SINGAPORE - OCBC Bank will give each of its 800 permanent non-executive employees a S$500 cash top-up to be used for SkillsFuture Credit courses, matching the S$500 already given by the Government.

The top-up amount will be credited to their bank accounts together with the April 2016 salary.

Dubbed OCBC FutureReady Credit, the top-up is one of three components of a strategic talent development plan launched by the bank on Monday (March 28). The OCBC FutureReady Programme will cost the bank close to S$500,000, it said.

Apart from the funding to defray the high cost of some training courses, staff of OCBC Bank and its subsidiaries will get the flexibility to attend courses conducted during office hours on weekdays.

OCBC will also help staff navigate the more than 10,000 courses available under the SkillsFuture Credit scheme with its specially curated catalogue shortlisting 120 courses .

Said OCBC Bank's head of group human resources Jason Ho: "We are cognisant of the fact that, for employees, technological advancements, digital innovations, changing consumer behaviour and the increasing number of regulations make it ever more challenging for them to stay current and employable. That is why we have always believed in empowering our employees - our colleagues - with skills for both their personal as well as professional development."

OCBC said its employees will be given time off from work if they attend courses from the OCBC catalogue that are conducted during working hours. They will also be awarded training hours.