So Lay Hua 2023

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In recent years, the banking industry has had to adapt and evolve on the back of megatrends such as the post-pandemic diversification of supply chains, rise of digitalisation and artificial intelligence, and heightened importance of sustainability across markets and sectors. Similarly, in Transaction Banking, we see the need to invest in and accelerate areas such as payments, digital channels, trade and financial supply chain management to keep up with regulatory and market requirements, as well as client needs. Our people are key in shaping digital transformation strategies, providing professional advisory and innovative solutions. As such, it is critical that we continuously invest and develop our people to contribute and reinforce our market position as the One Bank for ASEAN. ”

IBF Distinguished Fellow (2023), Corporate Banking

So Lay Hua

Managing Director, Head of Group Transaction Banking, UOB

Biography

So Lay Hua is the Managing Director and Head of Group Transaction Banking at UOB. In this role, she oversees products, digitalisation and business strategy at Group and Countries for cash management, trade finance and financial supply chain management. She has more than 35 years of banking experience across product management, sales and technology, drawn from both major foreign banks and local banks. Lay Hua has been instrumental in building the Transaction Banking business and continues to play an imperative role in collaboration with clients in corporate and institutional client segments which include medium and large enterprises, local corporations, multi-national corporations, financial institutions, government-linked entities, financial sponsors and property funds.

Under her leadership, UOB Group Transaction Banking has been seeing strong and double digit growth, year on year. The heavy investments in people, capabilities and regional platforms, solidifies our positioning as a leading Transaction Bank in the region. The continuous built, allows the regional franchise to scale and extend within ASEAN and beyond to capture opportunities and connect business as the One Bank For ASEAN.

With the support of our clients, Group Transaction Banking has been able to garner prestigious awards from renowned publications including The Asset, The Asian Banker, Treasury Today, The Corporate Treasurer, Adam Smith, Asiamoney and Euromoney. In 2023, we gained strong market share as a leading Transaction Bank by winning the ‘Best Asian International Transaction Bank in Asia Pacific’ by The Asian Banker and the ‘Best Working Capital and Trade Finance Bank in ASEAN’ by The Asset.

In recognition of Lay Hua’s dynamic leadership, she was named ‘Transaction Banker of the Year’ by The Asset in 2022. She also clinched the title of ‘Transaction Banker of the Year in Asia Pacific (Domestic Bank)’ by The Asian Banker in 2017. She was named among ‘Asia’s 25 Most Influential Women in Treasury & Banking’ by The Corporate Treasurer in 2015.

Lay Hua is actively involved in shaping and co-creating industry standards and guidelines. Her notable strategic industry projects include areas related to digitalisation, payment and green trade finance.

Lay Hua holds a business degree in Management Information Science.