du and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) partner to add value to SMEs

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) and du have announced an alliance to offer enhanced value to their small and medium enterprise (SME) customers. The partnership brings the best of both the worlds to SME customers: a reliable banking partner and a trusted telecommunications provider.

As part of the agreement, the two companies are offering an exclusive promotion whereby customers simply need to open an ADCB BusinessEdge Current Account and sign up for the du Premier Plan with BlackBerry® service in order to get a BlackBerry® smartphone for just AED1. Great deals on a number of BlackBerry® smartphones including BlackBerry® Bold™ and BlackBerry® 8900 are offered.

The newly-launched Business Edge Current Account from ADCB enables SMEs to bank in a flexible manner. Offering a choice of five accounts to suit all needs, Business Edge offers a dedicated relationship manager and a full range of conventional and Shari’ah-compliant options.

‘Premier Plan’ is a business mobile plan from du that brings many exclusive privileges and benefits to customers for both business and personal use. It allows users one discounted rate to all major international destinations, privileged calls within their business and one rate on all incoming calls while roaming, in addition to the best BlackBerry® Unlimited deal in the market. Premier Plan also features value-conscious Pay by the Second billing for all outgoing voice and video calls made in the UAE, meaning customers pay only for what they actually use.

“We are delighted to partner with du to offer this unique package of services to our SME clients,” said Colin Fraser, Head of Wholesale Banking Group, ADCB.

“This alliance allows us to offer the best of ABCD and du’s market-leading services and shows that we remain absolutely committed to our SME clients despite the global slowdown. We feel this sends a very positive message to the market and to our new and existing customers.”

Nilanjan Ray, Head SME, ADCB commented: “By combining the flexibility and benefits of the ADCB BusinessEdge Current Account, which includes unlimited teller transactions and flexible and structured credit solutions, with the du Premier Plan, offering one rate for roaming, we have created a very appealing package. By adding a BlackBerry® Pearl™ for just AED1 we’re offering the kind of value that businesses crave at this time.”

Farid Faraidooni, EVP Commercial, du, said: “We value our partnership with ADCB which we think offers exceptional mutual synergy and offers great value to SME customers. The Premier Plan offers a bouquet of carefully thought-out innovative elements which anticipate customer priorities and exceed what business customers might typically expect from a mobile package. It is a feature-rich, all-in-one plan with powerful tools that offers a high degree of value, rewards, flexibility, and above all, the control that gives du users the competitive edge in their business.”

He added: “Customers who opt for the Premier Plan in conjunction with the Business Edge Current Account from ADCB will not only receive a cutting-edge phone for just a dirham – they will secure exceptional banking and communications services that simplify their lives.”

July 6,2009