Banking & Fintech.
HSBC Doubles Hong Kong AI Team, Launches Digital Asset Products
The bank plans to establish a global AI institute in Hong Kong by early 2027, alongside introducing new stablecoin and tokenised deposit services.
Singapore Banks UOB, DBS, OCBC See Wealth Fee Pressure Before Q3 Results
Analysts expect continued pressure on interest margins for the three Singaporean lenders, though asset quality and capital positions are forecast to remain stable.
Hong Kong banks reshape wealth management for global clients
Hong Kong banks are adapting their wealth operations as approximately 72% of affluent investors now hold assets outside their home market, driving investment in digital tools and specialist advisers.
BDO Unibank nine-month profit rises 0.8% to P63.6 billion
The Philippine lender's January to September net income reached P63.6 billion, a marginal increase from last year, driven by significant loan book expansion.
Singapore's OCBC Ranks Third Globally, Tops Asia-Pacific for Bank Strength
OCBC Bank achieved the third-strongest global ranking and first in Asia-Pacific in The Asian Banker's 2026 assessment, marking a first for a Singaporean lender in the global top three.
Singapore's OCBC: World's 3rd Strongest, Asia-Pacific's Top Bank
The Asian Banker's latest assessment places OCBC as the strongest lender in the Asia-Pacific region and third worldwide, marking a first for a Singaporean bank.
RBI Extends Lokapavani Bank Oversight to January 2027
India's central bank has prolonged its regulatory measures on the Mandya-based cooperative lender for an additional three months, effective from October 30, 2026.
JB Financial Group posts record nine-month profit
The South Korean banking group announced a record net profit of 595.7 billion won for the first nine months of the year, marking a 2.9 percent increase from 2025.
OCBC Ranks Asia-Pacific's Strongest Bank, Third Globally
The Singapore lender achieved its position in the TAB Global 1000 World’s Strongest Banks 2026, driven by diversified income and robust capital.
UOB Targets S$900M AI Value by 2030, Expands ASEAN AI
Singapore's UOB aims to generate S$900 million in economic value from artificial intelligence initiatives by 2030, integrating advanced AI across its key Southeast Asian markets.
Singapore Gulf Bank Parent Adds Ex-Minister, Revolut Chair
Asia Gulf Holdings expands its advisory board with Maliki Osman and Martin Gilbert to strengthen regional government relations and global investment strategy, targeting Asia and MENA opportunities.
Kiatnakin Phatra Bank Q3 Profit Climbs 43% on Fee Income
Thailand's Kiatnakin Phatra Bank posted Q3 2026 net profit of $71.1 million, outperforming market forecasts due to strong fee income from wealth management.
Episode Six Launches Verified Backing for Stablecoins, Deposits
The new "Verified Backing" feature helps banks confirm the authenticity and backing of stablecoins and tokenised deposits at issuance and redemption.
HKMA, MAS advance AI frameworks for financial services
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority launched a framework for banking AI, while Singapore's central bank strengthened its own rules to attract investment in the sector.
Societe Generale names Lindsay Chu Apac financial sponsors head
Chu, based in Hong Kong, joins the French banking giant from DBS Asia Capital, where she served as CEO.
DBS Hong Kong Unveils First Visa Infinite Privilege Card
The DBS Vantage Card, launched on 21 October, integrates wealth, travel, and lifestyle benefits for globally-minded affluent customers in Hong Kong.
State Bank of India Investigates Dark Web Data Breach
India's largest lender, State Bank of India, launched a probe after 3,897 customer records, including personal and loan details, appeared online.
RBC Wealth Management: Soo to lead Singapore private banking, 7 hires
Royal Bank of Canada's wealth unit appointed Daniel Soo to lead its Singapore private banking, hiring five new bankers for the city-state and two for Hong Kong to target regional wealth growth.
DBS, UOB Project Loan Growth Offsets Funding Costs in Q3
DBS and UOB project resilient net interest income for Singapore lenders in the third quarter, even as higher deposit expenses pressure margins and mortgage rates climb above 2%.
India’s Private Banks Report Varied Q2 FY27 Earnings
HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank recorded significant profit growth for the quarter ending 30 September 2026, while Yes Bank's profit surged and IDBI Bank saw a decline.
