Founded in 1935, the United Overseas Bank (UOB) has charted steady growth over the years to establish itself as one of Singapore's leading banks today.

The UOB Group has a total customer deposit base of more than S$70 billion and a total asset base of over S$113 billion.

UOB provides a wide range of financial services through its network of 68 bank branches in Singapore and offices in 17 countries in the Asia-Pacific, Western Europe and North America.

These services include personal financial services, private banking, trust services, commercial and corporate banking, corporate finance, capital market activities, treasury services, asset management, venture capital management, proprietary investments, general insurance and life assurance. It also offers stockbroking services through its associates, UOB-Kay Hian Holdings. Today, UOB is the largest credit card issuer in Singapore with a card base that exceeds 760,000. It is also the market leader in loans to small and medium-sized enterprises and a recognised leader in the personal loans business.

Through its other subsidiaries, and other associates (principally the United Overseas Land Group and Haw Par Group), UOB also has diversified interests in travel, leasing, property development, hotel management, healthcare, manufacturing and general trading.

UOB's vision is to be a premier bank in the Asia-Pacific region, committed to providing quality products and excellent customer service. To achieve this vision, the Bank has adopted the following strategies:

• Strengthen its leadership in the domestic retail and SME markets
• Enhance its strengths in fee-based activities
• Expand regionally with particular focus on ASEAN and Greater China
• Leverage on leading edge technology
• Build a pragmatic, change-oriented and customer-centric culture within the organisation.

UOB is rated among the world's top banks by Moody's Investors Service, receiving B+ for Bank Financial Strength, and Aa2 and Prime-1 for long-term and short-term deposits respectively.

The Bank has been ranked 'Asia's Third Strongest Bank' and the 'Strongest Bank in Singapore' by Asiamoney; 'Best Bank in Singapore' by US-based Global Finance; and 'Best Domestic Commercial Bank in Singapore' by The Asset.

In Hong Kong, UOB has five branches across the territory with a staff strength of more than 200. UOB opened its first overseas branch in Hong Kong in 1965 with a business focus on trade financing and corporate banking. Its range of activities in the territory has since expanded to include personal and corporate financial services.