Asia boost for banking graduates - graduate jobs

Graduate opportunities at the UK-based Standard Chartered Bank have been boosted by a hiring spree aimed at winning wealthy retail customers across Asia and the Far East.

Analysts believe that Standard is well placed to exploit its experience in the region as Western-oriented competitors struggle with problems besetting their more mature markets.

Standard makes about two-thirds of its revenues in Asia, and is aiming to recruit 850 bankers over the next 12 to 18 months, the majority in China, but also Singapore and Malaysia.

According to Foo Mee Har, its global head of premium banking, the group's "priority" division, which focuses on more affluent customers, has been outperforming the market.

She says: "We have aspirations to double the industry growth rate and double our customer numbers in three years," adding that household wealth in Asia, outside Japan, is expected to grow by 12% a year until 2012.