Bangkok--5 Sep--HSBC HSBC in Thailand partners with Prudential Life Assurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited and Counter Service Co., Ltd., to launch a new 24-hour/7 days-a-week bill payment service enabling life assurance customers to settle their bills through Counter Service’s extensive network across Thailand. Photo shows Mr. Nicholas Holder (middle), Chief Financial Officer, Prudential Life Assurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited; Mr. Kee Joo Wong (right), Senior Vice President, Head of Global Payments and Cash Management, HSBC in Thailand; and Mr. Weeradej Ackapolpanich, General Manager, Counter Service Co., Ltd., announce the strong partnership to offer customers of Prudential Life Assurance a cash bill payment service through over 6,000 stores in Thailand, with the Counter Service symbol. Media enquiries to Varanandha Sutthapreeda on 0-2614-4609 or Savittree Muadmuang on 0-2614-4606. Notes to editors: 1. HSBC in Thailand HSBC was established as the first commercial bank in Thailand in 1888. With access to global expertise and enriched local knowledge, HSBC in Thailand provides a full range of financial services including corporate, commercial and institutional banking, global markets, securities services, trade and supply chain, payment and cash management services to corporate customers; personal financial services and credit cards to a growing retail customer base in Thailand. HSBC is globally recognised for its high service standards, ethical practices and full commitment to corporate social responsibilities to benefit the local economy. 2. HSBC Holdings plc or the HSBC Group Headquartered in London, the HSBC Group is one of the largest banking and financial services organisations in the world. The Group’s international network comprises around 9,500 offices in 85 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, serves over 100 million customers and has assets of US$2,547 billion as at 30 June 2008. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited is the founding and principal member of the HSBC Group.