DBS: WCRC, Asia’s Most Promising Brands

Headquartered and listed in Singapore, with over 250 branches across 17 markets in Asia, DBS is the largest bank in Singapore and Southeast Asia. It is a market leader in Singapore’s banking sector with over four million customers. It also has a growing presence in the three key Asian axes of growth, namely Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia.

BLAZE TO BRILLIANCE

DBS is fully committed to effective governance to protect the interests of all their stakeholders and to promote the long-term sustainability of the group.

DBS launched a Singapore$50 million foundation in February 2014 in conjunction with Singapore’s 50th year as a nation. The bank has strengthened its CSR efforts through the DBS Foundation to make an even greater impact in addressing the region’s evolving social needs.

FAITH FACTOR

In India, DBS has been working with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) for the last three years, helping to create successful, award-winning and sustainable social enterprises that address key social needs. These include organic farms, waste-management solutions for cities and higher education for marginalised students amongst many others. The group’s efforts in improving corporate governance were recognized and it picked up the Gold for Best Managed Board for companies with Singapore$ 1 billion and above in market capitalisation at the Singapore Corporate Awards 2014 in the Big Cap Category.

ENGAGEMENT THAT ENTHRALS

The foundation aims to spark social innovation by encouraging the development of groundbreaking social initiatives. It supports community programmes that seek to address the ever-changing requirements of a society in creative ways, in Singapore and across Asia. By supporting social entrepreneurship, the foundation focuses on building a more inclusive society so that those at the society’s margins can also lead productive and rewarding lives.

Over the years, DBS has backed numerous community development initiatives. These include supporting the education of children in Asia, as well as contributing to relief efforts during natural disasters and other crises across the region.

INNOVEDGE

Nurturing social enterprises is the DBS way of addressing the myriad social challenges associated with a rapidly growing Asia. It is busy in developing commercially sustainable solutions and social enterprises that provide jobs, goods and services to the disadvantaged and marginalised. The support for social enterprises resonates with their heritage as a ‘development bank’, while leveraging on their expertise in serving the SME sector.

BRAND PROMISE

DBS was recognised as the ‘Bank of the Year, Asia’ by The Banker and the ‘Best Bank in Asia-Pacific’ by Global Finance. The bank has also been named ‘Safest Bank in Asia’ by Global Finance for six consecutive years from 2009 to 2014.