Melvyn Low

Singapore’s OCBC Group has appointed Melvyn Low, who has been leading its global transaction banking division since 2018, as its group chief strategy and transformation officer, a role in which he will drive the OCBC’s long-term strategic roadmap, focusing on future-proofing its businesses and identifying new growth engines.

An industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, Low has held senior positions in cash management, trade and securities services in regional and global banks. As well, Low, the bank shares, has consistently demonstrated strong business acumen, with a track record of innovation and transformation in the use of technology, data and design.

He will continue to oversee the global transaction banking division. Under his leadership, the division’s total income, the bank notes, has grown twofold in the past five years. The regional target of 500 mandates in Greater China was exceeded two years ahead of time, securing close to 600 as of June 2025.

OCBC points out that Low has rolled out many first-to-market digital solutions over the years for the bank’s corporate and small and medium-sized enterprise customers. These include a virtual purchasing card that can be provisioned into mobile wallets, the launch of GovCash that enables Singaporeans who are unable to receive government payments via direct bank credit to collect funds through OCBC ATMs without needing a bank account with the bank, and a next-generation blockchain-based conditional payments solution that facilitates the disbursement of mobilization advance payments for the construction industry.

Low’s advocacy for digitalization and innovation extends to the industry front as well. In 2021, he led the Singapore banks in the development and launch of the linkage between Singapore’s and Thailand’s national fast payment systems. The PayNow-PromptPay linkage allows customers of the participating banks to transfer funds of up to US$1,000 daily across the two countries, with their mobile phones.

He is currently the co-chair of the Steering Committee for the Governance of PayNow Cross-Border Linkages and also serves as a board member of the Network for Electronic Transfers ( Singapore ) and the Singapore Trade Data Exchange.

“Low’s solid track record in innovation and transformation, combined with his first-hand knowledge of OCBC Group’s diversity and synergistic strengths as an integrated financial services powerhouse, makes him the most suitable person to take on this role,” says Helen Wong, the bank’s group chief executive officer. “His appointment affirms the bench strength we have and the mobility of our people in taking on new roles."