Briefs: Second Taiwan Branch for BankAmerica

BankAmerica Corp. has opened a second branch in Taiwan as part of a drive to expand consumer banking there.

James E. Hulihan Jr., group executive vice president and head of retail banking in Asia, said BankAmerica is particularly keen on building an island-wide network in Taiwan as part of a broader buildup in credit card and other consumer banking operations in Asia.

BankAmerica quit retail banking in Asia in the 1980's but reentered the business after acquiring Security Pacific Corp., which had an extensive branch network in Hong Kong. It launched a retail banking operation in Taipei last year.

The branch just opened is located in Taichung, Taiwan's third-biggest city. Bank officials said they plan to open a third branch in the port city of Kaohsiung next year.

BankAmerica has between 160,000 and 180,000 retail banking accounts in Taiwan and about 200,000 credit cards outstanding.

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