KUALA LUMPUR: HSBC Amanah Malaysia Bhd today launched HSBC Amanah Premier, a cross-border Islamic banking service that provides the world's first globally linked-up Islamic banking service.

In a statement today, HSBC Amanah Malaysia said the service was aimed at internationally mobile and affluent consumers in Malaysia, who would have access to syariah-compliant banking and wealth management products.

"HSBC's conventional Premier proposition has already attracted over 3.1 million customers around the world since its inception in 2007.

"In view of the increasing mobility and growing number of affluent Muslim population in Malaysia, we believe this is the right time to introduce a syariah-compliant Premier service to support the evolving lifestyle of customers with a preference for Islamic banking," said HSBC Amanah Malaysia chairman Mukhtar Hussain.

He said with HSBC Amanah Premier, customers could open overseas accounts within HSBC group's network from Malaysia, with the transfer of credit history.

Mukhtar, who is also deputy chairman and CEO of HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd and global CEO of HSBC Amanah, said they could also view and manage all their international accounts on one "Global View" through HSBC Amanah's Internet banking, and make free fund transfers between their own accounts.

HSBC Amanah Malaysia executive director and CEO Musa Abdul Malek said customers visiting any of the 40 markets where HSBC operated would be recognised as an HSBC Amanah Premier customer and given priority assistance and worldwide emergency support such as emergency cash advance, next day credit card replacement and expert local advice.

HSBC Amanah Premier customers are required to maintain an average monthly total relationship balance of RM200,000 or more.