Despite its British base, Standard Chartered has few customers in the UK; 90 per cent of its profits come from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Because the bank's history is entwined with the development of the British Empire its operations lie predominantly in former British colonies, though over the past two decades it has expanded into countries that have historically had little British influence.
Standard Chartered currently employs 73,000 people, representing 115 nationalities, in more than 1,700 branches and outlets located in over 70 countries.
It is now setting up a $500 million micro-finance facility that will touch an estimated 4 million people in emerging markets. In India, the bank is aiming to partner with over 20 micro-finance institutions by December 2008, and extend operations to the north and north-east.
Standard Chartered India also wants to extend its capital market capabilities to micro-finance institutions.
Image: A Standard Chartered branch in Shanghai
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