(10 October 2008) - The Asian Development Bank and the government of Samoa entered into a new Country Partnership Strategy 2008 - 2012 which focuses on improved delivery of power, water, sanitation, and education services through private sector participation.

Community Bank System has completed its public stock offering raising $52.5 million through the issuance of 2.53 million shares of common stock.

HSBC has appointed Thomas Schickler and Idrees Kolabhai as the new heads of global payments and cash management for India and South Africa, respectively.

Citibank Berhad has launched the new Citibank Debit and ATM Card, offering customers global access to cash, free of charge at 13,500 Citibank ATMs in over 100 countries, and access to make purchases at more than 29 million Visa merchant outlets worldwide.

HSBC Insurance Brokers has established a branch office and received regulatory approval from the Qatar Financial Center Authority to provide insurance broking services to corporate customers within the State of Qatar.

One direct, a part of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, has launched its new high interest online savings account offering an interest rate of 7.50% with no honeymoon period or fees.

HSBC Holdings has further strengthened the capital base of its UK subsidiary, HSBC Bank, fulfilling its agreed commitment to the UK government's banking sector scheme, through an equity injection of GBP750 million, representing 1%of the total shareholders' equity of the HSBC Group as at June 30, 2008.

Financial services provider Wells Fargo & Company has announced that the company and Citigroup have terminated discussions concerning a possible sale of certain banking assets of Wachovia and reaffirmed that it is proceeding with its merger with Wachovia as a whole company transaction with all of Wachovia's banking and other operations, requiring no financial assistance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.