Standard Chartered considers slashing Singapore office space

[SINGAPORE] Standard Chartered is weighing options to downsize its office space in what could become the biggest floor cuts by a bank in Singapore in recent years, according to people familiar with the matter.

The London-based bank is weighing options that would see it give up some of the 21 floors it leases at Marina Bay Financial Tower 1 in the business district, according to people familiar, who requested not to be named because the matter is private.

An option for the bank is to cut a minimum of four floors - the equivalent of about 80,000 square feet - one of the people said. The plans are under discussion and subject to change, the people said.

In a statement, the bank said: "We constantly review and enhance our workplace environment, making it more open, collaborative and campus-like as we embrace new ways of working."

It said that for instance, in Singapore, it is piloting a programme where around 80 per cent of its employees will have more flexible work arrangements, including working from home. "At the same time, aligned to government guidelines, we welcome the ability to have more of our employees back in the office to foster collaboration and greater engagement."

Standard Chartered is among a number of global banks that are moving to permanent hybrid working following the Covid-19 pandemic. Should it proceed with its plans in Singapore, it could be the biggest office space cut among lenders in the city in recent years, mirroring a similar downsizing it's undertaking in Hong Kong. It will join a list of other global banks like Citigroup, DBS Group Holdings and Mizuho Financial Group.

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Standard Chartered currently occupies 21 floors - an estimated 420,000 square feet - in Marina Bay Financial Tower 1 in the business district.

Standard Chartered may be even more aggressive in trimming, as it only needs to retain four floors to keep its logo on the building's facade, the people added. One option is cutting its space by half, one of the people said. The bank is an anchor tenant in the building, which is part of a three-tower complex managed by Raffles Quay Asset Management.

The company is looking to optimise its offices in Singapore while boosting the wellness of its employees by providing amenities including gyms.

It's also trying to make better use of its massive facility at Changi Business Park, according to people familiar with the matter. It's renovating the place to make it an open, university-campus style workplace, where there are more collaborative spaces that even the public can use, one of the people said.

Currently about 80 per cent of the company's employees in Singapore are on flexible working arrangement, a person said.

Having that space, coupled with the fact that Standard Chartered is moving to a permanent flexible work arrangement, means it doesn't require that many floors in the business district.

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