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About us

Our culture, valued behaviours and purpose

Our people in a team meeting
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To quote our Chairman, we’re a ‘Bank with a soul’. It’s an attitude that explains our approach to everything we do, from our commitment to sustainable growth, to how we communicate with our clients and colleagues to our rich 170-year heritage.

Driving commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity

Our purpose is aspirational but grounded in reality

To have a purpose is not enough, you have to be your purpose.  We’re committed to driving prosperity and have big ambitions to support global trade and investment and help companies and customers.  To grow and create wealth and play our part in creating a more sustainable world, and provide our customers and communities with the opportunity to grow financially, while also improving their wellbeing and quality of life, across our unique footprint in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise – here for good.

What does this mean for you?

This means we can offer unrivalled opportunities to work with people from many different cultures and backgrounds, and build relationships and partnerships on a global stage. We believe this diversity sets us apart. It allows us to listen to new ideas, challenge each other’s viewpoints, unlock innovation and help us all to reach our full potential.  

To put this in simple terms, our purpose and valued behaviours matter to us.

A group of Asian girls are talking to each other

Our purpose

‘To drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity’ together with our brand promise: to be ‘here for good’ are achieved by how we each live our valued behaviours. 

They were defined by all of us, they shape our culture and reflect what we expect of ourselves and each other. When you work with us, you’ll see how we value difference and advocate inclusion. 

Together we: