Standard Chartered has reinforced its position as a pure-play global connectivity bank after achieving its 2024-2026 strategic targets a year ahead of schedule, according to its Full Year 2025 presentation and Q4 2025 earnings call on February 24, 2026. The bank delivered record annual income of $20.9 billion in 2025, reflecting 8 percent growth, driven by digital innovation, affluent banking, cross-border trade flows, and sustainable finance.
Fit for Growth drives $754 million in savings
At the core of Standard Chartered’s transformation is its Fit for Growth program, a major simplification and digitization initiative designed to improve operational agility and cost efficiency.
The bank delivered $754 million in run-rate savings during 2025 across more than 300 initiatives. Around 18 percent of these initiatives, or 143 projects, focus on simplifying the technology stack, while 32 percent target service delivery and platform upgrades.
Standard Chartered expects total savings and cost-to-achieve under the Fit for Growth program to reach $1.3 billion through 2026. Reported costs for 2026 are expected to remain broadly flat as efficiencies offset inflationary pressures and investments in business growth.
“Our focus on serving our clients in the most productive way – through continuous transformation of our technology, adoption of advanced data skills (including AI), simplification of our processes, and disciplined expense management – has served us well,” Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters said during the earnings call.
Guillermo Veiga Melhem, the Group Chief Information Officer at Standard Chartered, is responsible for technology across Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB), Wealth, Retail & Business Banking (WRB), and Corporate Functions. He focuses on AI enablement, cloud adoption, and platform modernization.
AI, data and generative tools power wealth growth
Artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics are becoming central to Standard Chartered’s client strategy. The bank is equipping Relationship Managers with generative AI tools and enhanced data capabilities to remove bottlenecks and improve personalized client engagement, particularly in the Wealth segment.
Wealth Solutions income rose 24 percent in 2025, supported by record net new money of $52 billion. Affluent clients now account for 70 percent of total Wealth and Retail Banking income, reflecting the growing contribution of digital wealth solutions.
Strategic investments in fintech companies such as Ripple and Toss contributed approximately 70 basis points to Return on Tangible Equity in 2025, underlining the financial impact of its innovation strategy.
SC Ventures scales digital banks and tokenization platforms
Through SC Ventures, the bank continues to incubate and scale disruptive digital business models.
Its digital banks reported a 15 percent year-on-year increase in customer numbers, surpassing 1 million customers by the end of 2025.
Mox now serves more than 10 percent of Hong Kong’s bankable population.
Trust Bank has captured over 20 percent of Singapore’s adult population.
SC Ventures also advanced blockchain and tokenization capabilities. Zodia Markets secured a $18.3 million Series A funding round, while the Libeara tokenization platform supported more than $1 billion in on-chain real-world assets.
Starting in 2026, Standard Chartered will integrate its digital banks into the Wealth and Retail Banking division, reflecting their maturity and enabling deeper synergies with the core franchise.
Connectivity strategy drives cross-border income
Standard Chartered continues to position itself as the bridge for global trade and capital flows across Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
About 60 percent of Corporate and Investment Banking income is derived from network business activities linked to cross-border trade and investment. The bank reported 20 percent growth in China-to-ASEAN trade income, benefiting from supply chain diversification and corridor-led trade flows.
The Financial Institutions client segment is also a key focus, with management targeting it to represent 60 percent of Corporate and Investment Banking business in the medium term due to higher returns on risk-weighted assets.
Sustainable finance income exceeds $1.1 billion
Technology and data capabilities are supporting Standard Chartered’s sustainable finance ambitions. The bank exceeded its $1 billion income target in sustainable finance, reaching $1.1 billion in FY 2025.
Since 2021, Standard Chartered has mobilized $157 billion in sustainable finance and remains on track toward its $300 billion target by 2030.
2026 outlook: RoTE above 12 percent
For 2026, Standard Chartered is targeting a statutory Return on Tangible Equity above 12 percent. Income growth is expected to be at the bottom end of the 5 percent to 7 percent range.
From 2026 onward, the bank will shift to reported basis financial reporting, moving away from underlying figures to present a single, clearer set of outcomes for investors.
With record revenue, accelerated digital transformation, expanded AI capabilities, and strong momentum in wealth and sustainable finance, Standard Chartered is entering 2026 with strengthened profitability and a sharper focus on global connectivity and technology-driven growth.
RAJANI BABURAJAN
