Standard Chartered Finance Limited and Scope International: A Brief Overview
Standard Chartered is a leading international banking group with a presence in 53 of the world’s most dynamic markets, serving clients in 64 markets. Its heritage and values are expressed in its brand promise, here for good. Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges.
Standard Chartered Finance Limited
Standard Chartered Finance Limited (SCFL) is a non-banking financial company (NBFC) and a subsidiary of Standard Chartered Bank. SCFL typically operates in markets where Standard Chartered has a banking presence, providing specialized financial services that complement the bank’s offerings. These services can vary depending on the local market and regulatory environment but often include:
- Vehicle Financing: Providing loans for the purchase of cars, commercial vehicles, and other transportation assets.
- Equipment Financing: Offering financing solutions for businesses to acquire machinery and equipment necessary for their operations.
- Working Capital Solutions: Providing short-term financing to businesses to manage their day-to-day cash flow needs.
- Personal Loans: Offering unsecured loans to individuals for various purposes.
The main advantage of SCFL is that it allows Standard Chartered to extend its reach to a broader range of customers, particularly those who may not qualify for traditional banking services. SCFL may have different risk appetites and credit assessment criteria compared to the bank, allowing it to serve a wider segment of the market. Furthermore, SCFL may be able to offer more specialized products and services tailored to the specific needs of its target customers.
Scope International: A Global In-house Centre
Scope International, rebranded as Standard Chartered Global Business Services (GBS), is the technology and operations engine powering Standard Chartered Bank. It serves as the bank’s global in-house center (GIC), providing a wide range of services across various functions, including:
- Technology Services: Developing, maintaining, and supporting the bank’s IT infrastructure and applications. This encompasses everything from core banking systems to digital channels.
- Operations: Processing transactions, managing accounts, and handling various operational tasks.
- Finance: Providing finance and accounting services.
- Risk Management: Supporting the bank’s risk management activities.
- Compliance: Supporting the bank’s compliance obligations.
- Customer Service: Handling customer inquiries and providing support.
GBS plays a critical role in enhancing operational efficiency, reducing costs, and driving innovation for Standard Chartered. By consolidating these functions within a dedicated organization, the bank can achieve economies of scale, improve process standardization, and leverage global talent pools. It provides critical support in areas such as cybersecurity, data analytics and cloud computing. GBS is strategically located in various countries, offering services across different time zones and languages to support Standard Chartered’s global operations.
In essence, while Standard Chartered Finance Limited extends the bank’s reach through specialized financial services, Standard Chartered Global Business Services powers the bank’s operations and technology, enabling it to deliver its services effectively and efficiently across the globe.