UOB HeartbeatOur Journey

2022

Timeline Image

Launches SkyArtverse by UOB in Decentraland, the first immersive art theme park in the metaverse

Timeline Image

Raises more than $2.32 million for 26 charities around the world through the UOB Global Heartbeat Run/Walk – an all-time-high in the event’s 16-year history

Holds the UOB Global Heartbeat Run/Walk as a hybrid event for the first time, where colleagues get to participate both virtually and during the finale physical event

Timeline Image

Receives The Pinnacle Award at the Community Chest Awards 2022, for the third time

Timeline Image

Signs a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with National Arts Council Singapore to position Singapore as an arts hub for Southeast Asia

Timeline Image

Receives Distinguished Patron of the Arts Award for the 18th year running

2021

Timeline Image

UOB POY celebrates its 40th anniversary. It is Singapore’s and one of Southeast Asia’s longest-running art competition

Timeline Image

Launches new award trophy design, modelled after Vitalità bronze sculpture commissioned by UOB to illuminate the passion of artists, inspiring their imagination and ingenuity as they express their artistic vision

Launches UOB Digital Art Grant to boost the long-term sustainability of small arts organisations, in particular to advance the use of digital technologies in art, in partnership with the National Arts Council Singapore (NAC)

Timeline Image

Receives the Best Bank in CSR (Singapore) award by Asiamoney, an established financial publication

2020

Timeline Image

Appoints first Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Mr Eric Lim

Timeline Image
  • Launches the #UnitedForYou COVID-19 Relief Programme to support individuals, businesses, colleagues and the community through the pandemic
    • Raised more than S$1.65 million for frontline heroes and vulnerable communities affected by COVID-19, across 18 markets
    • Extended S$32 billion in COVID-19 relief assistance benefitting around 20,000 business customer accounts
  • Only bank to play role of Cheque Issuer, Distributor and Cheque Encashment Facilitator (the ‘Solidarity Mandate’) for Singapore’s $1.1 billion Solidarity Payment, dispensing cash to support Singaporeans in the midst of the pandemic
  • Brings the annual UOB Heartbeat Run/Walk online for the first time where colleagues could continue to #keepthegoodgoing virtually
Timeline Image

Launches UOB Art Explorer, an online visual arts programme to promote mental well-being amidst the pandemic lockdowns

Timeline Image

Launches UOB My Digital Space, an education programme that bridges the digital gap for children from low-income backgrounds across the ASEAN region

Supports migrant workers in Singapore during and beyond the pandemic as anchor donor of LEAP for Migrant Workers Fund

2019

Timeline Image

Launches The Unlimited - Singapore’s first-in-kind private, public and people sector initiative to promote inclusive hiring for persons with disabilities in Singapore

Timeline Image

Launches My Digital Bootcamp, an education initiative with Central Singapore Community Development Council to equip disadvantaged students with digital making skills

Timeline Image

UOB Heartbeat Run/Walk receives the Eco-Events Certification by the Singapore Environment Council for its low environmental footprint

Timeline Image

Introduces the first UOB Heartbeat Employee Volunteer of the Year and the Most Promising Volunteer of the Year awards

Receives the Community Chest Pinnacle Award, the highest honour given by Community Chest to recognise an organisation exemplary in holistic caring

2018

Debuts the UOB Art Gallery at UOB Plaza in Shanghai, China, in conjunction with the official opening of our China headquarters building

Timeline Image

Becomes Major Education Partner of Indonesia’s Museum MACAN (Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara) to improve art education accessibility to the local community

Timeline Image

UOB Heartbeat Run/Walk expands to Vietnam

Timeline Image

Launches UOB Brings The World To Me programme in China, providing children in rural communities with access to science, culture, and basic financial knowledge

Timeline Image

First bank in Singapore to use PayNow to raise funds for charity

Timeline Image

Receives the inaugural Champion of Good award from the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre for our corporate giving efforts

Timeline Image

Rolls out Artist’s Conversation, a series of art dialogue sessions for UOB POY artists to share their experiences with art students

2017

Launches UOB Art in Ink Awards in Hong Kong to promote the ink art, and to uncover and support the local artistic talents

2016

Timeline Image

Launches the Create campaign in partnership with ION Art, the art and design programme of premium shopping and lifestyle mall ION Orchard, to cultivate a deeper understanding of art through art-inspired culinary creations

Timeline Image

Debuts the UOB Art Space uniquely @ REGAL in Hong Kong to promote art through sustainable initiatives, in partnership with Regal Hotels International

