BOC Hong Kong was awarded Best Retail Bank in Asia Pacific for digital growth and cross-border services. WeBank was recognised as the Best Digital Bank in Asia Pacific for strong financial performance and scalability. UOB claimed the Best SME Bank award for Asia Pacific, bolstering regional trade and sustainability through integrated banking services. Nedbank won the Best Retail Bank award in South Africa and Africa, due to its innovative digital banking and market-leading customer engagement initiatives. Standard Chartered Hong Kong received the Best Wealth Management Bank award in Asia Pacific for its AI-driven wealth solutions and robust client growth. Shanghai, 12 March 2026 – Bank of China Hong Kong (BOC HK), Nedbank, Standard Chartered Hong Kong, WeBank and UOB were recognised for excellence in retail banking, wealth management, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) banking and digital finance at the TAB Global Excellence in Retail Finance Awards, held at The Bvlgari, Shanghai. Best Retail Bank in the World, Asia Pacific and Hong Kong Bank of China Hong Kong was awarded Best Retail Bank in the World, for its performance in digital expansion and cross-border services. Leveraging Greater Bay Area connectivity, BOC HK strengthened its cross-border RMB and wealth services, deploying cutting-edge generative AI tools to enhance retail revenue by 14.89% year-on-year, with a three-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.80%. The bank's commitment to digital innovation and seamless payment integration played a pivotal role in maintaining its leadership position in the retail banking sector. Best Digital Bank in Asia Pacific WeBank was recognised as the Best Digital Bank in Asia Pacific for its scale, profitability, and technological investments. With a customer base exceeding 400 million individuals and 4.5 million SMEs, WeBank stands as a global leader in cost efficiency, showcasing top-tier financial resilience. The bank's exceptional investments in AI, big data, and cloud computing have positioned it as the most profitable digital bank in the region. Best SME Bank in Asia Pacific UOB took home the award for Best SME Bank in Asia Pacific, underlining its holistic support for SMEs across the region. Through integrated banking services that span financing, digitalisation, and sustainability transitions, UOB has embedded SMEs into cross-border trade and supply chain ecosystems. Its innovation-driven approach ensures SME competitiveness, offering end-to-end solutions that empower businesses to scale efficiently and participate in regional commerce flows. Best SME Bank in South Africa Nedbank was recognised for its support of SMEs in South Africa, with a focus on digital engagement and client-driven pricing models. By shifting sales and servicing to digital channels, Nedbank has improved customer engagement while enhancing credit quality. Its mobile banking platform is a key driver of retail growth, particularly in home loans, vehicle finance, and credit cards. Best Wealth Management Bank in Asia Pacific Standard Chartered Hong Kong’s transformation of wealth management through digital and AI-driven advisory services earned it the award for Best Wealth Management Bank in Asia Pacific. The bank's commitment to affluent clients, combined with a hybrid advisory model, has led to record net new money inflows and double-digit growth in investment products. Its dedication to digital-first engagement continues to set a high benchmark in the wealth management sector. The following leading financial institutions were also recognised for their excellence in retail, SME, wealth management and digital banking. Please see complete list below: Best Retail Banks Best Retail Bank in Hong Kong & Best Retail Bank in Asia Pacific & Best Retail Bank in the World – Bank of China (Hong Kong) Best Retail Bank in South Africa & Best Retail Bank in Africa – Nedbank Best Mega Retail Bank in China & Best Retail Bank in China – China Construction Bank Best Retail Bank in Malaysia – CIMB Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka – Hatton National Bank Best Retail Bank in Thailand – Kasikornbank Best Retail Bank in Vietnam – BIDV Best City Commercial Retail Bank in China – Bank of Beijing Highly Commended Retail Bank in Hong Kong – China Construction Bank (Asia) Institutional Awards Best Wealth Management Bank in Hong Kong (Affluent Category) & Best Wealth Management Bank in Asia Pacific – Standard Chartered Hong Kong Best Digital Bank in China & Best Digital Bank in Asia Pacific – WeBank Best SME Bank in Singapore & Best SME Bank in Asia Pacific – UOB Best SME Bank in Malaysia – CIMB Best SME Bank in South Africa – Nedbank Best SME Bank in Thailand – KasikornBank Best SME Bank in China (Digital Bank) – WeBank Best SME Bank in China – China Construction Bank Highly Commended SME Bank in Hong Kong – Shanghai Commercial Bank Retail Digital & Frictionless Awards Best Anti-Fraud Consumer Initiative in Asia Pacific – Cathay United Bank Best Big Data and Analytics Initiative in Asia Pacific – Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Best Chatbot/Smart Voice Banking Service in Asia Pacific – China Construction Bank Best Consumer Data Privacy Protection Initiative in Asia Pacific – China Construction Bank Best Customer Experience Initiative in Asia Pacific – WeBank Best Digital Ecosystem and Platform Initiative in Asia Pacific – Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Best Digital Savings Innovation in Asia Pacific – Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong Best Digital SME Financing in Asia Pacific – Alliance Bank Best Gamification Strategy in Retail Banking in Asia Pacific – Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Best New Product Launch Strategy in Asia Pacific (Retail) – General Card Services Best Open Banking Initiative in Asia Pacific – Alliance Bank Best Productivity, Automation and Efficiency Initiative in Asia Pacific – SPDB Credit Card Centre Best AI Virtual Assistant in Asia Pacific – TenPay Global Best AI-Enabled MSME Banking Initiative in Asia Pacific – MYBank Retail Products and Services Awards Best Asset/Fund Management Product in Asia Pacific – Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Best Consumer Cross-Border Remittance Service – Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong Best Deposit Product in Asia Pacific – BIDV Best Embedded Finance Initiative in Asia Pacific – Alliance Bank Best Life Insurance Product in Asia Pacific – Standard Chartered Bank Best Mobile Banking Service in Asia Pacific – Standard Chartered Bank Best Retirement/Pension Plan in Asia Pacific – Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Best Retirement Planning Service in Asia Pacific – China Construction Bank For media enquiries, please contact: Genivi Factao Editor TAB Global Email: gfactao@tab.global
