"Now, with the financial services reform legislation, there is no banking product that the brokerage firms can't offer."

"Derivatives are generally subject to more rigorous risk management than most traditional banking products," he said.

Aside from insurance, the company also offers some banking products such as mortgages.

It's a market where consumers are not used to banking products that have been available in other parts of the country.

The introduction of additional Islamic banking products is also likely in the future.

In the last year, however, Ahmanson reversed its strategy and decided it, too, wanted to be offer a greater range of banking products.

The bank's offerings included a range of personal, business, and commercial banking products and services.

The company functions as an online broker with a bank license, without offering traditional banking products.

These were gradually supplemented by other additional banking products under its own brand name.

"What they got was a nine-month head start in bringing banking products to the market."