Latest news with #OCBCBank
The Star
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Investing with purpose
WEALTH was once measured in numbers alone. Today, it is also measured in meaning—in the lives it improves, the futures it shapes and the values it reflects. This shift has fueled the rise of meaningful investing, where affluent individuals are increasingly looking beyond financial performance and seeking purpose in their portfolios. For a new generation of affluent investors, particularly millennials and Gen Zs who are building or inheriting wealth, consideration for long-term ESG factors is now seen as standard and expected. These investors want to know that their financial decisions reflect their values, whether that means supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy, backing companies with strong social governance, or contributing to long-term environmental resilience. A practical guide As sustainable investing becomes more mainstream, the term ESG is showing up more often in wealth and portfolio conversations. But what does it mean in this context and how is it measured? ESG stands for the three key lenses investors use to assess how responsibly a company operates beyond financials: > Environmental: How a company manages emissions, energy, waste, and biodiversity impact. > Social: How it treats workers, customers and communities. This includes labour rights, privacy and diversity. > Governance: How the company is run from board oversight and ethics to executive pay and transparency. To help investors navigate these factors, ESG ratings are used as benchmarking tools Independent agencies like MSCI, Sustainalytics, and S&P Global assign scores based on how well companies manage ESG risks and opportunities compared to their peers. Most ratings use either a letter-grade scale such as CCC to AAA; or a numerical scale such as 0 to 100, where higher scores reflect stronger ESG performance. Crucially, a high ESG rating does not mean a company is perfectly 'green' or ethical. It means that it is managing ESG issues better than others in its sector. For instance, a mining company with strong environmental controls may still score well, despite the industry's overall footprint. Ratings are a helpful starting point, but not a final judgment. Agencies may score the same company differently due to varied data sources or methodologies. Hence, investors are encouraged to combine ESG scores with company disclosures, regional or thematic insights, professional advice as well as personal or sector values. As the field evolves, regulators are pushing for greater consistency and transparency in ESG assessments. In the end, ESG isn't about labelling a company as 'good' or 'bad.' It helps businesses make better-informed investment decisions that align profit with purpose. Shaping purposeful wealth journeys Recognising this growing interest in sustainability, OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Bhd (OCBC Bank) has taken a holistic approach to help clients integrate ESG considerations into their investment journeys. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all model, the bank empowers clients to make informed, values-aligned decisions through a suite of solutions, including: > Digital tools that support discovery and decision-making such as ESG fund screeners, portfolio analysers and thematic investment journeys that highlight opportunities in areas like climate tech or social impact. Some tools even estimate the carbon footprint or impact potential of a client's portfolio. > Strategic partnerships with some of the world's top investment managers —including BlackRock, Fidelity, and Schroders—to expand access to high- quality, sustainability-focused investment products. > Dedicated advisory from relationship managers trained in ESG topics, ensuring clients receive timely, relevant, and personalised guidance. This approach ensures that the bank's clients are supported at every stage—from understanding ESG concepts to building portfolios that reflect both their financial objectives and personal values. Importantly, it recognises that responsible investing does not require compromising on performance. Fusing sustainability with service OCBC Bank's commitment to sustainability extends beyond its products and services. The consideration of sustainability is even applied to design thinking of its client spaces. The bank's Premier Private Client Centre in Bangsar, for instance, was conceived with ESG principles in mind. Its features include: > Energy-efficient systems to reduce carbon footprint. > Biophilic elements, which promote wellbeing and energy efficiency—bringing natural light and greenery into the space. > EV charging bays, encouraging the use of low-emission vehicles. > Incorporation of Malaysian heritage and art, supporting local culture and contributing to the communities' social sustainability. These design choices reflect OCBC Bank's belief that ESG should go beyond portfolios to shape the entire client experience—from advisory conversations to appreciation of physical spaces. Wealth with intention As clients increasingly seek to align their investments with their values, financial institutions play a vital role by providing access to sustainable products and supporting informed, confident decision-making. OCBC Bank remains committed to helping clients navigate this transition. By offering relevant tools, expert insights, and purpose-driven solutions, the bank enables investors to take a long-term view—building portfolios that are financially robust, ethically grounded, and aligned with the future they wish to see. It's all part of the bank's goal to make sustainable investing a natural and empowering part of every client's journey. OCBC Bank's commitment to excellence in sustainable finance has been recognised across the region: > Malaysia International Green Financing Bank of the Year awarded by ABF Wholesale Banking Awards 2025 > Best Sustainability Sukuk awarded by The Asset > Green Project Deal of the Year awarded by The Asset > Global Finance Sustainable Finance Awards 2024 > Best Bank for Sustainable Finance (Malaysia) The bank is also known for its overall banking and environmental excellence: > Malaysia Bank of The Year awarded by The Banker > Best Green Data Centre awarded by the Green Climate Initiative and Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology > Asian Banking & Finance Retail Banking Awards 2025: Branch Innovation of the Year; Private Wealth Bank of the Year—Malaysia Scan to learn more about OCBC Bank's sustainable solutions for investing and financing.
