Singapore, 1 April 2025 – OCBC will donate $50,000 to provide humanitarian assistance to communities in Myanmar, the epicentre of the earthquake.

The donation, made through the Singapore Red Cross, will go towards addressing the immediate needs, including the distribution of essential supplies such as food, water, blankets and hygiene kits. 

Ms Helen Wong, Group Chief Executive Officer of OCBC said, “We are deeply saddened by the significant loss of lives and damage caused by the devastating earthquake. Our hearts go out to those who have lost their loved ones and homes. We hope our donation will help those affected in some way.

We have quickly rolled out a staff support programme to ensure that the welfare of our Myanmar branch colleagues and their families is taken care of. 

OCBC’s history in Myanmar dates back to 1923, when Oversea-Chinese Bank – one of the three banks that merged to form OCBC in 1932 – opened its first branch in Rangoon. This support is hence a natural extension of our commitment to the country.” 

OCBC has had a presence in Myanmar for 70 years, having first operated as a branch for 40 years from 1923 to 1963, and subsequently as a representative office in Yangon from 1994 to 2015. In April 2015, OCBC was one of the first three foreign banks to receive regulatory approval to operate a branch in Myanmar.  

Facilitating Customer Donations

Effective from 3 April 2025, customers will be able to donate via the Bank’s channels – ATMs, internet banking and mobile banking – to support emergency relief efforts. All donations will be channelled through the Singapore Red Cross.