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Standard Chartered

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FY2020 Annual Report · Standard Chartered
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Annual Report 2020

ª Supporting our clients,  
colleagues and communitiesº 
Here for good

Global headquarters 

Standard Chartered Group 
1 Basinghall Avenue 
London, EC2V 5DD 
United Kingdom

telephone: +44 (0)20 7885 8888 
facsimile: +44 (0)20 7885 9999

Digital Annual Report

sc.com/annualreport

Shareholder enquiries

ShareCare information 
website: sc.com/shareholders 
helpline: +44 (0)370 702 0138

ShareGift information  
website: ShareGift.org 
helpline: +44 (0)20 7930 3737

Registrar information

Chinese translation

Computershare Hong Kong  
Investor Services Limited 
17M Floor, Hopewell Centre  
183 Queen’s Road East 
Wan Chai 
Hong Kong

Register for electronic communications 
website: investorcentre.co.uk

UK

Computershare Investor Services PLC 
The Pavilions 
Bridgwater Road 
Bristol, BS99 6ZZ 
helpline: +44 (0)370 702 0138

Hong Kong

Computershare Hong Kong  
Investor Services Limited 
17M Floor, Hopewell Centre 
183 Queen’s Road East 
Wan Chai 
Hong Kong

website: computershare.com/hk/investors

LSE stock code: STAN.LN 
HKSE stock code: 02888

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Strategic report

Standard Chartered is a leading 
international banking group

Our heritage and values are expressed in our 
brand promise, Here for good. Our operations 
reflect our purpose, which is to drive commerce 
and prosperity through our unique diversity. 

Contents

Strategic report

Responding to COVID-19

Group Chairman’s statement
Group Chief Executive’s review

02  Who we are and what we do 
06  Our response to COVID-19
10 
13 
16  Market environment
20 
Business model
24  Our strategy
29 
34 
38 
47 
54 
72 
73 
77 
78 

Client segment reviews
Regional reviews
 Group Chief Financial Officer’s review
Group Chief Risk Officer’s review
Stakeholders and responsibilities
 Non-financial information statement
 Underlying versus statutory results
 Alternative performance measures
Viability statement

80  Directors’ report

133  Directors’ remuneration report 

178  Risk review and Capital review

284  Financial statements

426  Supplementary information

About this report 

Sustainability reporting  
We adopt an integrated approach to corporate 
reporting, embedding non-financial information 
throughout our Annual Report. 

More information is also available  
in our  Sustainability Summary  
at sc.com/sustainabilitysummary 

Alternative performance measures 
The Group uses a number of alternative performance 
measures in the discussion of its performance.  
These measures exclude certain items which 
management believes are not representative of the 
underlying performance of the business and which 
distort period-on-period comparison. They provide 
the reader with insight into how management 
measures the performance of the business.

In 2020, we committed to providing $1 billion in 
not-for-profit loans to help finance companies 
that supply goods and services in the battle with 
COVID-19. We also created a $50 million Global 
Charitable Fund to provide emergency support, 
and longer-term assistance, for the communities 
most impacted by the pandemic. Find out more 
about our responses to COVID-19, and how we 
have supported our clients, colleagues and 
communities on pages 6 to 9. 

 $1 billion

Our COVID-19 not-for-profit loan pledge

Read more about our activities on page 6, and for  
information about total lending to date, see page 63

 $50 million 

Our COVID-19 Global Charitable Fund

For more information please visit sc.com

Read more about our activities on pages 8 and 57

Designed and produced by Friend 
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Printed by Park Communications on FSC® certified paper.

Park works to the EMAS standard and its Environmental 
Management System is certified to ISO 14001.

This publication has been manufactured using 100%  
offshore wind electricity sourced from UK wind.

This is a certified climate neutral print product for  
which carbon emissions have been calculated and 
offset by supporting recognised carbon offset projects. 
The carbon offset projects are audited and certified 
according to international standards and demonstrably 
reduce emissions. The climate neutral label includes a 
unique ID number specific to this product which can be 

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100% of the inks used are vegetable oil based, 95%  
of press chemicals are recycled for further use and,  
on average 99% of any waste associated with this 
production will be recycled and the remaining 1%  
used to generate energy.

This document is printed on Nautilus Superwhite  
100% Recycled paper containing 100% recycled fibre. 
The FSC® label on this product ensures responsible use  
of the world’s forest resources.

© Standard Chartered PLC. All rights reserved.

The STANDARD CHARTERED word mark, its logo device 
and associated product brand names are owned by 
Standard Chartered PLC and centrally licensed to its 
operating entities. 

Registered Office: 1 Basinghall Avenue, London  
EC2V 5DD. Telephone +44 (0) 20 7885 8888. 

Principal place of business in Hong Kong: 32nd Floor,  
4-4A Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong.

Registered in England No. 966425.

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Delivering  
our strategy

Throughout this report, we use 
these icons to represent the 
different stakeholder groups 
for whom we create value. 

Clients

Regulators and 
governments

Investors

Suppliers

Society

Employees

Read more on page 23  
and pages 55 to 71

We have continued to make good progress against the strategic 
priorities we laid out in February 2019. As we accelerate our 
strategy, we have refined our focus onto four strategic priorities 
and three enablers (pages 26 and 27). We believe this new 
framework will enable us to focus on the key areas needed to 
transform our bank. We measure our progress against Group key 
performance indicators (KPIs), a selection of which are below, as 
well as client KPIs, some of which can be found on pages 29 to 32. 
Our Group KPIs include non-financial measures reflecting our 
commitment to sustainability, focusing on sustainable finance, 
being a responsible company and promoting inclusive 
communities. Our 11 Sustainability Aspirations, aligned to the  
UN Sustainable Development Goals (page 54), provide tangible 
targets to drive sustainable business outcomes.

Financial KPIs  

Other financial measures

Return on tangible equity 

Operating income 

3.0%

 340bps

Underlying basis

0.9%

 390bps 

Statutory basis

$14,765m

 3% 

Underlying basis

$14,754m

 4% 

Statutory basis

Common Equity Tier 1 ratio

Profit before tax

14.4%

 60bps 

Above our  target range of 13-14%

Total shareholder return

(34.6)% 

Non-financial KPIs

Diversity and inclusion:  
women in senior roles

29.5% 

 1% 

Sustainability Aspirations  
met or on track

78.4%

 14.7ppt 

 40% 

Underlying basis

$2,508m
 $1,613m

 57% 

Statutory basis

Earnings per share

36.1cents

 39.6 cents 

Underlying basis

10.4cents

 46.6 cents 
Statutory basis

Unless another currency is specified, the word ‘dollar’ or symbol ‘$’ in this document means US dollar and the word ‘cent’ or symbol ‘c’ means one-hundredth of  
one US dollar.

All disclosures in the Strategic Report, Directors’ Report and the Risk Review and Capital Review are unaudited unless otherwise stated.

Unless the context requires, within this document, ‘China’ refers to the People’s Republic of China and, for the purposes of this document only, excludes Hong Kong 
Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong), Macau Special Administrative Region (Macau) and Taiwan. ‘Korea’ or ‘South Korea’ refers to the Republic of Korea. 
Greater China & North Asia (GCNA) includes Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau and Taiwan; ASEAN & South Asia (ASA) includes Australia, 
Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam; Africa & Middle East 
(AME) includes Angola, Bahrain, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, The Gambia, Ghana, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mauritius, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, 
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe; and Europe & Americas (EA) includes 
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Falkland Islands, France, Germany, Ireland, Jersey, Poland, Sweden, Turkey, the UK and the US. Within the tables in this report, blank 
spaces indicate that  the number is not disclosed, dashes indicate that the number is zero and nm stands for not meaningful. Standard Chartered PLC is incorporated 
in England and Wales with limited liability, and is headquartered in London. The Group’s head office provides guidance on governance and regulatory standards. 
Standard Chartered PLC. Stock codes are: LSE STAN.LN and HKSE 02888.

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Strategic report

Who we are  
and what we do

Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity 
through our unique diversity. Our businesses 
serve four client segments across four regions, 
supported by nine global functions1.

Our client segments

5. 

1. 

4. 

Total operating income

$14,765m

Underlying basis

$14,754m

Statutory basis

2. 

Local

1.  
Retail Banking

Serving more than nine million 
individuals and small  
businesses.

2.  
Commercial Banking

Supporting more than 43,000  
local corporations and medium-
sized enterprises across Asia, 
Africa and the Middle East.

Operating income
$5,013m
Underlying basis

$5,013m
Statutory basis

Operating income
$1,409m
Underlying basis

$1,438m
Statutory basis

Global

3.  
Corporate &  
Institutional Banking
Serving more than 5,000 large 
corporations, governments,  
banks and investors.

4.  
Private Banking
Helping nearly 7,000  
clients grow and protect  
their wealth.

3. 

Operating income
$7,214m
Underlying basis

$7,225m
Statutory basis

Operating income
$540m
Underlying basis

$540m
Statutory basis

Guiding and supporting our businesses

Underlying basis

5. Central & other items

Operating income
$589m

$538m
Statutory basis

Global functions

Our client-facing businesses are supported by our global  
functions, which ensure our Group operations run smoothly  
and consistently

Human Resources 
Maximises the value of our investment in 
people through recruitment, development 
and employee engagement.

Legal 
Enables sustainable business and protects 
the Group from legal-related risk.

Technology & Innovation 
Responsible for the Group’s systems 
development and technology infrastructure.

Risk 
Responsible for the sustainability of our 
business through good management of risk 
and ensuring that business is conducted in 
line with regulatory expectations.

Operations 
Responsible for all client operations and 
ensures meeting their needs is at the heart of 
our operational framework. The function’s 
strategy is supported by performance 
metrics, standards and practices aligned  
to client outcomes.

Group CFO 
Made up of seven teams: Finance, Treasury, 
Strategy, Investor Relations, Corporate 
Development, Supply Chain, and Property. 
The leaders of these functions report directly 
to the Group Chief Financial Officer.

Corporate Affairs, Brand  
& Marketing 
Manages the Group’s communications and 
engagement with stakeholders to protect  
our reputation and promote our brand  
and services.

Group Internal Audit 
An independent function that helps the 
Board and executive management protect 
the assets, reputation and sustainability of 
the Group.

Conduct, Financial Crime  
and Compliance 
Partners to enable sustainable business  
by delivering the right outcomes for our 
clients and markets, by driving the highest 
standards in conduct, compliance and 
fighting financial crime.

1  These pages report on our structure as it was in 2020. For an overview of how our structure has changed, refer to page 21

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Our regions

5. 1. 

4. 

Total operating income

$14,765m

Underlying basis

$14,754m

Statutory basis

3. 

1.  
ASEAN & South Asia

2.  
Europe & Americas

Our largest markets by income are 
Singapore and India. We are active  
in all 10 ASEAN countries. 

Centred in London and New York 
with a presence across both 
continents. A key income originator 
for the Group.

Operating income
$4,366m
Underlying basis

$4,362m
Statutory basis

Operating income
$1,922m
Underlying basis

$1,922m
Statutory basis

3.  
Greater China  
& North Asia 

2. 

4.  
Africa &  
Middle East

Serving clients in mainland China, 
Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Taiwan 
and Macau. The Group’s largest 
region by income.

Present in 25 markets, of which  
the most sizeable by income  
are the UAE, Nigeria and Kenya. 

Operating income
$6,016m
Underlying basis

$6,055m
Statutory basis

Operating income
$2,364m
Underlying basis

$2,362m
Statutory basis

5. Central & other items

Operating income
$97m
Underlying basis

$53m
Statutory basis

Valued behaviours

Our valued behaviours ensure we do things the right way, in  
order for us to succeed. Only by living our values will we realise  
our potential and truly be Here for good.

Never settle 
•  Continuously improve  

and innovate

•  Simplify

•    Learn from your successes  

and failures

Better together
•  See more in others

Do the right thing
•  Live with integrity

•  “How can I help?”

•  Think client

•  Build for the long term

•  Be brave, be the change

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Strategic report

Where we  
operate

We make the most of our deep roots in rapidly 
developing Asian, African and Middle Eastern 
markets to seek out opportunities at every turn. 

We have been operating in these regions  
for more than 160 years, providing banking 
services and supporting growth where and  
when it matters most.

We focus on supporting customers who trade, 
operate or invest across our unique footprint. 
What sets us apart is our diversity – of people, 
cultures and networks.

Europe & Americas

Africa & Middle East

We support clients in Europe & Americas through 
hubs in London and New York and also have a  
strong presence in several European and Latin 
American markets. 

We have a deep-rooted heritage in Africa &  
Middle East and have been present in the region for 
160 years. We are present in the largest number of 
sub-Saharan African markets of any international 
banking group. 

Argentina 
Brazil
Colombia
Falkland Islands
France

Germany
Ireland
Jersey
Poland
Sweden

Turkey
UK
US

Angola
Bahrain
Botswana
Cameroon
Cote d’Ivoire
Egypt
The Gambia
Ghana
Iraq
Jordan

Kenya
Lebanon
Mauritius
Nigeria
Oman
Pakistan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Sierra Leone
South Africa

Tanzania
UAE
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Case study 
Europe & Americas

EDF pushes 
us past $2bn 
in sustainable 
deposits 

Read more  
on page 37

Case study  
Africa & Middle East

Fighting 
COVID-19 in 
the Middle 
East

Read more  
on page 36

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ªWe are present  
in 59 markets and 
serve clients in a 
further 85º

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ASEAN & South Asia 

Greater China & North Asia 

We are the only international bank present in all  
10 ASEAN countries. With meaningful operations 
across many key South Asian markets, we are in a 
strong position to be the ‘go-to’ banking partner  
for our clients.

Greater China & North Asia generated the largest 
share of our income in 2020, at 41 per cent, and 
includes our clients in Hong Kong – the Group’s 
largest market – as well as Mainland China, Japan, 
Korea, Macau and Taiwan.

Australia
Bangladesh
Brunei
Cambodia
India

Indonesia
Laos
Malaysia
Myanmar
Nepal

Philippines
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Vietnam

Mainland China
Hong Kong
Japan

Korea
Macau
Taiwan

Case study  
ASEAN & South Asia

Helping India 
breathe  
easier

Read more  
on page 35

Case study  
Greater China &  
North Asia

Helping 
Japan fight 
COVID-19

Read more  
on page 34

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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450,000

emergency meals delivered to vulnerable New York 
residents paid for by our funding to Citymeals on Wheels.

Read more online at sc.com/covid19relief

As companies ramped 
up the production of 
personal protective 
equipment, we were 
on hand to help.

Strategic report

Our response to COVID-19

Our $1 billion 
financing 
commitment

How we’ve supported our clients  
and communities during the pandemic

In March, we committed $1 billion to help finance 
companies that provide goods and services to help in 
the battle against COVID-19. To date, the not-for-profit 
loan programme has helped businesses across our 
markets manufacture and distribute emergency 
ventilators, face masks, protective equipment  
and sanitisers.

For more information about our COVID-19 response 
funds, and for other examples of how we’ve 
supported our clients, colleagues and communities, 
visit sc.com/covid-19

Helping feed families  
and migrant workers  
in Singapore.

Read more on page 178

Providing PPE in Uganda

Joint Medical Store, a Ugandan not-for-profit, was 
the first client to make use of our $1 billion not-for-
profit loan fund in May 2020. Joint Medical Store used 
the $2.2 million drawdown to provide healthcare 
facilities and supply masks, sanitisers and medicines 
throughout the country.

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Providing COVID-19  
tests in Indonesia

In Indonesia, we helped fund Halodoc, a health 
technology platform that provides rapid COVID-19 
tests to high-risk communities. We also donated 
money to provide sleeping pods to healthcare 
workers who required much needed rest between 
their shifts.

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Bill Winters  
Group Chief Executive

 6,000 

Our donations to Teach For Malaysia and WOMEN:girls 
helped 6,000 students with their distance-learning during 
the pandemic.

Making masks in Vietnam

In August, we lent Vietnamese company Garco 
10, $4.3 million to help in the production of 
personal protective equipment. The financing 
helped Garco 10 add cloth masks to its product 
lines to help meet rising demand in the country.

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$9 million to the Red Cross* 
and UNICEF 

As part of our $50 million COVID-19 Global 
Charitable Fund, we donated $9 million to UNICEF 
and the Red Cross. UNICEF’s $5 million fund was used 
for the educational support of vulnerable children,  
while the $4 million provided to the Red Cross  
was spent on urgent medical and social support.

*  The Red Cross is an umbrella term for the British Red  
Cross and International Federation of Red Cross and  
Red Crescent Societies

Strategic report

Our response to COVID-19 continued

Our $50 
million Global  
Charitable 
Fund

How we’ve supported our  
communities during the pandemic

In April, we launched our $50 million Global Charitable 
Fund in order to support the communities most 
impacted by the pandemic. To date the fund  
has helped underprivileged students in Malaysia, 
provided clean water in Zambia and supported  
St John’s Ambulance in the UK.

For more information about our COVID-19 response 
funds, and for other examples of how we’ve 
supported our clients, colleagues and communities, 
visit sc.com/covid-19

From Nepal and  
India to the UK and 
the US, donations from 
our COVID-19 Global 
Charitable Fund have 
supported charities and 
NGOs across the world

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$27.8m 

Amount given to 166  NGOs, charities and other partners in  
COVID-19 emergency relief across 59 markets.

Colleagues across the world 
donated to our COVID-19 
charitable fund, raising millions 
to help local communities

Lui Qi (below, far right), who works in our Wuhan 
branch, donated to our charitable fund as part of our 
Give One Day initiative, after being overwhelmed 
by the love and support for her home city from the 
global community.

Read more online at  
www.sc.com/giveoneday

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ª Give One Day º

Helping Sri Lanka  
fight COVID-19

In August, we donated $500,000 to the Sri Lanka 
Red Cross Society to assist in the fight against 
COVID-19. As well as supporting emergency relief,  
the money funded 13,000 COVID-19 testing kits. 

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Strategic report Group Chairman’s statement

Group Chairman’s  
statement

José Viñals  
Group Chairman

“ Leading with our purpose 
to realise our full potential”

2020 was a year of extraordinary global turbulence, and 
COVID-19 in particular had a profound impact on all of us.  
The world is a very different place from this time last year and 
we all must continue to adjust and adapt. We have very sadly 
lost colleagues and some of you will have also lost friends and 
loved ones, so I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to 
everyone who has suffered during the pandemic.

Throughout this tumultuous period, our 89,000 colleagues 
around the world – led by our Chief Executive Bill Winters  
and colleagues in the Management Team – have focused on 
protecting the interests of shareholders, while ensuring the 
wellbeing of colleagues, supporting our customers and clients, 
and showing solidarity with our communities. All of this while 
preserving our operational and financial resilience.

They have done this demonstrating exemplary character and 
with great humanity, something that I have always said is a 
distinctive characteristic of this Group. 

Repayment holidays, fee waivers and loan extensions were 
offered to individual and small business customers, and  
we made $1 billion of financing available at cost to those 
providing critical goods and services in the fight against the 
virus. We also established a $50 million Global Charitable 
Fund to help those affected within our communities.  
So far, we have donated $28 million across 59 markets, with  
a comparable sum contributed by colleagues and the Group 
to support and stimulate economic recovery.

A resilient financial performance, enabling a 
return to capital distributions
Bill and Andy Halford, our Chief Financial Officer, will explain in 
more detail later in this report how our financial performance 
was impacted in some respects by the effects of the 
pandemic. But those results also show evidence of great 
resilience – certainly far greater resilience than I suspect  
would have been the case if the pandemic had occurred a 
few years ago. 

Our profit reduced despite lower costs due to a combination 
of lower interest rates that affected income and higher 
impairments driven in part by the reserves that we built to 
absorb possible future credit losses as the pandemic unfolds. 
But we remained highly liquid and our capital position  
actually strengthened further, which means that with better 
visibility over the near-term economic outlook the Board is 
recommending the payment of a full-year ordinary dividend 
of $284 million or 9 cents per share. 

And with our common equity tier 1 capital ratio above the  
top end of our 13-14 per cent target range, even after accruing 
for the recommended ordinary dividend, we have decided  
to complete the share buy-back programme that was 
suspended in April 2020, meaning we will shortly start 
purchasing and then cancelling up to $254 million worth  
of ordinary shares. 

The proposed full-year dividend and share buy-back 
programme together is the maximum we are authorised  
by our regulator to return to shareholders at this stage,  
being 0.2 per cent of our risk-weighted assets as at  
31 December 2020. 

The Board’s position on capital returns remains essentially the 
same as it was before our regulator requested us to withdraw 
the recommended 2019 final dividend. Having now resumed 
it, we expect to be able to increase the full-year dividend per 
share over time as we execute our strategy and progress 
towards a 10 per cent return on tangible equity. To the extent 
additional capital generated over that period is not needed to 
fund further business growth, we will continue to find optimal 
ways of returning the excess to our owners. 

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“ We have the responsibility 
and a great opportunity 
to channel financing to 
where it is most needed” 

Financial KPIs

Underlying return on tangible equity (RoTE) % 

3.0%

2020

2019

2018

6.4%

5.1%

3.0%

340bps

Aim Deliver sustainable improvement in the 
Group’s profitability as a percentage of the  
value of shareholders’ tangible equity.

Analysis RoTE was down 340 bps to 3.0 per cent  
in 2020, driven by COVID-19-related elevated 
impairments and lower interest rates.

The underlying profit attributable to ordinary shareholders 
expressed as a percentage of average ordinary shareholders’ 
tangible equity

Total shareholder return (TSR) % 

2020

(34.6)%

2019

2018

(20.6)%

-34.6%

20.2%

Aim Deliver a positive return on shareholders’ 
investment through share price appreciation  
and dividends paid.

Analysis The Group’s TSR in the full year 2020 was 
negative 34.6 per cent, reflecting lower earnings 
estimates, in particular from a lower interest rate 
environment and withdrawal of distributions  
in response to the Group’s regulator as a 
consequence of the challenges due to COVID-19.

Combines simple share price appreciation with dividends paid  
to show the total return to the shareholder and is expressed as  
a percentage

Common Equity Tier 1 ratio % 

2020

2019

2018

14.4%

13.8%

14.2%

14.4%

60bps

Aim Maintain a strong capital base and Common 
Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio.

Analysis Our CET1 ratio of 14.4 per cent was above 
the top-end of our 13-14 per cent target range, and 
more than four percentage points above the 
Group’s latest regulatory minimum of 10.0 per cent.

The components of the Group’s capital are summarised on  
page 277

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Governance 
I am delighted to welcome Maria Ramos to our Board as an 
independent non-executive director. She brings considerable 
experience as a chief executive, significant understanding  
of the global financial services industry, an in-depth 
understanding of the regulatory landscape, as well as 
experience of operating across many of our markets, 
especially in the Africa region. 

We welcome the appointment of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as 
the new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation,  
as a result of which she will shortly step down from the Board.  
I would like to thank Dr Ngozi for her valuable contributions  
to the Group over the last three years.

We recently announced several changes to our Board 
Committee composition, details of which can be found in the 
Directors’ report on page 80. We also recently announced 
that Robert Zoellick is taking over as chair of our International 
Advisory Council, a diverse, multidisciplinary panel of experts 
whose role is to provide insight on global trends and 
opportunities that may affect the Group and our clients. 
Robert served as president of the World Bank from 2007 to 
2012, where he led the effort to assist developing economies 
during the Global Financial Crisis and held various posts in  
the US Government over three administrations. 

What it means to us to be purpose-led
Standard Chartered has a history of being bold and finding 
new opportunities in times of change. For over 160 years we 
have been pioneers of international trade and investment, 
facilitating the flow of capital to where it is needed most to 
drive commerce and prosperity. 

And yet, in today’s complex, fast-moving and unstable world, 
it is clear that markets, trade and capital flows are failing to 
address some of the key socio-economic and environmental 
challenges of our time. It doesn’t need to be this way; we 
believe commerce and prosperity can be driven without 
people being left behind, without the planet being negatively 
impacted, and without creating divisions that diminish our 
sense of community. Never has finance and commerce been 
more important in fuelling positive change where it matters 
most – and especially in the world’s emerging economic 
powerhouses.

This is why now, more than ever before, we must lead with  
our purpose. This is the moment to use our unique capacity  
to work across boundaries, connecting capital, people, ideas 
and best practices, both locally and globally. Our conviction is 
that we can accelerate our strategy and its wider impact by 
connecting it to the big issues facing our world. We will take a 
stand on those issues, reshape our Group where necessary to 
meet them and grow by playing an active role.

The refreshed strategic priorities that Bill describes separately 
are fully aligned with this objective. This is not just about  
social responsibility. This is fundamentally about doing great 
business, transforming our franchise and taking our promise of 
being Here for good to a whole new level. We’re determined 
to unleash a new dynamic in the Group – powered by our 
purpose. We are building on who we are and what we are 
good at, and that is why I am confident we can step forward 
and make a real difference. 

Outlook
So, what does 2021 hold? I hope and expect it will be a better 
year overall for the world and for us, even if uncertainties 
continue on several fronts. First, despite the recent positive 
news on vaccines, we will be coping with the health and 
economic impact of COVID-19 for some time. Yet I envisage 

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Working from home
With the pandemic forcing many of our 
markets into lockdown, we had to move 
quickly to ensure we could operate effectively 
when many of our colleagues had no option 
but to work from home. 

“The excellent work of our technology team, 
which within a matter of weeks sourced 
thousands of laptops and increased the 
capacity of our Virtual Private Network by  
600 per cent, streamlined the process of 
switching to home working and supported  
our operational resilience, enabling our 
employees to deliver continuity of service  
to our customers.” José Viñals

Strategic report Group Chairman’s statement

Group Chairman’s  
statement continued

that the global economic recovery will strengthen as  
the year progresses and confidence returns, led by the 
performance of markets in Asia where we have large  
and entrenched positions. 

Second, geopolitical uncertainty will not disappear under  
the new US administration, albeit I expect the US to take a 
more systematic, predictable and multilateral approach to 
foreign relations. 

Finally, the pace of change required by these new times 
means things are accelerating faster, not just in the digital 
space, but also many other parts of the business ecosystem 
and the world. I expect that this will ultimately result in 
advances in productivity growth.

There remain plenty of reasons to be confident in this evolving 
environment. We have shown that we are getting much 
better at converting the undoubted dynamism of our home 
markets across Asia, Africa and the Middle East into profitable 
growth. We grew income between four and eight per cent on 
a like-for-like basis every quarter between the end of 2018 and 
the end of the first half of 2020 when the impact of COVID-19 
hit, and this was while generating positive income-to-cost 
jaws in every period. I have always been very clear that strong 
growth is no good if it isn’t safe and sustainable, which is why I 
am pleased to see the risk framework that the Management 
Team worked so hard to implement from 2015 perform so well 
last year.

The Board will continue to oversee the execution of the 
Group’s strategy. Our goal is to provide a best-in-class 
experience for our clients, be that through our unique network, 
personalised affluent banking or attractive digital offerings  
in mass retail, including through key strategic partnerships. 
And to do this with a world-class workforce and an agile  
and innovative organisation which makes us simpler, faster 
and better. In doing so, we also aspire to become a leader  
in the sustainability space. As a Group with a large and 
long-standing emerging markets footprint, we feel we have 
the responsibility and a great opportunity to channel 
financing to where it is most needed to make the planet  
more sustainable.

I said in last year’s report that instability and rapid change are 
becoming the new normal, and that adaptation is a skill I saw 
as being core to the Group’s DNA. I am humbled by some of 
the stories I have heard of how my colleagues are ensuring 
exceptional continuity of service to our clients in often difficult 
circumstances, and I have no doubt that they will continue to 
go the extra mile to make a positive difference. 

José Viñals
Group Chairman

25 February 2021

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Group Chief  
Executive’s review

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Bill Winters  
Group Chief Executive

“Our outlook is bright”

Invested in 20201

$1.6bn 

2019: $1.6bn  2018: $1.6bn
1    Regulatory, strategic, cyber  
and system investments 

Open Application Programming 
Interfaces for clients

104 APIs 

2019: 52 APIs  2018: 2 APIs

Proportion of Retail Banking clients 
who are digitally active

61% 

2019: 54%  2018: 49%

We are weathering the health crisis and geopolitical 
tensions very well. We remain strong and profitable, 
although clearly impacted by credit challenges and 
low interest rates. Our strategic transformation 
continues to progress well, and our outlook is bright. 

Our relative strength derives from actions we have taken over 
the past five years, the first phase of which was to secure our 
foundations. Our efforts during that time were not always 
obvious externally, but the benefits became clear last year 
when we came through an extraordinary real-life stress test 
with financial and operational resilience. We were open for 
business for our customers and communities throughout  
the crisis and, as Andy will describe later in this report, we 
remained profitable while preserving very strong liquidity  
and capital positions.

Since 2018, we have been executing the second phase, 
building on those stronger foundations. We have delivered  
our differentiated network and affluent businesses, optimised 
returns in India, Korea, the UAE and Indonesia – profits in those 
markets in aggregate rose 34 per cent – and invested heavily  
in what we expect to be transformational digital initiatives 
that are now live and winning business across our footprint. 

We are ready now to start the next phase. 

Our refreshed strategic priorities
José has already described what it means for us to be a 
purpose-led organisation, and how that will guide us in the 
years ahead. The refreshed strategic priorities which we share 
today link directly to our purpose to drive commerce and 
prosperity with our unique diversity and we have geared up  
to develop the skills, mindset and capabilities to deliver both. 
They will take us beyond what we currently do, how we 
currently think and extend our existing scale and impact.

