CTBC Bank Opens Flagship Yawan Branch in Kaohsiung, Achieves 25% Market Share

(CNA reporter Su Ssu-yun, Taipei, 13th) In response to the Financial Supervisory Commission's Asia Asset Management Center policy, CTBC Bank held the opening ceremony for its Yawan Branch today. The branch interior design cost NT$100 million and marks CTBC's first branch not located on a street-level storefront. CTBC Bank Chairman Chen Chia-wen stated that the bank's market share in customer count and asset规模 in the Kaohsiung Special Zone has exceeded 25%, and pledged to make the Yawan Branch even bigger and better.

CTBC Bank held the opening ceremony this afternoon for its next-generation flagship branch, the 'Yawan Branch.' Attendees included Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, Director of the Kaohsiung City Economic Development Bureau Liao Tai-shiang, CTBC Bank Chairman Chen Chia-wen, CEO Yang Ming-hsiang, and Head of Personal Financial Services Yang Shu-hui.

Chen Chia-wen stated in his speech that the Yawan Branch is CTBC's 159th branch and the 17th service location in Kaohsiung, positioned as a key demonstration site for the Kaohsiung Special Zone. With a floor area of 500 ping, the Yawan Branch represents CTBC's concrete response to the government's Asia Asset Management Center policy. In addition to establishing a Private Banking Center, the branch also emphasizes fair customer treatment by offering general financial services and a Wealth Management Center, ensuring all clients receive adequate service regardless of asset规模.

Chen noted that the branch is adjacent to the Kaohsiung Main Library, and to incorporate a cultural atmosphere, a dedicated art exhibition center was established within the branch. He expressed hope that clients can not only conduct financial transactions here but also plan family wealth succession in a private and comfortable environment.

Chen pointed out that since the government launched the Kaohsiung Asset Management Special Zone in July last year, CTBC has invested significant resources and has led peers in various business areas. As of the end of May, CTBC's market share in customer count and asset规模 in the Kaohsiung Special Zone has exceeded 25%, and the asset规模 share managed by family offices is approaching 30%. As an alumnus of Kaohsiung Senior High School, he expressed a special emotional connection to Kaohsiung and pledged to make the Yawan Branch even bigger and better.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai stated that CTBC was the first financial institution to respond to the Kaohsiung Special Zone initiative and expressed confidence that the Yawan Branch will meet the needs of high-net-worth clients. He also thanked Taiwan Life Insurance for investing over NT$50 billion in Kaohsiung, calling it the largest investment by any financial group in the city. 'Kaohsiung changes a little every year and transforms significantly every three years,' he said. Currently, 57 institutions have entered the Special Zone. Family offices not only assist in the transformation of traditional industries but also help attract international capital.

Yang Shu-hui said in a post-event press conference that it took about 1.5 years to select the branch location, with interior design beginning in September last year. The Yawan Branch adopts a three-lane design, divided into three zones—general financial services, wealth management, and private banking—each with separate access routes. Multiple consultation rooms were created specifically for private banking services, and the largest meeting room has already been reserved for the first family office meeting of a well-known domestic listed company.

Yang Shu-hui noted that the Yawan Branch is CTBC's sixth branch in the Kaohsiung Special Zone, with interior costs reaching NT$100 million, exceeding the recent NT$70 million range for branch renovations. It is CTBC's first branch located on the 6th floor, not on a street-level storefront, and one of only two weekend-operating branches. The other is the Guanpu Branch in Hsinchu, primarily serving science park clients who are only available on weekends.

CTBC's Head of Private Banking, Yang Tzu-hung, stated that Taiwan has gradually developed its own path in family office services in recent years. Unlike the fund utilization in Hong Kong and Singapore, Taiwan's family office services focus more on the vision of enterprises and families. With Taiwan's AI industry booming and the market capitalization of the Taiwan stock market continuously rising, private banking clients are becoming wealthier. Many high-net-worth clients wish to invest in private equity (PE) funds related to AI development. With the FSC gradually relaxing regulations, he expressed anticipation for the next stage of development.

According to FSC statistics, as of the end of May this year, 21 banks have entered the Kaohsiung Special Zone, serving 4,999 high-net-worth clients with an asset management规模 of NT$602 billion. (Edited by Chang Chun-mao) 1150713