BusinessToday
4 days ago
- Business
- BusinessToday
STI Starts Strong, Riding On Blue-Chip Backbone
The Singapore stock market opened higher on Tuesday, with the Straits Times Index (STI) rising 11.91 points or 0.28% to 4,219.04 as at 9.02am, reflecting a firm start driven by gains in key blue-chip counters and steady investor sentiment across the region. Trading volume stood at 62.79 million securities, with a total value of S$75.07 million. Market breadth was positive, with 99 advancers outpacing 42 decliners in early trade. Among the top STI constituents, DBS rose 0.19% to S$47.350, while OCBC Bank held at S$17.300 and UOB remained steady at S$37.100. Singtel opened at S$4.160, and CapitaLand Investment traded at S$2.810. Seatrium Ltd and ST Engineering were also active, opening at S$2.410 and S$8.460 respectively. Broader indices also showed strength, with the iEdge-OCBC Singapore Low Carbon Select 40 Capped Index up at 3,271.25, and the iEdge S-REIT Leaders Index at 1,045.41. Meanwhile, the iEdge APAC Financials Dividend Plus Index stood at 3,068.43 and the iEdge-UOB APAC Yield Focus Green REIT Index at 2,319.31, reflecting sustained investor interest in income and sustainability-driven themes. The upbeat tone at the opening mirrored regional optimism, with investors watching for key earnings reports and economic data due later in the week, particularly from the US and China. Related
AsiaOne
16-07-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
Retiring OCBC chief Helen Wong drives synergies among markets, business units, bank insiders say, Money News
SINGAPORE — One of OCBC Bank chief executive Helen Wong's greatest contributions is being a leader who fosters collaboration across its different markets and businesses to drive synergies, say the bank's insiders. Koh Li-San, head of funding and capital management at OCBC, said Wong believed in the value of collaboration as part of the OCBC's "One Group" strategy — an approach of operating as a unified group across various business units, entities and geographies to capitalise on the Asean-Greater China opportunity. "She really brought people together, got everyone to work more closely and think of new ideas to reach more customers or do more cross-selling," said Koh, who worked in the CEO office for two years during Wong's tenure. Mike Ng, group chief sustainability officer at OCBC, said Wong was able to find synergies in many areas, including sustainability. "For example, best practices, training programmes, sustainable finance product development can be shared across divisions and entities," he said, adding that cross-collaboration became common across the group. OCBC mainly operates across four key markets in Asia — Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Greater China. Under its umbrella also includes private bank Bank of Singapore, insurer Great Eastern (GE) and asset manager Lion Global Investors, among others. Koh and Ng are among staff The Straits Times interviewed following news of Wong's upcoming retirement. They were as one in highlighting the CEO's positivity and empathy as a leader. Lee Shyong, who works with Wong on matters relating to large corporate and institutional clients, described her leadership as a people-centric one. "She pays you the attention. She listens to you. You feel valued, you feel seen as a person. That's very important in today's context, especially amongst the younger generation that values a more empathetic and authentic form of leadership," said Lee, who is group head of public sector, sovereign wealth and pension funds and services for global corporate banking. Ng said Wong is a positive and resilient boss who gives strength to her colleagues in difficult times. During the Covid-19 period, he had worked on a project which suffered supply chain disruptions. As a result, he felt bad and beat himself up over it. Instead of blaming him, Wong gave him words of encouragement. She had said taking risks is just part of the business and no one expected Covid-19. "As a leader, a genuine interest in people and her great sense of empathy give her what I call the superpower for others to want to do the best work to achieve the bank's vision," said Ng. He also said the bank's sustainability task force which Wong spearheaded in her first few months in OCBC provided the seed that grew into the various initiatives and governance structures in the bank today. Wong, who joined Singapore's second-largest bank by assets in February 2020 as deputy president and head of global wholesale banking before becoming group CEO in April 2021, is retiring on Dec 31 to spend more time with her family, after first indicating in 2024 her plans to do so. She