•  Network: we will continue to unlock the power of our unique 

physical footprint by digitally delivering to our clients 
best-in-class emerging and developed markets capabilities, 
insights and solutions

•  Affluent: we will reinforce our strong credentials in the 
affluent segment by building loyalty and trust through 
offering our clients personalised wealth advice based  
on superior insight

•  Mass retail: we now have a range of proven digital 

capabilities and our remodelled risk framework has been 
thoroughly stress-tested, which means we can substantially 
and economically scale up our mass market retail presence. 
We will do this with enhanced data analytics and a superior 
end-to-end digital experience, developing opportunities on 
our own and with partners

•  Sustainability: we will lead with a differentiated 

sustainability offering, including reflecting net-zero climate 
goals in everything we do. This is not to score points on ESG 
indices, but because we know we can make a difference in 
the world where it matters most, and do so profitably 

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Strategic report Group Chief Executive’s review

Group Chief Executive’s  
review continued

These strategic priorities will be supported by three critical 
enablers. We are investing heavily in our people, giving 
colleagues the skills they need to succeed, bringing in 
expertise in critical areas and evolving to a more innovative 
and agile operating model. We are fundamentally changing 
the way we work, accelerating our time-to-market and 
increasing productivity with cross-functional teams driving 
agreed client and productivity outcomes. And we are driving 
innovation to improve our clients’ experience, increase our 
operational efficiency and tap new sources of income, 
creating opportunities that I can foresee over time 
representing the majority of our income.

Re-committing to delivering return on tangible 
equity above 10 per cent
Our strategic progress continues apace despite the 
challenges related to COVID-19. Our returns have suffered 
though as the resulting severe economic dislocations and  
low interest rates impacted our financial performance.  
The progress we made up to the onset of the pandemic, 
however, in every key financial and strategic metric, gives us 
confidence that we can return to that trajectory as economies 
recover over the coming year. 

Our refreshed strategic priorities, together with the  
financial framework that is laid out in the presentation that 
accompanies this report, should allow us to improve our return 
on tangible equity from the 3 per cent we delivered in 2020  
to more than 7 per cent by 2023 as we progressively advance 
to our target of more than 10 per cent. We will hit those 
targets sooner if interest rates start to normalise earlier  
than anticipated, but in any event we expect to generate 
significant surplus capital over this period that will be returned 
to shareholders if not deployed to fund additional growth.  
We are starting as we mean to go on, by completing the share 
buy-back programme that was suspended in April 2020. 

Resilience at our core
It has been an extraordinary year in many respects. But we 
have a long history of resilience to economic shocks and 
geopolitical tussles, and the opportunities and even the 
challenges have not fundamentally changed. 

•  The negative impacts of COVID-19 should be largely 

transitory, and indeed have provided powerful lessons that 
will help us to accelerate our pursuit of better productivity 
and may even lead to a better world. The almost overnight 
shift to more flexible working should benefit us over  
time both financially and in terms of fostering greater 
diversity and inclusion, and also caused us to add to our 
extraordinary focus on keeping pace with escalating cyber, 
fraud and other threats. And while we will likely live with 
very low interest rates for several years, even that won’t  
last forever as economies start to reflate

•  As an international bank with a unique emerging market 

footprint straddling the East and the West, we have always 
had to deal with political turbulence, both within and 
between our markets. This was unusually visible in 2020 but 
we are hopeful that a spirit of engagement will help avoid 
further escalation. We will comply with all laws that affect 
us and our clients and hope for a more diplomatic and 
multilateral solution to the world’s challenges

•  Global trade was slowing before COVID-19 and slumped 

when it hit, as markets around the world went into various 
forms of lockdown. The pace of growth comes and goes  
but we don’t believe global trade has permanently gone 
into reverse. And while some trade corridors such as those 
between the US and China may decline from the very high 
levels of recent years, they will be replaced by others, in 
particular within the Asia and Africa regions, which play 
perfectly to our strengths 

One thing remains clear: we can win through a relentless 
focus on improving the experience of our customers while 
working hard to attract new ones, and while keeping a  
tight grip on costs. The underlying macroeconomic and 
demographic growth drivers in our footprint remain strong 
and we remain well positioned to benefit from them. With our 
virtual bank Mox launched in Hong Kong, our banking-as-a-
service venture ‘nexus’ preparing to launch with partners in 
Indonesia and digital banking now firmly embedded across 
our Africa franchise, we are better able to capture and create 
opportunities in markets that are likely to remain the most 
dynamic in the world for the foreseeable future.

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Concluding remarks
While COVID-19 caused the quickest and sharpest economic 
collapse any of us has ever seen, recovery expectations 
have also surpassed prior recessions in both speed and 
magnitude. We are in a great position to benefit from that.

In the coming years, we aim not just to be a larger, leaner, 
more profitable and strongly capitalised bank, but a better 
one. Better for our customers, our communities, our colleagues 
and our shareholders. 

•  We have a non-replicable business. We intend to utilise  
that unique diversity for the benefit of our customers  
and shareholders 

•  We are already admired for our specialist servicing of the 
fast-growing trade and investment corridors across Asia, 
Africa and the Middle East and we are doubling-down on 
that differentiation

•  We are driving a culture of innovation, that we believe  

will create sustainable opportunities in the world’s fastest 
growing markets

And last but certainly not least, I wholeheartedly support 
José’s comments concerning the remarkable efforts of our 
89,000 colleagues around the world this year, frequently in 
difficult personal circumstances. These efforts enabled us to 
protect shareholders’ interests in an exceptionally challenging 
year and maintain our steadfast support for the communities 
in the 59 markets we call home. 

Bill Winters
Group Chief Executive

25 February 2021

Management Team

1. 

2. 

3. 

 Bill Winters, CBE  
Group Chief Executive

 Andy Halford  
Group Chief Financial Officer

 Simon Cooper  
CEO, Corporate, Commercial & 
Institutional Banking and  
Europe & Americas

4. 

 David Fein  
Group General Counsel 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

 Dr Michael Gorriz 
Group Chief Information Officer

 Benjamin Hung  
CEO, Asia

 Judy Hsu  
CEO, Consumer, Private and 
Business Banking

 Tanuj Kapilashrami  
Group Head, Human Resources 

 Sunil Kaushal 
CEO, Africa & Middle East

10.   Tracey McDermott, CBE  

Group Head, Corporate Affairs, 
Brand & Marketing, Conduct, 
Financial Crime and Compliance

11. 

 Mark Smith  
Group Chief Risk Officer

12.   David Whiteing 

Group Chief Operating Officer

13.   Alison McFadyen* 

Group Head, Internal Audit

*  Alison represents Group Internal Audit as an 
invitee at Management Team meetings

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12

9

6

10

8

1

2

7

5

4

3

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Strategic report Market environment

Market environment

Macroeconomic factors  
affecting the global landscape 

Global macro trends

Trends in 2020

Outlook for 2021

Medium- 
and long-term view

•  Global GDP contracted sharply in 2020, 
likely by 3.5 per cent: the worst recession 
since World War II

•  Asia was the best-performing region, 
driven by positive growth in China of 
2.3 per cent, but the region overall still 
contracted by 1.2 per cent

•  Among the G7 economies, the US saw  
the least pronounced contraction of 
3.5 per cent, as lockdown restrictions  
were not as significant as elsewhere

•  Global growth is expected to bounce  

back to 5.3 per cent in 2021

•  Asia will remain the fastest-growing 
region and will continue to drive  
global growth, expanding by a robust  
7.4 per cent

•  Among the major economies, the US  
is expected to record a larger bounce  
(5.5 per cent) than the euro area  
(4.0 per cent) as a result of fiscal  
stimulus and a faster vaccine rollout

•  The COVID-19 outbreak is likely to remain  
a significant drag on growth in H1 but 
progress in rolling out global vaccines 
should drive momentum in H2

•  The euro area economy contracted by  
6.8 per cent in 2020 from 1.3 per cent 
growth in 2019 as national COVID-19 
lockdowns were required in many 
countries throughout 2020

•  Policymakers have provided massive 

emergency support due to the pandemic, 
resulting in a significant expansion in 
government and central bank balance 
sheets

•  Growth will be supported by strong policy 
support in COVID-19 affected countries, 
with central banks maintaining highly 
accommodative policies, and fiscal 
programmes shifting towards recovery 
and reconstruction

•  There are several risks to this outlook 
including a slower rollout of COVID-19 
vaccines due to logistical challenges, 
elevated inflation due to unprecedented 
stimulus and disruption to supply chains, 
or a geopolitical event resulting in an oil 
price spike

Legacy of COVID-19
•  The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines globally could 
take years and logistical challenges will be 
magnified in emerging markets. Supply chain 
logistics are a bigger challenge in economies 
with poor road and railway infrastructure and 
supply chain inefficiencies. Administering 
vaccines to millions could increase the pressure 
on public health services

•  Economies with early access to vaccines will 
likely see a sharper rebound in domestic 
demand, as consumer sentiment improves  
and social distancing is phased out. Private 
investment is also likely to increase, buoyed  
by accommodative monetary policies

•  COVID-19 has brought a renewed focus on 

supply chain concentration risks. Companies 
are likely to continue to accelerate the 
shortening and simplifying of supply chains

•  Combatting concentration risks may mean less 
of a role for China, the world’s mega-trader. 
However, China’s role is so important it’s unlikely 
to be reduced rapidly

Broader global trends
• 

Inflation is a bigger risk in emerging markets 
given fewer structural factors supporting low 
inflation and expectations of higher commodity 
prices over the medium term. In addition, the 
use of unconventional policies in these 
economies raises the risk of inflation

•  There are structural challenges to global 

growth. Productivity growth is weak, especially 
in developed markets, and emerging markets 
will have to focus on education and upskilling  
to meet the threat of automation

•  Long-term growth in the developed world is 
constrained by ageing populations and high 
levels of debt, exacerbated by the policy 
response to COVID-19

•  Relatively younger populations, as well as the 

adoption of digital technology, will allow 
emerging markets to become increasingly 
important to global growth

•  Rising nationalism, anti-globalisation and 
protectionism are a threat to long-term  
growth prospects in emerging markets

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Regional outlook

Greater China & North Asia

ASEAN & South Asia

China’s economy staged a V-shaped  
recovery from COVID-19 due to relatively 
effective virus control and policy support

ASEAN is expected to rebound in 2021 after  
a pandemic-induced recession in 2020

Actual and projected growth by country  
in 2020 and 2021 per cent

Actual and projected growth by country  
in 2020 and 2021 per cent

China

2021

2020

Hong Kong

2021

2.3%

3.5%

8%

India

2021

10%

2020

(8)%

Indonesia

2021

4.5%

2020

(6.1)%

2020

(2.1)%

Korea

2021

2020

(1)%

2.9%

Singapore

2021

5.2%

2020

(5.4)%

•  China’s GDP grew by 2.3 per cent in 2020, and we expect it to 

•  Base effects aside, very supportive fiscal and monetary 

surge to 8 per cent in 2021 mainly due to a low base. Policy exit, 
including a cut in budget deficit and a scale-back in credit 
growth, is likely to cap the upside of the rebound, with quarter- 
to-quarter growth slowing throughout the year. Positive factors 
sustaining growth momentum include expected global recovery 
on vaccine optimism and the lagged effect of policy stimulus. 
Downside risks include hasty policy exits that could disrupt 
recovery and increase financial stress

•  China’s leadership appears confident about doubling the size  
of the economy by 2035, implying an average growth rate of 
c.4.8 per cent in the next 15 years. Developing an outsized 
domestic market, industrial upgrading and achieving self-reliance 
in technology are high on the agenda, with the aim of ensuring 
supply-chain security in a less friendly global backdrop

•  We expect the change of administration in the US to bring a 

more predictable approach to interactions between the US and 
China. It is, however, clear there will continue to be a focus on key 
areas such as trade, technology and human rights

•  We expect China’s steady growth and the US Federal Reserve’s 
(Fed) commitment to low interest rates to continue to support 
Hong Kong’s recovery in the coming quarters. However, we see 
lingering headwinds from widespread travel bans, weak external 
demand excluding China, and further upside risk to the local 
unemployment rate, limiting recovery headroom. We forecast  
a moderate rebound of GDP growth to 3.5 per cent in 2021, 
following a contraction of 6.1 per cent in 2020

•  We expect South Korea’s economy to grow 2.9 per cent in 2021, 

following a recession of -1 per cent in 2020. Given Korea’s reliance 
on external demand, growth hinges on the timely deployment  
of the vaccine nationwide and globally. We expect the Bank of 
Korea to continue buying KTB to ease the long-term interest  
rate to avoid a crowding-out effect from a structurally large 
budget deficit

measures should help ASEAN recover. But until vaccines are 
successfully rolled out, social distancing measures may limit  
the strength of any rebound

•  The recovery may be uneven, with hospitality-related sectors 
likely to face greater challenges. Countries with large tourism 
and air-transport related sectors such as Thailand, Singapore 
and Malaysia may see continued challenges but activity should 
pick up as restrictions on movement ease either due to a vaccine 
or uniform operating standards to try to reopen borders

• 

Infrastructure spending in countries such as Indonesia and 
Philippines should also return after a year where governments 
had to focus on COVID-19

•  The likely global recovery and a more conducive global trade 
environment under a new administration in the US may also 
support the export-oriented region, especially Vietnam  
and Singapore

• 

India’s economy may rebound by 10 per cent in FY22 (year 
ending March 2022), after one of the worst recessions in four 
decades; FY21 GDP likely contracted by 8 per cent. We see 
upside risks to our GDP forecasts as the government has  
rolled out fiscal stimulus until FY26. Monetary policy is likely  
to remain supportive in FY22, though upside risk to growth  
and the possibility of higher inflation could lead to gradual 
normalisation in H2-FY22. Strong external buffers, better  
growth prospects and continued focus on reforms are likely  
to ring-fence rating downgrade risks

See our regional performance on page 34 

See our regional performance on page 35

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Strategic report Market environment

Market environment  
continued

Regional outlook continued

Africa & Middle East

Europe & Americas

A gradual recovery in Sub-Saharan Africa is 
expected in 2021

Growth in Europe & Americas is  
likely to strengthen in 2021 as vaccination 
programmes are rolled out

Actual and projected growth by country  
in 2020 and 2021 per cent

Actual and projected growth by country  
in 2020 and 2021 per cent

Nigeria

2021

2020

2.5%

UK

2021

(1.9)%

2020

(9.9)%

UAE

2021

1.9%

US

2020

(4.6)%

2021

2020

(3.5)%

4.8%

5.5%

•  Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is likely to see a recovery of  

3.4 per cent in 2021, following a contraction of 2.6 per cent in 
2020. Per capita GDP in SSA may have fallen back to 2010  
levels due to COVID-19

•  A non-oil recovery is likely to drive growth in Nigeria in 2021  

• 

Improved confidence (and an increase in savings during the 
COVID-19 pandemic) should underpin rising consumption and  
a pick up in investment and, as social distancing requirements 
ease, services activity should improve. Employment is likely to 
improve with a lag but wages may remain subdued

given low oil prices and compliance with OPEC+ cuts

•  We expect inflation pressures to stay low, given excess capacity, 

•  Debt will be in focus following Zambia’s default. Fiscal restraint 

and faster growth will be needed to stabilise debt ratios. 

•  OPEC+ cuts constitute a downside risk to oil exporters’ growth 

recovery in 2021. The recovery in non-oil sector growth will likely 
be constrained by limited fiscal space for stimulus and foreign 
workers leaving due to job cuts

•  We expect Dubai’s hosting of EXPO 2020, postponed until 2021, 

to add impetus to the UAE’s non-oil recovery, specifically in 
sectors such as tourism, hospitality and trade

and central banks to maintain accommodative policies

•  The Fed and European Central Bank are likely to keep interest 
rates at current low levels, though some of the emergency 
measures may be rolled back as growth picks up

•  The trade environment is likely to improve under the new  
US administration, though it may take time for the new  
UK-EU trade relationship to bed down following Brexit

See our regional performance on page 36

See our regional performance on page 37

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Digital and innovation

ªDigital  
banking  
with Moxº

In 2020, we launched Mox, a new digital  
banking service for our customers in Hong Kong. 
Mox allows users to instantly open an account 
from their mobile device and enjoy a smarter 
and simpler way to bank, save and spend.  
Mox, which attracted 66,000 customers by the 
end of 2020 and is the top-rated financial app 
on the App Store in Hong Kong, includes a Goals 
and Savings Calculator which helps customers 
better manage their money.

Read more online at mox.com

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Strategic report

Business model

Business model: 
transformation  
on track

Our business

Corporate &  
Institutional Banking

Commercial Banking

We help international companies 
connect across our global network 
and help individuals and local 
businesses grow their wealth.

Retail Banking

Private Banking 

We support companies across the world, 
from small and medium-sized enterprises  
to large corporates and institutions, both 
digitally and in person.

We work with small businesses and 
individuals , from mass-market clients to 
high-net-worth individuals, both digitally and 
in person, including country-level support. 

In January 2021, we streamlined our four separate businesses into two: Corporate, Commercial and 
Institutional Banking (CCIB); and Consumer, Private and Business Banking (CPBB). Refer to ‘How we 
are shaping our future’ (page 21) for more details.

Our products and services

Financial Markets

Corporate Finance

Transaction Banking

Wealth Management

Retail Products

•  Investment

•  Risk management

•  Debt capital 

markets

•  Securities services

•  Structured &  

project financing

•  Strategic advice

•  Mergers & 
acquisitions

•  Cash management

•  Investments

•  Payments & 
transactions

•  Portfolio 

management

•  Trade finance 

•  Insurance & advice

products

•  Planning services

•  Deposits

•  Savings

•  Mortgages

•  Credit cards

•  Personal loans

How we generate returns

We earn net interest on the margin for loans and deposit products, fees  
on the provision of advisory and other services, and trading income from 
providing risk management in financial markets.

Income

Profits

•  Net interest income

•  Income gained from  

•  Fee income

•  Trading income

providing our products  
and services minus  
expenses and impairments

Return on tangible equity

•  Profit generated relative to 
tangible equity invested

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How we are shaping our future

We have tailored our 
business model to meet 
future challenges and 
opportunities:

In January 2021, we streamlined our 
organisation by integrating our existing 
business units into two new segments: 
Corporate, Commercial & Institutional 
Banking (CCIB); and Consumer, Private 
and Business Banking (CPBB).

The creation of the CCIB segment, 
bringing together Corporate & 
Institutional Banking and Commercial 
Banking, simplifies the way we work 
globally, keeping our distinct local client 
focus, with a less complex organisation 
on the ground and a single team to 
partner with our clients and other 
stakeholders.

Our Retail and Private Banking units are 
now CPBB. The change will help our retail 
businesses deliver our services more 
effectively to our clients, having a more 
global approach while serving our  
clients locally.

We have also streamlined our four 
international regions. Our new Asia 
region (made up of our former Greater 
China & North Asia and ASEAN & South 
Asia regions) will allow us to make the 
most of regional opportunities and 
deliver our services more effectively 
across the different Asian markets. 

Our other regions, Africa & the Middle 
East and Europe & Americas, will run as 
before, with Europe & Americas being 
more closely integrated with our new 
CCIB business unit.

Visit this link for a full explanation of how our 
structure is changing: sc.com/structure

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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What makes us different

Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our 
unique diversity – this is underpinned by our brand promise, 
Here for good.

Client focus
Our clients are our business.  
We build long-term relationships 
through trusted advice, expertise 
and best-in-class capabilities

Robust risk  
management
We are here for the long term. 
Effective risk management  
allows us to grow a sustainable 
business

Distinct proposition
Our understanding of our markets 
and our extensive international  
network allow us to offer a  
tailored proposition to our clients, 
combining global expertise and 
local knowledge

Sustainable and  
responsible business
We promote social and economic 
development by supporting 
sustainable finance, being  
a responsible company and 
promoting inclusive communities

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Strategic report

Business model

Business model  
continued

The inputs we rely on

We aim to use our resources in a sustainable way,  
to achieve the goals of our strategy

How we’re enhancing our resources

•  More than 10,800 employees have completed 
learning courses for future skills that we need – 
including analytics, data, digital and cyber –  
in 2020

•  We are creating a work environment that 
supports resilience and creativity with 
continued investment in physical, social, 
financial and mental wellbeing

•  Our $50 million COVID-19 Global Charitable 
Fund, which provides emergency support for 
communities most impacted by the pandemic, 
demonstrates that we are Here for good

•  As measured by stakeholder intelligence firm 

Alva, the Group improved its reputation in 2020 
over 2019, gradually becoming stronger and 
exceeding the average score for the banking 
sector, beating it in a majority of eight surveyed 
markets in every quarter since Q3 2019

•  We are investing in digital capabilities to help 

us become the leading banking platform in our 
footprint, where clients can be connected to 
investments, capital and trade

•  Our network represents around two thirds of 

our Corporate & Institutional Banking business. 
The network business is returns accretive

•  To help our SME clients cope with COVID-19,  
we kept in close contact, calling 12,000 small 
businesses in both May and September to 
understand their challenges and offer our help

•  Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have lent 
more than $1 billion to small businesses across 
our markets

Human capital
Our diversity differentiates us.  
Achieving our objectives hinges  
on the way we invest in our people,  
the employee experience we curate  
and the culture we develop.

Strong brand
We are a leading international banking 
group with more than 160 years of  
history. In many of our markets we are  
a household name.

Retail Bank 
Net promoter score

+29

International network
We have an unparalleled international 
network, connecting companies,  
institutions and individuals to, and in,  
some of the world’s fastest growing  
and most dynamic regions.

Local expertise
We have a deep knowledge of our  
markets and an understanding  
of the drivers of the real economy,  
offering us insights that help our  
clients achieve their ambitions.

Financial strength
With $789 billion in assets on our  
balance sheet, we are a strong,  
trusted partner for our clients.

Technology
We possess leading technological 
capabilities to enable best-in-class  
customer experience, operations  
and risk management.

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CET1 Capital

$39bn

•  Stronger capital and a much more resilient 
balance sheet with growth in high quality 
deposits

•  Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio at  
14.4 per cent, above the Group target  
range of 13-14 per cent

•  We are providing digital solutions to meet 

clients’ needs in real time, partnering to create 
innovative solutions and developing ventures  
to address emerging banking trends

•  We are automating our infrastructure based  
on cloud computing, building a scalable, high 
performing, resilient and secure platform for 
retail and wholesale customers globally

 
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The value we create

Read more on stakeholder engagement, 
in Board decisions on pages 55-71 

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We aim to create long-term value for a broad range of stakeholders in a sustainable way

Clients
We enable individuals to achieve their ambitions, and grow 
and protect their wealth. We help businesses to trade, 
transact, invest and expand. We also help a variety of 
financial institutions, including banks, public sector and 
development organisations, with their banking needs.

Suppliers
We work with local and global suppliers to ensure 
they can provide the right goods and services for 
our business, efficiently and sustainably.

Total number of  
individual clients1

Total number of business 
banking and CCIB clients2

Total spent in 2020

Active suppliers

9.6m

2019: 9.2m

261,000

2019: 268,000 

$3.8bn

2019: $4.0bn

12,900

2019: 14,600 active suppliers

Employees
We believe great employee experience drives great client 
experience. We want all our people to pursue their ambitions, 
deliver with purpose and have a rewarding career enabled by 
great people leaders.

Regulators and governments
We engage with relevant authorities to play our part in 
supporting the effective functioning of the financial system 
and the broader economy.

Senior appointments  
which are internal 

Employees committed  
to our success 

62%

2019: 63% 

97%

2019: 96% 

Taxes paid in 2020

$971m

2019: $1,421m 

Society
We strive to operate as a sustainable and responsible 
company, driving prosperity through our core business 
and collaborating with local partners to promote 
social and economic development.

Investors
We aim to deliver robust returns and long-term  
sustainable value for our investors.

Community investment 

Dividends declared in 2020

$95.7m

2019: $51.1m 

$284m

2019: $863m3

1 

Includes Retail and Private Banking clients 

2  Active client groups

3  Dividend was subsequently cancelled at the request of the regulator

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Strategic report

Strategy

Our strategy

We are continuing to transform 
our bank by improving the 
experience for clients and 
employees, while focusing on 
high-quality business.

We are on track to launch new 
ventures and digital platforms, 
as well as to meet our targets  
on increasing digital cash 
transactions with our clients.

Our progress against our  
current strategy is outlined  
on pages 24 and 25, while the 
strategy for our next phase  
of growth is on pages 26 and 27.

“ We have delivered 
our differentiated 
network and  
affluent businesses, 
optimised returns in 
some of our larger 
markets and 
invested in what  
we expect to be 
transformational 
digital initiatives”

Bill Winters
Group Chief Executive

24

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

Strategic progress in 2020

We remain resilient and competitive, despite  
economic and geopolitical challenges, meaning 
that – even though our progress has slowed – we 
are on the right track.

In 2020, we were operating in the face of paradigm-shifting 
global events such as the worsening of US-China relations, 
COVID-19 and the return of low interest rates.

We have taken action to partially offset 2020’s impact  
on our operating profit and ensure we can continue to 
operate resiliently.

Deliver  
our  
network

Purpose  
and  
people

Grow  
our affluent 
business

Transform  
and disrupt  
with digital

Improve  
productivity

Optimisation 
markets

Purpose and people

Understand our 
responsibilities
We continue to drive up 
standards of governance,  
ensure fair outcomes for clients 
and fight financial crime.

Lead sustainable financing 
across emerging markets
We have committed $75 billion  
in financing by 2024 to help our 
clients meet the UN Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGs). We 
arranged the first US sustainable 
use-of-proceeds syndicated 
subscription facility and the first 
ever impact-focused subscription 
finance facility.

Support the communities 
where we live and work
We committed to providing  
$1 billion of financing on a 
not-for-profit basis for 
companies offering goods and 
services to help fight COVID-19 
and also established a  
$50 million Global Charitable 
Fund to help our communities.

Maximise return from our 
investment in people
We are building a future-ready 
workforce – changing how we 
work and developing the new 
skills we need. An inclusive 
culture helps us harness our 
diversity to innovate for our 
clients and communities.

Progress in 2020

Employee net promoter score 

+17.5 +6pts

2019: +11.5 pts

Sustainability Aspirations  
achieved or on track*

78% -15pts

2019: 93.1%

*  Decrease due to COVID-19 impacting the pace of delivering our Sustainability 
Aspirations. In 2020, the Group released updated Sustainability Aspirations 
with 37 new annual and multi-year performance targets (vs 29 targets 
previously disclosed)

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Deliver our network

Grow our affluent business

Optimisation markets

Leverage our unique footprint
We continue to deepen our relationship  
with our core clients to realise the revenue 
potential of our network.

Build on our strength in China
We will continue connecting our clients both 
within and beyond China. We are capturing 
growth opportunities from capital market 
opening, renminbi (RMB) internationalisation, 
Belt & Road corporate clients, offshore 
mainland Chinese wealth and the Greater 
Bay Area.

Grow with Africa
We aim to grow with our clients in Africa, 
capturing inbound flows of financial 
institutions, multinational corporations,  
and Belt & Road clients.

We have continued our Retail Banking  
client growth in Africa with our cost-efficient 
digital banking.

Meet the needs of the affluent and 
emerging affluent
By enhancing our offering, we have grown 
income as well as attracted new clients  
with an improved product mix (number  
of Premium, Priority and Private clients 
increased 7 per cent year-on-year).

Enhance client experience with data 
and technology
We’re investing more in data and analytics  
to better understand our clients and their 
needs, improve our offerings, deliver a  
more personalised service and increase  
client engagement.

Scale the non-affluent sector in a 
targeted manner
We will put new business models in place, 
harness technology and work with non-bank 
partners to acquire and serve non-affluent 
clients with our target profile in a cost-
efficient manner.

Improve returns in markets where we 
have trusted local capabilities
In markets where we can utilise our local 
and international capabilities, we have 
improved our returns through our 
sharpened participation in Corporate & 
Institutional Banking and selectively in 
Commercial Banking and/or Retail Banking 
(namely India, Indonesia, Korea and  
the UAE).

Accelerate growth in our largest and 
most profitable markets
In regions where we are a top local bank 
delivering our full range of services, with 
attractive returns, we will invest to grow 
market share.

Focus on Corporate & Institutional 
Banking in other markets
Where our capabilities are geared towards 
international business, we will reinforce  
our focus on originating and facilitating 
cross-border business.

Progress in 2020

Progress in 2020

Progress in 2020

Corporate & Institutional Banking  
network income

Affluent client income  

Underlying operating profit before taxation 
in India, Indonesia, Korea and the UAE

$4.2bn -10%

2019: $4.6bn

Corporate & Institutional Banking income 
generated outside of a client group’s  
headquarter country

$3.5bn -1%

2019: $3.5bn

$559m +33%

2019: $420m

Income from Retail Banking Priority, Retail Banking 
Premium and Private Banking clients

Aggregate underlying profit before taxation  
in the four markets. Excludes Permata.

Improve productivity

Transform and disrupt with digital

Investing in digital
Our investment in digitisation will make us 
more productive and give clients a better 
experience. We announced strategic  
global agreements with Microsoft and 
Amazon Web Services to speed up our  
digital transformation and deliver new 
personalised banking services through  
a cloud-first strategy.

Transforming our ways of working
We are embracing agile work and improving 
client journeys to be more productive across 
operations processing, risk management and 
change delivery.

Progress in 2020

Underlying operating income per FTE

$174,000 -4%

2019: $182,000

Underlying operating income over the past  
12 months divided by the 12-month rolling  
average full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.

Transform our Retail Banking business 
with digital 
As part of our efforts to transform our  
retail bank, digital onboarding improved  
to 80 per cent (~30 per cent in 2019), while 
digital servicing increased to 70 per cent  
(25 per cent in 2019).

We launched our new virtual bank Mox  
in Hong Kong and already had 66,000 
customers and HKD5.2 billion in deposits as  
of the end of 2020.

We also announced nexus, our ‘banking as  
a service’ solution for consumer platforms,  
in Indonesia.

Consolidate our position with 
corporate clients
We are leading an industry workgroup to 
develop a Trade Finance Registry pilot to 
enhance transparency in commodity trade.

