staff and customers nationwide by April 2007. The bank also arranged for 61 selected employees to be ordained as Buddhist monks in tribute to the King at Wat Cholprathan Rangsarit in Nonthaburi province for 15 days in May. Staff at the bank’s branches nationwide will also sing three songs in tribute to the King at 4:30pm on Monday, June 5, and at the Bank’s Head Office on Silom Road, there will be a special reading of a poem composed by national artist Naowarat Phongphaiboon. In addition, Bangkok Bank will donate a building to a school in the Northern province of Pichit in tribute to the King on this auspicious occasion.