Hanwha Life expands youth financial literacy in Indonesia
South Korean insurer Hanwha Life launched a financial education programme in Bandung, Indonesia, with Save the Children, reaching 700 participants since its June start.
DBS Favoured by Analysts Ahead of Q3 Earnings Amid Singapore Bank Slump
Singapore's three largest banks collectively shed over US$22 billion in market value last week, though analysts largely maintain positive outlooks for DBS.
RBC Wealth Management names Daniel Soo Singapore Private Banking Head
RBC Wealth Management Asia appointed Daniel Soo as its Singapore Private Banking Head, alongside seven new team members across its Singapore and Hong Kong operations.
Singapore Banks Shed $22bn; DBS Remains Analyst Pick
Singapore's three major banks collectively shed over US$22 billion in market value last week. Analysts remain divided on Q3 earnings prospects, though DBS retains favourable ratings.
Natixis CIB Appoints Dissescou to Lead APAC, Middle East Energy Transition
Based in Singapore, Cyril Dissescou will bolster Natixis CIB's financing and advisory services for natural resources across both the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions.
UOB Shares Rise 1.53% Ahead of Q3 FY26 Earnings
Singapore's United Overseas Bank (UOB) closed at SGD 41.69 on 15 October, bringing its intra-day market capitalisation to SGD 68.728 billion as it prepares for its Q3 FY26 results.
DBS Q3 Net Profit Forecast to Decline 3.2% to $2.86 Billion
The Singaporean lender's projected earnings drop is largely attributed to lower net interest income and increased provisions, according to CGSI analysis.
OCBC 3QFY2026 Profit Forecast to Dip 0.6% on Year
CGS International analysts project Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation's net profit for the quarter ending September 30 at S$1.97 billion, an 11.5% quarter-on-quarter increase.
South Korea's FSC Probes Cyberattacks on 16 Financial Firms
The Financial Services Commission reported 100,000 data leaks and is investigating if artificial intelligence played a role in the breaches.
UBS to hire 50 Singapore client advisers in 2024
Swiss banking giant UBS plans to add 100 client advisers across Asia-Pacific this year, with half designated for its Singapore operations.
Hong Kong Private Banking Adapts to Client Shifts
Bank of East Asia's Jaye Chiu notes Hong Kong's private banking sector is evolving its client base and relationship manager roles, attracting more international investors.
Standard Chartered to Offer Digital Asset Custody in Singapore
Standard Chartered will launch digital asset custody services in Singapore for institutional clients, covering crypto, stablecoins, and tokenised assets. This expands its existing digital asset operations in Asia and the Middle East.
DBS, OCBC, UOB Shares Drop as Yield Surge Threatens Q3 Earnings
DBS, OCBC, and UOB saw falls of over 4%, with the Straits Times Index tumbling 3.5% in its worst performance since April 2025 amid analyst warnings.
India's central bank extends Sadbhav Nagrik Sahakari Bank curbs
The Reserve Bank of India prolonged its regulatory directives on the Madhya Pradesh-based cooperative lender for three months, now effective until January 07, 2027.
Eximbank Board Member Jason Ho Outlines Trust-First Strategy for Lender
Jason Ho joined Eximbank's board in 2026. He draws on four decades of international banking experience to guide the Vietnamese lender's strategic review.
UOB, AWS Partner for ASEAN Hybrid Cloud Banking, AI Skills
The collaboration will establish a dedicated Singapore cloud environment, enhancing UOB's operational resilience and regulatory compliance across five Southeast Asian markets.
Bakai Bank gains Hong Kong licence, first for Central Asia
The Kyrgyz Republic's fourth-largest lender received regulatory approval to establish a Hong Kong branch, becoming the first Central Asian bank to facilitate trade and capital flows with Asia-Pacific.
OCBC, Ant International Launch Tokenised Deposits for Cross-Border Treasury
The new service facilitates Singapore and US dollar liquidity transfers for corporate clients between Singapore and Malaysia, operating outside standard banking hours.
Mox Bank Tops HK Digital Apps, Ranks Fifth in Asia-Pacific
Sia Partners' annual study placed Mox Bank first among Hong Kong rivals and fifth regionally, while Bank of China (Hong Kong) secured seventh place.
DWS names Elke Schoeppl-Jost Asia Pacific Head from 2027
Elke Schoeppl-Jost will assume leadership of German asset manager DWS's Asia Pacific business in 2027, succeeding Vanessa Wang in the top regional role.