We completed the first cross-border live 
transaction on Trusple, the newly launched 
digital international trade and financial 
service platform of AntChain.

We launched an ambitious three-year 
programme to build the leading banking 
platform in our footprint.

We support clients on their digital journey, 
and we have set a target of 95 per cent of 
clients on digital platforms by 2023.

Progress in 2020

Retail Banking digital adoption

61% +7%

2019: 54%

Mobile and online adoption by active clients.

Corporate & Institutional  
Banking digital volumes

$189m +20%

2019: $157m

Financial markets sales income originated  
via e-platforms

Commercial Banking digital adoption

74% +7%

2019: 68%

Percentage of Commercial Banking clients  
active on our Straight2Bank application

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Strategic report

Strategy

Our strategy continued

Strategic priorities

Our next phase

Wholesale network  
business 

As we look to move from transforming 
our bank to becoming a leader in 
global finance in the next five years, 
we have refreshed our strategy onto 
four strategic priorities and three 
enablers. This extension of our existing 
strategy allows us to focus on the key 
areas that will help us in the next 
phase of our development.

Our strategy
We enter this new chapter with strong foundations and 
renewed confidence. We will continue to invest in people, 
partnerships and innovations that bring value to our clients.

With changes in the operating environment, we are 
refreshing our strategy to move us from ‘transformation’ to 
‘lead’, a new phase where we aim to become market leaders 
in the next five years.

We will ramp up our focus on:

•  Four strategic pillars: wholesale network business, affluent 

client business, mass retail business and sustainability

•  Three critical enablers: people and culture, new ways of 

working and innovation

Rationale and drivers
While our 2019 refreshed strategic priorities moved  
us from turnaround to transformation, the 2021 strategy 
aims to move us from our transformation phase to  
becoming leaders:

•  Invest – invest in our strategy and navigate the continued 

uncertainties through 2021

•  Grow and disrupt – rejuvenate growth with early results 

from our sharpened strategy by 2023 

•  Lead – emerge as a leader with future-proof competitive 

advantages by 2025

Ambition and measuring progress
By 2025, we want to be admired for our specialist servicing  
of the fast-growing trade and investment corridors across 
Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

We want to: be the number one wholesale digital banking 
platform; be among the top three affluent brands;  
double our mass presence; and become a market leader  
in sustainability.

We have created KPIs to measure our progress and meet  
our goals.

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We intend to become the leading 
international wholesale bank in our  
emerging markets footprint by...

•  Taking leading positions in high-returning, high-growth sectors

•  Delivering a market-leading digital banking platform providing 

services such as investments, capital and trade; delivering 
consistent client experience; and driving income while lowering 
service costs, particularly in tail markets

•  Driving ‘capital-lite’ products, while building a leading 

sustainable finance franchise and expanding our credit 
origination and distribution ecosystem

•  Speeding up growth in large markets, while expanding in 

growing markets and corridors, in line with shifts in trade and 
investment flows

CCIB network income

% of CCIB transactions 
digitally initiated

$4.4bn

41%

Mass retail business 

We intend to help our clients prosper and 
deliver everyday banking solutions by 
integrating our services into their digital lives. 
New digital solutions, strategic partnerships 
and advanced analytics will enable us to 
significantly increase our reach and relevance 
to serve them in a meaningful way. We are:

•  Enhancing our value propositions and client solutions, and 
deepening talent and capabilities across digital sales and 
marketing as well as data and analytics

•  Building strategic enablers to become the partner of choice  

to leading global and regional companies

•  Growing the share of our mass retail client business income  

from new innovative business models

Mass market customers

% of digital sales for  
Retail Products

7.6m

68%

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Strategic priorities

Critical enablers

Affluent client business 

People and culture

As the leading international wealth manager, 
we intend to offer outstanding personalised 
wealth advice and exceptional experiences  
to our affluent clients to help them grow and 
manage their wealth internationally and at 
home. We are:

•  Focusing on growing our affluent client business (Retail Banking 
Priority and Premium, and Private Banking clients) across our top 
markets with outstanding wealth management and 
international propositions

•  Delivering personalised solutions and deepening client 

engagement by leveraging data and analytics to generate  
high quality client insights

•  Building a scalable affluent client service model by transforming 
our physical network and digital capabilities to an integrated 
omnichannel experience 

Affluent client income

$3.5bn

Total number of  
affluent clients

2.0m

Sustainability 

We are accelerating our people strategy  
to create a future-ready workforce by...

•  Building a culture of continuous learning to support future 

skills and re-skilling – more than 55,000 employees have used 
our new digital learning platform

• 

Investing in wellbeing to improve productivity and performance, 
including people leader tools and mental health support

•  Redesigning our performance management approach to 

better enable innovation and collaboration 

•  Accelerating post COVID-19 ways of working, implementing 
‘in-office’ and remote work in our nine largest markets, with 
80% of colleagues expressing an interest in working flexibly

•  Focusing on inclusion to harness the value from our  

unique diversity

New ways of working

We intend to make it easier for our people to do 
the right thing for our clients, faster and more safely, 
while gearing the Group for high-performance and 
innovation in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Towards this goal, we are thinking client first, embracing 
organisational agility and empowering our people to 
continuously improve the way we work.

We intend to become the world’s most 
sustainable and responsible bank and the 
leading private-sector catalyser of finance  
for the SDGs where it matters most – in Asia, 
Africa and the Middle East – by...

•  Leveraging Climate Risk management to support clients in 

managing Climate Risk and identifying transition opportunities 

Innovation

•  Integrating sustainable finance as a core 

component of our customer value proposition

•  Continuing to promote economic inclusion 

and tackle inequality in our footprint

•  Having a net zero financed carbon emissions target by 2050 

Sustainability Aspirations 
achieved or on track

Reduction in carbon 
footprint from  
previous year

78%

37%

We intend to create opportunities that over  
time can generate the majority of our income.  
Our aim is to...

•  Accelerate the pace of innovation by adopting new ways  
of working in all aspects of our tech and product delivery

•  Develop and scale up ventures in markets across our footprint

•  Embrace organisational agility, fostering a culture of 
experimentation and continuous improvement, and 
embedding innovation into our culture

• 

Improve client and investor perception about the bank as a 
leading innovator and a bank of the future

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Fighting financial crime

ªRajen versus  
the COVID 
fraudstersº

In March 2020, Rajen Raj, a member of our fraud  
team in Singapore, helped foil a COVID-19 personal 
protective equipment scam worth $10 million.  
Rajen worked with the Singapore Police Anti-Scam 
Centre, helping them freeze accounts and seize the 
money from fraudsters who were posing as suppliers 
of masks and sanitisers.

Read more online at sc.com/rajensstory

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Corporate & 
Institutional Banking

KPIs

Profit before  
taxation

$1,841m 

 18%

underlying basis

$1,677m 

 22%

statutory basis

Risk-weighted assets (RWA)

$137bn 

 $8bn

Return on tangible equity 
(RoTE)

6.6% 

 190bps 

underlying basis

6.1% 

 190bps 

statutory basis

Proportion of low-returning 
client risk-weighted assets 

Open Application 
programming 
interfaces for clients

 14.5% of RWA

 104 APIs3

2020

2019

2018

14.5%

2020

13.8%

2019

52

15.5%

2018

2

Aim: Deliver a true frictionless 
cross-product digital banking 
experience to our clients.

Analysis: Doubled our open APIs3 for 
clients to 104 in 2020 with presence 
across 20 footprint markets. 

Aim: Reduce perennial sub-optimal 
RWA2 and bring down the proportion 
of low returning client risk-weighted 
assets.

Analysis: Our perennial sub-optimal 
RWA2 has reduced 27 per cent 
year-on-year. However, the proportion 
of low returning client RWA increased 
from 13.8 per cent in 2019 to 14.5 per 
cent in 2020 driven by decline in asset 
credit quality impacted by COVID-19 
pandemic.

ªMultiple world 
firsts with Etihad º

In November 2020, we worked with Etihad Airways’ on 
their first sustainable Sukuk issuance. 

The $600 million Sustainability-Linked Transition 
Sukuk, a Shariah-compliant bond, is the first 
sustainability-linked Sukuk globally and for the 
aviation industry. Etihad intends to use the funds for 
more energy-efficient aircraft and research and 
development into sustainable aviation fuel.

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Segment overview
Corporate & Institutional Banking supports clients 
with their transaction banking, corporate finance, 
financial markets and borrowing needs across 
50 markets, providing solutions to more than  
5,000 clients in some of the world’s fastest-growing 
economies and most active trade corridors. 

Our clients include large corporations, governments, banks 
and investors operating or investing in Asia, Africa and the 
Middle East. Our strong and deep local presence across these 
markets enables us to connect our clients multilaterally to 
investors, suppliers, buyers and sellers and enable them to 
move capital, manage risk, invest to create wealth, and to 
help co-create bespoke financing solutions.

We collaborate increasingly with other segments, introducing 
Commercial Banking services to our clients’ ecosystem 
partners – their networks of buyers, suppliers, customers and 
service providers – and offering our clients’ employees banking 
services through Retail Banking. 

Finally, we are committed to sustainable finance, delivering on 
our ambitions to increase support and funding for financial 
products and services that have a positive impact on our 
communities and the environment and support sustainable 
economic growth.

Strategic priorities 
•  Deliver sustainable growth for clients by leveraging our network  

to facilitate trade, capital and investment flows across our  
footprint markets

•  Generate high-quality returns by growing ‘capital-lite’1 income, 

driving balance sheet velocity and improving funding quality while 
maintaining risk controls

104

•  Be the leading digital banking platform providing network services 
and partner with third parties to expand capabilities and to access 
new clients

•  Accelerate our sustainable finance offering to our clients through 
product innovation and enabling transition to a low carbon future

Progress 
•  Network income was down 10 per cent due to the impact of lower 

interest rates, particularly in Cash Management. Underlying quality 
of income remains resilient and our network continues to generate 
58 per cent of total income

•  Maintained balance sheet quality with investment grade net 

exposures representing 65 per cent of total corporate net exposures 
(2019: 65 per cent) and high-quality operating account balances 
improving to 64 per cent of Transaction Banking and Securities 
Services customer balances (2019: 61 per cent)

•  Migrated c.15,000 client entities to S2B4 NextGen platform and 
increased S2B cash payment transaction volumes by 4 per cent 

•  Resilient performance driven by diversified product suite  
and expanded client solutions delivering growth despite 
challenging geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions  
across footprint markets

Performance highlights 
•  Underlying profit before tax of $1,841 million down 18 per cent, 

primarily driven by higher credit impairments, partially offset by 
higher income and lower expenses 

•  Underlying operating income of $7,214 million up 2 per cent,  
primarily driven by Financial Markets on the back of higher  
market volatility offsetting lower income from Cash Management 
impacted by a lower interest rate environment 

•  Good balance sheet momentum with total assets up 9 per cent,  
of which loans and advances to customers were up 4 per cent

•  Underlying RoTE decreased from 8.5 per cent to 6.6 per cent

1   Capital-lite income refers to products with low RWA consumption or of a 

non-funded nature. This mainly includes Cash Management and FX products 

2   Perennial sub-optimal clients are clients who have returned below 3 per cent 

RoRWA for the past three years 

3   Application programming interface refers to a set of software functions to 

allow seamless exchange of instructions and data with our clients

4   Our next generation Transaction Banking digital platform

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Strategic report Client segment reviews

Retail Banking

KPIs

Profit before  
taxation

$587m 

 46%

underlying basis

$537m 

 48%

statutory basis

Risk-weighted assets (RWA)

$47bn 

 $3bn

Digital adoption

Return on tangible equity 
(RoTE)

6.5% 

 620bps 

underlying basis

5.9% 

 600bps 
statutory basis

Priority & Premium  
client focus

 61% number of clients

 59% share of income

2020

2019

2018

61%

2020

54%

49%

2019

2018

59%

57%

56%

Aim: Align the Group’s service to how 
clients want to interact and increase 
efficiency by reducing the amount of 
manual processing.

Analysis: Online applications have 
continued to grow with the proportion 
of Retail Banking clients that are 
digital-active up from 54 per cent in 
2019 to 61 per cent at the end of 2020. 

Aim: Increase the proportion of 
income from Priority clients, reflecting 
the strategic shift in client mix 
towards affluent and emerging 
affluent clients.

Analysis: The share of Retail Banking 
income from Priority clients increased 
from 57 per cent in 2019 to 59 per cent 
in 2020, supported by more than 
139,000 new-to-bank Priority clients  
in the year.

ªWatching out for 
wellbeing º

In order to protect the health of our clients during 
COVID-19, we partnered with wellness provider  
Switch+ to roll out a customer wellbeing platform. 

The platform, which hosted fitness sessions including 
yoga, meditation and Zumba, was available to a 
selection of clients across our top markets. 

In total, our clients completed more than  
3,500 activities using the platform.

Segment overview 
Retail Banking serves more than nine million 
individuals and small businesses, with a focus on 
affluent and emerging affluent in many of the  
world’s fastest-growing cities. We provide digital 
banking services with a human touch to our clients, 
with services spanning across deposits, payments, 
financing products and Wealth Management.  
We also support our clients with their business 
banking needs. 

Retail Banking represents around one-third of the Group’s 
operating income and one-quarter of its operating profit.  
We are closely integrated with the Group’s other client 
segments; for example, we offer employee banking services to 
Corporate & Institutional Banking clients, and Retail Banking 
provides a source of high-quality liquidity for the Group. 

Increasing levels of wealth across Asia, Africa and the  
Middle East support our opportunity to grow the business 
sustainably. We aim to improve productivity and client 
experience by driving digitisation and cost efficiencies,  
and simplifying processes.

Strategic priorities
• 

Invest in our affluent and emerging affluent clients with a focus on 
Wealth Management and Deposits to capture the significant rise 
of the middle class in our markets

• 

Improve our clients’ experience through an enhanced end-to-end 
digital offering, with intuitive platforms, best-in-class products  
and service responding to the change in digital habits of clients  
in our markets

Progress 
• 

Increased the share of income from more affluent Premium and 
Priority clients from 57 per cent in 2019 to 59 per cent as a result of 
resilient performance in Wealth Management and Mortgages  
and CCPL income growth

•  Premium Banking income has grown 15 per cent since the launch  

in ten markets last year

•  Mox launched in Hong Kong in September 2020 and at the end  

of 2020 had 66,000 customers, more than $670 million in deposits 
and is one of the highest rated and most-reviewed virtual banks

•  Our fully digital African banks have now acquired half a million new 
customers. 75 per cent are below the age of 35, which is helping to 
build our pipeline of next generation emerging affluent clients

•  We have announced a ‘banking-as-a-service’ solution, nexus,  
for consumer platforms, such as e-commerce, social media or  
ride hailing companies, so these companies can offer their own 
branded financial services to their customers. We have signed  
up Sociolla and Bukalapak in Indonesia as partners 

•  Exponential increase in digital sales, up over 300 per cent driven  

by our Ant Financial partnership in China, Mox and our nine digital 
banks in Africa & Middle East 

•  A further improvement in digital adoption, with 61 per cent of  
clients now actively using online or mobile banking compared  
with 54 per cent in 2019

Performance highlights 
•  Underlying profit before tax of $587 million was down 46 per cent 
driven by lower income and higher credit impairments. Expenses 
were well-managed and slightly lower

•  Underlying operating income of $5,013 million was down 3 per cent. 
Greater China & North Asia was down 1 per cent, ASEAN & South 
Asia was down 5 per cent and Africa & Middle East was down  
9 per cent (down 1, 3 and 5 per cent on a constant currency basis, 
respectively) 

•  Strong income momentum growth from Mortgages and Business 

Banking Lending with improved margins and balance sheet growth 
and 5 per cent growth in Wealth Management. These were offset 
by Deposit margin compression, impacted by a lower interest rate 
environment, which was partially offset by 7 per cent growth in 
Customer Accounts

•  Underlying RoTE decreased to 6.5 per cent from 12.7 per cent

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Commercial Banking

KPIs

Profit before  
taxation

$214m 

 57%

underlying basis

$157m 

 68%

statutory basis

Risk-weighted assets (RWA)

$28bn 

 $3bn

Return on tangible equity 
(RoTE)

3.4% 

 400bps 

underlying basis

2.5% 

 480bps 
statutory basis

Capital-lite3 income as a 
share of total income
46% share of total income4

Number of new to bank 
clients onboarded (’000)
6,500 new sign ups4

2020

2019

2018

46%

2020

48%

2019

45%

2018

6.5

6.3

6.1

Aim: Reshape the income mix towards 
capital lite income. 

Aim: Building scale by onboarding 
new to bank clients.

Analysis: Share of capital-lite income 
decreased slightly to 46 per cent in 
2020 impacted by net interest margin 
compression from interest rate cuts. 
This was partially offset by strong 
growth in Liabilities. High quality 
OPAC balances grew from $18 billion in 
2019 to $22 billion in 2020. We have set 
up dedicated liabilities teams in key 
markets and continue to focus on cash 
rich sectors, non-borrowing clients and 
FX cross-sell opportunities.

Analysis: We maintain strong 
momentum in the onboarding of  
new to bank clients, while monetising 
clients onboarded in prior years. 
Clients onboarded in 2019 helped us 
generate c.$126 million additional 
income on approximately $5 billion 
additional liabilities in 2020.

ªBattling COVID-19 
in Bahrain º

In July 2020, we worked with Bahrain-based medical 
company Yousuf Mahmood Hussain Company, to help 
battle the pandemic in the region.

We provided the pharmaceutical and medical 
distribution company with $8 million as part of our  
$1 billion COVID-19 not-for-profit loan fund to help  
with the provision of medical and health equipment 
including masks and protective devices. 

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Segment overview 
Commercial Banking serves more than 43,0001  
local corporations and medium-sized enterprises  
in 22 markets across Asia, Africa and the Middle  
East. We aim to be our clients’ main international 
bank, providing a full range of international  
financial services in areas such as trade finance,  
cash management, financial markets and  
corporate finance.

Through our close linkages with Retail Banking and Private 
Banking, our clients can access additional services they value 
including employee banking services and personal wealth 
solutions. We also collaborate with Corporate & Institutional 
Banking to service clients’ end-to-end supply chains. 

Our clients represent a large and important part of the 
economies we serve and are potential future multinational 
corporates. Commercial Banking is at the heart of the Group’s 
shared purpose to drive commerce and prosperity through our 
unique diversity.

Strategic Priorities 
•  Drive quality sustainable growth by deepening relationships with 
existing clients and onboarding new clients, focusing on rapidly 
growing and internationalising companies

• 

Improve balance sheet and income mix, accelerating utilisation  
of growth in Cash and FX products. 

•  Continue to enhance capital allocation discipline and credit risk 

management

• 

Improve client experience, using technology and investing in 
frontline training, tools and analytics

Progress 
•  Onboarded 6,500 new clients in 2020, which helped generate 

$78 million additional income and $3 billion additional  
cash liabilities 

•  Double-digit income growth seen in the Hong Kong–Taiwan, 

Taiwan–Singapore and Singapore–India corridors as we continue 
to tap their potential to help our Commercial Banking clients 
capture international opportunities 

•  Maintained cost discipline (down 8 per cent) while reducing RWAs 

(down 8 per cent)

•  RWA efficiency2 improved to 65 per cent in 2020 (2019: 70 per cent) 

•  Continued to improve client experience: reduced client turnaround 

time from five to four days

•  Good progress on client satisfaction with Commercial Banking 
client engagement improving to 31 per cent (2019: 26 per cent) 

Performance highlights 
•  Underlying profit before tax of $214 million was down 57 per cent 
mainly due to lower income and higher credit impairments from  
the effects of COVID-19

•  Underlying operating income of $1,409 million was down  

10 per cent mainly driven by lower Transaction Banking income 

•  ASEAN & South Asia, Greater China & North Asia and Africa & 

Middle East income was down 6, 14 and 14 per cent, respectively

•  Underlying RoTE reduced from 7.4 per cent to 3.4 per cent

1  Relates to individual entities

2  RWA efficiency is derived as credit RWA divided by assets and contingents

3   Capital-lite income refers to products with low RWA consumption or of 
non-funded nature. This primarily includes Cash Management and  
FX products

4  Prior periods KPIs have been restated following a reorganisation of certain 

clients across client segments

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Strategic report Client segment reviews

Private Banking

KPIs

Profit before  
taxation

$62m 

 34%

underlying basis

$51m 

 39%

statutory basis

Risk-weighted assets (RWA)

$6bn 

 Flat

Return on tangible equity 
(RoTE)

4.8% 

 250bps 

underlying basis

4.0% 

 240bps 

statutory basis

Net new money

 $0.7bn of net new money

Net client score for ease of 
doing business 
 up to 48% 

2020

$0.7bn

2020

48%

2019

$2.6bn

2019

33%

Segment overview
Private Banking offers a full range of investment, 
credit and wealth planning products to grow, and 
protect, the wealth of high-net-worth individuals.

Our investment advisory capabilities and product platform 
are independent from research houses and product providers, 
allowing us to put client interests at the centre of our business. 
This is coupled with an extensive network across Asia, Africa 
and the Middle East which provides clients with relevant 
market insights and cross-border investment and financing 
opportunities.

As part of our universal banking proposition, clients can also 
leverage our global Commercial Banking and Corporate & 
Institutional Banking capabilities to support their business 
needs. Private Banking services can be accessed from six 
leading centres: Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Jersey,  
Dubai and India.

Strategic priorities
•  Leverage significant wealth creation and wealth transfers in our 

markets to increase franchise scale

•  Deliver a unique and compelling client value proposition, which 

focuses on:

 – Access: through market-leading products and platforms

 – Advice: differentiated investment insights delivered through  

our bankers and investment advisers

 – Affinity: partnering clients through a sustainable investing 

offering and our Next Generation programme

•  Build adaptive teams with strong leaders and a transparent focus 

on results

•  Build for scale by focusing on efficiency on all fronts

•  Sustainable growth through establishment of robust controls and 

an active “Think Conduct” culture

Progress 
•  Accelerated our client digital agenda to meet their needs in the 

2018

$0.7bn

2018

28%

new normal: 

Aim: Net new money – grow and 
deepen client relationships, improve 
investment penetration and attract 
new clients.

Analysis: We added $0.7 billion of net 
new money in 2020, delivering positive 
inflows for the fourth consecutive year 
since 2016.

Aim: Historically improve the Private 
Banking client experience through all 
touch points with the Group.

Analysis: Launched in 2016, the 
annual Private Banking client 
satisfaction survey reviews multiple 
dimensions of client sentiment and 
measures our progress in putting 
client needs at the heart of everything 
we do. In 2020, 48 per cent of clients 
rated us very easy to do business with 
compared to 33 per cent in 2019. 

ªHelping clients 
invest sustainably º

With the world looking to build back greener after 
COVID-19, there has been an increased interest in 
sustainable investing. 

To help our private banking clients invest with a 
sustainable lens, we launched the industry’s first  
ESG Fixed Maturity Product in conjunction with  
BNP Paribas Asset Management. 

In addition, in order to create further interest in 
sustainable investing, we’ve made several climate  
and SDG-themed funds available to our private 
banking clients.

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Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

 – Dedicated efforts to increase client registrations drove adoption 
rate of our award-winning PvB App to 62 per cent (53 per cent 
growth in number of users since January 2020)

 – We listened to our clients’ needs and launched new 

functionalities such as portfolio performance analysis 
capabilities and online publication of market insights; this  
helped to increase app usage with half of users logging in  
more than once a month

•  Through our virtual rehearsal programme with video-based role 

play training, we aim to transform a generation of bankers, 
teaching them how to deliver a high-tech but also high-touch  
client engagement experience

•  Digitisation of our client onboarding has empowered our bankers 

to prospect beyond their borders and be future-ready:

 – Launch of eSign (digital signatures) in all booking centres, 

facilitating account opening and credit applications

 – Innovative use of video conferencing solutions as an alternative 
to face-to-face meeting requirements has improved the client 
experience as clients are empowered to seamlessly connect with 
their bankers

Performance highlights 
•  Underlying profit before tax of $62 million was down 34 per cent, 

due to non-recurrence of a credit impairment release of $29 million  
in 2019. Excluding this and normalised for a one-off provision of  
$4.5 million in 2020, underlying profit was up 1 per cent, benefiting 
from early cost management actions and strong client 
engagement driving Wealth Management income expansion

•  Underlying operating income of $540 million was down 6 per cent, 
impacted by margin compression in the deposit book due to rate 
cuts. This was partially offset by resilient growth from Wealth 
Management, up 5 per cent, mainly from Structured Products  
and Equities

•  Assets under management increased $6 billion or 9 per cent, driven 
by $0.7 billion of net new money and positive market movements 

•  Underlying RoTE decreased from 7.3 to 4.8 per cent

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Future workplace

ªBanking  
from homeº

When COVID-19 struck, we had to move at pace  
to ensure we could successfully implement remote 
working. By April, 70 per cent of our workforce was 
working from home, thanks to the provision of 
thousands of laptops and a 600 per cent increase 
in the capacity of our Virtual Private Network.  
We also created SC Connect, a new app to help 
colleagues check in with each other remotely and 
remain connected with their teams.

Read more online at sc.com/homebanking

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Strategic report

Regional reviews

Greater China &  
North Asia

Profit before taxation

Risk-weighted assets (RWA)

$2,035m 

$93bn 

 16%

underlying basis

 $7bn

$1,900m 

 17%

statutory basis

Loans and advances to customers

Greater China & North Asia 
45% of Group

Income split by key markets

China  
15%

Others  
10%

Korea  
17%

Hong Kong  
58%

ªSupporting the 
Nippon Foundation 
and Ashinagaº

As part of our $50 million COVID-19 Global Charitable 
Fund, we donated JPY10 million to Ashinaga and the 
Nippon Foundation in Japan. 

With the funding, Ashinaga helped 6,500 orphaned 
students continue their studies, while the Nippon 
Foundation funded temporary accommodation for 
COVID-19 patients and health workers.

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Region overview 
Greater China & North Asia generated the largest 
share of the Group’s income in 2020, at 41 per cent. 
We serve clients in Hong Kong – the Group’s largest 
market – as well as Mainland China, Japan, Korea, 
Macau and Taiwan.

The region is highly interconnected, with China’s economy at 
its core. Our global footprint, strong regional presence and 
continued investment allow us to capture opportunities as 
they arise from the opening of China’s economy. 

We are building on the region’s economic growth, the rising 
wealth of its population, the increasing sophistication and 
internationalisation of Chinese businesses and the increased 
use of the renminbi internationally.

Strategic priorities 
•  Use the strength of our network to serve the inbound and outbound 

cross-border trade and investment needs of our clients

•  Make the most of opportunities from China’s opening, including the 
Greater Bay Area (GBA), renminbi, Belt and Road initiative, onshore 
capital markets and mainland wealth, as well as the development 
of our digital capabilities

•  Strengthen our market position in Hong Kong and improve 

performance in Korea

Progress 
•  Our China business has been resilient during a year of 

unprecedented difficulty. As China has emerged from COVID-19 
restrictions, its economy has recovered and our business has grown 
with underlying operating profit before impairment and tax up  
26 per cent driven by Wealth Management, Financial Markets  
and unsecured products. The income we have booked from clients 
based in China has grown 3 per cent and China remains the Group’s 
largest source of network income

•  Hong Kong faced a unique combination of geopolitical, social and 
pandemic-related challenges in 2020 which impacted financial 
performance. However, we have seen very good progress in Wealth 
Management, and Financial Markets, where income grew strongly 
and have progressed our digital agenda by launching Mox, our 
virtual bank

•  We have stepped up our investment in the GBA with the creation  
of a GBA Centre to better support our clients, a dedicated GBA  
CEO and the launch of the Standard Chartered GBA Business 
Confidence Index

•  Despite the disruption of the pandemic, our Korea business has 
delivered operating profit growth of 50 per cent. This has been 
driven by a strong Wealth Management and Financial Markets 
performance and reflects the flow-through benefits of 
management’s restructuring actions in recent years

Performance highlights 
•  Underlying profit before tax of $2,035 million was down 16 per cent, 
mainly due to higher credit impairment charges, partially offset by 
strong cost control

•  Underlying operating income of $6,016 million was down 2 per cent. 
Lower income in Cash Management, Retail Deposits and Treasury 
Products was partially offset by strong performances in Financial 
Markets and Wealth Management

•  Retail Banking income fell 1 per cent driven by a fall in Deposit 

income as a result of lower interest rates, almost entirely offset  
by strong momentum in Mortgages and Wealth Management. 
Private Banking income was also down. Corporate & Institutional 
Banking income grew, mainly due to a strong Financial Markets 
performance, partly offset by lower Corporate Finance and 
Transaction Banking income. Commercial Banking income was 
down 14 per cent driven by lower Transaction Banking 

•  Strong balance sheet momentum with loans and advances to 

customers up 9 per cent mainly from strong growth in Mortgages 
and Corporate Lending. Customer accounts were up 13 per cent, 
with strong double-digit growth in retail current and savings 
accounts and Transaction Banking cash balances 

•  RWAs increased by $7 billion due to market and credit risk, in line 
with loans and advances growth, mainly in Treasury and Retail

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ASEAN &  
South Asia

Profit before taxation

Risk-weighted assets (RWA)

$81bn 

 $8bn

$779m 

 24%

underlying basis

$737m 

 29%

statutory basis

Loans and advances to customers

ASEAN & South Asia 
26% of Group

Income split by key markets

India  
29%

Others  
25%

Malaysia  
10%
Singapore  
36%

ªHelping India 
breathe easierº

To help beat the COVID-19 crisis we funded the 
development of a new portable ventilator produced by 
the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and Nocca 
Robotics. 

The ventilator, which can be produced cheaply and 
easily, has since been installed in government and 
private hospitals in more than 50 cities, including Pune, 
Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Bihar and Bengaluru

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The Group has a long-standing presence in the 
region and, as the only international bank present  
in all 10 ASEAN countries, we are a strong banking 
partner for our clients. Our two biggest markets in  
the region are Singapore and India. 

