Bank Islam to open 32 new branches by 2014

Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd is confident of maintaining profit momentum this year and plans to open 32 new branches by 2014 including in Sabah and Sarawak. Managing Director Datuk Seri Zukri Samat said that based on latest developments and the bank\'s first quarter results, pre-tax profit for the current financial year was expected to exceed the RM503 million recorded during the 18-month period ended Dec 31, 2010. The retail and financing sectors would contribute about 70 per cent to the bank\'s profit, he told reporters here today. The financing sector which includes personal loan and house and vehicle financing had increased by 20 per cent in the first six months of 2011, he added. He said Bank Islam also was making preparations to expand its operations in Sabah and Sarawak by opening more branches there starting next year. Presently, it has six branches in Sabah and five in Sarawak. \"The new branches will focus on areas where there are many Malays because of high Muslim demand for Bank Islam products,\" Zukri said. He said that nationwide, the bank would have 150 branches with the opening of 32 new ones by 2014. On corporate social responsibility (CSR), he said the bank allocated RM11 million annually for CSR. Since 2008, the bank had been building houses for senior citizens and set aside RM1 million for this purpose, he said. In Sungai Tengas here, Bank Islam spent RM360,000 to build 12 houses called Rumah Cahaya on the land belonging to Masjid Jamek Kampung Sungai Tengas. Zukri said that last year, 30 houses were built under the scheme in Kedah and Terengganu, while for 2012, the bank would focus on Pahang.