Our adopted charities
Singapore Children’s Society
In Singapore, our chosen charity partner is the Singapore Children’s Society (SCS), which is dedicated to helping to protect and nurture children and youth of all races and religions, especially those who are abused, neglected or come from dysfunctional families.
Our support dates back to 2004, when we committed to donating $2.5 million over five years to the SCS. We made further donations amounting to $2.5 million for the 2009 - 2013 period, bringing our total donation to the SCS to $5 million over 10 years.
The funds go towards specific SCS programmes such as supporting the musical talents of youth, Bully-Free programmes to prevent bullying in schools and student care centre programes.
Our donations are also used to cover operating and programme costs at these centres.
Supporting the community - OCBC CDA Starter Scheme
As Banker to the community, we support growth and development in the countries that we operate in. On 15 December 2012, to encourage families to start the saving habit, we introduced the OCBC Child Development Account (CDA) Starter Scheme for families with monthly household income of not more than $3,500.
Under this scheme, OCBC Bank will contribute S$100 for the first S$50 deposited into a qualified CDA. Under the Government’s Baby Bonus Scheme, the government will match dollar for dollar both OCBC’s and the parents’ contributions, resulting in a total deposit of S$300 in the account. The savings in the CDA can be used by the family for the child’s expenses incurred at Approved Institutions (“AIs”) registered with MSF under the Baby Bonus Scheme.
Up to 2,500 low-income families will benefit from this $250,000 savings initiative through this scheme.
To find out more, click on this link.
Beyond cash contributions, our employees also offer their time and skills to enrich the lives of the children and youth in the key countries that OCBC Bank operates in.
Singapore Children’s Society
Our staff volunteers have enriched the lives of the children at SCS through various initiatives. These include computer workshops, reading programmes and visits to various places of interest.
The Straits Times Pocket Money Fund
Employees from our various divisions organize activities to raise funds for the Straits Times (ST) School Pocket Money Fund. Initiated in 2000, The ST School Pocket Money Fund aims to provide needy children with pocket money for school.
Funds are administered and disbursed through the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). The Fund has benefited 73,500 children from low-income families.
To provide our staff with additional options for volunteerism, we partnered Willing Hearts through the OCBC Recreation Club. Willing Hearts is a 100% volunteer-based non-profit organisation that works with underprivileged, needy and marginalised members of society.
A major part of its work involves operating a soup kitchen that serves up to 2,000 people daily.
We encourage and support academic excellence by awarding book prizes and bond-free scholarships to outstanding young adults from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and China so that they can pursue a higher education in Singapore and Malaysia.
To date, we have awarded more than 800 bond-free undergraduate scholarships to outstanding young Singaporeans and Malaysians to enable them to read subjects of their choice at local universities.
We also offer these OCBC scholars and other undergraduates the opportunity to gain work experience in the banking environment through our Structured Internship programme.