The region contributes more than a quarter of the Group’s 
income and Singapore is home to the majority of our global 
business leadership, our technology operations and our 
innovation hub SC Ventures. The strong underlying economic 
growth in the region means we can help our clients grow and 
sustainably improve returns. 

The region benefits from rising trade flows, including  
activity generated from China’s Belt and Road initiative,  
strong investment, and a rising middle class which is  
driving consumption and improving digital connectivity.

Strategic priorities 
•  Leverage the strength of our international network to support our 
clients’ cross-border trade and investment activities across the 
high-growth regional corridors

•  Expand Wealth Management offerings and client engagement 
through digital-only or hybrid channels to accelerate growth in 
affluent segments 

• 

Improve capital efficiency and sharpen our investments in 
higher-returning businesses

•  Continue to reshape our India and Indonesia franchises to  

optimise returns

Progress 
• 

In Singapore, we are proud to have been awarded ‘Significantly 
Rooted Foreign Bank’ status. We are the only international bank to 
receive this honour, reflecting our long and deep-rooted presence in 
the market. This has paved the way for us to establish a new digital 
bank and expand our reach and touchpoints in one of our most 
important markets

• 

• 

In India, despite COVID-19, we more than quadrupled operating 
profit and improved returns. The growth in lower cost liabilities has 
improved margins and supported clients in strategic transactions. 
Expenses remain tightly controlled benefiting from increased client 
digital adoption

In Indonesia, we improved profitability through growth in Financial 
Markets and Wealth Management income. Costs were flat with 
client digital adoption reducing channel costs. We have announced 
a ‘banking-as-a-service’ solution, nexus, having signed partnerships 
with Bukalapak and Sociolla in Indonesia as partners

•  Bangladesh and Vietnam delivered sound performances 

leveraging client relationships both domestically and cross border, 
particularly with China, Japan and Korea

Performance highlights 
•  Underlying profit before tax of $779 million decreased 24 per cent 
driven by higher credit impairment. Underlying operating profit 
before impairment and tax improved 14 per cent as income grew  
4 per cent, while expenses were 2 per cent lower

•  Underlying operating income of $4,366 million grew 4 per cent  

(5 per cent on a constant currency basis excluding a positive debit 
valuation adjustment), underpinned by strong growth in Corporate 
& Institutional Banking and realisation gains within Treasury 
Markets. Commercial Banking income declined 6 per cent and 
Retail Banking was down 5 per cent, while Private Banking was  
also down

•  Higher Corporate & Institutional Banking income driven by strong 

performance in Financial Markets and Corporate Finance, partially 
offset by margin compression in Transaction Banking

•  Resilient balance sheet momentum with loans and advances to 
customers up 8 per cent. Customer accounts were up 6 per cent 
driven by higher retail current and savings accounts and 
Transaction Banking cash balances. These were partially offset  
by a reduction in high-priced corporate time deposits

•  Risk-weighted assets decreased by $8 billion due mainly to the sale 

of the Group’s stake in Permata in Indonesia

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

35

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Strategic report

Regional reviews

Africa & Middle East

Profit /(loss) before taxation

Risk-weighted assets (RWA)

$51bn 

 $2bn

$13m

 98%

underlying basis

$(75)m 

 111%.

statutory basis

Loans and advances to customers

Africa & Middle East 
9% of Group

Income split by key markets

UAE  
25%

Nigeria  
11%

Others  
54%

Kenya  
10%

ªFighting COVID in 
the Middle Eastº

As part of our efforts to battle the pandemic, we 
committed $25 million to UAE healthcare services 
provider Mediclinic. 

The money, which was part of our $1 billion COVID-19 
not-for-profit initiative, was the biggest loan we issued 
in the region.

In 2020, Mediclinic provided care to three million 
outpatients and 79,000 inpatients across its seven 
hospitals in the UAE.

36

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

Region overview 
We have a deep-rooted heritage in Africa & Middle 
East and are present in 25 markets, of which the UAE, 
Nigeria, Pakistan and Kenya are the largest by 
income. We are present in the largest number of 
sub-Saharan African markets of any international 
banking group. 

A rich history, deep client relationships and a unique footprint 
in the region, as well as across centres in Asia, Europe and the 
Americas enable us to seamlessly support our clients. Africa & 
Middle East is an important element of global trade and 
investment corridors, including those on China’s Belt and Road 
initiative and we are well placed to facilitate these flows. 

Global and local macroeconomic headwinds in 2020 
impacted income across both the Middle East and Africa,  
and have resulted in an elevated risk environment, particularly 
in Africa. However, we’re confident the opportunities in the 
region will support long-term sustainable growth for the 
Group. We continue to invest selectively and drive efficiencies.

Strategic priorities 
•  Provide best-in-class structuring and financing solutions and drive 

creation through client initiatives

• 

• 

Invest to accelerate growth in differentiated international network 
and affluent client businesses

Invest in market-leading digitisation initiatives in Retail Banking  
to protect and grow market share in core markets, continue with 
our retail transformation agenda to recalibrate our network and 
streamline structures

•  De-risk and improve the quality of income with a focus on return 

enhancements

Progress 
•  Our role leading several marquee transactions across the region 
reflects our strong client franchise. We continue to be the market 
leader in bond issuance and Islamic Sukuk and achieved our 
highest-ever debt capital markets notional volumes

•  On a constant currency basis, Wealth Management income  

grew 8 per cent and priority deposits grew by 17 per cent despite  
a slow-down post COVID-19

•  Rapid growth in the Africa digital transformation, with half a million 
customers and $125 million in deposits. Awarded Best Digital Bank 
across 10 countries at the Global Finance’s Best Digital Banks 
Awards 2020

•  Continuing cost discipline has allowed investments to continue 

through the cycle. The number of branches reduced by 19 per cent 
and headcount was 7 per cent lower 

•  Liquidity and capital remained healthy across markets, ensuring  

a better ability to navigate market challenges

•  On a constant currency basis, fee-based income grew and 
accounted for a higher share of total income than in 2019

Performance highlights
•  Underlying profit before tax of $13 million was 98 per cent lower 

with continued macroeconomic challenges negatively impacting 
income and driving higher credit impairment. Efficiency actions 
funded ongoing strategic investments

•  Underlying operating income of $2,364 million was down 8 per cent 

(3 per cent on a constant currency basis) due to the impact of 
interest rate cuts on margins, while Financial Markets performed 
well. Income across the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan was 
down 7 per cent, and in Africa was down 8 per cent (1 per cent on a 
constant currency basis)

•  Loans and advances to customers were down 7 per cent and 

customer accounts were up 10 per cent

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_38Z76_44253 U SCB AR 2020 Combined Text.pdf  | Page number | 37

Europe & Americas

Profit before taxation

Risk-weighted assets (RWA)

$46bn 

 $2bn

$386m 

 146%

underlying basis

$341m 

 177%

statutory basis

Loans and advances to customers

Europe & Americas 
20% of Group

Income split by key markets

UK  
49%

US  
41%

Others  
10%

ªEDF helps us pass 
$2bn in sustainable 
depositsº

In May 2020, French electricity company EDF helped 
our Sustainable Deposit product – the first of its kind – 
exceed the $2 billion mark. We use the deposits to 
finance assets that meet our Green and Sustainable 
Product Framework which is aligned to the UN’s 
Sustainable Development Goals, including combatting 
climate change, supporting financial inclusion and 
tackling the lack of universal access to health and 
education. The product was launched in May 2019  
and reached the $1 billion mark in January 2020.

S
t
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t

Region overview 
The Group supports clients in Europe & Americas 
through hubs in London and New York as well as a 
presence in several markets in Europe and Latin 
America. Our expertise in Asia, Africa and the  
Middle East allows us to offer our clients in the  
region unique network and product capabilities. 

The region generates significant income for the Group’s 
Corporate & Institutional Banking business. Clients based in 
Europe & Americas make up more than one-third of the 
Group’s Corporate & Institutional Banking income, with 
three-quarters of client income booked elsewhere in the 
network generating above-average returns. 

In addition to being a key origination centre for Corporate & 
Institutional Banking, the region offers local, on-the-ground 
expertise and solutions to help internationally-minded clients 
grow across Europe & Americas.

The region is home to the Group’s two biggest payment 
clearing centres and the largest trading floor. More than  
80 per cent of the region’s income derives from Financial 
Markets and Transaction Banking products. 

Our Private Banking business focuses on serving clients with 
links to our footprint markets. 

Strategic priorities 
•  Continue to attract new international corporate and financial 
institutional clients and deepen relationships with existing  
clients by connecting them to the fastest growing and highest 
potential economies 

•  Enhance capital efficiency, maintain strong risk oversight and 

further improve the quality of our funding base 

•  Leverage our network capabilities as new e-commerce industries 

grow internationally

•  Scale up our continental European business, leveraging significant 

trade corridors with Asia and Africa 

•  Grow assets under management in Private Banking and strengthen 

the franchise generally

Progress
•  Good progress in improving our share of business from targeted 

Corporate & Institutional Banking priority clients, with income up  
3 per cent from ‘Top 100’, ‘Next 100’ and ‘New 90’ client initiatives, 
with growth of 20 per cent from Financial Markets products, 
partially offset by lower Transaction Banking income

•  Significant improvement to our client service offering with 

onboarding turnaround time more than halved

•  Launched Sustainable Fund Finance and exceeded $2 billion in 

Sustainable Deposits

•  Significant increase in high-quality liabilities achieved to improve 

the funding base

•  Restructured our Private Bank London Advisory centre to improve 

productivity and sharpen focus

•  SCB AG Germany has experienced growth, as clients re-positioned 

their banking arrangements in preparation for Brexit

Performance highlights 
•  Underlying profit before tax of $386 million improved 146 per cent 
driven by higher income and lower costs. Impairments were up 
two-thirds but remain at a modest level relative to the size of the 
loan portfolio

•  Underlying operating income of $1,922 million was up 11 per cent 

largely due to growth in Financial Markets performance in addition 
to realisation gains in Treasury, partially offset by the impact of 
lower interest rates on Cash Management and Retail Products. 
Adjusting for movements in the debit valuation adjustment, income 
was up 7 per cent

•  Expenses reduced by 6 per cent largely due to lower regulatory 

costs, reduced travel-related expenses and variable compensation 
payments

•  Strong growth in loans and advances to customers up 9 per cent 

while customer accounts grew 3 per cent

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

37

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Strategic report Group Chief Financial Officer’s review

Group Chief Financial 
Officer’s review

Andy Halford 
Group Chief Financial Officer

“ A resilient performance  
in extremely challenging 
conditions”

Summary of financial performance
We were making strong progress delivering our financial 
framework until the onset of COVID-19 but the challenging 
conditions caused by the pandemic resulted in a reduced, but 
nonetheless resilient, financial performance for the year as a 
whole. Our focus over recent years on diversifying our sources 
of income was not quite sufficient to offset the effect of the 
significant reductions in global interest rates that occurred 
mid-year and hence overall income declined slightly as did our 
pre-provision operating profit, notwithstanding tight control 
of expenses. The actions taken in recent years to improve the 
quality of our balance sheet sheltered us from some of the 
worst effects of COVID-19 but we nonetheless incurred credit 
impairment charges more than double that of the prior year, 
albeit the majority were booked in the first half of the year 
with a noticeably lower level of charges in the second half. 
Overall this resulted in underlying operating profit decreasing 
by 40 per cent but we ended the year with our key capital 
ratio, CET1, at 14.4 per cent including the benefit of selling our 
stake in Permata earlier in the year. This is not only above the 
top of our target range of 13 to 14 per cent but also the highest 
level it has been for many years. The Group also retained a 
highly liquid balance sheet and consequently we believe  
we enter 2021 well equipped to see through the remaining 
challenges of COVID-19 and, importantly, well positioned to 
benefit from the subsequent upturn in the global economy. 

All commentary that follows is on an underlying basis and 
comparisons are made to the equivalent period in 2019 on  
a reported currency basis, unless otherwise stated.

•  Operating income declined 3 per cent and was down  

2 per cent on a constant currency basis

•  Net interest income decreased 11 per cent with increased 
volumes more than offset by a 19 per cent or 31 basis point 
reduction in net interest margin 

•  Other income increased 4 per cent, or 3 per cent excluding 

the positive impact in DVA, with a particularly strong 
performance in Financial Markets

•  Operating expenses excluding the UK bank levy reduced 
2 per cent or 1 per cent on a constant currency basis, with 
the impact of COVID-19 resulting in lower bonus accruals 
reflecting underlying performance, including lower profits, 
and reduced spend on travel and entertainment, partly 
offset by the continued focus on investing in new digital 
capabilities. Operating expenses in 4Q’20 increased  
6 per cent compared to 3Q’20 due to a $100 million increase 
in investment P&L charge as the Group started to position 
itself to capitalise on the expected economic recovery in its 
markets. The cost-to-income ratio (excluding the UK bank 
levy and DVA) increased 1 percentage point to 67 per cent. 
The UK bank levy decreased by $16 million to $331 million;  
in 2021 it will be chargeable on only the Group’s UK balance 
sheet with the current expectation being that it will reduce 
to around $100 million at that time

•  Credit impairment increased by $1,388 million to 

$2,294 million. This was mainly driven by a $823 million 
increase in Stage 3 impairments across all client segments 
to $1,467 million, around one-third of which related to  
three unconnected Corporate & Institutional Banking  
client exposures that were reported in 1Q’20. Stage 1 and 2 
impairments increased by $565 million to $827 million and 
included a net increase in the judgemental management 
overlay of $337 million as the Group proactively reserved  
for forward-looking risks. Total credit impairment of  
$2,294 million represents a loan-loss rate of 66 basis points 

38

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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(2019: 27 basis points) with the management overlay 
contributing 11 basis points. This compares to a loan-loss 
rate of 143 basis points in 2015 reflecting the benefit of  
the work done in the intervening period to secure the 
Group’s foundations including tightening the Group’s risk 
management framework

•  Other impairment was a net $15 million release, primarily 
driven by a reversal of previously impaired assets partially 
offset by a $132 million charge relating to impairment  
of aircraft 

•  Profit from associates and joint ventures decreased by 

35 per cent to $164 million. The Group could only recognise 
its share of the profits of its associate China Bohai Bank  
for ten months due to the timing of its recently completed 
initial public offering in July 2020. The Group’s share of 
Bohai’s annual preference share dividend, $22 million, was 
deducted from its share of profit in 4Q’20. Additionally,  
the Group’s share of China Bohai Bank reduced in 4Q’20 to 
16.26 per cent from 19.99 per cent and this will be the share 
of profit that is reported in future quarters

•  Profit before tax decreased 40 per cent or 39 per cent  
on a constant currency basis. Statutory profit before  
tax decreased 57 per cent driven by charges totalling 
$895 million relating to restructuring, goodwill impairment 
– including $489 million principally relating to India and  
United Arab Emirates – and other items 

Summary of financial performance

Net interest income

Other income

Underlying operating income

Underlying operating expenses

UK bank levy

Underlying operating expenses

Underlying operating profit before impairment and taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Underlying profit before taxation

Restructuring

Goodwill impairment

Other items

Statutory profit before taxation 

Taxation

Profit for the year

Net interest margin (%)3
Underlying return on tangible equity (%)3

Underlying earnings per share (cents)
Statutory return on tangible equity (%)3

Statutory earnings per share (cents)

S
t
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•  Taxation was $862 million on a statutory basis. Taxation on 
underlying profits was at an effective rate of 37.7 per cent, 
an increase of 8 percentage points reflecting the non-
repeat of prior year credits and the effect of lower profits 
concentrating the impact of non-deductible expenses 
partly offset by a one-off credit in 4Q’20 relating to an 
increase in the rate at which the US deferred tax asset is 
recognised. Taxation on statutory profits was at an effective 
rate of 53.4 per cent, an increase of 16 percentage points on 
the underlying rate due to elevated goodwill impairments 

•  Return on tangible equity decreased by 340 basis points to 
3.0 per cent, with the impact of reduced profits partly offset 
by lower tangible equity reflecting the share buy-back 
programmes completed since 1Q’19

•  Underlying basic earnings per share (EPS) reduced  
52 per cent to 36.1 cents and statutory EPS declined  
46.6 cents to 10.4 cents

•  A final ordinary dividend per share of 9 cents has been 

proposed, which along with the announced share buy-back 
programme of $254 million is the maximum the Group is 
authorised by its regulator to return to shareholders 
currently, being 0.2 per cent of risk-weighted assets as  
at 31 December 2020

2020 
$million

6,882

7,883

14,765

(9,811)

(331)

(10,142)

4,623

(2,294)

15

164

2,508

(382)

(489)

(24)

1,613

(862)

751

1.31

3.0

36.1

0.9

10.4

2019 
$million

7,698

7,573

15,271

(10,062)

(347)

(10,409)

4,862

(906)

(38)

254

4,172

(254)

(27)

(178)

3,713

(1,373)

2,340

1.62

6.4

75.7

4.8

57.0

Change 
%

Constant 
currency  
change¹
%

(9)

5

(2)

1

9

1

(4)

(159)

138

(36)

(39)

(53)

nm²

87

(56)

36

(67)

(11)

4

(3)

2

5

3

(5)

(153)

139

(35)

(40)

(50)

nm²

87

(57)

37

(68)

(31)

(340)

(52)

(390)

(82)

1.  Comparisons presented on the basis of the current period’s transactional currency rate, ensuring like-for-like currency rates between the two periods

2.  Not meaningful

3  Change is the basis points (bps) difference between the two periods rather than the percentage change

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Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

39

 
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Strategic report Group Chief Financial Officer’s review

Operating income by product

Transaction Banking

Trade

Cash Management

Financial Markets

Foreign Exchange

Rates

Commodities

Credit and Capital Markets

Capital Structuring Distribution Group

DVA

Securities Services

Other Financial Markets

Corporate Finance

Lending and Portfolio Management

Wealth Management

Retail Products

CCPL and other unsecured lending

Deposits

Mortgage and Auto

Other Retail Products

Treasury

Other

Total underlying operating income

2020 
$million

2,838

994

1,844

3,854

1,291

1,068

223

639

274

13

320

26

1,116

848

1,968

3,566

1,211

1,457

750

148

635

(60)

14,765

2019  
(Restated)²
$million

Change 
%

Constant 
currency  
 change¹
%

3,499

1,100

2,399

3,258

1,127

696

165

577

329

(100)

343

121

1,143

786

1,879

3,862

1,251

1,989

511

111

1,090

(246)

15,271

(19)

(10)

(23)

18

15

53

35

11

(17)

113

(7)

(79)

(2)

8

5

(8)

(3)

(27)

47

33

(42)

76

(3)

(18)

(9)

(23)

20

17

56

35

12

(16)

113

(5)

(78)

(1)

10

5

(7)

(2)

(26)

47

36

(41)

74

(2)

1  Comparisons presented on the basis of the current period’s transactional currency rate, ensuring like-for-like currency rates between the two periods

2  Following a reorganisation of certain clients, there has been a reclassification of balances across products

Transaction Banking income was down 19 per cent.  
Trade declined 10 per cent reflecting a significant reduction  
in global trade as a result of COVID-19. Cash Management 
declined 23 per cent with double-digit volume growth being 
more than offset by declining margins given the low interest 
rate environment. 

Financial Markets income grew 18 per cent, or 14 per cent 
excluding DVA, benefiting from market volatility and 
increased hedging and investment activity by clients.  
There was strong double-digit growth in Rates, Foreign 
Exchange and Commodities. After a slow first quarter, Credit 
and Capital Markets recovered momentum and ended the 
year with income up 11 per cent. Income from Securities 
Services, which is now managed within Financial Markets 
having previously been reported as part of Transaction 
Banking, declined 7 per cent. The decline in Other Financial 
Markets included a $56 million charge related to a change  
in the valuation methodology of structured notes in 4Q’20.

Corporate Finance income was down 2 per cent driven  
by lower income from aviation clients as the sector was 
significantly impacted by COVID-19, partly offset by 
drawdowns on revolving credit facilities which were  
largely repaid or refinanced in 2H’20.

Lending and Portfolio Management income was up  
8 per cent with improved margins in Corporate Lending.

Wealth Management income grew 5 per cent despite 
significantly more challenging market conditions. There was  
a particularly strong sales performance in FX, equities and 
structured notes driving income excluding bancassurance up 
14 per cent. Bancassurance income was lower by 16 per cent 
resulting from reduced branch walk-ins due to COVID-19, 
partially offset by increased digital channel usage. 

Retail Products income declined 8 per cent or 7 per cent on a 
constant currency basis. Deposits income declined 27 per cent 
as margin compression more than offset increased volumes. 
Increases in volumes and margins led to double-digit income 
growth across Mortgages and Auto and Other Retail 
Products. Credit Cards and Personal Loans income was  
down 3 per cent as COVID-19 impacted new sales.

Treasury income reduced 42 per cent as a fall in interest  
rates led to lower interest income on Treasury assets that  
was partially offset by a reduction in the expense of  
Treasury liabilities. An additional $220 million in realisation 
gains, primarily booked in 1H’20, was broadly offset by lower 
FX switch income and negative movements in hedge 
ineffectiveness, primarily recorded in 2H’20.

Other products income improved by $186 million to negative 
$60 million reflecting interest credits and other one-off items 
in India, Korea and Singapore.

40

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Profit before tax by client segment and geographic region

Corporate & Institutional Banking

Retail Banking

Commercial Banking

Private Banking

Central & other items (segment)

Underlying profit before taxation

Greater China & North Asia

ASEAN & South Asia

Africa & Middle East

Europe & Americas

Central & other items (region)

Underlying profit before taxation

S
t
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2020 
$million

1,841

587

214

62

(196)

2,508

2,035

779

13

386

(705)

2,508

2019  
(Restated)²
$million

Change 
%

Constant 
currency  
change¹
%

2,257

1,093

499

94

229

4,172

2,432

1,025

684

157

(126)

4,172

(18)

(46)

(57)

(34)

(186)

(40)

(16)

(24)

(98)

146

nm³

(40)

(18)

(47)

(57)

(35)

(159)

(39)

(17)

(24)

(97)

137

nm³

(39)

1  Comparisons presented on the basis of the current period’s transactional currency rate, ensuring like-for-like currency rates between the two periods

2  Following a reorganisation of certain clients, there has been a reclassification of balances across client segments

3  Not meaningful

Corporate & Institutional Banking income, which is now 
broadly half the Group’s income, increased 2 per cent with a 
very strong Financial Markets performance partly offset by 
the impact of low interest rates. Lower expenses were more 
than offset by higher credit impairments resulting in profits 
declining 18 per cent. Retail Banking income declined 3 per 
cent as income growth in Wealth Management was more 
than offset by the effects of the low interest rate environment 
which resulted in Deposits income declining 26 per cent. 
Expenses were 2 per cent lower but were more than offset  
by higher impairments, which resulted in profits declining  
46 per cent. Commercial Banking profits more than halved, 
driven by impairments which more than doubled and  
10 per cent lower income partly offset by 8 per cent lower 
expenses. A non-repeat of a prior-year impairment release 
meant Private Banking profit was down 34 per cent. Central 
& other items (segment) recorded a loss of $196 million driven 
by a 32 per cent decline in income, primarily in Treasury,  
4 per cent higher expenses from increased investment spend 
including funding SC Ventures, and a reduction in the Group’s 
share of China Bohai Bank’s profits. 

Adjusted net interest income and margin

Greater China & North Asia remained the largest regional 
contributor to the Group, generating 81 per cent of the overall 
Group’s profit before tax. Profit declined 16 per cent driven by 
higher impairments while income declined only 2 per cent 
despite challenging market conditions partly offset by a  
1 per cent reduction in expenses. ASEAN & South Asia income 
growth of 4 per cent and 2 per cent lower expenses were  
more than offset by higher impairments, resulting in profits 
declining 24 per cent. Africa & Middle East income declined 
8 per cent, or 3 per cent on a constant currency basis with 
continued macroeconomic challenges also impacting 
credit impairments, which resulted in profits declining to 
$13 million for the year. Europe & Americas profit increased 
by 146 per cent driven by 11 per cent higher income reflecting 
exceptionally strong Financial Markets performance and 
6 per cent lower expenses. The loss incurred by Central & 
other items (regions) increased by $579 million to $705 million 
loss due to lower returns paid to Treasury on the equity 
provided to the regions in a falling interest rate environment.

Additional information on client segment and geographic 
region performance is contained on pages 73-76

Adjusted net interest income3

Average interest-earning assets 

Average interest-bearing liabilities

Gross yield (%)4
Rate paid (%)4
Net yield (%)4
Net interest margin (%)4,5

2020 
$million

6,921

526,370

478,051

2.34

1.12

1.22

1.31

2019¹
$million

8,007

494,756

444,595

3.34

1.92

1.42

1.62

Change²
%

(14)

6

8

(100)

(80)

(20)

(31)

1   The Group in 2019 changed its accounting policy for net interest income and the basis of preparation of its net interest margin to better reflect the underlying 

performance of its banking book. See notes to the financial statements in the 2019 Annual Report for further details

2   Variance is better/(worse) other than assets and liabilities which is increase/(decrease)

3   Adjusted net interest income is statutory net interest income less funding costs for the trading book and financial guarantee fees on interest earning assets

4   Change is the basis points (bps) difference between the two periods rather than the percentage change

5   Adjusted net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets, annualised

Adjusted net income was down 14 per cent driven by a  
19 per cent decline in net interest margin which fell 31 basis 
points, primarily reflecting the interest rate cuts which 
occurred in late 2019 and to a much larger extent in early 2020. 

This more than offset the impact of improvements in balance 
sheet mix and liability repricing initiatives. The fourth quarter 
net interest margin included 2 basis points uplift from a 
one-off interest credit in Korea.

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Strategic report Group Chief Financial Officer’s review

Average interest-earning assets increased 6 per cent driven  
by an increase in investment securities balances and higher 
loans and advances to customers. Gross yields declined by  
100 basis points predominantly reflecting the flow-through of 
interest rates cuts which occurred in the second half of 2019 
and those that occurred in the first quarter of 2020.

by growth in customer accounts. The rate paid on liabilities 
decreased by 80 basis points compared to the average in 
2019 reflecting interest rate movements. This was partly offset 
by a shift of customer accounts from higher-paying time 
deposits to lower-rate and non-interest bearing current  
and savings accounts. 

Average interest-bearing liabilities increased 8 per cent driven 

Credit risk summary

Income statement 

Total credit impairment

Of which stage 1 and 2

Of which stage 3

1   Variance is increase/(decrease) comparing current reporting period to prior reporting periods

Balance sheet

Gross loans and advances to customers2

Of which stage 1 

Of which stage 2

Of which stage 3

Expected credit loss provisions

Of which stage 1 

Of which stage 2

Of which stage 3

Net loans and advances to customers

Of which stage 1 

Of which stage 2

Of which stage 3

Cover ratio of stage 3 before/after collateral (%)3

Credit grade 12 accounts ($million)

Early alerts ($million)
Investment grade corporate exposures (%)3

2020 
$million

2,294

827

1,467

2019 
$million

Change1
%

906

262

644

153

216

128

2020 
$million

288,312

256,437

22,661

9,214

(6,613)

(534)

(738)

(5,341)

281,699

255,903

21,923

3,873

58/76

2,164

10,692

62

2019 
$million

274,306

246,149

20,759

7,398

(5,783)

(402)

(377)

(5,004)

268,523

245,747

20,382

2,394

68/85

1,605

5,271

61

Change1
%

5

4

9

25

14

33

96

7

5

4

8

62

(10)/(9)

35

103

1

1   Variance is increase/(decrease) comparing current reporting period to prior reporting period

2   Includes reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending held at amortised cost of $2,919 million at 31 December 2020 and $1,469 million at 31 

December 2019

3   Change is the percentage points difference between the two points rather than the percentage change

The rapid and extreme global economic dislocation caused 
by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a deterioration 
in asset quality and higher impairments overall. Actions taken 
in previous years to secure the Group’s foundations – including 
increasing diversification of credit exposures and improving 
the risk culture – underpinned the Group’s resilience to these 
extraordinary challenges. Having made substantial provisions 
against expected credit losses in the first half of the year, 
conditions stabilised somewhat in the second half and the 
stock of high-risk assets reduced from its peak in August 2020. 
However, despite these encouraging signs the credit risks 
facing the Group are likely to remain elevated during what  
is likely to be a difficult and uneven economic recovery.

Full year 2020 credit impairment increased by $1,388 million to 
$2,294 million but was $840 million lower in 2H’20 compared 
to 1H’20 while credit impairment in 4Q’20 was broadly flat 
compared to 4Q’19.

Stage 1 and 2 impairments increased to $827 million due  
to deteriorating macroeconomic variables and stage 
downgrades on account of COVID-19 uncertainties. The 
$565 million increase included an increase in the overlay of 
$337 million which was net of a $41 million release in 4Q’20. 
The overlay reflected management’s judgement regarding:

•  Elements of the macroeconomic outlook not captured in 

the modelled outcome for Corporate & Institutional Banking 
and Commercial Banking

•  The potential impact to delinquencies and flow rates in 
Retail Banking of extensions to payment relief schemes  
and ongoing lockdowns in some markets as well as the 
ending of these schemes in India, Malaysia, Bangladesh, 
Nepal and Indonesia 

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Stage 3 impairments increased by $823 million across all client 
segments to $1,467 million with broadly one-third relating to 
three unconnected fraud-related Corporate & Institutional 
Banking client exposures that were reported in 1Q’20.

Total credit impairment of $2,294 million represents a  
loan-loss rate of 66 basis points (2019: 27 basis points) with  
the management overlay contributing 11 basis points.

