Singaporean leader OCBC has set a loan target of S$5 billion ( US$3.89 billion ) by 2028 for its serial entrepreneur segment across its core markets of Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

At the end of 2024, over 1,800 serial entrepreneurs in Singapore and Malaysia had received S$1.5 billion in financing since 2019. In Malaysia, almost half of the small businesses that OCBC serves are owned by serial entrepreneurs. Another S$3.5 billion in financing is expected to be extended across the four markets – Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia – from 2025 to 2028.  

The bank – which launched the business proposition in Malaysia earlier in July 2025 after a nine-month pilot, making it the second market to do so after Singapore in 2019 – plans to roll out this market-first proposition dedicated to entrepreneurs who own multiple small, early-stage businesses to Hong Kong by end-2025, and subsequently to Indonesia. 

OCBC, it notes, sees a sizable potential customer base in this segment with one in three new businesses incorporated in Singapore belonging to an entrepreneur with at least one existing business.

Under this proposition, the bank’s approach takes a comprehensive view of the entrepreneur's experience, business track record and overall business strategy across his or her group of companies. An integrated support network, comprising a dedicated group relationship manager, specialists in cash management, corporate advisory and wealth management is formed to support the entrepreneur’s business aspirations. 

This contrasts with the industry norm of evaluating each business on its own track record and financial credibility, it points out, which makes it harder for start-ups to obtain financing even if the founder has existing operating businesses and a proven track record. Similarly, businesses of this size are not typically supported with such level of dedicated resources from banks. 

A comprehensive suite of sector-specific solutions has been curated for industries – healthcare, education and food and beverage – where the bank has seen higher penetration of serial entrepreneurs. These solutions include starter working capital loans, venture loans, cross-border expansion solutions, sustainable finance and even corporate finance advisory for mergers and acquisitions, and exits.

“OCBC has re-imagined banking for serial entrepreneurs – centring it on enabling founders to build, scale and exit businesses with confidence and agility,” adds Anna Chang, the bank’s head of middle market and services, global commercial banking. “With algorithms that recognize the founders and their track record, we extend them capital and advisory traditionally reserved for larger companies. Our approach turns the founders’ portfolio of companies into a platform for growth. We are confident this founder-first proposition will resonate strongly across our other core markets.”