About UOB
Our Corporate Milestones
Our Purpose and Strategic Priorities
Board of Directors
Chairman Emeritus and
Honorary Advisor
Honorary Advisor
Group Management Committee:
Management Executive Committee
Management Executive Committee
Group Management Committee:
Management Committee
Management Committee
Chairman’s Statement
Deputy Chairman and CEO’s Report
Financial Highlights
Investor Highlights
Sustainability Highlights
Award Highlights
Board of Directors
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About Us / Chairman Emeritus and Honorary Adviser
Dr Wee Cho Yaw
Chairman Emeritus and Honorary Adviser
“Honour and integrity must never be compromised in a banker. These values have guided us since our founding in 1935.”
Dr Wee Cho Yaw, visionary, banker extraordinaire, community pillar and celebrated pioneer, is highly regarded in Singapore and internationally.
He retired from the UOB Board in 2018 following more than 60 years at the helm of the UOB Group. Under his leadership and guidance, UOB became one of the leading banks in Asia. The Bank’s regional network grew from 75 to more than 500 branches and offices and through disciplined and sustainable growth, assets increased from $2.8 billion to more than $253 billion.
Dr Wee has received many accolades for his business achievements and support of education, community welfare and the business community. Among the awards conferred on him are the Distinguished Service Order, Singapore’s highest National Day Award, ASEAN Business Advisory Council Legacy Award for Singapore and Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Letters from the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University.
In recognition of his contributions and given his wealth of experience and insight, he remains as Chairman Emeritus and an Honorary Adviser to the Board.
While Dr Wee was at the helm, UOB:
He retired from the UOB Board in 2018 following more than 60 years at the helm of the UOB Group. Under his leadership and guidance, UOB became one of the leading banks in Asia. The Bank’s regional network grew from 75 to more than 500 branches and offices and through disciplined and sustainable growth, assets increased from $2.8 billion to more than $253 billion.
Dr Wee has received many accolades for his business achievements and support of education, community welfare and the business community. Among the awards conferred on him are the Distinguished Service Order, Singapore’s highest National Day Award, ASEAN Business Advisory Council Legacy Award for Singapore and Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Letters from the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University.
In recognition of his contributions and given his wealth of experience and insight, he remains as Chairman Emeritus and an Honorary Adviser to the Board.
While Dr Wee was at the helm, UOB:
1965
Opened 1st overseas branch, in Hong Kong
1971
Acquired majority stake in Chung Khiaw Bank (CKB)
Opened Tokyo branch
Opened Tokyo branch
1973
Acquired Lee Wah Bank
1975
Opened London branch
1977
Opened New York agency
1980
Opened Los Angeles agency
1983
Opened Seoul representative office
1984
Opened Beijing representative office
1985
Expanded into Sydney and Xiamen
1986
Expanded into Vancouver
1987
Acquired majority interest in Industrial & Commercial Bank in Singapore
1992
Set up representative office in Vietnam
Set up Taipei representative office
Set up Taipei representative office
1994
Expanded into Yangon
1997
Subsidiary UOB Malaysia merged with subsidiary CKB Malaysia
1998
Opened Shanghai branch
1999
Acquired Westmont Bank in the Philippines
Acquired Radanasin Bank in Thailand
Acquired Radanasin Bank in Thailand
2001
Acquired Overseas Union Bank in Singapore
2004
Acquired 96.1% in Bank of Asia Public Company in Thailand
2005
Increased controlling stake of PT Bank Buana in Indonesia to 61.1%
2009
Opened Mumbai branch
2010
Merged PT Bank UOB Indonesia with PT Bank UOB Buana
2015
Completed full acquisition of Far Eastern Bank in Singapore
Officially opened Yangon branch, adding to UOB’s unparalled Southeast Asian network
Officially opened Yangon branch, adding to UOB’s unparalled Southeast Asian network