Gross Stage 3 loans and advances to customers of $9.2 billion 
were up 25 per cent compared to 31 December 2019, reflecting 
the impact of COVID-19 volatility which led to macroeconomic 
deterioration in Retail Banking portfolios and Corporate & 
Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking clients. These 
credit-impaired loans represented 3.2 per cent of gross loans 
and advances, an increase of 50 basis points compared to  
31 December 2019. The stage 3 cover ratio decreased to  
58 per cent from 68 per cent in 2019 due to write-offs 
particularly in relation to Corporate & Institutional Banking 
and Commercial Banking clients and new downgrades with 
low levels of coverage, which have benefited from credit 

insurance and guarantees, including from export credit 
agencies. The cover ratio post tangible collateral decreased 
to 76 per cent from 85 per cent in 2019 with some of the 2020 
downgrades being covered by guarantees and insurance 
which are not included as tangible collateral.

Credit grade 12 balances increased 35 per cent since 31 
December 2019 primarily from new inflows from Early Alert 
Non-Purely Precautionary (EANPP) accounts. These EANPP 
accounts more than doubled to $10.7 billion in 2020 on the 
back of proactive portfolio and sector reviews, particularly  
for vulnerable sectors but have declined through 2H’20 since 
the peak in August 2020. The Group continues to monitor its 
exposures in the Aviation, Hospitality and Oil & Gas sectors 
particularly carefully, given the unusual stresses caused by the 
effects of COVID-19. 

The proportion of investment grade corporate exposures  
has increased since 31 December 2019 by 1 percentage point 
to 62 per cent.

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Restructuring, goodwill impairment and other items

Operating income

Operating expenses

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Loss before taxation

Restructuring 
$million

2020

Goodwill 
impairment 
$million

Other items 
$million

Restructuring 
$million

2019

Goodwill 
impairment 
$million

Other items 
$million

27

(252)

(31)

(113)

(13)

(382)

–

–

–

(489)

–

(489)

(38)

14

–

–

–

(24)

146

(298)

(2)

(98)

(2)

(254)

–

–

–

(27)

–

(27)

–

(226)

–

–

48

(178)

The Group’s statutory performance is adjusted for profits or 
losses of a capital nature, amounts consequent to investment 
transactions driven by strategic intent, other infrequent and/
or exceptional transactions that are significant or material in 
the context of the Group’s normal business earnings for the 
period and items which management and investors would 
ordinarily identify separately when assessing underlying 
performance period-by-period. 

Restructuring charges of $382 million for 2020 are broadly  
split evenly between actions to exit the Group’s discontinued 
businesses, primarily ship leasing and principal finance, and 
actions to transform the organisation to improve productivity, 
primarily redundancy related charges, the majority of which 
were booked in 4Q’20. Charges related to restructuring 
increased 50 per cent due to the significant decline in income 
from discontinued businesses, including negative movements 
in the valuation of principal finance investments primarily 
recorded in 4Q’20. 

The goodwill impairment of $489 million reflects writing off  
all goodwill relating to the Group’s businesses in India, UAE, 
Indonesia and Brunei. This was primarily due to lower  
forward-looking cash flows, lower economic growth  
forecasts and higher discount rates reflecting lower interest 
rate environments. 

Other restructuring items also include a $43 million dilution 
loss following the initial public offering of the Group’s 
associate in China Bohai Bank. Charges related to other  
items reduced 87 per cent primarily due to the regulatory 
provisions booked in the prior year.

The Group is likely to incur further restructuring charges of 
around $500 million over the next few years, primarily in 2021, 
relating predominantly to people and property actions 
intended to generate enduring productivity improvements.

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Strategic report Group Chief Financial Officer’s review

Balance sheet and liquidity

Assets

Loans and advances to banks

Loans and advances to customers

Other assets

Total assets

Liabilities

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts

Other liabilities

Total liabilities

Equity

Total equity and liabilities

Advances-to-deposits ratio (%)2,3
Liquidity coverage ratio (%)3

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

Increase/
(decrease) 
$million

Increase/
(decrease) 
%

44,347

281,699

463,004

789,050

30,255

439,339

268,727

738,321

50,729

789,050

61.1%

143%

53,549

268,523

398,326

720,398

28,562

405,357

235,818

669,737

50,661

720,398

64.2%

144%

(9,202)

13,176

64,678

68,652

1,693

33,982

32,909

68,584

68

68,652

(17)

5

16

10

6

8

14

10

–

10

(3.1)

(1)

1  Variance is increase/(decrease) comparing current reporting period to prior reporting periods

2  The Group now excludes $14,296 million held with central banks (31.12.19: $9,109 million) that has been confirmed as repayable at the point of stress

3  Change is the percentage points difference between the two points rather than the percentage change

The Group’s balance sheet remains strong, liquid and well 
diversified. 

•  Loans and advances to banks decreased 17 per cent since  

31 December 2019 as the Group ran down its Financial 
Institutions Trade Loan book to optimise balance sheet 
returns in a low interest rate environment 

•  Loans and advances to customers increased 5 per cent 
since 31 December 2019 to $282 billion driven mainly by 
growth in Mortgages and Treasury Products. Volumes  
were broadly stable in 4Q’20 with underlying growth in 
Mortgages, primarily in GCNA, offset by the roll-off of 
temporary balances booked in 3Q’20 relating to initial 
public offerings in Hong Kong. Excluding the impact of the 
temporary balances and movements in reverse repurchase 
agreements, loans and advances to customers grew an 
underlying 2 per cent in 4Q’20 equivalent to a 7 per cent 
annualised growth rate

•  Customer accounts of $439 billion increased 8 per cent  
since 31 December 2019 with an increase in operating 
account balances within Cash Management and in  
Retail current and saving accounts partly offset by a 
reduction in Corporate and Retail Time Deposits

•  Other assets and other liabilities since 31 December 2019 
were 16 per cent and 14 per cent higher, respectively.  
The growth in other assets was driven by increased 
balances at central banks and reverse repurchase 
agreements to support the strong growth in Financial 
Markets. The growth in other liabilities reflects repurchase 
agreements and issued debt securities

The advances-to-deposits ratio decreased to 61.1 per cent 
from 64.2 per cent at 31 December 2019 while the point-in-time 
liquidity coverage ratio was broadly stable at 143 per cent and 
has remained resilient throughout the year despite significant 
market disruption in 1H’20.

Risk-weighted assets

By risk type

Credit Risk

Operational Risk

Market Risk

Total RWAs

1   Variance is increase/(decrease) comparing current reporting period to prior reporting periods

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

Increase/
(decrease) 
$million

Increase/
(decrease) 
%

220,441

26,800

21,593

268,834

215,664

27,620

20,806

264,090

4,777

(820)

787

4,744

2

(3)

4

2

Total risk-weighted assets (RWA) increased 2 per cent or  
$4.7 billion since 31 December 2019 to $268.8 billion. 

•  Credit Risk RWA increased $4.8 billion to $220.4 billion,  
driven by an increase of $15 billion from negative credit 
migration related to the impact of economic disruption  
due to COVID-19, of which $3 billion occurred in 4Q’20, 
underlying asset growth of $6 billion as well as unfavourable 
FX movements of $2 billion. This was partly offset by the 
completion of the sale of the Group’s interest in PT Bank 
Permata Tbk (Permata) in Indonesia – which reduced  
Credit RWA by $8 billion – and a $11 billion reduction  
from improved RWA density and the impact of RWA 
optimisation actions

44

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

•  Market Risk RWA increased by $0.8 billion to $21.6 billion due 
to higher levels of Financial Markets activity with increased 
value-at-risk from elevated market volatility partly offset by 
regulatory mitigation for back-testing exceptions

•  Operational Risk RWA reduced by $0.8 billion primarily 

reflecting a $1 billion reduction relating to the disposal of  
the Group’s stake in Permata

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Capital base and ratios

CET1 capital

Additional Tier 1 capital (AT1)

Tier 1 capital 

Tier 2 capital 

Total capital
CET1 capital ratio (%)2
Total capital ratio (%)2
UK leverage ratio (%)2

S
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2020 
$million

38,779

5,612

44,391

12,657

57,048

14.4

21.2

5.2

2019 
$million

36,513

7,164

43,677

12,288

55,965

13.8

21.2

5.2

Increase/
(Decrease) 
$million

Increase/
(Decrease) 
%

2,266

(1,552)

714

369

1,083

6

(22)

2

3

2

0.6

–

–

1   Variance is increase/(decrease) comparing current reporting period to prior reporting periods

2   Change is percentage points difference between two points rather than percentage change

The Group remains very well capitalised and highly liquid with 
all metrics above regulatory thresholds.

The Group’s common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 14.4 per cent 
was above the top-end of the 13-14 per cent target range, 
60 basis points higher than as at 31 December 2019 and over 
four percentage points above the Group’s latest regulatory 
minimum of 10.0 per cent. 

The primary driver of the increase in the CET1 ratio was  
the completion in 2Q’20 of the sale of the Group’s stake in 
Permata, which resulted in an increase in the CET1 ratio of 
approximately 50 basis points.

The Group announced on 31 March 2020 that in response to a 
request from the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and as 
a consequence of the unprecedented challenges facing the 
world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board had decided 
after careful consideration to withdraw the recommendation 
to pay a final dividend for 2019 of 20 cents per ordinary  
share which increased the CET1 ratio by approximately  
20 basis points.

Various amendments to the Capital Requirements Regulation 
increased the CET1 ratio by 29 basis points, of which 22 basis 
points related to the revised treatment in 4Q’20 of software 
assets in CET1. Profit accretion and other items including  
the net impact of FX movement on reserves and RWAs 
contributed an increase in the CET1 ratio of approximately  
40 basis points. 

The impact on credit risk RWAs from negative credit 
migration, higher RWA on derivatives and revolving credit 
facilities led to approximately 60 basis point reduction in the 
CET1 ratio. 

The Group had purchased 40 million ordinary shares for  
$242 million through the buy-back programme announced  
on 28 February 2020 which reduced the Group’s CET1 ratio  
by approximately 10 basis points.

Following the publication of recent PRA guidance, the Board 
has recommended a final ordinary dividend of 9 cents  
per share or $284 million. The accrual of the 2020 final 
ordinary share dividend reduced the year-end CET1 ratio  
by approximately 10 basis points.

The Board has also decided to carry out a share buy-back  
for up to a maximum consideration of $254 million to further 
reduce the number of ordinary shares in issue by cancelling 
the repurchased shares. The terms of the buy-back will be 
announced and the programme will start shortly and is 
expected to reduce the Group’s CET1 ratio in the first quarter 
of 2021 by approximately 10 basis points.

The UK leverage ratio remained at 5.2 per cent, significantly 
above the Group’s minimum requirement of 3.6 per cent.

Outlook
Improving prospects for COVID-19 vaccines should enable  
the global economy to transition back to growth through  
2021, with pre-pandemic growth rates re-emerging in most 
of our markets from 2022. We believe that our decision to 
continue investing in the transformation of our business 
throughout the crisis will enable us to disproportionately 
benefit from that recovery over time, not least because it will 
most likely be led by large markets in Asia where we generate 
two-thirds of our income.

Overall income in 2021 is expected to be similar to that 
achieved in 2020 at constant currency given the full-year 
impact of the global interest rate cuts that occurred in 1H’20, 
which will likely cause 1H’21 income to be lower than last year. 
The FY’21 net interest margin should stabilise at marginally 
below the 4Q’20 level of 1.24 per cent. Our performance in the 
opening weeks of this year gives us the confidence that we are 
on the right track with strong performances in our less interest 
rate-sensitive Financial Markets and Wealth Management 
businesses. We expect income to return to 5 to 7 per cent 
growth per annum from 2022.

We expect pressure on credit impairments to reduce this year 
compared with 2020. Expenses are likely to increase slightly in 
FY’21 as we continue to invest in our digital capabilities but 
should remain below $10 billion at constant currency and 
excluding the UK bank levy, supported in part by restructuring 
actions in 4Q’20 and through FY’21.

We will continue to manage our balance sheet prudently, 
particularly throughout the remainder of the pandemic.  
Our intent is to operate within our 13 to 14 per cent target  
CET1 range and we will seek approval to return to 
shareholders capital that cannot be deployed profitably 
within the business through a mixture of dividends and  
share buy-backs.

The progress we were making up to the onset of the COVID-19 
pandemic in every key financial and strategic metric gives  
us confidence that we can achieve our ambition to deliver  
a double-digit RoTE. By 2023 we expect to deliver at least  
7 per cent RoTE, higher if interest rates normalise earlier  
than anticipated, through strong operating leverage and 
disciplined capital management.

Andy Halford
Group Chief Financial Officer

25 February 2021

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Strategic report Group Chief Risk Officer’s review

Sustainability

ªMeasuring  
our impactº    

In September 2020, we launched our first 
Sustainable Finance Impact Report, which 
outlined how our financing impacts the 
communities we serve. The report revealed 
that, between July 2019 and July 2020, our 
financing of green projects helped save 
almost 750,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions –  
the equivalent CO2 output of 217,000 residents 
in low- and middle-income markets.

Read more online at sc.com/sfimpactreport

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Group Chief Risk 
Officer’s review

Mark Smith 
Group Chief Risk Officer

“ Ready for recovery, prepared 
for further volatility”

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2020 was a year of significant challenges, with COVID-19, 
uncertainty around the US elections and Brexit, and 
heightened tensions between the US and China resulting in 
levels of macroeconomic and geopolitical upheaval not seen 
in recent history. 

The impact of a global crisis driven by public health concerns 
rather than economic issues has varied vastly across different 
markets and sectors, with some devastated while others 
continue to thrive. Uneven recovery trajectories have  
resulted in volatility in growth rates across periods, although 
unprecedented levels of government support, and the 
provision of significant liquidity in most economies, has 
dampened some of the shock. The longer-term consequences 
of this volatility are unclear but suggest we are likely to see  
an inflationary period in the future. This has created unique 
challenges in terms of risk management as we strive to 
support our clients, colleagues and communities while 
ensuring we remain robust and resilient. 

The crisis has also required us to re-examine our systems  
and processes and adapt to new ways of working. We have 
accelerated some of our ongoing initiatives by investing 
significantly in remote working and continuing to enhance  
our operational resilience. As we progress the Group’s digital 
agenda we are conscious of the related cyber risks, as well  
as a heightened risk of fraud as criminals look to exploit the 
instability caused by the pandemic. 

As we look forward to 2021 and beyond, we remain vigilant  
as the landscape continues to evolve, with the transition from 
Interbank Offered Rate (IBOR) to alternative risk-free rates 
and the longer-term impact of the Common Framework 
Agreement on emerging market debt being just two of the 
areas we are monitoring closely. 

The pandemic and related economic shock has impacted  
our loan portfolio, with credit impairment at elevated levels 
compared to 2019. However, we faced these challenges from  
a fundamentally strong position. Actions taken in previous 
years, including reducing our concentration on single names 
and high-risk sectors and increasing the proportion of 
investment grade assets, helped to mitigate deterioration in 
our portfolios. Our capital and liquidity positions have also 
remained resilient. 

While there were improvements in the second half of 2020  
as economies in many of our markets began to emerge  
from local restrictions, we remain cognisant that the global 
recovery will be uneven with some sectors and markets 
continuing to face challenges as the world adapts to the  
new normal. 

The growing sentiment to ‘build back better’ during the 
recovery from COVID-19 means we can benefit from our 
expertise in creating sustainable finance solutions, often in 
collaboration with the public sector. We are working with 
clients to understand the potential risks and opportunities 
sustainability brings. In the second half of 2020, we integrated 
environmental, social and governance risk management  
into our Reputational Risk Type Framework. We recognise  
our role in supporting our clients and markets in the transition 
to a low-carbon economy and are focused on developing 
transition frameworks and a range of sustainable financing 
solutions. We remain committed to being a sustainable, 
innovative, resilient and client-centric bank.

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Strategic report Group Chief Risk Officer’s review

An update on our key risk priorities
The financial services sector is evolving at a rapid pace and,  
in a challenging macroeconomic environment, we must 
continue to innovate. We remain focused on the following  
key priorities.

Strengthening the Group’s risk culture: Embedding a  
healthy risk culture remains a core objective across the Group. 
It underpins an enterprise-level ability to identify and assess, 
openly discuss, and take prompt action to address existing 
and emerging risks. Our Enterprise Risk Management 
Framework (ERMF) sets out the guiding principles for our 
colleagues, enabling us to have integrated and holistic risk 
conversations across the Group and the three lines of defence. 
Senior management promote a healthy risk culture by 
rewarding risk-based thinking (including in remuneration 
decisions), challenging the status quo and creating a 
transparent and safe environment for employees to 
communicate risk concerns.

Enhancing information and cyber security (ICS) capabilities: 
The Group continues to invest in ICS capabilities. Despite the 
challenges posed by COVID-19, our technology infrastructure, 
supervision and controls have been strengthened to meet  
the additional requirements brought by the pandemic.  
The expansion of Virtual Private Network capacity along  
with Multi-Factor Authentication controls have facilitated a 
large increase in secure remote working across our footprint. 
We continue to review cyber threats as they evolve, 
anticipating areas of risk and adapting our continuity 
arrangements to maintain client service. These threats  
extend beyond the Group, and we have made it a priority to 
review our processes and strengthen controls around third-
party security risk in response to recent external reports of 
ransomware attacks. We have benefited from an external 
review of our ICS enhancements. 

Embedding climate risk management: We are making good 
progress on integrating climate risk into mainstream risk 
management, with some relevant Reputational, Compliance, 
Operational and Country Risk processes now incorporating 
Climate Risk. The Group is also conducting several pilot 
exercises to accelerate further integration into Credit,  
Traded, Capital and Liquidity Risk. Governance has been 
enhanced and rolled out to regions, focusing on markets  
with local regulatory requirements. 

Training and upskilling colleagues across the Group has  
been a key priority. This year we delivered virtual training 
sessions and launched our first digital training course on 
climate risk under our partnership with Imperial College 
London. We also collaborated with them on a virtual event  
on energy scenarios and integration into macroeconomic  
and climate scenarios, with a focus on the coal supply chain  
in India. 

Measuring climate risk remains an industry-wide challenge, 
and we have invested in internal capabilities and external 
partnerships to tackle climate risk assessments. With Munich 
Re’s toolkit for physical risk assessment, Baringa’s solution for 
transition risk assessment under various climate scenarios, 
and granular climate data from S&P Trucost, we significantly 
advanced our climate risk quantification capabilities. In 2021, 
we plan to engage our corporate clients with our climate  
risk insights, to better understand their adaptation and 
mitigation plans and assess how to best serve their 
sustainable financing needs. 

Our 2020 Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures 
Report provides further details on the Group’s progress. 

More details on the Group’s approach to Climate Risk  
can be found at sc.com/sustainability

48

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

Managing our environmental, social and governance (ESG) 
risk: There is increasing focus on issues relating to ESG risks 
from regulators and investors, and we are committed to  
being a leader in sustainable and responsible banking.  
The expansion of our Reputational Risk Type Framework to 
integrate ESG risk management focuses on core principles 
aligned with the OECD’s Due Diligence for Responsible 
Business Conduct and that of doing no significant harm.  
We are investing in technology and innovative solutions in  
this area, having already developed a Reputational Risk and 
ESG Due Diligence Tool to enable us to better understand  
and manage ESG issues across our markets. We have also 
delivered a proof-of-concept model which utilises data on 
client behaviours combined with machine learning to predict 
the likelihood that a client relationship would expose the 
Group to heightened ESG risk and its potential severity. 

Managing financial crime risks: We strive to remain at the 
forefront of the fight against financial crime. COVID-19 has 
presented a range of new threats, as well as heightening 
existing risks as criminals look to exploit the instability caused 
by the pandemic. We have identified and shared information 
about these threats and have taken steps to protect clients. 

Our control capability has continued to strengthen and  
our Financial Crime Compliance team has identified and 
prevented fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption 
using next-generation surveillance and financial crime 
monitoring infrastructure. With natural language processing 
and machine learning tools we generate higher quality cases 
and reduce false positives, creating a safer environment for 
our clients. We have also been able to share insights with  
our clients, colleagues and partners. Despite the pandemic 
impacting our ability to physically hold Correspondent 
Banking Academies, we have adapted and held academies 
virtually, allowing greater participation and helping further 
promote de-risking through education. We have also 
continued to strengthen our controls through internal 
innovation and investment in technology.

More information about the Group’s commitment to fighting 
financial crime can be found at sc.com/fightingfinancialcrime

Strengthening our conduct environment: We continued to 
enhance our management of conduct risk in 2020, particularly 
in our approach to identification and mitigation. COVID-19 
presented a range of new or heightened conduct risks given 
the move to large-scale working from home arrangements  
as well as the economic impact on clients. We focused on 
ensuring those risks were understood and mitigated 
throughout the year. 

More generally, we have seen an improvement in the  
overall quality and consistency in the identification and 
management of conduct risk across the Group, regions and 
countries. Each area assesses its own operations to identify 
conduct risks and create conduct plans to mitigate them.  
The ownership of these plans sits with the first line and they 
are reviewed and challenged by the Conduct, Financial  
Crime and Compliance function (CFCC). We have also 
supplemented our management information and reporting 
by rolling out the Group Conduct Dashboard which provides 
conduct-related metrics at a firm-wide level. 

We are mindful of new and emerging risks and continue to 
focus on identifying and mitigating conduct risk arising from 
the pandemic. Given the expected difficult and uncertain 
nature of the recovery from COVID-19, we remain vigilant to 
the need to identify new ways conduct risk may arise in 2021 
and beyond.

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Enhancing our Risk and CFCC infrastructure: Flexible risk 
aggregation, centralised data and advanced analytical 
capabilities have enabled an agile response to the challenges 
of COVID-19. The integration of our risk aggregation platform 
with front office data has enabled near real-time bespoke 
exposure analysis, decisioning and reporting, and our stress 
testing scenarios have been expanded to include the impact 
of the pandemic. We have also developed capabilities in 
areas such as anti-money laundering, identity verification, 
and digital signatures through partnerships developed by  
our internal innovation centre, SC Ventures.

In Retail Banking, the use of more sophisticated data mining 
and predictive analytics tools has accelerated development 
and deployment of risk and forecasting models. Hubs have 
been established to centralise specialist knowledge in data 
engineering and visualisation, model development, validation 
and governance, with automation of supporting processes to 
reduce operational risks. 

Enhancing our model risk management: During 2020, we 
focused on delivering a sustainable risk management 
framework through the Model Risk Management Strategic 
Enhancement Programme. Model Risk Policy and Standards 
have been strengthened to enable a risk-based approach 
and an enhanced set of Risk Appetite metrics has been 
approved by the Board.

The launch of a Model Risk e-learning module is aimed at 
increasing awareness of model risk management among our 
people. The Group Model Inventory has been enhanced under 
a new platform to improve its technological capability and 
operations. We constantly review our target operating model 
to ensure we have the right resources and skillsets for timely 
delivery. This will continue to be an area of focus with more 
model redevelopment and validation to be completed in 2021.

Our risk profile and performance in 2020 
COVID-19 and the related economic shock has impacted our 
loan portfolio, and as a result asset quality has deteriorated 
over the past year. However, actions taken as the crisis 
unfolded and the work done in previous years to solidify our 
foundations have helped to mitigate the impact. Our capital 
and liquidity positions remain strong.

The incorporation of COVID-19 into our stress scenarios and 
portfolio reviews of exposures most at risk to the economic 
downturn have allowed us to proactively identify potential 
areas of vulnerability and manage them accordingly.

We remain cognisant that the recovery will be uneven 
globally, and the threat of prolonged weak economic  
outlooks may lead to a sustained period of increased risk 
aversion and uncertainty.

In the first half of the year we placed selected clients from 
vulnerable sectors on our watchlist categories for close 
monitoring. This led to a $5.4 billion increase in early alerts 
exposure (2020: $10.7 billion; 2019: $5.3 billion), although  
there was a decrease in the second half of the year due to 
reductions in exposure, regularisations, and downgrades. 
Credit Grade 12 loans have increased to $2.2 billion (2019:  
$1.6 billion) as outflows to non-performing loans were offset  
by inflows from early alert categories.

The credit impairment charge was significantly higher at  
$2.3 billion compared to $0.9 billion in 2019. Increases were 
seen across all stages, with stage 1 and 2 impairment rising 
partly due to management overlays to reflect expected future 
deterioration. Stage 3 impairment increased by $0.8 billion to 

$1.5 billion, with around one third relating to three unrelated 
downgrades in Corporate & Institutional Banking in the first 
quarter of 2020.

Overall, gross credit-impaired (stage 3) loans for the Group 
increased by 25 per cent in 2020, from $7.4 billion to $9.2 billion, 
driven by downgrades in Corporate & Institutional Banking in 
the ASEAN & South Asia and Africa & Middle East regions. 
Retail Banking saw an increase of $0.3 billion in stage 3.

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The stage 3 cover ratio in the total customer loan book 
decreased by 10 percentage points to 58 per cent (2019:  
68 per cent) mainly in Corporate & Institutional Banking.  
This was driven by write-offs and new stage 3 loans with  
low levels of coverage, which benefit from credit insurance 
and guarantees, including from export credit agencies. 
The cover ratio including tangible collateral decreased 
to 76 per cent (2019: 85 per cent) with some of the 2020 
downgrades being covered by guarantees and insurance 
which are not included as tangible collateral.

Average Group value at risk (VaR) in 2020 was $108 million, 
a significant increase compared with the previous year 
(2019: $30 million), driven by the extreme market volatility in 
interest rates and credit spreads following the outbreak of 
COVID-19 and the collapse in oil prices. The increase in VaR 
was predominantly observed in the non-trading book from 
credit bonds held in the Treasury Markets liquid assets buffer 
which are almost exclusively of investment grade.

Further details of the Group’s risk performance for 2020  
are set out in the Risk update (pages 182 to 184) and the  
Risk profile section (pages 185 to 247)

An update on our risk management approach 
Our Enterprise Risk Management Framework outlines how  
we manage risk across the Group, as well as at branch and 
subsidiary level. It gives us the structure to manage existing 
risks effectively in line with our Risk Appetite, as well as  
allowing for holistic risk identification. In the first half of the 
year we introduced a number of enhancements including the 
elevation of Model Risk to a Principal Risk Type (PRT), as well 
as refreshes of the Risk Type Frameworks for Information and 
Cyber Security Risk and Operational Risk. These changes have 
been rolled out and further embedded in the second half of 
the year.

As part of the annual review of the ERMF we have expanded 
the Reputational Risk PRT to include Sustainability Risk.  
There is an increasing focus on issues relating to ESG risk from 
both regulators and investors, and the Group’s commitments 
to be a leader in sustainable and responsible banking make 
this is a core tenet of our franchise.

Given its overarching nature, conduct risk management has 
been incorporated as an integral component of the overall 
ERMF rather than viewed as a standalone risk, effective from 
January 2021. The Group will continue to identify conduct  
risks inherent to the Group’s strategy, business model and 
geographies it operates in, and expects each business and 
function to be responsible for managing conduct within  
their area with CFCC providing oversight and challenge.  
This change allows us to view conduct risk through the lens  
of delivering positive outcomes for our clients, markets, and 
internal and external stakeholders. We remain committed to 
ensuring the highest standard of conduct from all our people. 
We have no appetite for negative conduct risk outcomes 
arising from negligent or wilful actions by the Group or 
individuals recognising that while incidents are unwanted, 
they cannot be entirely avoided.

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Strategic report Group Chief Risk Officer’s review

Given the Group’s diverse footprint, Country Risk management has also been elevated as an integral component of the overall 
ERMF as part of Group strategy and strategic risk management, effective from January 2021. The Group continues to ensure 
that country limits and exposures are reasonable and in line with Group strategy, country strategy, Risk Appetite and the 
operating environment. This includes economic, political, environmental and social risk factors under base and stressed 
conditions. The Credit Risk PRT will continue to refer and rely on sovereign risk ratings managed through the Country Risk 
management process. 

To meet the needs of the digital agenda and strengthen the technology risk management capabilities of the Group, we have 
expanded the Operational Risk PRT to include Technology Risk, effective from January 2021. This allows us to focus on risks 
arising from technology events, with the Operational Risk team providing second-line oversight. We also continue to develop 
our risk capabilities in new asset classes and technologies such as our approach to cryptoasset-related activities. 

Principal and cross-cutting risks
Principal risks are risks inherent in our strategy and business model. These are formally defined in our ERMF which provides  
a structure for monitoring and controlling these risks through the Board-approved Risk Appetite. We will not compromise 
adherence to our Risk Appetite in order to pursue revenue growth or higher returns.

Principal risk types

How these are managed 

Credit Risk

Traded Risk

Capital and  
Liquidity Risk

Operational and 
Technology Risk 

Information and  
Cyber Security Risk

Compliance Risk

The Group manages its credit exposures following the principle of diversification across products, 
geographies, client segments and industry sectors

The Group should control its trading portfolio and activities to ensure that Traded Risk losses (financial or 
reputational) do not cause material damage to the Group’s franchise

The Group should maintain a strong capital position, including the maintenance of management buffers 
sufficient to support its strategic aims, and hold an adequate buffer of high-quality liquid assets to survive 
extreme but plausible liquidity stress scenarios for at least 60 days without recourse to extraordinary central 
bank support

The Group aims to control operational risks to ensure that operational losses (financial or reputational), 
including any related to conduct of business matters, do not cause material damage to the Group’s franchise

The Group seeks to avoid risk and uncertainty for our critical information assets and systems and has a low 
appetite for material incidents affecting these or the wider operations and reputation of the Group

The Group has no appetite for breaches in laws and regulations, while recognising that regulatory non-
compliance cannot be entirely avoided, the Group strives to reduce this to an absolute minimum

Financial Crime Risk

The Group has no appetite for breaches in laws and regulations related to financial crime, recognising that 
while incidents are unwanted, they cannot be entirely avoided

Model Risk

Reputational and 
Sustainability Risk

Climate Risk1

The Group has no appetite for material adverse implications arising from the misuse of models or errors in 
the development or implementation of models, while accepting model uncertainty

The Group aims to protect the franchise from material damage to its reputation by ensuring that any 
business activity is satisfactorily assessed and managed by the appropriate level of management and 
governance oversight

The Group aims to measure and manage financial and non-financial risks from climate change, and reduce 
emissions related to our own activities and those related to the financing of clients in alignment with the 
Paris Agreement

1  

In addition to principal risks, the Group also recognises Climate Risk as a cross-cutting risk that manifests through other principal risks

Further details of our Principal Risks and how these are being managed are set out in the Principal risks section (pages 254 to 269)

Emerging risks 
Emerging risks refer to unpredictable and uncontrollable events with the potential to materially impact our business. As part  
of our continuous risk identification process, we have updated the Group’s emerging risks from those disclosed in the 2019  
Annual Report. 

