OCBC is set to integrate its securities businesses, including OCBC Securities Pte Ltd ( OSPL ), OCBC Securities Brokerage ( Hong Kong ) Limited ( OSBHK ), and PT OCBC Sekuritas ( Indonesia ), into its global markets division, effective July 1.

The strategic realignment aims to leverage OCBC’s strong retail broking foundation to capture deeper opportunities in the high-net-worth and institutional client segments.

The bank aims to harness its "One Group" synergy across consumer, corporate, and private banking to deliver more comprehensive solutions to clients.

Following the integration, Kenneth Lai, OCBC’s head of global markets, will oversee the enlarged business and assume the role of chairman of OSPL. Wilson He will continue as managing director of OSPL, reporting to Lai.

The bank says customer service will not be affected, staffing will remain unchanged, and trading platforms and customer relationships across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Indonesia will continue without interruption during the transition.

The reorganization will enable the bank to expand its institutional-grade equities capabilities and strengthen its role in primary equity market origination, enhancing its offering to corporates, hedge funds, real money funds, financial intermediaries, and family offices, OCBC says.

Supported by initiatives such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s recent S$5 billion ( US$3.84 billion ) SGX support programme and sustained investor interest in Greater China and Indonesia, the move is expected to position OCBC to offer a more holistic suite of wealth solutions, in anticipation of growth in Asia’s equity markets.

Group CEO Helen Wong describes the move as “strategic”, underscoring OCBC’s ambition to unlock more value from its securities businesses amid Asia’s rising wealth and investment needs.

“Given the many opportunities that Asia presents, we see even more potential that can be unlocked from our securities businesses, especially in the institutional equities and high-net-worth client spaces. That’s why this move to the product group, global markets, is strategic,” says Wong.