2015

Timeline Image

Opens the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery that houses the world’s largest Southeast Asian modern art collection, at the National Gallery Singapore

Launches UOB Art Academy in Hong Kong to expand art outreach across Asia

Timeline Image

Establishes the S$50 million Wee Cho Yaw Future Leaders Award scholarship programme as part of the Bank’s 80th anniversary celebrations

Timeline Image

Introduces a three-year programme to nurture a pool of banking and finance talents in Myanmar, in partnership with the University of Yangon and Yangon University of Economics

Timeline Image

Establishes the S$50 million Wee Cho Yaw Future Leaders Award scholarship programme as part of the Bank’s 80th anniversary celebrations

Timeline Image

Launches UOB Please Touch programme to support aspiring young artists who are visually impaired in Thailand achieve their dreams

2014

Recognised as a Distinguished Patron of the Arts for the 10th consecutive year

Only bank in Singapore to receive the Top Community Care Company in Asia award at the Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Awards

Timeline Image

UOB Heartbeat Run/Walk expands to Hong Kong

2013

Timeline Image

Introduces the Southeast Asian Painting of the Year regional award to commend the most outstanding painting from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand

Typhoon Haiyan relief and recovery efforts in the Philippines, through the Red-Cross Haiyan Relief Fund

2012

UOB Heartbeat Run/Walk expands to China

2011

Timeline Image

Dr Wee Cho Yaw receives the Distinguished Service Order at the National Day Awards in recognition of his contributions to the community and to education

UOB Heartbeat Run/Walk expands to Thailand

Launches UOB Painting of the Year in Indonesia and Malaysia

2010

UOB Heartbeat Run/Walk expands to Indonesia

UOB POY competition broadens to Thailand

Launches UOB Mini Monet Programme - a visual arts programme to support financially-disadvantaged young artists, in partnership with The Little Arts Academy

UOB Ho Chi Minh City Branch offers interest-free student loans to the undergraduates of Vietnam National University, Hanoi

2009

Establishes the UOB-Fukuoka Asian Art Museum Art Residency Programme to nurture artists

2008

UOB Heartbeat Run/Walk expands to Malaysia

2007

Introduces paid volunteer leave for employees to perform community service activities as part of UOB’s volunteerism policy

Timeline Image

UOB Heartbeat Run/Walk, our annual flagship regional volunteering and fundraising event, is inaugurated in Singapore

Timeline Image

UOB POY presents The Best of UOB – a first time public exhibition compilation of the 26 winning works from 1982 to 2007, as part of the Singapore Art Show 2007

Launches the UOB Heartbeat Employee Volunteer Programme to raise funds for local charities operating in the areas of arts, children and education

2006

Timeline Image

Opens the UOB Art Gallery at UOB Plaza 1 in Singapore to raise appreciation of art

2005

Timeline Image

Spearheads the formation of UOB-SMU Entrepreneurship Alliance, to promote the growth of SME sector in Singapore

2004

Raises over $1 million in relief funds to aid victims affected by earthquakes and tsunamis across Southeast Asia. The Bank also opened up its digital channels to allow customers to donate via Internet Banking and Phone Banking

Receives Friend Of The Arts award by the National Arts Council for our support of the arts in Singapore

2003

Raises $300,000 for The Courage Fund as part of Singapore’s fight against SARS

Timeline Image

UOB POY adds digital and non-digital photography as a new competition category

2002

Receives title of Founding Corporate Patron of the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay – Theatres on the Bay

1997

Raises over $1 million in relief funds to aid victims affected by earthquakes and tsunamis across Southeast Asia. The Bank also opened up its digital channels to allow customers to donate via Internet Banking and Phone Banking

Launches the UOB Young Cinema Award to encourage excellence among Asian film-makers

Timeline Image

Receives the Distinguished Patron of The Arts Award by the National Arts Council for the first time, in recognition of our strong support for the arts in Singapore

1982

UOB Painting of the Year (POY) competition inaugurates in Singapore

1970s

Timeline Image

The United Overseas Bank Recreation Club Big Walk evolved to become the Inter-bank Big Walk, which was a Chung Khiaw Bank (CKB) tradition that was adopted by UOB after we acquired CKB

Timeline Image

Organises Big Walks during the 1970s to build team spirit amongst colleagues and new joiners (mergers with Chung Khiaw Bank and Lee Wah Bank) through recreational and sporting activities

Participates in The United Banks Recreation Club to introduce the spirit of healthy competition amongst banks

1962

First bank to focus on women as customers

1956

Introduces coin banks for children