9 October 2025 – The Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) held its annual Distinction Evening today with Mr. Chee Hong Tat, Minister for National Development and Deputy Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), as the Guest of Honour.
Recognising Corporates: IBF Inspire and Advance Awards
The IBF Inspire Award was conferred to DBS, HSBC, Manulife, OCBC and UOB for their significant achievements and holistic commitments in skills and workforce development, young talent pipeline building and leadership development across their organisations.
The IBF Advance Award in Skills Development (Sustainable Finance) was conferred to Standard Chartered for their commitment in developing the skills of their workforce through comprehensive and structured Sustainable Finance training pathways.
The IBF Advance Award in Workforce Development (Young Talent) was conferred to JPMorganChase for their commitment in grooming young talent as part of their workforce development efforts.
IBF and Workforce Singapore (WSG) also jointly presented the Workforce Transformation Award to DBS which recognises companies for commitment and innovation in the career development of their workforce and cultivating a culture of continuous learning and internal mobility.
Recognising Industry Leaders: IBF Distinguished Fellow and Fellow Awards
Seven industry veterans were conferred the prestigious IBF Distinguished Fellow award. This award recognises industry captains who are the epitome of professional stature, integrity, leadership and commitment to the development of the financial sector.
34 industry leaders were conferred the IBF Fellow award. This award recognises industry specialists and leaders who have demonstrated mastery of a profession and exemplify thought leadership and commitment to industry development in the financial sector.
This year, the IBF Awards also introduced two new categories in Human Resources (HR) and Key Corporate Functions to recognise industry leaders who have excelled in shaping employee career pathways and delivering impactful learning outcomes for their FIs. These awards underscore the critical role that HR and corporate function professionals play in driving workforce readiness, skills enhancement, and talent development in the financial sector.
Please refer to Annex A for the full list of IBF award recipients and Annex B for details of financial sector professionals from pilot financial institutions which are partnering IBF and MAS on upskilling in artificial intelligence.