Bank of East Asia, the Hong Kong-headquartered bank, has further expanded in Europe with the opening of a branch in Manchester, United Kingdom. 

The branch, located at the Chinatown area, provides full service retail and commercial banking services, including safe deposit box rental. BEA established its first branch in the U.K. in London in 1990, which was followed with a second in Birmingham in 1997. According to the 2011 census cited by the bank in its statement, Manchester is the fastest growing city in the country.

"We made it our mission to follow our customers as they venture abroad... to ensure they enjoy the same familiar service they do in Hong Kong," said Dr David KP Li, chairman and chief executive.

Bank of East Asia is one of the largest local banks in Hong Kong, with total consolidated assets of HK$697.4 billion ($89.9 billion) as at 30 June 2013.