Chinese Commercial Bank

In September 1912, Lim Boon Keng, Lim Peng Siang, Lee Choon Guan and others, established the Chinese Commercial Bank Ltd, with a paid-up capital of $1 million. Lim was Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the First World War two years later led to financial panic in Singapore and Malaya. The resulting bank run forced the bank to cease operations temporarily.

The Bank's three key directors – Lim Boon Keng, Lim Peng Siang and Lee Choon Guan – called on Governor Sir Arthur Young for help. After investigating the bank, the Governor confirmed it to be sound and with his support, the bank resumed operations after two months, with its credibility restored. However, the crisis caused the Board of Directors to adopt a 'safety first' strategy. It thus became very conservative in financing the expansion of business.

Ho Hong Bank

In January 1917, Lim Peng Siang, his brother Peng Mau, Seow Poh Leng and others formed another bank. This was known as the Ho Hong Bank Ltd, which was larger than previous local banks in terms of capital and size. Lim Boon Keng was a principal director in the bank which had paid up capital of $4 million in 1920.

Oversea-Chinese Bank

In 1919, together with Tan Ean Kiam, Lim Nee Soon, Khoo Kok Wah and others, Lim Boon Keng founded the Oversea-Chinese Bank Ltd. Lim, Tan Ean Kiam and Dr Yin Suat Chuan (SC Yin) went to Java and invited Oei Tiong Ham and Oei Ik Tjoe to each subscribe $500,000 worth of shares and appoint a director each in the bank. The paid-up capital of The Oversea-Chinese Bank Ltd was $5.25 million. Lim was its first Chairman, and served until 1921 when he left for Amoy (Xiamen) University to become its president.

In 1932, the three banks – Chinese Commercial Bank, Ho Hong Bank, and Oversea-Chinese Bank – merged to become the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd.

Lim Peng Siang	Lee Choon Guan	Oei Tiong Ham