will be succeeded by Tan Teck Long, who will assume the CEO role on Jan 1, 2026. For a smooth transition over the next six months, Tan, who has been head of global wholesale banking since March 2022, has assumed the additional role of deputy CEO. Wong, 64, will remain the chairwoman of OCBC China and a director of OCBC Hong Kong post-retirement. She has more than 40 years of banking experience — she started out as a management trainee in OCBC and was its first China desk manager, based at the Hong Kong branch. Before returning to OCBC, she spent 27 years at HSBC, where her last role was as its CEO for Greater China, which she was appointed to in 2015. OCBC has performed well in her years as CEO. OCBC reported a net profit of $7.59 billion for 2024, marking an eight per cent increase compared with the previous year. This achievement represents the third consecutive year of record-breaking profits for the bank. The strong performance was driven by robust income growth across its banking, wealth management and insurance businesses. Wong's total pay rose to $12.8 million in 2024, a 5.8 per cent increase from the $12.1 million she earned in 2023. Since she first took on the role of CEO on April 15, 2021, OCBC's share price has grown about 40 per cent. In February 2025, she unveiled the largest capital return plan in OCBC's history amounting to $2.5 billion, comprising special dividends and share buybacks over two years. In her four-year tenure as CEO, Wong also faced some challenges. Insurer and OCBC subsidiary GE was in the spotlight earlier in July after a vote to delist it from the Singapore Exchange (SGX) fell through and a $900 million conditional exit offering made by OCBC lapsed. OCBC said it has met its objectives with the increase in OCBC's investment in GE to 93.72 per cent in October 2024 and that this would be earnings accretive to the bank. About half a year into her CEO stint, Wong also had to oversee the bank's response to an SMS phishing scam targeting OCBC customers that resulted in about 790 victims losing a total of $13.7 million. OCBC fully reimbursed all affected customers with goodwill payouts. The bank also implemented stronger fraud controls to prevent future occurrences. Thanking Wong for her contributions, Andrew Lee, chairman of OCBC's board of directors, said in a July 11 statement: "Helen sharpened OCBC's competitive edge as an integrated financial services group by ushering in a well-defined corporate strategy. "Together with the team, Helen has executed the strategy in a clear and disciplined manner. She is handing over to Teck Long a very steady ship." [[nid:720104]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Retiring OCBC chief Helen Wong drives synergies among markets, business units, bank insiders say
Find out what's new on ST website and app. OCBC Bank chief executive Helen Wong is retiring on Dec 31 to spend more time with her family, after first indicating in 2024 her plans to do so. SINGAPORE – One of OCBC Bank chief executive Helen Wong's greatest contributions is being a leader who fosters collaboration across its different markets and businesses to drive synergies, say the bank's insiders. Ms Koh Li-San, head of funding and capital management at OCBC, said Ms Wong believed in the value of collaboration as part of the OCBC's 'One Group' strategy – an approach of operating as a unified group across various business units, entities and geographies to capitalise on the Asean-Greater China opportunity. 'She really brought people together, got everyone to work more closely and think of new ideas to reach more customers or do more cross-selling,' said Ms Koh, who worked in the CEO office for two years during Ms Wong's tenure. Mr Mike Ng, group chief sustainability officer at OCBC, said Ms Wong was able to find synergies in many areas, including sustainability. 'For example, best practices, training programmes, sustainable finance product development can be shared across divisions and entities,' he said, adding that cross-collaboration became common across the group. OCBC mainly operates across four key markets in Asia – Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Greater China. Under its umbrella also includes private bank Bank of Singapore, insurer Great Eastern (GE) and asset manager Lion Global Investors, among others. Ms Koh and Mr Ng are among staff The Straits Times interviewed following news of Ms Wong's upcoming retirement. They were as one in highlighting the CEO's positivity and empathy as a leader. Mr Lee Shyong, who works with Ms Wong on matters relating to large corporate and institutional clients, described her leadership as a people-centric one. 