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Escrow and account bank services
Alleviating risk for your global transactions
Rely on us to create bespoke escrow structures for your cash holding needs.
Escrow safeguard assets for critical business transactions
Globally, business transactions are becoming more complicated. Geopolitical impact, evolving business models, regulatory tightening, greater friction in counterparty trust, and increasing merger and acquisition (M&A) activities are contributing factors. As a result, the management of transaction risk and safeguarding of assets have become more critical.
With a long history of managing risks associated with complex escrow transactions, we’ve become a trusted partner across the world. We create tailored escrow and account bank structures, for the safekeeping and optimum disbursement of your cash.
Regulations around cash movements are also typically stricter in emerging and frontier markets, making it harder to establish escrow and account bank structures. With a footprint across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, we can help navigate local regulatory and risk-management nuances while providing robust and compliant solutions across your global operations.
Introducing our Sustainable Cash Escrow and Account Bank solution
Get the best of both worlds with our new Sustainable Escrow and Account Bank solution. You can now embed sustainability in cash management while retaining the advantages of our Escrow and Account Bank solution.
A first-of-its-kind*, it combines the risk mitigation benefits of traditional escrow services with meaningful environmental and social impact, enabling you to achieve both treasury and sustainability objectives through a single, innovative solution.
*As of July 2025
Here to help
Meet your unique needs
Our teams are solely dedicated to implementing unique structures for your business needs.
Mitigate risk
Rely on our global reach and local regulatory expertise.
Trust a secure franchise
Your assets are safe with us. We are strongly capitalised with a liquid balance sheet.
Reaching your goals in counterparty risk management
Secure your escrow holdings
You need an independent escrow agent that you can trust to mitigate your counterparty risk. As an established international bank operating across emerging and frontier markets, we provide strong local support and security for your escrow needs. We have extensive experience creating escrow structures for M&As, project finance, sustainable financing, and general operations (royalty payments, sales, litigation and more) across these markets.
Control project and lending funds
For long-term projects and lending, by combining with our escrow services you’ll have assurance that funds are held securely until they’re needed. Our dedicated escrow and account bank staff have an average of 15 years’ experience facilitating complex project cashflows – from proceeds collections to the releasing of funds.
Receive tailored service
It can be frustrating working with multiple and ever-changing groups or individuals from your service provider. So from implementation to ongoing operations, a dedicated, experienced team including legal, product and operations will be assigned to work with you – for assurance that your ongoing business needs are quickly understood. We also provide a single point of contact for the continued servicing of your escrow or account structure.
Maintain flexibility and visibility
Your business and its cash flow needs are sure to change. So complete visibility of where your cash is, and options to alter flows are important. With any escrow or account bank structure implemented, we provide access to online and offline reports – so you can stay informed of all your cash movements.
Consolidate with confidence through one award-winning escrow service provider
Maintaining multiple banking relationships can be a drain on resources. To support your unique escrow or account bank structure, we offer a wide range of complementary cash management and financing solutions. With this, you can save time and money, by relying on one international bank for your needs across foreign exchange, global credit markets, working capital, liquidity management and much more. Consolidate your needs with confidence, knowing you’re with a recognised, award-winning escrow service provider*.
*The Asset recognised Standard Chartered with Best in Escrow Agency, alongside nine Best Escrow Agent client mandate awards across seven markets and multiple industry sectors including Construction, Consumer Electronics, and Renewable Energy, at The Asset Triple A Sustainable Investing Awards 2025.
Client testimonials
Client story
Powering International Growth – Marubeni
In this client story, our Corporate & Investment Banking clients share how our global network has supported their growth across key markets – combining local insight with international reach.
Watch the video and learn from Anshul Gupta, Chief Financial Officer at Marubeni Middle East & Africa Power Limited, about Marubeni’s story and see cross-border partnership in action.
“Standard Chartered’s onboarding process was exemplary – the bank showed operational flexibility combined with strong governance… demonstrated a progressive attitude with a vision and roadmap for improved automation and security to the significant benefit of the programme’s stakeholders.”
Chris M., Global Head of Group Treasury, Trafigura
“Being our escrow and DICA bank, Standard Chartered has once again proven its execution capabilities for complex transactions. It is no wonder Standard Chartered remains our preferred partner bank as we grow our franchise in Vietnam!”
Lee H. S., CFO of CapitaLand Vietnam
“The Standard Chartered team implemented a very efficient escrow structure given the complex transaction requirements and was able to meet regulatory, lender as well as our organisation’s liquidity requirements, while adopting a consultative and collaborative approach.”
Subhashendra K., General Manager, Corporate Finance, Ireo Private Limited