WIDTH Named Pan Asian RegTech Provider at Singapore Awards
The compliance technology firm received the accolade at the ALB Pan Asian Regulatory Awards 2026, marking its 12th year in the industry.
South Korean Banks Hit by Cyberattacks, FSC Orders Security Checks
Seven financial firms, including Shinhan Bank and Yegaram Savings Bank, reported data breaches affecting tens of thousands of clients, prompting an emergency regulatory response.
HKMA Licenses Kyrgyzstan’s Bakai Bank for Hong Kong Operations
Kyrgyzstan's Bakai Bank will operate as Hong Kong's 17th restricted licence bank, targeting corporate and merchant clients with deposits starting at HK$500,000.
Philippine Banks' Bad Loan Ratio Steady at 3.35% in August
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported a stable non-performing loan ratio for August 2026, as the banking sector's overall lending growth outpaced new problem accounts.
Citi Appoints New Japan M&A, Sponsor Coverage Heads
The US banking giant's investment banking division has named Hajime Higuchi to lead mergers and acquisitions, and Yoshinobu Agu for sponsor coverage in the Japanese market.
MB Bank, OceanBase partner for database upgrade in Vietnam
Vietnam's MB Bank signed a pact with OceanBase on 2 October 2026 to enhance its core database, aiming for greater system resilience and scalability for digital banking.
Ping An Bank adopts AI rules, setting China banking benchmark
The Shenzhen-listed lender's board approved new management measures for artificial intelligence, a first among mainland institutions, following regulatory pressure for oversight.
South Korea's FSC Mandates Bank Security Checks After Cyberattacks
The Financial Services Commission on Friday, October 2, directed all banks and credit card firms to review IT systems following data breaches at Shinhan Bank and KB Kookmin Bank affecting thousands of customers.
Trust Bank turns profitable in 3.5 years, CEO cites tech and referrals
Singapore's digital bank, a joint venture of Standard Chartered and FairPrice Group, reported $135 million in income for FY2025, achieving profitability earlier this year.
China Bank Savings supports 1,200 Philippine educators, offers P50,000 accounts
The Philippine thrift bank provided financial wellness training last month and will award vehicles, including two Mitsubishi Mirages, on October 5.
GXBank Targets 2028 Profit Amid Loan Growth, Asset Cap Review
The Malaysian digital bank reported a wider first-half net loss of RM122.1 million in 2026, while securing an IFC risk-sharing agreement for MSME lending.
Deutsche Bank appoints Philippines country chief, corporate head
Vikas Arora assumes leadership as Philippines Chief Country Officer, succeeding Dino Siason in the Manila-based role for the German lender.
SFA, KPMG: Governance Slows Asia RegTech Cloud Adoption
A new report from the Singapore FinTech Association and KPMG reveals operational and accountability issues, not technology, slow financial institutions scaling cloud-based RegTech in Asia-Pacific.
SBI, HDFC Bank branches close today, open Sunday ahead of strike
Major Indian private lenders and public sector banks will see varied operations this weekend, with a nationwide labour action planned for next week that could disrupt services.
RBI Fines KLM Axiva Finvest ₹2.70 Lakh for Auction Rule Breach
India's central bank penalised the non-banking financial company (NBFC) for failing to return surplus funds to borrowers after auctioning pledged gold.
Futu Securities Leads Hong Kong Digital Firms' Branch Push
Online brokerages and digital banks are opening physical branches in Hong Kong, with Futu Securities International establishing a 42,000 square foot global headquarters in Pacific Place.
Deutsche Bank Private Bank to Grow Asia Wealth Teams
The German lender seeks experienced relationship managers and client teams across Asia to achieve double-digit growth in its high-net-worth segment.
DBS CEO Tan Su Shan Cites S$9.64 Million Pay Gap in Politics Refusal
Tan Su Shan, DBS's chief executive, earned S$9.64 million in 2025, a figure sharply contrasting with Singapore's new S$1.8 million annual ministerial salary for entry-level roles as the government seeks private sector talent.
OCBC, Bank of Ningbo Extend Alliance for 10 Years Amid Trade Growth
The Singaporean lender, a 20% shareholder in Bank of Ningbo, will continue a US$5 million training grant to support cross-border business between ASEAN and Greater China.