危与机:论新加坡早期华人银行之生存发展1903-1945 = Crises and changes: The development of Overseas Chinese Banks in Singapore during 1903-1945

Abstract

This preliminary study examines how the overseas Chinese banks in Singapore developed to compete successfully against the Western banks and the traditional Chinese financial institutions during 1903-1945. Compared with the Western banks and traditional Chinese money houses, the Chinese banks were founded years later and had less capital and less experienced professionals. Despite these difficulties, the overseas Chinese banks had been learning lessons from own mistakes both actively and passively. The developments of the banks had been different from each other due to the diverse background of the owners. During the early years, the overseas Chinese banks underwent several transformations after certain crises in different stages: 1903-1931, 1932-1937, and 1938-1945. Instead of imitating western banks or following the traditional Chinese style of doing business, the banks developed creative strategic approaches to solve the problems they faced, such as restructuring, regionalization and relocation. The prosperity of overseas Chinese banks in Singapore proved the successful blending of Tradition and Modernity and showed the importance of the close interactions among Southeast Asia, China and the world.