OCBC has launched a securities lending programme that allows customers of OCBC Securities, and eventually its private banking arm Bank of Singapore, to lend idle securities to institutional borrowers.
The programme is supported by Citi’s Securities Lending Access platform and enables eligible clients to earn fee income while retaining economic benefits such as dividends, coupon payments and bonus issues, as well as the flexibility to sell their securities at any time.
Through the platform, OCBC gains access to a global pool of institutional borrowers, including prime brokers and investment banks, which borrow securities for strategies such as short selling, arbitrage and hedging.
The programme is currently available to OCBC Securities customers, who can lend out US and Hong Kong shares.
It will be extended to Bank of Singapore clients in 2026, starting with equities from Singapore, Hong Kong, the US and Japan.
Eligible securities must be held in custody with OCBC Securities or Bank of Singapore.
The launch comes as the global securities lending market continues to expand.
Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence showed the market generated US$14.9 billion in revenue in 2025, up 27 percent from a year earlier.
December revenue reached US$1.2 billion, marking the tenth consecutive month above US$1 billion.
Citi launched its Securities Lending Access platform in 2021.
Kenneth Lai, Head of Global Markets, OCBC, said,
“Securities lending brings benefits such as higher trading volumes, price discovery and market efficiency. OCBC Securities and Bank of Singapore customers can also now enjoy the benefits of earning additional return on their investment portfolios by choosing to lend their securities.
This development marks an important milestone in our journey, and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to delivering innovative solutions and value to our customers.”
Mridula Iyer, Asia South Head of Services, Citi, said,
“Bringing the benefits of securities lending to a broader base of market participants is important for Citi, and our support of OCBC is a clear demonstration of our strategy in action.
By integrating CSLA, we are creating value for OCBC, introducing a significant new pool of untapped securities to the lending market, and expanding Citi’s servicing of private and retail assets in securities lending.”
