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‘I felt valued from day one’: How this bank’s employees are supported at every stage of their career
From interns to seasoned leaders, Bank of America’s team in Singapore is driving innovation, backed by learning and well-being programmes that help them to thrive
Mr Terry Toh (front row, fourth from left) was part of the organising committee for the SGX Cares Bull Charge charity run last year, together with fellow colleagues from Bank of America.
PHOTO: BANK OF AMERICA
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Near the southern coast of Singapore, next to VivoCity mall, Bank of America
From this centre, Singapore-based teams help safeguard Bank of America’s global operations in more than 35 countries. Leading one of these teams is Ms Camy Chua.
Ms Chua joined Bank of America in 2000 as a software engineer, when Singapore’s role in the bank’s global tech ecosystem was still taking shape. Over the years, she has risen to a senior leadership position, helping to build the very systems that now underpin the bank’s operations all over the world.
“I had offers to relocate to other countries within the bank, but I stayed because I saw how quickly our service centre in Singapore was growing. It soon became a core hub for technology solutions and service delivery in the region, which gave me the opportunity to expand my role rapidly,” says Ms Chua, who majored in computer science and financial engineering. She is now a managing director in the wider Global Technology team.
Ms Chua is a member of the Asia Pacific Technology Senior Leadership team and oversees technology functions for the bank’s Singapore franchise and service centre. She has oversight on delivering regional and global technology solutions, as well as strategic implementations for global markets.
The bank’s commitment to nurturing talent is one reason why Ms Chua has stayed at Bank of America for 25 years. The bank was recently named one of Singapore’s best employers 2025 ranking by The Straits Times and global research firm Statista
Investing in home-grown talent for 70 years
The Bank of America office at Raffles Place in 1955.
PHOTO: BANK OF AMERICA
Since opening its Singapore office in 1955 at Raffles Place, Bank of America has significantly grown its presence here.
This year, the bank celebrates its 70th anniversary in Singapore. It now employs more than 2,200 people who work out of two locations: HarbourFront Place – its technology and operations hub – and OUE Bayfront at Marina Bay – its front office and business hub.
For Bank of America, Singapore serves as a key hub for its South-east Asia operations, offering a broad mix of financial services and products to its corporate and institutional clients, both in the region and around the world.
The bank provides services and solutions including mergers and acquisitions, corporate banking, risk management and debt and equity capital market offerings. It also offers sales and trading services across fixed income, credit, currencies, commodities and equities to institutional clients.
These are backed by BofA Global Research, which provides multi-asset and macro research in-depth analysis and insights to help the bank’s clients make informed investment decisions.
Ms Chua’s steady rise through the ranks is no accident. Her career growth has been shaped by Bank of America’s deep investment in employee development – through structured learning, mentorship and opportunities – to help expand employees’ capabilities.
A key part of that support is The Academy, the bank’s global learning platform which provides online courses and resources across different topics including onboarding and leadership development. Drawing on artificial intelligence, virtual reality and digital simulations, The Academy keeps employees in step with a fast-evolving financial industry.
“Bank of America offers a rich learning curriculum that I benefited from, especially during the early years of my career,” Ms Chua says. “It gave me the resources and confidence to take on new challenges.”
That foundation helped her transition across different functions – from working on electronic trading data, to regulatory reporting. Each move deepened her expertise, broadened her perspective and sharpened her leadership skills.
Ms Camy Chua’s 25-year career at Bank of America has seen her grow across roles, deepening her expertise and sharpening her leadership skills.
PHOTO: BANK OF AMERICA
A portfolio of possibilities
For fellow employee Terry Toh, his professional journey with the bank started well before he had even graduated.
Mr Toh joined the bank as an intern in the final year of his undergraduate studies at Nanyang Technological University but despite his inexperience and youth, he felt “valued from day one”.
“When I joined Bank of America in 2011 as a fresh engineering graduate, I never imagined I’d evolve from being a technical troubleshooting engineer to someone shaping financial strategies for global clients,” says Mr Toh, who has a degree in computer engineering.
Fourteen years later, he is a vice-president in the bank’s Global Operations function, supporting critical business needs of the bank and its clients.
