Background

Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow is the founder and chairman of Public Bank Berhad. He began his banking career in 1950 and has 66 years of experiences in the banking and finance industry. He was born into a poor family, which migrated from China to Singapore. His father reached Singapore almost having nothing, but he managed to make small monthly earnings, sufficient for their necessities by being a trader. Hence, Teh Hong Piow indeed did not have pleasure from any luxury during his early age. He was a brilliant student and class monitor who wanted to further study in law, a very great ambition at that time. Unfortunately, his family was only able to support him until the level of Cambridge Oversea School Certificate, due to their unstable financial condition. Therefore, the law was definitely not an option for him.

He started as a bank clerk in Oversea Chinese Banking Corporate, Singapore in 1950 at the age of 20. In just 5 years, he was appointed to a managerial position. Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat, who was formerly Singapore’s wealthiest man; bank owner and hotel owner, convinced him to join the Malayan Banking in Kuala Lumpur after attracting with his talent and full commitment towards his job. He left his position at OCBC (Oversea Chinese Banking Corporation) for a better profession at Malayan Banking. Within 4 years, he became the youngest General Manager at the young age of 34. In 1966, he left his position as General Manager of Malayan Banking to start his own company. After 6 years in Malayan Banking and 16 years experienced in the banking industry, he became the Managing Director of his very own dream bank, which he named Public Bank, ‘the bank for the public’ at the age of 36. The following year, Public Bank was successfully listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange. Currently, Public Bank is known to be one of the most successful banks in Malaysia and presence in other countries in the region.