The table on the next page summarises our current list of emerging risks, outlining the risk trend changes since the end of 2019, 
the reasons for any changes and the mitigating actions we are taking based on our current knowledge and assumptions.  
This reflects the latest internal assessment as identified by senior management. The list is not exhaustive and there may be 
additional risks which could have an adverse effect on the Group. Our mitigation approach for these risks may not eliminate 
them, but shows the Group’s attempt to reduce or manage the risk. As certain risks develop and materialise over time, 
management will take appropriate steps to mitigate the risk based on its impact on the Group.

Climate related transition and physical risks have been removed as an emerging risk as Climate Risk is now classified as a 
cross-cutting risk. A detailed explanation of the other changes to our Emerging Risks compared with 2019 can be found on 
Page 270.

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Risk trend 
since 20191

Key risk trend drivers

How these are mitigated

Emerging risks 

COVID-19 and  
the emergence  
of new diseases

COVID-19 continues to spread 
globally. Measures to contain the 
virus, such as travel bans and 
restrictions, curfews, quarantines and 
shutdowns have led to increased 
volatility in financial markets and 
commodity prices and severe 
economic downturns in many 
countries. There is a risk other diseases 
may emerge

US-China trade 
tensions driven by 
geopolitics and 
trade imbalance

Measures taken by China and the  
US on trade tariffs since 2018 have 
increased concerns of a global 
geopolitical and trade war. Tensions 
escalated in 2020 and continue to 
deteriorate, posing a risk to global 
supply chains

Geopolitical 
events, in 
particular: the rise 
of populism and 
nationalism, 
Middle East 
tensions and social 
unrest driven by 
moderation of 
growth in key 
footprint markets 
and political 
concerns

Macroeconomic 
concerns, in 
particular,  
rising sovereign 
default risk 

There are increasing concerns 
following the rise of populism and 
nationalism. COVID-19 and focus  
on local economies have helped 
contribute to reduced security 
incidents in the Middle East relative  
to 2019. 2019 and 2020 saw a surge  
in protests globally and the risk is 
these will increase further in 2021.  
The economic impact of policy 
decisions made in 2020 may pose  
a risk to future growth

COVID-19 has exacerbated already 
deteriorating market conditions, 
causing liquidity and potentially 
solvency issues for a number of the 
world’s poorest countries. Central 
bank responses to the crisis may  
result in asset bubbles and inflation

Interbank  
Offered Rate 
discontinuation 
and transition

There are concerns regarding the 
impact of the discontinuation of the 
IBOR benchmarks and the transition 
to Risk Free Rates (RFRs). LIBOR is 
relied upon by the Group as a 
reference rate

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•  As part of our stress tests, a severe stress in the global 
economy associated with a sharp slow-down was 
assessed 

•  Exposures that could result in material credit impairment 
charges and risk-weighted asset inflation under stress 
tests are regularly reviewed and actively managed

•  To support our clients the Group has enacted 

comprehensive support schemes for retail and corporate 
customers, including loan and interest repayment 
holidays, covenant relief, fee waivers or cancellations, 
loan extensions and new facilities

•  The Group’s priority remains the health and safety of  

our clients and employees and continuation of normal 
operations by leveraging our robust Business Continuity 
Plans which enable the majority of our colleagues to work 
remotely where possible

•  Sharp slowdowns in the US, China, and more broadly, 
world trade and global growth are a feature of Group 
stress scenarios. These stress tests provide visibility to  
key vulnerabilities so that management can implement 
timely interventions

•  Detailed portfolio reviews are conducted on an ongoing 

basis and action is taken where necessary

•  We monitor and assess geopolitical events and act as 
appropriate to ensure we minimise the impact to the 
Group and our clients
Increased scrutiny is applied when onboarding clients  
in sensitive industries and in ensuring compliance with 
sanctions requirements

• 

•  We monitor and assess geopolitical events and act as 
appropriate to ensure we minimise the impact to the 
Group and our clients

•  There is continuous monitoring at a country, regional  

and Group level to identify emerging risks and evaluate 
their management

•  We conduct portfolio reviews at a Group, country and 
business level to assess the impact of extreme but 
plausible geopolitical events

•  Exposures that may result in material credit impairment 

and increased risk-weighted assets are closely monitored 
and actively managed

•  We conduct stress tests and portfolio reviews at a country 
and business level to assess the impact of extreme but 
plausible events and manage the portfolio accordingly

•  We actively utilise credit risk mitigation techniques 

including credit insurance and collateral

•  We actively track the participation of our footprint 
countries in G20’s Common Framework for Debt 
Treatments and the associated exposure

•  The Group has a global IBOR Transition Programme to 
consider all aspects of the transition and how risks can  
be mitigated

•  The Group has raised awareness and understanding  
of the transition, both internally and with clients,  
with around 6,500 staff and more than 1,900 clients 
trained globally

•  From an industry and regulatory perspective, the Group  
is actively participating in and contributing to different 
RFR Working Groups, industry associations and business 
forums focusing on different aspects of the IBOR to  
RFR transition

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Strategic report Group Chief Risk Officer’s review

Emerging risks 

Third party 
dependency 

New technologies 
and digitisation 
(including business 
disruption risk  
and responsible 
use of Artificial 
Intelligence)

Increased data 
privacy and 
security risks from 
strategic and  
wider use of data

Increase in 
long-term remote 
working providing 
new challenges

Risk trend 
since 20191

Key risk trend drivers

How these are mitigated

Economic conditions have impacted 
businesses globally and placed 
significant pressure on the financial 
health of our suppliers, vendors and 
other third parties. There is a risk of 
increased cyber threats associated 
with third-party vendors as a result  
of COVID-19

Client expectations and the way they 
interact with the Group may change, 
potentially accelerating the adoption 
of digital solutions

Regulatory requirements and client 
expectations relating to data 
management and privacy are 
increasing across our markets, 
including the ethical use of data 

The number of employees working 
remotely and increasingly advanced 
capabilities of threat actors have 
raised this risk in addition to internal 
(supervision, culture and support)  
and external (clients and other 
counterparties) considerations

•  An internal review of third-party risk was completed in  

4Q’20 and recommendations to enhance overall 
third-party risk management are being implemented
•  Enhanced 2021 Risk Appetite metrics for vendor services 

were approved by the Board

•  We monitor emerging trends, opportunities and risk 

developments in technology which may have 
implications on the banking sector

•  We have rolled out enhanced digital capabilities in  

Retail Banking, particularly around onboarding, sales  
and marketing

•  We are enhancing capabilities to ensure our systems are 
resilient, we remain relevant and can capitalise quickly on 
technology trends

•  We continue to make headway in harnessing new 

technologies, and are investing in machine learning 
solutions that rapidly analyse large data sets and 
fine-tune the accuracy of our financial crime tools

•  We actively monitor regulatory developments in relation 

to data management, data protection and privacy
•  We have established a dedicated Data and Privacy  

team to build data management and privacy expertise 
across the Group while ensuring compliance with data 
ownership and consent requirements

•  The Group has assessed the risk, impact and robustness 
of continuity plans for pandemic critical vendor services 
supporting critical banking operations

•  We actively monitor cyber threats and risks, and have 

implemented heightened technical and organisational 
measures designed to prevent, detect and respond  
to threats

•  The Group is undertaking a Future of Work assessment 

which considers data privacy and cyber security in 
addition to culture and leadership

Risk heightened in 2020   

Risk reduced in 2020   

   Risk remained consistent with 2019 levels

1   The risk trend refers to the overall risk score trend which is a combination of potential impact, likelihood and velocity of change

Further details on our Emerging risks can be found on pages 270 to 276

Summary
The world has undergone significant upheaval in the past year and we have demonstrated resilience and adapted to the new 
and distinct challenges we have faced. We recognise that risks will remain heightened during the coming period amid what is 
likely to be a difficult and uneven economic recovery. We remain vigilant with a focus on achieving the right outcomes for our 
clients. The actions we take will set the foundations for achieving sustained growth and performance as we build back better 
during the recovery. 

Mark Smith
Group Chief Risk Officer

25 February 2021

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Trade

ªEssential  
goods in Indiaº

To keep India trading during COVID-19, Solv –  
a B2B marketplace launched by our innovation unit,  
SC Ventures – helped connect buyers and suppliers to 
maintain the flow of essential goods. In the face of 
movement restrictions, the team took to the streets to 
physically deliver essentials such as food and medicine 
to communities and hospitals. Through these efforts, 
more than 10,000 families were able to get their hands 
on much-needed supplies.

Read more online at sc.com/solvindia

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Strategic report

Stakeholders and responsibilities

Stakeholders and  
responsibilities

As an international bank working  
in 59 markets, stakeholder 
engagement is crucial in ensuring  
we understand local, regional and 
global perspectives, and trends,  
that inform how we do business. 

Our stakeholders

Clients

Regulators  
and governments

Investors

Suppliers

Society

Employees

This section forms our Section 172 disclosure, describing  
how the directors considered the matters set out in section 
172(1)(a) to (f) of the Companies Act 2006. It also forms  
the directors’ statement required under section 414CZA  
of the Act. 

Sustainability Aspirations
As part of our commitment to being a sustainable 
and responsible bank, our Sustainability Aspirations 
provide performance targets aligned to the UN 
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Selected 
Aspirations form part of our Group Scorecard and 
long-term incentive plan.

During 2020, we refreshed any Aspirations coming to an end 
and introduced new goals to reflect our evolving strategy. For 
example, we developed a range of sustainable Retail Banking 
as part of our growing sustainable finance proposition. 

To ensure stakeholders are confident in our approach, we 
have conducted a limited-scope assurance exercise on 
selected Aspirations, details of which can be found in our 
Sustainability Summary.

Read our Sustainability Summary at sc.com/sustainabilitysummary

See the following pages for:

•  How we engage stakeholders to understand their interests 

Group KPI: Sustainability

See pages 54 to 57

•  How we engage employees and respond to their interests  

See pages 58 to 61

•  How we respond to stakeholder interests through 

sustainable and responsible business  
See pages 62 to 71

Detailed information about how the Board engages directly 
with stakeholders and shareholders can be found in the 
Directors’ Report on pages 102 to 104.

Examples of a selection of the Board’s principal decisions are 
included throughout this section. 

This section also forms our key non-financial disclosures in 
relation to sections 414CA and 414CB of the Companies Act. 
Our non-financial information statement can be found at the 
end of this section on page 72. 

Delivering sustainability aspirations %1 
-14.7ppt Sustainability Aspirations achieved or on track 

2020

2019

2018

(14.7)ppt

78.4

93.1

90.9

Aim: Embed sustainable and responsible practices across our 
business, operations and communities by measuring progress  
against the targets set out in our Sustainability Aspirations. 

Analysis: In 2020, we released updated Sustainability Aspirations with 
new annual and multi-year performance targets. At the end of 2020, 
78.4 per cent of our Aspirations are on track or achieved. This is a 
decrease from 93.1 per cent in 2019 as COVID-19 has impacted the 
delivery of several Aspirations. We remain focused on scaling-up 
delivery in subsequent years to achieve our targets. 

1  Each aspiration contains one or more performance measures. The KPI is the proportion of all measures that have been achieved or are on track to be delivered at 

the end of the reporting period.

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Principal Board decision:  
Dividend and share buy-back withdrawal

The interests of stakeholders are central to the Board’s 
capital management decision-making. An example  
of this was the Board’s decision to withdraw the 
recommendation to pay a final dividend for 2019 and 
suspend the buy-back programme announced earlier  
in the year.

In line with the Group’s approach to dividend growth and 
capital returns, the Board had previously agreed to carry 
out a share buy-back for up to a maximum consideration 
of $0.5 billion to reduce the number of ordinary shares in 
issue by cancelling the repurchased shares. In addition, 
the Board had declared a final ordinary dividend for 2019 
of 20 cents. At the time it agreed that both decisions were 
in the best interests of the Group and its stakeholders. 

In response to a request from the Prudential Regulation 
Authority and as a consequence of the unprecedented 
challenges facing the world due to the COVID-19 
pandemic, the Group announced on 31 March 2020 that, 
after careful consideration, the Board had decided to 
withdraw the recommendation to pay a final dividend  
for 2019 and to suspend the buy-back programme. 

As part of the consideration process for this decision, the 
Board discussed the impact and views of key stakeholders 
including our regulators, and recognised the importance 
of dividends to our shareholders. However, the Board 
decided that suspending shareholder distributions at  
the time would allow the Group to maximise its support 
for individuals, businesses and the communities in which  
it operates while at the same time preserving strong 
capital ratios and investing to transform the business for 
the long term. One such example of this was the launch  
of a $50 million global fund to provide assistance to those 
affected by COVID-19. The Group made a contribution  
of $25 million and announced that it would match other 
contributions including those made by its employees and 
confirmed it would make further contributions as needed 
to reach the total. It was announced that Board and 
Management Team members would be making personal 
contributions to the fund. The Board welcomed the 
initiative, the approach and leadership management  
had taken in launching the fund.

Engaging 
stakeholders

Regular engagement with our stakeholders 
enables us to build trust and respond to the 
opportunities and challenges facing our markets. 

In 2020, the world faced unprecedented change. Alongside 
key topics including Brexit, sustainable finance and climate 
change, COVID-19 dominated our work with stakeholder 
groups as we sought to understand, and adapt to, the impact 
of the pandemic so we could continue driving commerce and 
prosperity in our markets. 

Stakeholder feedback is communicated internally to senior 
management through the relevant forums and governing 
committees, and to the Board’s Brand, Values and Conduct 
Committee (BVCC) which oversees the Group’s approach  
to its main government and regulatory relationships. We 
communicate progress regularly to external stakeholders 
through channels such as sc.com and this report.

Clients

How we create value
We enable individuals to grow and protect their wealth.  
We help businesses trade, transact, invest and expand.  
We also help a variety of financial institutions, including 
banks, public sector and development organisations,  
with their banking needs.

How we serve and engage
Clients are at the heart of everything we do. By building and 
fostering long-term relationships we can better understand 
our clients’ needs, and find innovative, tailored solutions to 
help them achieve their goals. 

In 2020, the pandemic led to a shift in client needs, priorities 
and the pace of support they needed. In addition to 
announcing a $1 billion not-for-profit facility to support  
clients producing goods and services to help fight the 
pandemic, we rapidly implemented innovative initiatives  
to minimise disruption.

Facilities such as the Hong Kong Client Experience Lab were 
set up to allow us to work closely with clients to co-design 
products and services. We also launched an e-learning 
module on client vulnerability awareness to help retail 
banking employees support our more vulnerable clients.

Digital transformation of our business meant we were able  
to help clients bank from home. This included the launch of 
our new digital Bank in Hong Kong, Mox, and the rollout of 
e-signature capabilities for our corporate clients.

In 2021, we will continue to strengthen our digital 
transformation and innovation capabilities. 

Their interests
•  Differentiated product and service offering

•  Digitally enabled and positive experience

•  Sustainable finance

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Strategic report

Stakeholders and responsibilities

Engaging stakeholders 
continued

Regulators and governments

How we create value
We engage with public authorities to help the financial 
system and the broader economy function effectively.

How we serve and engage
We actively engage with governments, regulators and 
policymakers at a global, regional and national level to  
share insights, develop best practice and ensure we function 
consistently across our markets. In 2020, we worked with 
policymakers inter alia on the impact and response to  
the pandemic, prudential regulation, Brexit, operational 
resilience, benchmark reform, sustainable finance, climate  
risk, fintech, artificial intelligence, cyber security, financial 
crime and conduct. 

We are committed to complying with legislation, rules and 
other regulatory requirements that apply in the markets  
we operate in. Our compliance with legal and regulatory 
frameworks ensures the Group meets its obligations and 
supports the resilience and effective functioning of the 
broader financial system and economy. 

To support this, we have a Public and Regulatory Affairs  
team, responsible for anticipating changes to legislation  
and regulation, analysing policy developments that have  

Investors

How we create value
We aim to deliver robust returns and long-term sustainable 
value for our investors.

How we serve and engage
We rely on capital from debt and equity investors to execute 
our business model. Whether they have short- or long-term 
investment horizons, we provide our investors with information 
about all aspects of progress against our strategic and 
financial frameworks. 

Our footprint and intent to become the world’s most 
sustainable and responsible bank provides our investors with 
exposure to opportunities in emerging markets. We believe 
that our integrated approach to environmental, social  
and governance (ESG) issues, as well as a strong risk and 
compliance culture is a key differentiator. We delivered a 
resilient performance in 2020, weathering the geopolitical  
and health crises very well while continuing to progress our 
strategic transformation. Our refreshed strategic priorities are 
underpinned by our purpose and support our recommitment 
to achieve a 10 per cent return on tangible equity. 

For more information see pages 26 – 27

Regular and transparent engagement with our investors,  
and the wider market, helps us understand investors’ needs 
and tailor our public information accordingly. In addition to 
direct engagement from our Investor Relations team, we 
communicate through quarterly, half and full-year results, 
conferences, roadshows and media releases. Adoption of 
virtual mediums was accelerated due to the pandemic. 

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a strategic impact on the Group and managing relationships 
with regulators and government officials. During 2020,  
we improved our capacity to identify and analyse policy 
developments that have a strategic impact on the Group.

We meet all relevant transparency requirements and have  
an ongoing dialogue with regulators and governments, 
submitting responses to formal consultations and 
participating in industry working groups. We typically publish 
our consultation responses on sc.com/politicalengagement.

In 2021, we expect to engage on regulation and legislation 
associated with the recovery from COVID-19, international 
trade, Brexit, emerging digital technologies and innovations  
in banking, sustainable finance and artificial intelligence 
including data analytics and privacy.

Their interests
•  Strong capital base and liquidity position

•  Robust standards for conduct 

•  Healthy economies and competitive markets

•  Positive sustainable development, both environmental  

and social

Investor feedback, recommendations and requests are 
considered by the Board, whose members keep abreast  
of current topics of interest. Following the annual general 
meeting in May 2020 for procedural matters, the Board 
hosted a virtual retail shareholder event as well as a 
stewardship event for institutional investors in November.  
Both events provided a platform for shareholders to direct 
questions to the Board.

We continue to respond to the growing interest from 
mainstream investors on ESG matters including the UN’s 
SDGs, sustainable finance, climate change, coal and the  
wider low-carbon transition and human rights. We also work 
with sustainability analysts and participate in sustainability 
indices that benchmark our performance including the 
Carbon Disclosure Project and Workforce Disclosure Initiative. 

In 2021, we will continue to engage with investors on progress 
against our refreshed strategic priorities and medium-term 
financial framework as we progressively advance to our 
returns target.

Their interests
•  Safe, strong and sustainable financial performance

•  Facilitation of sustainable finance to meet the UN SDGs

•  Progress on environment, social and governance matters

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Suppliers

How we create value
We work with suppliers to ensure they can provide the  
right goods and services for our business, efficiently  
and sustainably.

How we serve and engage
Our work is guided by our Supplier Charter, which sets out  
our expectations on issues such as ethics, anti-bribery and 
corruption, human rights, diversity and inclusion (D&I) and 
environmental performance. Our suppliers must recommit  
to the charter annually, and performance monitoring is built 
into our procurement practices and standards. 

We work globally and locally to create supply chain value  
for our business and our suppliers. In 2020, we announced  
a strategic partnership with Microsoft to help us create a 
cloud-first technology strategy. This partnership marks a 
significant milestone for us and our vision to make virtual 
banking, next-generation payments, open banking and 
banking-as-a-service a reality. 

We continue to support our suppliers through the pandemic 
by paying invoices from small and medium-sized suppliers 
immediately upon receipt. Our payment processes for all 
suppliers were also streamlined, with 95 per cent of invoices 
paid on time in December 2020, up from 82 per cent in 2019. 

Society

We have made real progress against our supply chain 
sustainability agenda. As well as incorporating modern 
slavery into our risk framework, we introduced a new control 
framework to strengthen the governance and management 
of modern slavery risk within our supply chain. 

We accelerated our supplier diversity strategy and published 
our global standard to ensure our suppliers share our mission 
to increase D&I across the supply chain, embed best practice 
and work with us to create an equal marketplace for  
diverse suppliers. 

In 2021, supply chain sustainability will continue to be a 
primary focus as we roll out initiatives to scale up our supplier 
D&I practices and reduce carbon emissions within our own 
operations and supply chain. 

Our Supplier Charter can be viewed at sc.com/suppliercharter

Read more about our supplier diversity standard:  
sc.com/supplierdiversity 

Their interests
•  Open, transparent and consistent tendering process

•  Willingness to adopt supplier-driven innovations

•  Accurate and on-time payments

How we create value
We strive to operate as a sustainable and responsible 
company, working with local partners to promote social  
and economic development.

How we serve and engage
We engage with a wide range of civil society and 
international and local NGOs, ranging from those focused on 
environmental and public policy issues to partners delivering 
our community programmes. Our aim is to have an open 
dialogue to ensure we understand alternative positions  
which can shape our thinking, and that how we do business  
is understood. The views and concerns of our stakeholders  
are fed into our decision-making process. 

In 2020, against the backdrop of the pandemic, we continued 
to engage with organisations on topics including climate 
change, human rights, and the value of nature to global 
supply chains. We undertake this engagement to inform  
our thinking and help shape our Position Statements. 
Engagement took place via one-to-one sessions using online 
channels and calls, virtual roundtables and written responses. 

In 2020, we continued to engage with NGOs, charities  
and other organisations to promote youth economic  
inclusion through our Futuremakers by Standard Chartered 
programme, and eye health through Seeing is Believing (SiB). 

We brought Futuremakers participants together with more 
than 300 business leaders, policy experts and clients to 
discuss how we can collaborate as part of the first ever 
Futuremakers Forum. We also joined our SiB partner, the 
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, and 
more than 100 other eye health representatives in a virtual 
conference to share our learnings from the final year of our 
long-standing partnership. 

As the global pandemic unfolded, we increased engagement 
with organisations supporting vulnerable groups impacted by 
COVID-19. This included continuing work with long-standing 
partners Women Win and the Red Cross, and providing 
additional support to 166 partners in 59 markets by delivering 
emergency relief through our $50 million COVID-19 Global 
Charitable Fund. 

Meanwhile, our employees were given an additional day  
of volunteering leave – increased from three to four days –  
to support activities in their own communities. 

Their interests
•  Positive social and economic contribution

•  COVID-19 emergency relief and support for longer-term 

economic support 

•  Climate change and environmental issues

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Strategic report

Stakeholders and responsibilities

Engaging stakeholders 
continued

Employees

2020 Sustainability Aspirations:  
Employees

People

Conduct a feasibility analysis to incorporate a Living Wage into 
agreements for all non-employed workers

Complete disability confidence assessments for 44 of our  
larger markets

Embed an integrated health and wellbeing strategy to support 
building and re-skilling a future-ready, diverse workforce

Support all employees to develop a personalised growth plan to 
reflect the future skills needed to respond to the changing and 
digitised nature of work

Increase gender representation: 35% women in senior roles  
with an interim target:
– Dec 2020: 30%1

Increase our ‘Culture of Inclusion’ score to 84.5% with an  
interim target:

– Dec 2021: 80%

Concluded in the year

Ongoing aspirations

   Achieved  

Not achieved 

  On track  

Not on track

Jan 2019 
– Dec 2020

Jan 2020 
– Dec 2020

Jan 2020 
– Dec 2021

Jan 2020 
– Dec 2021

Sept 2016 
– Dec 20252

Jan 2020 
– Dec 2024

1 

Interim target not achieved. 29.5% women in senior roles. However, we remain on track to reach our 
overall aspiration by Dec 2025

2  Target date changed from December 2024 to December 2025.

Group KPI:  
Employee engagement

Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS)  

 +5.4% 

2020

2019

2018

17.51

11.51

11.3

eNPS measures the number of promoters (who 
would recommend the Group as a great place 
to work) compared to detractors on a scale from 
-100 to +100. This is reflected in the percentage 
change calculation

Aim: Increase engagement across the Group by 
creating a better working environment for our 
employees that should translate into an improved 
client experience.

Analysis: Our eNPS has significantly increased since 
2016 when we started our culture transformation. 

How we create value
We recognise that our workforce is a significant source of 
value that helps our performance and productivity. Given the 
advances in technology and the changing needs of our 
clients, we are using long-term workforce planning to build  
the skills and culture necessary for a future ready-workforce. 

How we serve and engage
By engaging employees and fostering a positive experience 
for them, we can better serve our clients and deliver on our 
purpose. An inclusive culture enables us to unlock innovation, 
make better decisions, deliver our business strategy, live our 
valued behaviours, and embody our brand promise Here  
for good.

We proactively assess and manage people-related risks, for 
example, organisation, capability, and culture, as part of our 
Group risk management framework. Our People Strategy,  
as approved by the Board in July 2019, remains in place and 
COVID-19 has accelerated many of the future of work trends 
which informed our approach.

Their interests
In 2018, we conducted research to understand our Employee 
Value Proposition (EVP) – the value that employees, or 
potential employees, feel they gain from being part of our 
organisation. Our employees told us they want to: have 
interesting and impactful jobs; innovate within a unique set of 
markets and clients; cultivate a brand that sustainably drives 
commerce and offers enriching careers and development; 
and be supported by great people leaders. They want these 
elements to be anchored in competitive rewards and a 
positive work-life balance. The EVP is a key input to our People 
Strategy which supports the delivery of our business strategy. 

Listening to employees
Feedback from employee surveys helps us identify and close 
gaps between employees’ expectations and experience.  
A pulse survey in April 2020 revealed how employees were 
coping with COVID-19 and allowed us to target support  
where it was needed most. This was followed by our annual 
survey, My Voice, in June and July. On a par with previous 
years, 74,566 employees (91 per cent), and a further 3,599 
agency workers (71 per cent) took part.

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Employees continued

Satisfaction increased from 2019 in both the employee 
engagement index and the employee net promoter score, 
which measures how likely employees are to recommend 
working for the us. Externally, this is reflected in a 27 per cent 
increase in LinkedIn followers since December 2019 (1.27 
million), and 77 per cent of Glassdoor ratings stating that  
they would recommend working at the Bank to a friend.

My Voice also revealed a commitment among employees to 
doing what is required to help us succeed (97 per cent), and 
increasing satisfaction with job impact (up 6 per cent), reward 
(up 6 per cent) and development opportunities (up 5 per cent) 
– all indicators that we are delivering our EVP. Investment in 
people leader capability has translated into a 10 per cent 
increase in our manager net promoter scores, which is 
important as the variety of demands on our people leaders  
to engage with dynamic workforce needs are increasing.

During 2020, new ways of working brought greater freedoms 
and benefits for some colleagues; for many, however, physical 
restrictions and a lack of social connection significantly 
affected their wellbeing – 40 per cent of our employees said 
they were experiencing high or frequent levels of work-related 
stress. We are continuing to invest in wellbeing tools such as  
a mental health app, an upgraded employee assistance 
service, wellbeing toolkits for employees and people leaders, 
and learning programmes on mental health and resilience. 
The pandemic has reinforced how important our health  
and wellbeing strategy is, and supporting employees with 
these skills is a long-term area of focus. 

We are also listening to employees’ preferences for greater 
flexibility in working arrangements post-pandemic, with  
80 per cent of employees in our nine largest markets telling  
us they would like some form of flexibility. We recognise the 
positive lessons that can be learnt from the pandemic on 
productivity, employee experience and talent attraction  
and retention. Conversely, enforced absence from offices  
has highlighted the benefit of face-to-face interaction and 
the value of physical workspaces as hubs of teamwork, 
collaboration and learning. Based on this data we are 
introducing a hybrid model, combining virtual and office-
based working with greater flexibility in working patterns  
and locations. 

The Board listens to the views of the workforce through 
several sources, including information reported from  
senior management on culture and directly via workforce 
engagement sessions. More information can be found on 
pages 105 to 106 in the Directors’ Report. 

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Developing skills of future strategic value 
The world of work continues to change rapidly. Our employees 
need a combination of personal and technical skills to 
succeed both today and in the future. 

In 2020, we focused on laying the foundations for upskilling 
and re-skilling our workforce by building a culture of 
continuous learning. Our learning intensified during the 
pandemic and we virtualised all appropriate programmes 
and sessions. Currently, 67 per cent of employees have a 
growth plan and we expect this to increase as we deepen  
our culture of continuous learning.

In support of this shift in skills, we have identified a core set  
of new roles and are developing existing talent to take up 
these positions. This approach unites our recruitment, talent 
management and learning efforts to target, upskill and place 
learners into new roles. This will be piloted in 2021 across five 
roles before being extended across the Group.

Creating an inclusive culture 
There is no doubt that 2020 was a challenging year, and the 
need to lead inclusively was a central theme for our people 
leaders. Our commitment to D&I is supported by more than  
60 employee resource groups (ERGs) that help create a  
culture of inclusion and provide learning, development and 
networking opportunities. The ERGs align to our focus areas  
of gender, ethnicity and nationality, generations, sexual 
orientation, and disability and wellbeing.

