Standard Chartered Bank has received approval from the Central Bank of Iraq to open branches in the country. The London-based bank plans to open three branches in Baghdad and Erbil by the end of 2013 and Basra in 2014. It said its main aim is to meet the increasing banking needs of its global network clients in Iraq, notably in the power, oil, telecoms and infrastructure sectors. Standard Chartered has had a representative office in Erbil since 2006.