DBS added 1000 more staff in 2013

It topples UOB to become Singapore's second largest commercial bank.

DBS, which sets its sight on being a leading bank in Asia, increased its staff size in its local home by 1000 last year. Its staff strength now is 8,800, making it the second largest commercial bank in Singapore based on total number of employees.

Now on its second year, Singapore Business Review is releasing a full list of 20 largest commercial banks soon.

DBS, with a total assets of $402bn as at end-2013, is second to CitiBank which reported 10,000 employees. DBS displaced United Overseas Bank (UOB) with number of employees only growing by 150 more to 8,000.

Theresa Phua, Singapore Head of Human Resources at DBS Bank explained that the bank has had a number of long-standing programmes, including a highly sought after Management Associate Programme and a Technology & Operations Graduate Programme, in place.

"To further strengthen our talent pool, in 2013, we launched three new talent development programmes designed to groom leaders in different parts of the bank such as consumer banking and SME banking. In 2013, we increased the number of new graduates recruited through these programmes," she said.

In 2013, Phua also adds that DBS moved to execute on an initiative to enable its bank customers to trade shares without the need to maintain separate accounts with the bank and its broking subsidiary, DBS Vickers.

"[The move] is in line with our ambition to become a leading wealth player in the region. To support the creation of this “one-stop shop”, with our customers able to access banking and brokerage products under one roof, a number of employees from DBS Vickers moved to the bank.”