Our gender diversity is growing with more female leaders 
coming through the pipeline. Currently, females represent  
31 per cent of the Board, increasing to 36 per cent in January 
2021. Fourteen of our markets have female CEOs, and  
female representation in senior leadership roles increased  
by 1 per cent to 29.5 per cent at the end of 2020. We are 
committed to improving, and aspire to 35 per cent female 
representation at senior level by 2025. This Aspiration is 
supported by programmes that develop our talent in 
preparation for future roles.

ªLearn anywhere, 
anytimeº

In March 2020 we launched our new digital learning 
platform, diSCover, to make learning accessible to all. 
Aligned to our future skills academies, it uses artificial 
intelligence (AI) to create personalised content. We have 
had over 55,000 users, of which 80 per cent are active. 
Participation in our second global learning week (over 
500 events and 21,000 participants) both demonstrated 
and galvanised our employees’ appetite for learning.

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Strategic report

Stakeholders and responsibilities

Engaging stakeholders 
continued

Employees continued

Inclusion is how we will derive true value from our diverse 
talent. Pleasingly, 82 per cent of colleagues reported positive 
sentiments in the My Voice culture of inclusion questions, 
compared to 78 per cent in 2019. This was supported by  
94 per cent of our people leaders completing our Inclusive 
Leadership programme.

In addition to six key D&I dates we recognise across the year, 
several external events helped increase awareness of inclusion 
and equality. In response to global Black Lives Matter protests, 
we ran a series of listening and engagement sessions on  
race involving employees, people leaders, the Management 
Team and Board members. We shared our guide on having 
conversations about race externally, to further support our 
clients and communities. We signed the UK Business in the 
Community - Race at Work Charter, to tackle barriers facing 
ethnic minority talent, and partnered with Leadership 
Enterprise for a Diverse America to diversify the leadership 
pipeline. We have committed to ethnicity targets for senior 
leadership in both the UK and the US and we continue to 
nurture local talent in markets across Asia, Africa and Middle 
East to ensure we reflect the diversity of our global clients. 

Meanwhile, as reported by the World Health Organization, 
there has been a significant increase in global cases of 
domestic violence and abuse. In response, we became the  
first bank to publish a framework and global standards to 
support colleagues, and a toolkit to share best practice with 
other organisations.

In line with our Sustainability Aspirations, all markets with  
50 or more employees have completed our internal Disability 
Confident Assessment to help us focus on removing barriers 
and increasing accessibility. 

ªIgniting our talent 
through coachingº

Through an experimental ‘pay it forward’ coaching 
programme, ‘IGNITE’, we have accredited 51 internal  
coaches who have in return provided coaching to 141 female 
employees in 18 countries. We have extended this to  
119 further coaches, with the aim for individuals to explore 
their potential, discover new levels of performance and 
experience community from the peer network. 

Group Chief Executive, Bill Winters, signed the UN Global 
Standards for Business to tackle discrimination against 
lesbian, gay, bi, trans and intersex (LGBT+) people. In addition, 
we developed a toolkit on transgender inclusion in the 
workplace, issued guidance on how to be an ally, and offered 
medical and domestic relocation benefits to LGBT+ partners 
of employees in India.

Our progress is also recognised externally. We are among the 
top 100 organisations in the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index 
and ranked as a Diversity Leader in the Financial Times report 
on Diversity and Inclusion in Europe. We were the first financial 
institution in Singapore to be granted the Economic Dividends 
for Gender Equality certification. Seven of our D&I champions 
were recognised by Yahoo Finance HERoes awards for their 
contributions to gender equality. 

Read more about our approach to tackling domestic violence at  
sc.com/tacklingdomesticabuse and sc.com/toolkitdomesticabuse

Read more about our ethnicity targets at sc.com/ethnicity and access 
our toolkit for conversations about race at sc.com/toolkitrace

Principal Board decision: Sustainability as a pillar of our overall strategy

Stakeholder interests are a key consideration during Board 
decision-making. This includes decisions regarding the 
Group’s purpose, values and strategy. An illustration of this  
is the Board’s decision to make sustainability a pillar of our 
overall strategy.

Our refreshed strategic priorities link directly to our purpose 
to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique 
diversity. An important aspect of this is the way in which  
we approach sustainability in our own operations, in our 
communities and in how we conduct our business. During 
2020, management presented to the Board a proposed 
near-to-medium term roadmap to build upon our existing 
sustainability credentials and raise our profile with 
stakeholders, which the Board considered and agreed to.

As part of the consideration of this decision, the Board 
received material prepared by colleagues from across the 
organisation including our Sustainability, Corporate Affairs, 

Brand & Marketing, Risk and Business teams, as well as 
appropriate client segments. The material included, among 
other relevant information, consideration of key stakeholder 
groups including our colleagues, clients, communities, civil 
society, regulators, and investors. The Board recognised the 
increased client demand for sustainable finance products, 
the potential for Standard Chartered to play a distinct role 
in enabling capital flows to the markets where it matters 
most, and noted that sustainability is an increasingly high 
priority for other key stakeholders. 

As part of considering and agreeing the proposed 
sustainability strategy, the Board highlighted the 
significance of the Group communicating its sustainability 
successes to its stakeholders through enhanced disclosure 
and communication plans.

Further detail regarding the Group’s refreshed strategic 
priorities can be found throughout the Strategic report.

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Employees continued

Gender pay gap and equal pay
We continue to analyse our gender pay gap for the UK,  
Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE and the US. The gender pay  
gap compares the average pay of men and women without 
accounting for some of the key factors which influence pay, 
including different roles, skills, seniority and market pay rates. 
Our gender pay gaps are caused by there being fewer women 
in senior roles and in business areas where market rates of pay 
are highest. 

With the exception of the mean hourly pay gap in UAE  
and the mean bonus pay gap in the UK, our mean gender  
pay gaps have remained flat or reduced across all five 
markets. We understand it will take time to see the level  
of change needed to significantly reduce our gender pay  
gaps and we remain committed to our initiatives to support 
gender diversity. 

When the pay of men and women at the same level and in 
the same business area are compared, our gender pay gaps 
are significantly smaller. The remaining gaps exist due to 
differences in the market pay level for different types of  
roles at the same level and in the same business areas,  
and differences in the relative positioning of the pay of  
each role holder around the market benchmark. 

Equal pay is a more detailed measure of pay equality and is  
a key commitment in our Fair Pay Charter. We analyse equal 
pay during our annual performance and pay review process 
to ensure equal pay for equal work.

We have been reporting our gender pay gaps for a number  
of years and support initiatives that will enable a truly diverse 
workforce. We responded to the UK Government consultation 
on ethnicity pay gap reporting and are considering potential 
ways to draw from available data to inform our inclusion 
strategy. Obtaining significant enough disclosure of ethnicity 
data remains a challenge and we are taking steps to 
encourage disclosure, where possible, so we can develop  
our approach.

2020 Gender pay gap

Mean hourly pay gap

Mean bonus pay gap

UK

Hong Kong

Singapore

30%

51%

20%

35%

34%

44%

UAE

29%

52%

US

25%

43%

Read more about this in our gender pay gap report at sc.com/genderpaygap

Female representation

Board

Female

31%

(2019: 31%)

Female

4

Male

9

Senior leadership  
(Managing directors and band 4)

Female

29.5%

(2019: 28.5%)

Female

1,236

Male

2,960

2020
2019

2020
2019

Management Team  
and their direct reports

Female

31.8%

(2019: 31%)

Female

41

Male

88

All employees

Female

45.4%

(2019: 46.1%)

Female

38,013

Male

45,644

2020
2019

2020
2019

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Strategic report

Stakeholders and responsibilities

Sustainable and 
responsible business

Sustainability is embedded in our business, 
operations and communities through the three pillars 
of our sustainability framework – sustainable finance, 
responsible company and inclusive communities.  
This allows us to deliver on our purpose of driving 
commerce and prosperity through our unique 
diversity, in line with our valued behaviours and  
our brand promise – to be Here for good. 

Clients

Investors

Society

Our approach is framed around a sustainability philosophy 
that informs our decision-making, Sustainability Aspirations 
that provide tangible targets for sustainable outcomes 
aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 
and Position Statements that set out our environmental and 
social client standards. 

In 2020, we continued to integrate sustainability across the 
Group, incorporating selected Sustainability Aspirations 
metrics into the 2020 Group Scorecard to drive widespread 
awareness and support delivery. We continued to progress 
our management of climate change, including it as a material 
cross-cutting risk within our risk framework, via the provision of 
sustainable finance products and services, as well as making 
our first purchase of offsets for our business travel emissions. 
We also measured the social and economic impacts of our 
lending to the infrastructure and manufacturing sectors in 
Ghana, and plan to use learnings from this study to guide  
our wider impact measurement strategy in 2021.

The Board is responsible for ensuring that high standards of 
responsible business are maintained and receives information 
to identify and assess risks and opportunities related to 
environmental and social matters, including climate change. 
Sustainability is overseen by the Board and its Brand, Values 
and Conduct Committee (BVCC), which reviews priorities  
and oversees the development of, and delivery against,  
public commitments. 

At a management level, the CEO, Corporate & Institutional 
Banking and Commercial Banking is responsible for 
sustainable finance, which incorporates environmental and 
social risk management. The Group Head, Corporate Affairs, 
Brand & Marketing and Conduct, Financial Crime and 
Compliance leads a cross-business Sustainability Forum and 
dedicated sustainability team to develop and deliver the 
strategy and champion sustainability across the Group. 

We continued to advance our ambition to become the world’s 
most sustainable and responsible bank and the leading 
private sector catalyser of finance for the SDGs in Asia,  
Africa and the Middle East. 

Further information on sustainability can be read in our 
standalone Sustainability Summary and Task Force on 
Climate-related Financial Disclosures reports at sc.com/
sustainabilitysummary and sc.com/tcfd. In 2021, we will 
provide additional ESG-related information to stakeholders 
and investors, including via Sustainable Accounting Standards 
Board (SASB) aligned disclosures.

See page 55 to read how engagement with 
stakeholders informs our approach to 
sustainable and responsible business.

Read more about our position statements:  
sc.com/positionstatements 

See pages 440 and 441 for a full list of our 
2021 Sustainability Aspirations

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In many of our markets, micro and small businesses are the 
powerhouses of the economy and are major drivers of job 
creation. Our Aspirations for small business lending ($15 billion 
Jan 2020-Dec 2024) and to microfinance ($3 billion Jan 
2020-Dec 2024) are reflected in our asset base and our 
Sustainable Finance Impact Report. We have reached more 
than 1.3 million people through the loans we have provided to 
microfinance institutions in places like Nepal, Tanzania and 
Bangladesh. We also provided more than 20,000 SME loans  
in emerging markets including India, Kenya, Pakistan and  
Sri Lanka.

In addition, our dedicated Sustainable Finance team is 
committed to scaling up sustainable finance and mobilising 
capital to the markets where it is needed most. We are 
growing our product portfolio to support sustainable 
development. Our Green and Sustainable Product Framework 
developed in collaboration with Sustainalytics, reviewed 
annually, sets out what qualifies as ‘sustainable’ and ‘green’ 
products and was updated in 2020.

Our first annual Sustainable Finance Impact Report reveals 
the impact of our Sustainability Bond issued in 2019 and, for 
the first time discloses the $3.9 billion of Sustainable Assets 
aligned to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  
in our sustainable finance portfolio. These include loans  
for renewable energy, healthcare and education as well as 
microfinance and SME lending in low-income countries.

From July 2019 to July 2020, our green projects in our 
Sustainable Finance portfolio helped us to avoid 738,998 
tonnes of CO2 emissions – the equivalent of 217,000 people’s 
annual emissions in low and middle-income countries. 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we announced a  
$1 billion not-for-profit facility to help clients produce goods 
and services to help in the fight against COVID-19 and by year 
end had credit approved $579 million. 

In 2021, we will continue to grow our sustainable finance 
proposition, and increase lending into areas aligned with  
the SDGs. 

Read our Sustainable Finance impact 
report: sc.com/SFimpactreport 

Read more about our 2020 Sustainability 
Aspirations performance at  
sc.com/sustainabilitysummary

See our 2021 Sustainability Aspirations  
on pages 440 and 441

Sustainable finance

Our Sustainability Aspirations focus on the areas 
we can have the most impact on sustainable 
development in our markets. In 2020, we 
updated our Sustainability Aspirations and set  
a new target to fund and facilitate $75 billion  
of sustainable infrastructure, clean tech and 
renewables between 2020 and December  
2024, catalysing capital from across the  
financial sector. 

Clients

Investors

Society

91%

of our total Sustainable  
Finance assets are located  
in emerging markets

86%

of our total Sustainable  
Finance assets are located  
in some of the world’s least 
developed countries

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Strategic report

Stakeholders and responsibilities

Sustainable and responsible  
business continued

Sustainable finance continued

2020 Sustainability Aspirations:  
Sustainable Finance1

Infrastructure2

Facilitate project financing services for $40 billion of infrastructure projects that promote sustainable 
development that align to our verified Green and Sustainable Product Framework3

Jan 2020- 
Dec 2024 

Climate change

Facilitate $35 billion worth of project financing services, M&A advisory, debt structuring, transaction banking 
and lending services for renewable energy that align to our verified Green and Sustainable Product Framework

 Jan 2020- 
Dec 2024

Develop a methodology to measure, manage and ultimately reduce the emissions related to the financing of 
our clients (Jan 2019-Dec 2020)

Only provide financial services to clients who are:4

•  By Jan 2021, less than 100% dependent on earnings from thermal coal (based on % EBITDA at group level)

•  By Jan 2025, less than 60% dependent on earnings from thermal coal (based on % EBITDA at group level)

•  By Jan 2027, less than 40% dependent on earnings from thermal coal (based on % EBITDA at group level)

•  By Jan 2030, less than 10% dependent on earnings from thermal coal (based on % EBITDA at group level)

Entrepreneurs

Provide $15 billion of financing to small business clients (Business Banking)

Provide $3 billion of financing to microfinance institutions5

Jan 2019- 
Dec 2020

Jan 2020-  
Jan 2030

Jan 2020-  
Dec 2024

Jan 2020-  
Dec 2024

Commerce

Bank 10,000 of our clients’ international and domestic networks of suppliers and buyers through banking the 
ecosystem programmes

Jan 2020-  
Dec 2024

Digital6

Roll out digital-only banks in a total of 12 markets

Double the number of clients we serve in Africa and the Middle East to 3.2 million7

Jan 2020-  
Dec 2021

Jan 2020 –  
Dec 2021

Impact finance

Introduce ESG scores for equity investments for Private Banking clients allowing them to tailor their investment 
choices in a sustainable manner

Jan 2020 –  
Dec 2020

Develop a tailored Impact Profile for all Private Banking clients providing a framework that enables them to 
understand their passions and harness capital market solutions to support the SDGs

Increase the proportion of Private Bank investment solutions (across funds, bonds, structured products and 
discretionary mandates) with a sustainability lens from below 10% to 50%8

Jan 2020-  
Dec 2024

Jan 2020-  
Dec 2024

Concluded in the year

Ongoing aspirations

   Achieved  

Not achieved 

  On track  

Not on track

1  The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the pace of delivering three new Aspirations set in 2020 focused on infrastructure, microfinance and retail. These Aspirations 

underpin sustainable development and we remain committed to progressing these targets in 2021

2 

 To avoid double counting with other Aspirations, the previous Aspiration to “Catalyse $5 billion of finance via blended finance transactions from 2020 – 2024”  
has been removed

3  Facilitated $2.4bn in 2020. Due to COVID-19 substantial infrastructure investments across many markets were delayed. We expect to see increased momentum 

from H2 2021 as infrastructure investment increases to support sustainable economic growth and COVID-19 economic recovery

4 

In 2020, we ceased new business with four clients and are exiting these relationships subject to any outstanding contractual arrangements

5  2020: $509 million

6  These were originally merged into one Aspiration, however we have demerged them to allow accurate reporting of progress

7  2020: 500,000 new clients

8  The proportion of sustainable solutions grew to 6% in 2020 but remained below 10% due to dependencies on the availability of solutions in the market

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Sustainable finance continued

Managing environmental and social risk
Our main impact on the environment and society is through 
the activities we finance. Our seven Position Statements 
outline the cross-sector standards we expect of ourselves  
and our clients, as well as sector-specific guidance for clients 
operating in sectors with a high potential environmental or 
social impact. The statements draw on International Finance 
Corporation Performance Standards, the Equator Principles 
(EP) and global best practice. Our prohibited activities list  
sets out what we do not finance and can be found at  
sc.com/prohibitedactivities.

We identify and assess environmental and social risks related 
to our Corporate & Institutional, Commercial and Business 
Banking clients, and embed our risk framework directly into 
our credit approval process. All relationship managers and 
credit officers are offered training in assessing environmental 
and social risk against our criteria and have access to online 
resources. 

In 2020, we launched an online learning tool to increase 
awareness of environmental and social risk management 
among client-facing employees. This training will become  
a mandatory for relevant employees in 2021.

Meanwhile, we reviewed 1,090 transactions that presented 
potential specific risks against our Position Statements.  
We also reviewed all our Position Statements, and refreshed 
documents will be released in 2021. 

We work with clients, regulators and peers across the finance 
sector to continuously improve environmental and social 
standards. We proactively engage with clients to mitigate 
risks and help them improve their environmental and  
social performance over time. Where this is not possible, 
transactions have been, and will continue to be, turned down. 

We also achieved a number of milestones under our 
Chairmanship of the EP Association in 2020. These include the 
launch of the EP Association Strategy, publishing guidance  
on implementing EP during the pandemic, and publishing 
guidance on implementing EP4 including specific notes on 
climate change and human rights and indigenous people. 

Read more about our reporting against the  
Equator Principles: sc.com/equatorprinciples

Responding to climate change
We consider climate change to be one of the greatest 
challenges facing the world today. 

Since 2018, we have been working on aligning the emissions 
from both our own operations and our financing activities to 
the Paris Agreement goal of below two degrees of global 
warming. In 2019, we set a target to achieve net zero emissions 
from our operations by 2030 and have made a strong start 
towards achieving this goal.

In 2020, we made strides towards bringing the management 
of climate change as a financial and non-financial risk  
within key Principal Risk Frameworks to the mainstream.  
This included extending climate risk governance across  
our markets and client segments. 

We acknowledge that climate change is a shared global 
challenge and believe collaboration with clients, peer banks, 
industry experts and regulators is crucial. In 2020, we launched 
a four-year partnership with Imperial College London, through 
which we aim to strengthen our own resilience to climate  
risk and support our clients through their own low-carbon 
transitions. In December, we sponsored Imperial’s research 
report and public webinar focused on energy transitions and 
the coal supply chain in India, designed to generate insights 
for financial institutions and policymakers.

We also formed partnerships with Baringa and Munich Re to 
develop bespoke tools to strengthen our risk management 
infrastructure in response to the various regulatory 
requirements and forthcoming stress tests. 

To build internal knowledge, we launched a Sustainable 
Finance Academy and new digital learning programmes  
for climate risk. 

We have made disclosures consistent with the recommendations  
of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures in a 
dedicated, standalone report. We believe this format provides 
information in a readily identifiable and accessible format for all 
interested stakeholders. This can be accessed at sc.com/tcfd.

ªSustainable lending  
to EcoGreenº

As part of our sustainable finance efforts, we arranged EcoGreen’s  
first ever green loan. The China-based company, which produces 
chemicals using botanic essential oils from plants for the pharmaceutical, 
household, healthcare and personal care industries, borrowed $185 million 
in 2020. The loan was subject to a green finance framework – ensuring 
that funds are used for sustainability-based projects and initiatives.

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Strategic report

Stakeholders and responsibilities

Sustainable and responsible  
business continued

Responsible company

We strive to manage our business sustainably and 
responsibly, drawing on our purpose, brand promise, 
valued behaviours and our Code of Conduct to make 
the right decisions.  

Promoting good conduct 
Good conduct is crucial in delivering positive outcomes for our 
clients, markets and stakeholders. In 2020, we enhanced our 
conduct risk management and built out approaches to risk 
identification and mitigation. 

Clients

Regulators  
and governments

Suppliers

Society

2020 Sustainability Aspirations:  
Responsible Company

Environment 

The Group Conduct Dashboard was rolled out to enhance 
conduct risk monitoring, and results from an assessment  
of conduct risk management which focused on eight key 
conduct areas, indicated an improvement in the overall 
quality and consistency in the management of Conduct Risk 
across the Group, regions and countries. 

Our Group Code of Conduct (the Code) remains the central 
tool through which we set our conduct expectations.  
To reinforce the importance of the highest standards of 
behaviour, each year we ask our colleagues to recommit to 
the Code. In 2020, we refreshed the associated mandatory 
e-learning and 99.8 per cent of our colleagues completed  
the e-learning and recommitted to the Code. 

Reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) to net zero by 2030 with an interim target:  
Dec 2025: 60,000 tCO2e
Source all energy from renewable sources

Reduce our Scope 3 value chain emissions from business travel by 7%

Introduce an emissions offset programme for Scope 3 travel emissions

Join the Climate Group ‘RE100’1

Reduce annual office paper use by 57% to 10kg/FTE/year2

Reduce waste per colleague to 40kg/FTE/year 

Recycle 90% of waste3

Conduct 

Learn from risks identified through concerns raised via our Speaking Up programme and conduct plans and 
publish an annual Threats and Themes Report

Jan 2019-  
Dec 2030

Jan 2020- 
Dec 2030

Jan 2020-  
Dec 2020

Jan 2020-  
Dec 2020

Jan 2020-  
Dec 2020

Jan 2012- 
Dec 2020

Jan 2020-  
Dec 2025

Jan 2020-  
Dec 2025

Ongoing

Develop enhanced internal policies and guidelines on privacy, data ethics and algorithmic fairness, and embed  
a new governance framework for all data-related risks

Jan 2020-  
Dec 2021

Financial crime compliance

Tackle financial crimes such as the laundering of the proceeds of the illegal wildlife trade by contributing to the 
development of red flags for financial flows, training frontline staff to identify potential suspicious transactions  
and participating in public-private partnerships to share intelligence and good practices

Deliver at least 18 correspondent banking academies

Ongoing

Jan 2020-  
Dec 2020

Concluded in the year

Ongoing aspirations

   Achieved  

Not achieved 

  On track  

Not on track

1  RE100 was closed to new financial sector participants while they reviewed their entry criteria in 2020. We are committed to joining in 2021

2  2020: 11.2kg/FTE/year, 2019: 16.96kg/FTE/year

3  2020: 23% recycled

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Responsible Company

In 2021, our focus is on making conduct risk management an 
integral component of the Enterprise Risk Management 
Framework and ensure Conduct Risk is considered as part of 
each principal risk type (PRT). This is to reflect the overarching 
nature of Conduct Risk and recognise that it can manifest 
from risks and events which occur under other PRTs.

See page 48 for more on our  
Conduct Risk Framework

We received 110 disclosures referencing COVID-19 related 
matters, including concerns around work arrangements, work 
environment and performance pressure. However, there was a 
decline in the use of Speaking Up in mid-2020 when pandemic 
working arrangements were in place. We believe this to be in 
line with peers and due to home working reducing visibility  
of misconduct, and more communications over recorded 
platforms rather than face-to-face. 

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Speaking Up 
Speaking Up is our confidential whistleblowing programme.  
It includes independent and secure channels for anyone – 
employees, contractors, suppliers and members of the public 
– to raise concerns.

During 2020, 1,209 concerns were raised through Speaking Up, 
of which 474 were within scope (or in process of triage) of the 
programme and investigated or resolved. Themes included 
employee fraud, anti-bribery and corruption (ABC), and 
information and cyber security. 

99.8% 

of employees recommitted to the  
Group Code of Conduct in 2020.

Speaking Up cases 

Year

2020

2019

2018

2017

During the period, 338 cases were closed following 
investigation (these included cases raised in 2020 as well as 
those raised in prior years), of which 206 were substantiated 
while 132 were closed as unsubstantiated. 

A range of corrective actions were taken, including process 
improvements, targeted coaching and training and, for  
63 cases, disciplinary actions ranging from verbal or written 
warning to dismissals. 

Results from our 2020 My Voice survey demonstrate 
confidence in the programme with 87 per cent of employees 
confirming they would be comfortable in speaking up if they 
see a violation of Standard Chartered’s policies, valued 
behaviours or the Code. However, this was marginally down 
from 91 per cent in 2019. We are working to improve our 
Speaking Up programme by partnering with a leading 
whistleblowing charity to provide an advice hotline and 
increasing the number of advocates who work with country 
management teams to support employees. In 2021, we will 
also be rolling out an enhanced framework to identify and 
support staff who are at high risk of being victimised for 
speaking up. 

Closed3

Total raised1

In scope2

Substantiated4 Unsubstantiated

1,209

1,382

1,473

1,183

474

381

589

460

206

263

306

201

132

189

275

296

1  Total concerns raised within the reporting year

2  A concern under the FCA whistleblowing rules that is raised within the reporting year and investigated under the Speaking Up programme. For purposes of this 

report, this number also includes any cases pending triage assessment at the point of reporting. 

3  This represents all cases closed within the reporting year. This includes cases that were raised in the reporting year and in previous years

4  Closed and with sufficient evidence supporting the original allegation(s)

5   Case numbers reported in prior years differ from those reported in this period due to closed cases being either reclassified, based on new information, or updated 

for administrative reasons.

Download our Group Code of Conduct at sc.com/codeofconduct and visit 
sc.com/speakingup to find more about how our Speaking Up programme works

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Strategic report

Stakeholders and responsibilities

Sustainable and responsible  
business continued

Responsible company continued

Fighting financial crime 
We believe partnering to fight financial crime is the best  
way to protect our business, clients and wider communities.  
By cutting off funding sources, we help make the financial 
system a hostile environment for criminals and support 
positive economic development in our markets. 

We have safeguards in place to address threats including 
money laundering, terrorist financing, sanctions compliance 
breaches, bribery and other forms of corruption. Our Conduct, 
Financial Crime & Compliance (CFCC) team leads our risk 
management activities, which include adhering to anti-
money laundering and sanctions policies and applying 
controls such as client due-diligence screening and 
monitoring. See the Risk review section on page 256  
for more on how we manage Financial Crime Risk. 

In 2020, due to COVID-19, we identified a new range of 
emerging risks. Our CFCC experts were able to identify red 
flags in relation to fraud, money laundering, bribery and 
corruption. Our in-depth knowledge allows us to share  
insights with our clients, employees and partners. Despite  
the pandemic impacting our ability to physically hold 
Correspondent Banking Academies, we held academies 
virtually – allowing greater participation. Besides our response 
to the pandemic we have continued to strengthen our 
controls by investing in innovation and technology.

Anti-bribery and corruption (ABC) policies aim to prevent 
employees, or third parties working on our behalf, from 
participating in active or passive bribery or corruption,  
or from making facilitation payments. In 2020, 99.9 per cent  
of employees completed ABC, anti-money laundering and 
sanctions and fraud training. By working with our client banks, 
we share best practice on controls for managing Financial 
Crime Risk and are able to build a strong network to keep 
criminal activity out of the financial system. In 2020, we 
surpassed our Aspiration for financial crime compliance, 
delivering 18 training sessions to more than 2,900 people  
from more than 500 client banks in 70 countries through  
our Correspondent Banking Academies.

In 2021, we will continue to adapt our controls to emerging 
threats by making sure we have highly trained and 
experienced employees working with new technology to 
detect abuse of the financial system. We will also continue  
to partner with, and educate, peer banks and clients to help 
them detect financial crime risks. 

For more visit  
sc.com/fightingfinancialcrime 

Respecting human rights 
We are committed to respecting human rights and ensuring 
they are not adversely impacted in our role as an employer, 
financial services provider and procurer of goods and services. 
We recognise that our footprint and supply chain give us the 
opportunity to raise awareness of human rights and modern 
slavery in a wide range of markets and industries.

Our Position Statement on Human Rights outlines our 
approach, reflecting frameworks including the International 
Bill of Human Rights, the UN Guiding Principles and the UK 
Modern Slavery Act. This is embedded across a range of 
internal policies and risk management frameworks, including 
our Group Code of Conduct and Supplier Charter.

Our Modern Slavery Statement, approved by the Board, 
details the actions we are taking to tackle modern slavery  
and human trafficking. In 2020, this included an update of  
our framework and processes within our supply chain, and a 
feasibility analysis on extending our living wage commitment 
to non-employed and third-party workers.

In 2020, we began a review of our Human Rights Position 
Statement which informs our policies in this area. We expect 
to finish the review in early 2021, following consultation with 
external stakeholders. 

Read our 2020 Modern Slavery Statement 
at sc.com/modernslavery

Managing our  
environmental footprint 
We are committed to improving our environmental footprint 
and reducing the direct impact of our branches and offices.  
To do this, we measure and manage energy and water 
efficiency, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and paper use 
closely, verifying our performance through third parties. 

We also measure the amount of non-hazardous waste our 
branches and offices generate and recycle. We do not 
produce or handle material quantities of this and therefore  
do not report on it. 

Our reporting criteria set out the principles and methodology 
for measuring our emissions. Our Scope 1 and 2 emissions,  
as well as water and waste data, are independently assured 
by Global Documentation. 

Through our Sustainability Aspirations, we have set ambitious 
targets to achieve net zero emissions and only use renewable 
energy sources by 2030. We are increasing our use of 
renewable energy to meet these challenging targets. 

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Annual energy use of our property  
(kWh/m2/year) 

2020 Actual

2020 Target

2008

205

215

494

59% 

 Since 2008

Responsible company continued

We have measured and reduced our GHG emissions since 
2008 and have adopted science-based targets (SBT) to 
significantly reduce our carbon footprint. In 2020, we 
continued to reduce our property portfolio footprint despite  
a drop in occupancy due to the pandemic, with our GHG 
emissions falling 19 per cent year-on-year. 