Like Ms Chua, Mr Toh’s career trajectory reflects the bank’s commitment to nurturing talent.
“The bank made it possible through intentional investments – by teaming me up with senior executive sponsors throughout my career. This ensured I worked on different assignments and was offered learning opportunities with newer roles regularly. This also meant that my risk-taking abilities in career moves were encouraged and rewarded,” he says.
“We have leaders who mentor without micromanaging, teams that value fresh perspectives and an environment where every employee can reinvent himself or herself without leaving the organisation,” adds Mr Toh.
Creating a culture that puts people first is fundamental to the success of Bank of America. The bank’s approach recognises that even the best strategies can only succeed when employees are engaged, feel included and have the passion to execute on the strategy.
Mr Martin Siah, the bank’s Singapore country head, says: “We foster teamwork and strong connections, as well as celebrate and recognise the value of our teams and teammates. Our work culture embodies belonging, growth, support and pride.”
Mr Siah believes that Bank of America’s core values – deliver together, act responsibly, realise the power of our people and trust the team – are key to making the bank a great place to work.
Bank of America Singapore country head Martin Siah.
PHOTO: BANK OF AMERICA
A sense of belonging
Beyond career growth, Bank of America also focuses on the holistic well-being of employees to support professional and personal growth.
“It’s not just about work. Employees are encouraged to maintain a healthy and balanced life,” says Mr Siah. When Ms Chua experienced a personal loss during the Covid-19 pandemic and Mr Toh had caregiving responsibilities at home, the bank offered flexible work arrangements to give them the time and support they needed to manage both their work and personal responsibilities.
Employees also get flexible benefits that cover wellness-related expenses, such as gym membership fees, and their insurance coverage is extended to dependents, including elderly parents.
“We empower our colleagues to bring their best self to work every single day by equipping them with continuous learning and development opportunities, and the infrastructure to support their life and health,” says Mr Siah.
“These programmes play a vital role in setting the tone and shaping our culture to enhance inclusion and a sense of belonging at the bank,” he adds.
Bank of America’s people-first culture extends beyond the workplace, and its employees are encouraged to participate in initiatives that help support the local community.
Ms Chua volunteers for non-profit organisations such as United Women Singapore and AWWA, helping to design technical workshops, as well as education programmes focused on Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), employability and emotional wellness.
And for the last three years, Mr Toh has helped manage the bank’s participation in the annual SGX Cares Bull Charge charity run.
The bank has been sponsoring the event since its inception 21 years ago. In 2024, the bank and its employees raised over $100,000 for local charities through SGX Cares. It was one of the most popular employee fundraising events for the bank in Asia-Pacific, with over 340 runners participating.
“When I look at the breadth of activities the bank’s involved in, be it in the local community or being the official bank sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026, I’m reminded that I’m part of an organisation that uses its scale to create a real and responsible impact – for our clients, employees and our communities,” says Mr Toh.
How Bank of America helps employees grow through every chapter
Navigating life’s milestones: Whether it is celebrating the arrival of a child or dealing with complex health issues, employees can count on the Life Event Services (LES) team for help. It offers personalised assistance or counselling, and connects employees to tailored resources such as the bank’s Employee Assistance Program. About one in three of the bank’s Singapore-based employees has benefited from LES.
Support for learning and upskilling: The Academy, the bank’s global learning platform, gives employees access to structured training and tuition assistance for career advancement. In 2024, the bank invested US$21 million (S$27 million) in tuition support for career-related education globally.
Building connections worldwide: Even in a hybrid work setting, employees in different teams and cities can stay connected through networks that encourage collaboration and growth. There are a number of Employee Networks that support the bank’s culture of inclusion, such as the Parents and Caregivers Network, Disability Action Network and LEAD (leadership, education, advocacy and development) for Women.
Fully paid sabbatical leave: Employees with at least 15 years of service can apply to take time off to recharge for up to six weeks of paid leave. In 2024, 98 per cent of eligible employees globally used this opportunity to rest and recharge.
Read more about Singapore’s Best Employers 2025.
