‘We are a big tanker; we are shifting’: UOB’s Wee Ee Cheong takes long-term view on trade loans

[SINGAPORE] Trade loans remain a relatively small portion of UOB’s total portfolio, but their contribution to the bank’s balance sheet is expected to become more visible over time, said its top executives.

“We are a big tanker; we are shifting,” said Wee Ee Cheong, deputy chairman and chief executive officer of UOB. “Two, three years from now, you can start to see (the impact) in our balance sheet.”

He was speaking at the bank’s second-quarter earnings call on Thursday (Aug 7), for the three months ended Jun 30, 2025.