MUTB Singapore Branch opened as a representative office in 1981, was promoted to an offshore bank in 1987, and finally converted to a wholesale bank in 2017. Today, MUTB Singapore Branch is engaged in global markets, asset management, and investor services/fund finance businesses.

I was very proud to join MUTB Singapore Branch in July 2016 as one of its compliance officers and its AMLO (anti-money laundering officer). One of the major changes I have experienced during my time with the Branch was in April 2018, when the corporate banking business was transferred to MUFG Bank. Subsequently, our new fund finance business was set up. Starting as a one-person operation, it has today expanded to an eight-person team and has an impressive portfolio comprised of funds customers from all around the world.

The undoubtedly greatest challenge I have faced in my eight years with the bank was covid-19. Covid-19 led to personnel challenges, such as expatriate employees not being allowed to travel back to their home country. Also, the Branch didn’t have sufficient laptops for every staff member in the initial stage of working from home. Those without laptops were unable to access the bank’s systems or files and hence only those with laptops could work effectively. We also had to restrict the number of physical staff in the office to 5% of our total workforce— so the bank’s premises were quite empty at that time. Nonetheless, with support from Head Office, the leadership of our bank’s senior management, and the never-say-die spirit of every member of staff, we were ultimately able to ride out the storm and emerged stronger.

Both the transfer of the corporate banking business/building up the fund finance business and covid-19 taught me that regardless of what form challenges and difficulties may take, we should face them head-on and not give up. As the saying goes, the darker the night, the nearer the dawn.

Singapore, the “Lion City”

The word "Singapore" (or “Singapura” in Malay), originated from the Sanskrit words meaning “Lion City,” although no wild lions ever existed on the island. Singapore is a city-state and, at 735 square kilometers, one of the smallest countries in the world. Traveling from one end of the country to the other by car takes approximately only one hour!

Singapore is also a multi-racial society, with Chinese, Malay, and Indians making up 98% of the population. We are a close-knit society, literally—our population density is more than 8,000 people per square kilometer. Nonetheless, the island has lush greenery, delicious food from different cultures, friendly people, and safe streets to walk in (even at night!). So I would encourage anyone to come and experience our small island for a few days to enjoy the sun, beach, good food, and hospitality, and to visit our popular zoo—to see the lions.

Lots of greenery, surrounded by public housing
(Photo credit: Atelier Dreiseitl [license] )

“Live life to the fullest because it only happens once.”

Other than spending time making sure my 16-year-old daughter complies with our house rules, my other hobbies include building up my Star Wars collection, watching football (soccer) games, and having fun with anything to do with cars.
I like to create Star Wars dioramas, which takes patience and a little bit of imagination. Each diorama may take years to create because of the time needed to collect the figures. Hopefully I can make a fortune with them one day.
For football, I have been following both local football and English football (supporting my favourite club Liverpool F.C.). I also enjoy anything to do with cars, from watching “Initial D” (頭文字D) anime to playing the “Wangan Midnight” (湾岸ミッドナイト) arcade machine to modifying* my own cars.
(* All car modifications comply with the Banking Act in Japan and Singapore.)

Star Wars diorama measuring 1.8m in length