'She pays you the attention. She listens to you. You feel valued, you feel seen as a person. That's very important in today's context, especially amongst the younger generation that values a more empathetic and authentic form of leadership,' said Mr Lee, who is group head of public sector, sovereign wealth and pension funds and services for global corporate banking. Mr Ng said Ms Wong is a positive and resilient boss who gives strength to her colleagues in difficult times. During the Covid-19 period, he had worked on a project which suffered supply chain disruptions. As a result, he felt bad and beat himself up over it. Instead of blaming him, Ms Wong gave him words of encouragement. She had said taking risks is just part of the business and no one expected Covid-19. 'As a leader, a genuine interest in people and her great sense of empathy give her what I call the superpower for others to want to do the best work to achieve the bank's vision,' said Mr Ng. He also said the bank's sustainability task force which Ms Wong spearheaded in her first few months in OCBC provided the seed that grew into the various initiatives and governance structures in the bank today. Ms Wong, who joined Singapore's second-largest bank by assets in February 2020 as deputy president and head of global wholesale banking before becoming group CEO in April 2021, is retiring on Dec 31 to spend more time with her family, after first indicating in 2024 her plans to do so. She will be succeeded by Mr Tan Teck Long, who will assume the CEO role on Jan 1, 2026. For a smooth transition over the next six months, Mr Tan, who has been head of global wholesale banking since March 2022, has assumed the additional role of deputy CEO. Ms Wong, 64, will remain the chairwoman of OCBC China and a director of OCBC Hong Kong post-retirement. She has more than 40 years of banking experience – she started out as a management trainee in OCBC and was its first China desk manager, based at the Hong Kong branch. Before returning to OCBC, she spent 27 years at HSBC, where her last role was as its CEO for Greater China, which she was appointed to in 2015. OCBC has performed well in her years as CEO. OCBC reported a net profit of $7.59 billion for 2024, marking an 8 per cent increase compared with the previous year. This achievement represents the third consecutive year of record-breaking profits for the bank. The strong performance was driven by robust income growth across its banking, wealth management and insurance businesses. Ms Wong's total pay rose to $12.8 million in 2024, a 5.8 per cent increase from the $12.1 million she earned in 2023. Since she first took on the role of CEO on April 15, 2021, OCBC's share price has grown about 40 per cent. In February 2025, she unveiled the largest capital return plan in OCBC's history amounting to $2.5 billion, comprising special dividends and share buybacks over two years. In her four-year tenure as CEO, Ms Wong also faced some challenges. Insurer and OCBC subsidiary GE was in the spotlight earlier in July after a vote to delist it from the Singapore Exchange (SGX) fell through and a $900 million conditional exit offering made by OCBC lapsed. OCBC said it has met its objectives with the increase in OCBC's investment in GE to 93.72 per cent in October 2024 and that this would be earnings accretive to the bank. About half a year into her CEO stint, Ms Wong also had to oversee the bank's response to an SMS phishing scam targeting OCBC customers that resulted in about 790 victims losing a total of $13.7 million. OCBC fully reimbursed all affected customers with goodwill payouts. The bank also implemented stronger fraud controls to prevent future occurrences. Thanking Ms Wong for her contributions, Mr Andrew Lee, chairman of OCBC's board of directors, said in a July 11 statement: 'Helen sharpened OCBC's competitive edge as an integrated financial services group by ushering in a well-defined corporate strategy. 'Together with the team, Helen has executed the strategy in a clear and disciplined manner. She is handing over to Teck Long a very steady ship.'
Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
OCBC CEO Helen Wong to retire; SGX sees biggest Reit IPO in a decade
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The benchmark Straits Times Index hit a new all-time high at around 4,100 points on July 11. SINGAPORE - Shares of OCBC Bank climbed 2.6 per cent over the week to close at $16.89 on July 11, just before the bank announced after market hours that its chief executive would be retiring. Ms Helen Wong, 64, will be retiring on Dec 31 , OCBC announced in a bourse filing. She will be succeeded by Mr Tan Teck Long, 55, who will assume the role on Jan 1, 2026.
