TLDR: Standard Chartered is significantly ramping up its generative AI and data training programs for employees globally, backed by an investment exceeding S$4.5 billion. This initiative includes the launch of an AI Learning Hub, IBF-accredited courses, and the deployment of its enterprise-wide generative AI tool, SC GPT, to enhance efficiency, client engagement, and foster a culture of continuous learning.
Standard Chartered is making a substantial commitment to future-proof its workforce by accelerating comprehensive training programs in generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) and data literacy. The bank has invested more than S$4.5 billion in various training initiatives designed to empower its employees to ‘work faster, better, and smarter’ across its global operations, including Singapore.
These efforts are part of a broader strategy to transform Standard Chartered into a skills-based organization, equipping every employee with the necessary tools to thrive in an increasingly digital and rapidly evolving financial landscape. Patrick Lee, CEO for Singapore and ASEAN, emphasized the bank’s vision, stating, “We aim to enable our people to transform the work they do, stay ahead of the changing landscape, and help the Bank deliver on our business and people goals.”
Key components of this extensive training ecosystem include an AI Learning Hub, launched in November 2024, which provides a foundational AI literacy course accredited by the Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF). This course aligns with the IBF’s Future-Enabled Skills framework, and already, over 15% of Standard Chartered’s Singapore-based employees have completed one or more of the AI programs.
Further deepening employee expertise, the bank offers the SkillsFuture@SC initiative and the Data Management Learning Marathon (DMLM). The DMLM provides hands-on experience with critical concepts such as data quality, the data life cycle, and responsible AI.
In a significant technological advancement, Standard Chartered rolled out its proprietary generative AI tool, SC GPT, in March 2025, across 41 markets worldwide. This enterprise-wide deployment aims to empower over 70,000 employees, enhancing operational efficiency and client engagement. SC GPT is expected to improve various aspects of the bank’s operations, including boosting productivity, tailoring sales and marketing efforts to increase revenue, advancing software engineering through automation, and scaling how risks are measured, managed, recorded, and reported.
Mohammed Rahim, Group Chief Data Officer at Standard Chartered, highlighted the ethical foundation of these innovations: “SC GPT reflects our people-focused approach to AI and commitment to innovation with responsibility. The tool has been developed with strong governance and ethical AI principles are at its core. As we scale GenAI across our business, we remain committed to responsible AI adoption, guided by our responsible AI framework to mitigate potential biases and promote fairness.”
Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive, underscored the strategic importance of AI, remarking, “Effective adoption of GenAI is an operational imperative for all banks. We have a distinctive and increasingly differentiated strategy – we believe the potential for GenAI to help us win in so many areas across Cross-border and Affluent banking will be game changing. By harnessing GenAI responsibly, we are driving new efficiencies, transforming service delivery and reinforcing our leadership in digital banking. This is just the beginning of how we will continue to innovate and create long-term value for our clients, colleagues, and communities.”
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This initiative also reflects a major cultural shift towards continuous learning within the organization, which has reportedly led to increased employee satisfaction and engagement scores. Standard Chartered conducted an extensive firm-wide evaluation in 2020 to identify essential skills and jobs for the coming years, an analysis regularly refreshed to account for advancements like generative AI. The bank’s analysis predicted significant job disruption, with many new roles emerging in areas like AI governance, prompt engineering, and ethics. To manage this transition, the bank deployed an AI-enabled ‘Talent Marketplace’ to match internal skill demand and supply, allowing employees to engage in projects aligned with their interests and develop new capabilities.
