OCBC pumps $2 million into programme to help over 180k seniors (2025)

SINGAPORE – A $2 million programme by OCBC Bank aims to help more than 180,000 seniors in Singapore over the next three years.

The programme was launched at Bukit Canberra in Sembawang on March 29, with Health Minister Ong Ye Kung in attendance.

Among the initiatives that OCBC SeniorCare will support is home-based counselling for seniors from underprivileged backgrounds.

In collaboration with Care Corner Singapore, OCBC will fund these sessions to ensure vulnerable seniors will have convenient access to eldercare-trained counsellors to navigate personal, social and psychological challenges.

More details like how seniors can sign up for the programme will be provided soon.

OCBC group chief executive Helen Wong, who spoke at the launch, hopes the programme will yield a big impact as the initiatives are focused on meeting practical needs based on data and first-hand experiences from the bank’s front-line staff.

Raffles Medical Group and Q&M Dental Group, for instance, will provide senior OCBC customers with member rates on selected services, with other initiatives progressively announced over the duration of the programme.

OCBC also created dialect-speaking roles at some branches to help seniors who may not speak English or Mandarin. These staff are fluent in at least two dialects including Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese and Hakka.

Seniors make up a majority of the footfall at its branches, with staff noting that family members sometimes tag along to help overcome language barriers, the bank said on March 29.

Ten OCBC Care Ambassadors have been hired so far and are stationed at branches popular with seniors, like Ang Mo Kio Central, Jurong Point and Toa Payoh Central. Other initiatives include better time-deposit rates for seniors plus senior deals from merchants.

All OCBC senior customers can get a voucher booklet from five branches – Ang Mo Kio Central, Jurong Point, Nex, Tampines and Toa Payoh Central – from April 3.

The vouchers can be used at participating merchants such as Eu Yan Sang, Sheng Siong, Soup Restaurant, Swensen’s and Watsons.

On March 29, more than 1,000 seniors attended the launch which had a Zumba workout, with Mr Ong and two new likely People’s Action Party candidates for Sembawang GRC in the upcoming general election – Mr Gabriel Lam and Mr Ng Shi Xuan – taking part.

OCBC pumps $2 million into programme to help over 180k seniors (1)

The seniors also learnt more about digital banking and scams at booths.

Mr Ong said he encourages people in the community to rethink what turning 65 means.

“Who says 65 is old? While the Government may call it ‘super-aged’, the people must say ‘no’. If your mind is not old and your body is fit, 65 is young.”

The Republic is on track to attain super-aged status in 2026. This means that by that year, more than one in five in Singapore’s population are expected to be 65 or older.

On the importance of companies working with the community to create impact, Mr Ong noted that OCBC requires its staff to clock certain hours of volunteer work. “I think whatever we do, everyone can devote that little bit of time to contribute to the community.”