OCBC becomes first Singapore bank to establish securities financing unit
21 January 2026 Singapore
Image: OCBC
OCBC has become the first Singapore bank to establish a dedicated securities financing unit to deepen the suite of solutions for institutional customers.
The securities financing unit sits within the bank’s Global Markets division, which has almost doubled its contribution to the OCBC Group’s operating profit year-on-year as of 30 September 2025.
Industry veteran Jansen Chua recently joined OCBC as head of securities finance to spearhead the bank’s growth in this area.
Based in Singapore, he will report to Kenneth Lai, head of Global Markets.
The unit will mobilise lendable securities — both equities and fixed income — from customers across OCBC bank and its subsidiaries OCBC Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï, Bank of Singapore, and Great Eastern, to meet the growing global demand for securities financing.
In doing so, the bank says it will also create opportunities for these customers to earn fee income by lending out their idle securities.
Commenting on the news, Lai says: “Under Jansen’s leadership and supported by our regional network, we are well-positioned to support our customers as they execute trading and hedging strategies, meet settlement obligations and optimise capital usage.â€
Chua joined OCBC from State Street Bank & Trust Company, where he served as senior managing director and head of Financing Solutions for Asia Pacific.
In this previous role, he led teams across trading, sales, customer management, and product development.
With over 25 years of global experience spanning the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as Asia Pacific, Chua brings deep expertise in securities services, securities finance, and prime brokerage.
Lai continues: “The ability to access liquidity and deploy capital efficiently has become critical, especially in the context of elevated market volatility.
â€œÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï financing has therefore become increasingly important, and we have seen a corresponding rise in demand from our institutional customers.
“The establishment of a dedicated securities financing team is therefore timely and is a strategic milestone for us as we seek to grow our securities financing business in the region.â€
The securities financing unit sits within the bank’s Global Markets division, which has almost doubled its contribution to the OCBC Group’s operating profit year-on-year as of 30 September 2025.
Industry veteran Jansen Chua recently joined OCBC as head of securities finance to spearhead the bank’s growth in this area.
Based in Singapore, he will report to Kenneth Lai, head of Global Markets.
The unit will mobilise lendable securities — both equities and fixed income — from customers across OCBC bank and its subsidiaries OCBC Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï, Bank of Singapore, and Great Eastern, to meet the growing global demand for securities financing.
In doing so, the bank says it will also create opportunities for these customers to earn fee income by lending out their idle securities.
Commenting on the news, Lai says: “Under Jansen’s leadership and supported by our regional network, we are well-positioned to support our customers as they execute trading and hedging strategies, meet settlement obligations and optimise capital usage.â€
Chua joined OCBC from State Street Bank & Trust Company, where he served as senior managing director and head of Financing Solutions for Asia Pacific.
In this previous role, he led teams across trading, sales, customer management, and product development.
With over 25 years of global experience spanning the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as Asia Pacific, Chua brings deep expertise in securities services, securities finance, and prime brokerage.
Lai continues: “The ability to access liquidity and deploy capital efficiently has become critical, especially in the context of elevated market volatility.
â€œÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï financing has therefore become increasingly important, and we have seen a corresponding rise in demand from our institutional customers.
“The establishment of a dedicated securities financing team is therefore timely and is a strategic milestone for us as we seek to grow our securities financing business in the region.â€
NO FEE, NO RISK
100% ON RETURNS If you invest in only one securities finance news source this year, make sure it is your free subscription to Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï Finance Times
100% ON RETURNS If you invest in only one securities finance news source this year, make sure it is your free subscription to Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï Finance Times
