OCBC Group has introduced a new securities lending programme in collaboration with Citi, utilising the Citi Securities Lending Access (CSLA) platform. This initiative allows OCBC Securities’ retail and corporate customers, along with clients from its private banking arm, Bank of Singapore, to lend their idle securities to institutional borrowers, thereby generating fee income. The programme, which retains flexibility for clients to sell their securities at any time, is set to expand to Bank of Singapore clients.
The CSLA platform simplifies the securities lending process, providing OCBC access to global institutional borrowers such as prime brokers and investment banks. These borrowers utilise the securities for strategies including short selling, arbitraging, and hedging. The global securities lending market is experiencing rapid growth, with revenues reaching US$1.2b in December 2025, marking a 24% year-over-year increase, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Kenneth Lai, Head of Global Markets at OCBC, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are delighted to be able to collaborate with Citi, leveraging their best-in-class technology and deep expertise in this field, to offer securities lending services to our clients.” He highlighted the benefits of increased trading volumes and market efficiency, alongside additional returns for clients.
Citi’s Asia South Head of Services, Mridula Iyer, noted the significance of the partnership, saying, “We are proud to work with a leading Singapore institution like OCBC as we deliver innovative digital solutions that address the evolving needs of the Asian market.”
This development marks a significant expansion of CSLA in Asia, bringing its benefits to a diverse investor community and introducing a new pool of securities to the lending market.
