It was founded in October 1932 by the merger of Oversea-Chinese Bank Limited, Ho Hong Bank Limited and Chinese Commercial Bank Limited. In February 1997, it acquired the banking business of Bank of Singapore (Australia) Limited (known as BOSA Limited). On July 1, 1998, it united with Four Seas Bank Limited. In August 2001, it merged with Keppel TatLee Bank Ltd, and in November 2003 - with OCBC Finance Limited. The Bank operates in 15 countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Brunei, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom and the United States. Major markets are Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and China: more than 500 branches and representative offices