Topic
18 facts from 2 episodes, in date order. These are what speakers said on the shows, each linked to the moment it was said. They aren't independently verified.
1965
DBS was formed a few years after Singapore's 1965 independence as the Development Bank of Singapore to help develop the country.
“So we were formed two, three years after Singapore was born in 1965. DBS was the development bank of Singapore, uh, really to develop Singapore.”
1970s-1980s
In the 1970s and 1980s DBS financed many manufacturers, including multinationals setting up factories in Singapore.
“Uh, in the seventies and eighties, was a lot of manufacturing. We were financing a lot of manufacturers.”
2016
DBS started its data lake, called Ada, in 2016.
“we started the data lake in 2016 called Ada”
2023
Tom Davenport said DBS, the biggest bank in Southeast Asia, had about 35 generative AI use cases but none in production, largely for regulatory reasons.
“And they said, Yeah, we've got like 35 use cases, but none of them are in production yet, largely for regulatory reasons.”
2025
Su Shan attributes the sharp market recovery after Liberation Day to abundant liquidity, even though she says the economic slowdown is real.
“I think there's been a lot of liquidity in the markets, and I think the economic slowdown is real.”
2025
Nicolai Tangen cited that DBS reported a $750 million AI benefit last year.
“Last year you said that you saved $750 million”
2025
Su Shan says AI-driven incremental revenue was $750 million last year and she hopes it exceeds a billion this year.
“So that was seven fifty last year, hopefully over a billion this year in incremental revenue.”
Undated
Su Shan describes DBS as the largest commercial bank in Southeast Asia.
“the largest commercial bank in Southeast Asia.”
Undated
Su Shan says Temasek's ownership gives DBS stable ownership and access to an ecosystem of linked companies, talent and ideas.
“Temasek um has a strong, stable of um Temasek linked portfolio companies, um, who have an ecosystem of support for each other.”
Undated
Su Shan says that when she joined about fourteen to fifteen years ago, DBS ranked last among Singapore banks for service.
“when we first joined, we were the worst bank for service, like last”
Undated
DBS adopted the RED service values of respectful, easy to deal with and dependable, learned from Singapore Airlines.
“red stands for respectful, e easy to deal with, and d dependable.”
Undated
DBS hired many retired Singapore Airlines staff to work in its branches and model service behaviour.
“we actually hired quite a lot of, um, uh, retired S I A staff,”
Undated
DBS bought Citibank's wealth and cards business in Taiwan.
“Taiwan, we bought the uh, you know, Citibank's um, wealth and cards business”
Undated
Su Shan says DBS has about 200,000 small and medium-sized enterprise clients, and not all have a relationship manager.
“I have 200,000 S M E clients. Not everyone has a has a relationship manager.”
Undated
Su Shan was hired to set up DBS's private bank, then asked to be placed under the consumer banking head to build a wealth continuum.
“When my boss, um, and my chairman hired me, it was to set up the private bank.”
Undated
DBS encourages junior staff to openly challenge senior colleagues' ideas through its 'wreckoon' practice.
“we empower our young analysts or any any staff, whether they're in a meeting with a senior like me or any other bosses.”
Undated
DBS uses 'meeting mojos', in which a meeting owner sets the agenda and a joyful observer can redirect the discussion.
“the meeting owner and the joyful observer J O.”
Undated
DBS invited Arianna Huffington to speak to staff about sleep.
“We invited her here to to give a talk to my colleagues and I.”
Episodes