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in recognising and accelerating on the launch
of Future New WoW focussing on three main
pillars: Future Workplace, Future Skills and
Future Norms.
Over the course of 2020, the bank has learned to
push the boundaries of what it means to work
virtually, while proving that it is still possible
to deliver the highest standards for its clients.
Flexible working for a high percentage of its
workforce is a commitment the bank has made
across its network with the intent to implement
a hybrid approach, combining virtual and office-
based working with greater flexibility in working
patterns and locations, laying out its intention to
evolve its Future Workplace offerings.
When the COVID-19 pandemic peaked in Brunei,
more than 40 per cent of SCB staff worked from
home to keep safe and maintain social distancing.
Aside from physical working options, the bank
also places a large emphasis on Future Skills.
With a large catalogue of curated learning
modules available to all colleagues online, SCB
staff can take their learning and development in
their own hands and are not limited to physical
or face-to-face type of learning. The approach
encourages staff to be agile and resilient to
change, therefore adapting to Future Norms.
Digital with a human touch
For the seventh time, SCB was awarded the Best
Digital Bank Brunei in 2020 by Global Finance. The
award is a testament to the commitment that the
bank has placed on its aspirations to digitise and
provide seamless, safe and convenient banking
for its individual and business clients.
SCB is the only bank where clients can view
their whole investment portfolio and manage
their cards via a mobile app. The award-winning
SC Mobile app services include PIN change,
new card activation, convert eligible credit card
transactions to zero per cent EasyPay instalment
plans, report lost or stolen cards and perform
credit card balance refunds, to name a few.
With the rise of fraudulent activities preying
on vulnerable people, SCB has also enhanced
its controls on payment and fund transfer
transactions, ensuring the financial safety of its
clients.
Sustainability
Building a sustainable and stable business has
always been a foundation pillar of the bank’s
strategy. This not only provides stability for the
business but also for the community that the bank
operates in.
SCB launched the world’s first Sustainable Deposit
to European investors in May 2019 and received
a positive reaction from the market. Every dollar
deposited will be referenced against sustainable
assets that support the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals.
In Brunei, SCB is the only bank to currently offer
the first Sustainable and Responsible Investing
(SRI) fund. The fund invests in quality companies
that generate structural growth with attractive
valuations and positive impact to society following
environmental, social and governance (ESG)
principles and offers an attractive investment
option for clients looking to make a positive impact
through their investment.
The digitisation of SCB services and processes
offers opportunities to go paperless and reduce
carbon output from driving to visit a physical
branch. It also aligns with SCB clients’ need for
convenience and the country’s aspirations to
promote digitisation in order to be future ready and
achieve a sustainable development for the country.
During the height of the pandemic, adapting to
digital operations presented challenges to the
marginalised groups of the community. With a
focus on tackling inequality and supporting the
disadvantaged youth, Futuremakers by Standard
Chartered identified a need to provide students
with online learning devices during the school
closure in Brunei. SCB donated 120 laptops with
data top-up cards to 120 students amounting to a
value of BND50,000.