Water availability is a growing challenge in our markets. 
Although we did not face any issues sourcing water in 2020, 
we continue to take a sustainable and responsible approach 
to managing water across the Group and reducing 
consumption year-on-year. 

Our aim is to reduce paper use across our operations and 
since 2012 we have reduced consumption by 52 per cent 
against a target of 57 per cent. In 2020, the Group Chief 
Executive encouraged employees around the world to go 
paperless. In 2021, we will continue to strive to hit our target. 

We are committed to reducing waste in all its forms and in 
2019, set ambitious targets to reduce waste to 40 kilograms 
per employee and recycle 90 per cent of our waste by 2025. 
We are proud to have certified more than 50 of our largest 
properties as ‘single-use plastic free’. Non-recyclable waste  
is sent for energy generation or compost to limit our impact  
on landfill. 

In 2021, we will focus on removing more single-use plastics and 
reducing waste from all our operations, improving our clean 
energy procurement and taking the necessary steps to meet 
our SBTs for net zero greenhouse gas emissions. 

Read the independent assurance  
for our energy and greenhouse  
gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) at  
sc.com/environmentalassurance

Innovating diesel reduction in Pakistan

ªPowering Pakistanº

We have traditionally relied heavily on diesel generators 
across many markets as a source of back-up power 
to maintain operations. In 2020, our property team in 
Pakistan introduced supercapacitors as an alternative 
backup energy source. Supercapacitors have an 
advantage in storing peak power when you need it, 
without harmful carbon emissions. The proposition could 
be used across other markets to both assist our back-up 
power requirements and lower our carbon emissions.

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Strategic report

Stakeholders and responsibilities

Sustainable and responsible  
business continued

Inclusive communities

We aim to create more inclusive economies by 
sharing our expertise and developing community 
programmes that transform lives. 

Regulators  
and governments

Society

In 2020, we increased support for communities in response  
to the COVID-19 pandemic. We invested $95.7 million, 
including our COVID-19 Global Charitable Fund, in 
communities and 26 per cent of employees took part in 
volunteering. Despite restrictions preventing volunteering, 
employees still contributed more than 36,000 volunteering 
days to communities, many taking advantage of new 
opportunities for virtual volunteering.

Vulnerable and disadvantaged young people have been  
hit hard economically by the pandemic. Through Group 
donations and fundraising from our employees and clients,  
we surpassed our $50 million target and provided funding of 
$52.8 million through our COVID-19 Global Charitable Fund. 
This includes donations of $27.8 million to partners supporting 
emergency relief across 59 markets. The remaining $25 million 
will support youth-focused economic recovery projects as part 

of Futuremakers by Standard Chartered (Futuremakers).  
This increases our total commitment to Futuremakers to  
$75 million between 2019 and 2023. Fundraising from 
employees and partners in 2020 raised $3.6 million to support 
Futuremakers, including support for COVID-19 economic 
recovery. For a full breakdown of our 2020 fundraising and 
donations, see sc.com/sustainabilitysummary. 

We reached more than 168,000 young people through 
Futuremakers programmes in 2020, and more than 366,000 
young people between 2019 and 2020 across 35 markets.  
The Standard Chartered Foundation is our lead partner in 
delivering Futuremakers and is the primary recipient of 
donations from the Group. Several Group Management  
Team members are Directors of the Standard Chartered 
Foundation. Read more at sc.com/scfoundation. The rollout  
of programmes continued in 2020 despite the challenging 
environment. While some were delayed or paused, many 
programmes overcame COVID-19 restrictions by moving to 
alternative methods of delivery. 

Goal, our girls’ empowerment programme, replaced its 
sports-based sessions with a new digital curriculum delivered 
through mobiles, radio or online. In 2020, Goal reached more 
than 56,000 girls and young women, and has reached more 
than 645,000 girls between 2006 and 2020. 

Youth to Work reached 19,335 young people through 
employability projects and we reached 6,419 young people 
and small businesses through entrepreneurship activities. 

2020 Sustainability Aspirations:  
Inclusive communities

Community Engagement

Invest 0.75% of prior year operating profit (PYOP) in our communities

Raise $75m for Futuremakers by Standard Chartered

Education: Reach one million girls and young women through Goal1

Employability: Reach 100,000 young people

Entrepreneurship: Reach 50,000 young people, and micro and small businesses

Support the development of the Vision Catalyst Fund

Increase participation for employee volunteering to 55%

Concluded in the year

Ongoing aspirations

   Achieved  

Not achieved 

  On track  

Not on track

1  2020: 56,049 girls participated in Goal; 2006-2020: 646,438 girls participated in Goal

Jan 2006-  
Dec 2020

Jan 2019-  
Dec 2023

Jan 2006-  
Dec 2023

Jan 2019-  
Dec 2023

Jan 2019-  
Dec 2023

Jan 2019-  
Dec 2020

Jan 2020-  
Dec 2023

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During 2020, our inaugural Futuremakers Forum involving 
business leaders, policy experts, clients and Futuremakers 
participants came up with recommendations for greater 
youth economic inclusion. These included improving 
connections between young people and employers  
and addressing the challenges of financing for young 
entrepreneurs.

We marked the final year of our Seeing is Believing 
partnership with the International Agency for the Prevention 
of Blindness in 2020. Between 2003 and 2020, the global 
initiative to tackle avoidable blindness raised $104 million 
through fundraising and Group matching, and reached more 
than 250 million people. We continued our support through 
the development of the Vision Catalyst Fund and by helping 
people with visual impairments through Futuremakers. 

In 2021, we will continue to roll-out Futuremakers programmes. 
To remain on track to deliver its aspiration, Goal will combine 
in-person and digital learning to reach more girls. We will 
continue to implement the results framework and host a 
second Futuremakers Forum, focused on the future of work.

Our community expenditure 2020

1.

Leverage

2. Management costs

3. Gifts in kind

4. Cash contributions

5. Employee time (non- cash item)

1.  Leverage data relates to the proceeds from staff and other  

7.4%

4.6%

1.2%

74.7%

12.1%

fundraising activity

1

5

2

3

4

£95.7m

Futuremakers

ªFulfilling dreams 
through Futuremakersº

Rose is fulfilling her dream of running an interior design business 
thanks to Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, our global 
initiative to tackle inequality. Despite a childhood spent on the 
streets of Nairobi, Rose beat the odds to get an education.  
She joined Goal – Futuremakers’ education programme for girls 
– learning valuable leadership and life skills through football. 
She also accessed vocational training to build a new future. 
Today, Rose is a leader in her community and, as a Goal coach, 
she supports other vulnerable girls. She is completing her 
Diploma in Interior Design while running her own business and 
has put her sewing skills to good use by making masks for local 
people during COVID-19.

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Strategic report

Stakeholders and responsibilities

Non-financial information statement

This table sets out where shareholders and stakeholders can find information about key non-financial matters in this report, in 
compliance with the non-financial reporting requirements contained in sections 414CA and 414 CB of the Companies Act 2006. 
Further disclosures are available on sc.com and in our 2020 Sustainability Summary.

Reporting requirement

Where to read more in this report about our policies and impact (including risks,  
policy embedding, due diligence and outcomes)

Environmental matters

Risk review and Capital review

Employees

•  Group Chief Risk Officer’s review

Sustainable and responsible business

•  Sustainable finance

•  Managing environmental and social risks

•  Responding to climate change

•  Managing our environmental footprint

Directors’ report

•  Environmental impact of our operations

Supplementary sustainability information

•  Environment performance data*

Engaging stakeholders

•  Employees

•  Gender pay gap and equal pay

Sustainable and responsible business

•  Speaking Up

Directors’ report

•  Employee policies and engagement

•  Health and Safety

Supplementary people information

Human Rights

Engaging stakeholders

Social matters

•  Suppliers

Sustainable and responsible business

•  Respecting human rights

Engaging stakeholders

•  Society

Sustainable and responsible business

• 

Inclusive communities

Anti-corruption and bribery

Group Chief Risk Officer’s review

Sustainable and responsible business

•  Promoting good conduct

•  Speaking Up

•  Fighting financial crime

Director’s report

•  Political donations

Description of business model

Business model

Non-financial KPIs

Employees

•  Employee engagement (eNPS)

•  Gender diversity in senior roles

•  Female representation

•  Training on anti-bribery, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering

•  Recommitment to the Code of Conduct

Society

•  Sustainability Aspirations achieved or on track

•  Energy, water, waste and emissions

•  Community expenditure

•  Reach of community programmes

Principal risks and uncertainties

Risk review and capital review

Page

47

63

65

65

68

176

438

58

61

67

171

173

435

57

68

57

70

47

66

67

68

169

20

58

59

61

68

66

54

68

71

70

179

*  Visit sc.com/environmentcriteria for our carbon emissions criteria and sc.com/environmentalassurance for Global Documentation’s Assurance Statement of our 

Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and waste and water data

72

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Underlying versus statutory results 
reconciliations

Reconciliations between underlying and statutory results are set out in the tables below:

Operating income by client segment

Underlying operating income

Restructuring

Other items

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

7,214

11

–

2020

Retail  
Banking 
$million

5,013

–

–

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

1,409

29

–

Statutory operating income

7,225

5,013

1,438

Private  
Banking 
$million

540

–

–

540

Central &  
other items 
$million

589

(13)

(38)

538

Underlying operating income

Restructuring

Other items

Statutory operating income

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

7,074

146

–

7,220

Retail  
Banking 
$million

5,186

–

–

2019 (Restated)¹

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

Central &  
other items 
$million

1,574

4

–

577

–

–

577

860

(4)

–

856

5,186

1,578

1  Following a reorganisation of certain clients, there has been a reclassification of balances across client segments

Operating income by region

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

 Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

2020

Underlying operating income

Restructuring

Other items

Statutory operating income

6,016

82

(43)

6,055

4,366

2,364

(4)

–

(2)

–

4,362

2,362

1,922

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

1,922

–

–

Central &  
other items 
$million

97

(49)

5

53

Central &  
other items 
$million

616

61

–

677

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

6,155

87

–

6,242

4,213

(2)

–

4,211

2019

 Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

2,562

–

–

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

1,725

–

–

2,562

1,725

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
r
e
p
o
r
t

Total 
$million

14,765

27

(38)

14,754

Total 
$million

15,271

146

–

15,417

Total 
$million

14,765

27

(38)

14,754

Total 
$million

15,271

146

–

15,417

Underlying operating income

Restructuring

Other items

Statutory operating income

Profit before taxation (PBT)

Operating income

Operating expenses

Operating profit/(loss) before impairment 
losses and taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Profit/(loss) before taxation

Provision for 
regulatory 
matters 
$million

Restructuring 
$million

2020

Net loss on 
businesses 
disposed/ 
held for sale 
$million

Share of 
profits of  
PT Bank 
Permata Tbk 
joint venture 
$million

Goodwill 
impairment 
$million

–

14

14

–

–

–

14

27

(252)

(225)

(31)

(113)

(13)

(382)

(38)

–

(38)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(489)

–

(38)

(489)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Underlying 
$million

14,765

(10,142)

4,623

(2,294)

15

164

2,508

Statutory  
$million

14,754

(10,380)

4,374

(2,325)

(587)

151

1,613

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Strategic report Underlying versus statutory results

Profit before taxation (PBT) continued

Operating income

Operating expenses

Operating profit/(loss) before impairment 
losses and taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Profit/(loss) before taxation

Provision for 
regulatory 
matters 
$million

–

(226)

Underlying 
$million

15,271

(10,409)

4,862

(226)

(906)

(38)

254

4,172

–

–

–

(226)

Profit before taxation (PBT) by client segment

2019

Net loss on 
businesses 
disposed/ 
held for sale 
$million

Share of 
profits of  
PT Bank 
Permata Tbk 
joint venture 
$million

Goodwill 
impairment 
$million

Restructuring 
$million

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(27)

–

(27)

–

–

–

–

–

48

48

146

(298)

(152)

(2)

(98)

(2)

(254)

2020

Retail  
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

Central &  
other items 
$million

Operating income

External

Inter-segment

Operating expenses

Operating profit/(loss) before 
impairment losses and taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Underlying profit/(loss) before taxation

Restructuring

Goodwill impairment & other items

Statutory profit/(loss) before taxation

Operating income

External

Inter-segment

Operating expenses

Operating profit/(loss) before 
impairment losses and taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Underlying profit before taxation

Restructuring

Goodwill impairment & other items

Statutory profit/(loss) before taxation

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

7,214

7,083

131

5,013

4,322

691

(4,178)

(3,701)

3,036

(1,237)

42

–

1,841

(164)

–

1,677

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

7,074

7,264

(190)

(4,310)

2,764

(475)

(32)

–

2,257

(110)

–

2,147

1,312

(715)

(10)

–

587

(50)

–

537

Retail  
Banking 
$million

5,186

4,236

950

(3,759)

1,427

(336)

2

–

1,093

(63)

–

1,030

1,409

1,320

89

(878)

531

(316)

(1)

–

214

(57)

–

157

540

374

166

(476)

64

(2)

–

–

62

(11)

–

51

589

1,666

(1,077)

(909)

(320)

(24)

(16)

164

(196)

(100)

(513)

(809)

2019 (Restated)¹

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

Central &  
other items 
$million

1,574

1,618

(44)

(953)

621

(122)

–

–

499

(11)

–

488

577

329

248

(514)

63

31

–

–

94

(11)

–

83

860

1,824

(964)

(873)

(13)

(4)

(8)

254

229

(59)

(205)

(35)

Statutory  
$million

15,417

(10,933)

4,484

(908)

(163)

300

3,713

Total 
$million

14,765

14,765

–

(10,142)

4,623

(2,294)

15

164

2,508

(382)

(513)

1,613

Total 
$million

15,271

15,271

–

(10,409)

4,862

(906)

(38)

254

4,172

(254)

(205)

3,713

1   Following a reorganisation of certain clients, there has been a reclassification of balances across client segments

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S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
r
e
p
o
r
t

Profit before taxation (PBT) by region

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

 Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

2020

Operating income

Operating expenses

Operating profit/(loss) before 
impairment losses and taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Underlying profit/(loss) before taxation

Restructuring

Goodwill impairment & other items

Statutory profit/(loss) before taxation

6,016

(3,739)

2,277

(352)

(53)

163

2,035

(92)

(43)

1,900

4,366

(2,618)

1,748

(1,132)

163

–

779

(42)

–

737

2,364

(1,683)

681

(654)

(14)

–

13

(88)

–

(75)

2019

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

 Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

Operating income

Operating expenses

Operating profit/(loss) before 
impairment losses and taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Underlying profit/(loss) before taxation

Restructuring

Goodwill impairment & other items

Statutory profit/(loss) before taxation

Return on tangible equity (RoTE)

Underlying RoTE

Provision for regulatory matters

Restructuring

Of which: Income

Of which: Expenses

Of which: Credit impairment

Of which: Other impairment

Of which: Profit from associates  
and joint ventures

Net loss on businesses disposed/ 
held for sale

Goodwill impairment

Share of profits of PT Bank  
Permata Tbk joint venture

Tax on normalised items

Statutory RoTE

6,155

(3,771)

2,384

(194)

(5)

247

2,432

(138)

–

2,294

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
%

6.6

–

0.1

(0.4)

–

(0.5)

–

–

–

–

0.3

6.1

4,213

(2,681)

1,532

(506)

(1)

–

1,025

(34)

48

1,039

Retail  
Banking 
%

6.5

–

–

(0.8)

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.2

5.9

2,562

(1,747)

815

(132)

1

–

684

(18)

–

666

2020

Commercial 
Banking 
%

3.4

–

0.7

(1.0)

(0.7)

(0.2)

–

–

–

–

0.3

2.5

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

1,922

(1,383)

539

(161)

8

–

386

(45)

–

341

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

1,725

(1,470)

255

(98)

–

–

157

(34)

–

123

Private  
Banking 
%

4.8

–

–

(1.2)

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.4

4.0

Central &  
other items 
$million

97

(719)

(622)

5

(89)

1

(705)

(115)

(470)

(1,290)

Central &  
other items 
$million

616

(740)

(124)

24

(33)

7

(126)

(30)

(253)

(409)

Central &  
other items 
%

(12.0)

0.2

(0.2)

(1.0)

–

(0.1)

(0.2)

(0.6)

(7.3)

–

0.1

(21.1)

Total 
$million

14,765

(10,142)

4,623

(2,294)

15

164

2,508

(382)

(513)

1,613

Total 
$million

15,271

(10,409)

4,862

(906)

(38)

254

4,172

(254)

(205)

3,713

Total 
%

3.0

–

0.1

(0.7)

(0.1)

(0.3)

–

(0.1)

(1.3)

–

0.3

0.9

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Strategic report Underlying versus statutory results

Return on tangible equity (RoTE) continued

Underlying RoTE

Provision for regulatory matters

Restructuring

Of which: Income

Of which: Expenses

Of which: Credit impairment

Of which: Other impairment

Of which: Profit from associates  
and joint ventures

Net loss on businesses disposed/ 
held for sale

Goodwill impairment

Share of profits of PT Bank  
Permata Tbk joint venture

Tax on normalised items

Statutory RoTE

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
%

8.5

–

0.8

(0.8)

–

(0.5)

–

–

–

–

–

8.0

Retail  
Banking 
%

12.7

–

–

(1.0)

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.2

11.9

2019 (Restated)¹

Commercial 
Banking 
%

Private  
Banking 
%

Central &  
other items 
%

7.4

–

0.1

(0.3)

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.1

7.3

7.3

–

–

(1.2)

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.3

6.4

(5.1)

(3.1)

–

(0.6)

–

(0.1)

–

–

(0.4)

0.7

(2.9)

(11.5)

Total 
%

6.4

(0.6)

0.4

(0.8)

–

(0.3)

–

–

(0.1)

0.1

(0.3)

4.8

1  Following a reorganisation of certain clients, there has been a reclassification of balances across client segments

Earnings per ordinary share (EPS)

Provision for 
regulatory 
matters 
$ million

Underlying 
$ million

Restructuring 
$ million

Profit from 
joint venture 
$ million

2020

Gains  
arising on 
repurchase of 
senior and 
subordinated 
liabilities 
$ million

Net loss on 
sale of 
businesses 
$ million

Goodwill 
impairment 
$ million

Tax on 
normalised 
items 
$ million

Statutory  
$ million

1,141

14

(382)

–

–

(38)

(489)

83

329

3,160

36.1

3,160

10.4

Provision for 
regulatory 
matters 
$ million

Underlying 
$ million

Restructuring 
$ million

Profit from 
joint venture 
$ million

2019

Gains  
arising on 
repurchase of 
senior and 
subordinated 
liabilities 
$ million

Net loss on 
sale of 
businesses 
$ million

Goodwill 
impairment 
$ million

Tax on 
normalised 
items 
$ million

Statutory  
$ million

2,466

(226)

(254)

48

–

–

(27)

(152)

1,855

3,256

75.7

3,256

57.0

Profit for the year 
attributable to ordinary 
shareholders

Basic – Weighted average 
number of shares (millions)

Basic earnings per ordinary 
share (cents)

Profit for the year 
attributable to ordinary 
shareholders

Basic – Weighted average 
number of shares (millions)

Basic earnings per ordinary 
share (cents)

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Alternative performance measures

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
r
e
p
o
r
t

An alternative performance measure is a financial measure of historical or future financial performance, financial position, or 
cashflows, other than a financial measure defined or specified in the applicable financial reporting framework. The following 
are key alternative performance measures used by the Group to assess financial performance and financial position.

Measure

Definition

Constant currency basis

Underlying

Advances-to-deposits/customer 
advances-to-deposits (ADR) ratio

A performance measure on a constant currency basis is presented such that comparative 
periods are adjusted for the current year’s functional currency rate. The following balances  
are presented on a constant currency basis when described as such:
•  Operating income
•  Operating expenses
•  Profit before tax
•  RWAs or Risk-weighted assets

A performance measure is described as underlying if the statutory result has been adjusted  
for restructuring and other items representing profits or losses of a capital nature; amounts 
consequent to investment transactions driven by strategic intent; and other infrequent and/or 
exceptional transactions that are significant or material in the context of the Group’s normal 
business earnings for the period, and items which management and investors would ordinarily 
identify separately when assessing performance period-by-period. A reconciliation between 
underlying and statutory performance is contained in Note 2 to the financial statements.  
The following balances and measures are presented on an underlying basis when described  
as such:
•  Operating income
•  Operating expense
•  Profit before tax
•  Earnings per share (basic and diluted)
•  Cost-to-income ratio
•  Jaws
•  RoTE or Return on tangible equity

The ratio of total loans and advances to customers relative to total customer accounts, 
excluding approved balances held with central banks, confirmed as repayable at the point  
of stress. A low advances-to-deposits ratio demonstrates that customer accounts exceed 
customer loans resulting from emphasis placed on generating a high level of stable funding 
from customers.

Cost-to-income ratio

The proportion of total operating expenses to total operating income.

Cover ratio

The ratio of impairment provisions for each stage to the gross loan exposure for each stage.

Cover ratio after collateral/ 
cover ratio including collateral

The ratio of impairment provisions for stage 3 loans and realisable value of collateral held 
against these non-performing loan exposures to the gross loan exposure of stage 3 loans.

Gross yield

Jaws

Loan loss rate

Statutory interest income divided by average interest earning assets.

The difference between the rates of change in revenue and operating expenses. Positive jaws 
occurs when the percentage change in revenue is higher than, or less negative than, the 
corresponding rate for operating expenses.

Total credit impairment for loans and advances to customers over average loans and advances 
to customers.

Net tangible asset value per share

Ratio of net tangible assets (total tangible assets less total liabilities) to the number of ordinary 
shares outstanding at the end of a reporting period.

Net yield

Gross yield less rate paid.

NIM or Net interest margin

Net interest income adjusted for interest expense incurred on amortised cost liabilities used to 
fund the Financial Markets business, divided by average interest-earning assets excluding 
financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss.

RAR per FTE or Risk adjusted 
revenue per full-time equivalent

Risk adjusted revenue (RAR) is defined as underlying operating income less underlying 
impairment over the past 12 months. RAR is then divided by the 12 month rolling average 
full-time equivalent (FTE) to determine RAR per FTE.

Rate paid

RoE or Return on equity

RoTE or Return on ordinary 
shareholders’ tangible equity

Statutory interest expense adjusted for interest expense incurred on amortised cost liabilities 
used to fund financial instruments held at fair value through profit or loss, divided by average 
interest-bearing liabilities.

The ratio of the current year’s profit available for distribution to ordinary shareholders to the 
weighted average ordinary shareholders’ equity for the reporting period.

The ratio of the current year’s profit available for distribution to ordinary shareholders to the 
weighted average tangible equity, being ordinary shareholders’ equity less the average 
goodwill and intangible assets for the reporting period. Where a target RoTE is stated, this is 
based on profit and equity expectations for future periods.

TSR or Total shareholder return

The total return of the Group’s equity (share price growth and dividends) to investors.

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

77

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Strategic report Viability statement

Viability statement

The directors are required to issue a viability statement 
regarding the Group, explaining their assessment of the 
prospects of the Group over an appropriate period of time 
and state whether they have reasonable expectation that  
the Group will be able to continue in operation and meet its 
liabilities as they fall due.

The directors are to also disclose the period of time for which 
they have made the assessment and the reason they consider 
that period to be appropriate.

In considering the viability of the Group, the directors  
have assessed the key factors, including the current and 
anticipated impact of COVID-19 likely to affect the Group’s 
business model and strategic plan, future performance, 
capital adequacy, solvency and liquidity taking into account 
the emerging risks as well as the principal risks.

The viability assessment has been made over a period of 
three years, which the directors consider appropriate as it  
is within both the Group’s strategic planning horizon and,  
the basis upon which its regulatory capital stress tests are 
undertaken and is representative of the continuous level of 
regulatory change affecting the financial services industry. 
The directors will continue to monitor and consider the 
appropriateness of this period.

The directors have reviewed the Corporate Plan, the output  
of the Group’s formalised process of budgeting and strategic 
planning. For the 2021 Corporate Plan, the forward-looking 
cash flows and balances include the longer-term impact of 
COVID-19, specifically with regards to expected credit loss and 
the impact of global lower interest rates impact on revenues. 
The Corporate Plan is evaluated and approved each year by 
the Board with confirmation from the Group Chief Risk Officer 
that the Plan is aligned with the Enterprise Risk Management 
Framework and Group Risk Appetite Statement and considers 
the Group’s future projections of profitability, cash flows, 
capital requirements and resources, liquidity ratios and  
other key financial and regulatory ratios over the period.  
The Corporate Plan details the Group’s key performance 
measures, of forecast profit, CET 1 capital ratio forecast, return 
on tangible equity forecasts, cost to income ratio forecasts 
and cash investment projections. The Board has reviewed the 
ongoing performance management process of the Group  
by comparing the statutory results to the budgets and 
Corporate Plan.

The Group performs enterprise-wide stress tests using a  
range of bespoke hypothetical scenarios that explore the 
resilience of the Group to shocks to its balance sheet and 
business model.

To assess the Group’s balance sheet vulnerabilities and capital 
and liquidity adequacy, severe but plausible macro-financial 
scenarios explore shocks that trigger one or more of:

•  Global slowdowns, including a China hard landing with 
spillovers within Asia and more broadly via financial and 
other linkages

•  Sharp falls in world trade volumes, including the effects  
of an extreme worsening in and broadening of recent  
trade tensions.

•  Material and persistent declines in commodity prices

•  Financial market turbulence, including a generalised sharp 

fall in risky asset prices

This year, the primary focus has been on the evolving macro-
financial stress caused by the response of governments, 
businesses and individuals to COVID-19, with scenario analysis 
focused on mild, moderate, severe and extreme variants 
across the Group’s footprint markets to ensure that the Group 
has sufficient capital to withstand this shock.

Under this range of scenarios, the results of these stress  
tests demonstrate that the Group has sufficient capital and 
liquidity to continue as a going concern and meet regulatory 
minimum capital and liquidity requirements.

To assess the Group’s business model vulnerabilities, extreme 
and unlikely scenarios are explored that, by design, result in 
the Group’s business model no longer being viable. Insights 
from these reverse stress tests can inform strategy, risk 
management and capital and liquidity planning.

Further information on stress testing is provided in the Risk 
management approach section (page 251).

The Board Risk Committee (“BRC”) exercises oversight on 
behalf of the Board of the key risks of the Group and makes 
recommendations to the Board on the Group’s Risk Appetite 
Statement. These risks include, amongst others; credit, traded, 
capital and liquidity, operational and technology, reputational 
and sustainability, compliance, information and cyber security 
and model risks.

The BRC receives regular reports that inform it of the  
Group’s key risks, as well as updates on the macroeconomic 
environment, geo-political outlook, market developments, 
and regulatory updates in relation to capital, liquidity and risk. 
A report on COVID-19 risks was received and discussed at 
each meeting. In 2020, the BRC had deeper discussions on: 
Blue Sky Thinking/Horizon Scanning, Aviation Finance, 
Enterprise Risk Review function, Safety and Security Risk, 
Climate Risk management, Technology Obsolescence, Client 
Service Resilience and Operational Resilience, Wholesale 
Credit, Transition from IBOR to risk-free rates, CCIB Fraud Risk 
Review and SC Ventures – Venture Building.

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Based on the information received, the directors’ considered 
the emerging risks as well as the principal risks in their 
assessment of the Group’s viability, how these impact the risk 
profile, performance and viability of the Group and any 
specific mitigating or remedial actions necessary.

For further details of information relevant to the directors, 
assessment can be found in the following sections of the 
annual report and accounts:

•  The Group’s business model (pages 20 to 23) and Strategy 

(pages 24 to 27)

•  The Group’s current position and prospects including factors 
likely to affect future results and development, together 
with a description of financial and funding positions are 
described in the client segment reviews and regional 
reviews (pages 29 to 37)

•  An update on the key risk themes of the Group is discussed 

in the Group Chief Risk Officer’s review, found in the 
Strategic Report (pages 47 to 52)

•  The BRC section of the Directors’ report (pages 115 to 120)

•  The Group’s Emerging Risks, sets out the key external factors 
that could impact the Group in the coming year (page 50 
and pages 262 to 276).

•  The Group’s Enterprise Risk Management Framework 

details how the Group identifies, manages and governs risk 
(pages 248 to 253)

•  The Group’s Risk profile provides an analysis of our risk 
exposures across all major risk types (page 254 to 276)

•  The capital position of the Group, regulatory development 

and the approach to management and allocation of 
capital are set out in the Capital review (pages 277 to 283)

Having considered all the factors outlined above, the directors 
confirm that they have a reasonable expectation that the 
Group will be able to continue in operation and meet its 
liabilities as they fall due over the period of the assessment  
up to 31 December 2023.

Our Strategic report from pages 1 to 79 has been 
reviewed and approved by the Board.

Bill Winters
Group Chief Executive

25 February 2021

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ªOur $1 billion  
financing  
commitmentº

As part of our efforts to help fight COVID-19, we 
committed $1 billion in not-for-profit loans to finance 
companies that provide pandemic related goods and 
services. In May, Chinese company Vinda Household 
Paper became the first company in Asia to use the 
fund. The company borrowed $23 million, opening  
a mask production line to meet the demand for 
personal protective equipment both in China and 
around the world. Dozens of companies have since 
followed suit and accessed the fund.

Read more online at sc.com/1bn

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Directors’ report 

82 

 Group Chairman’s governance 
overview

83  Board of Directors

87  Management Team

90  Corporate governance

133  Directors’ remuneration report

167  Other disclosures

177 

 Statement of directors’ 
responsibilities

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Directors’ report Group Chairman’s governance overview

Group Chairman’s 
governance overview

José Viñals  
Group Chairman

“ The Board continued to prioritise 
making Standard Chartered 
more profitable and resilient, 
focusing on delivering safe and 
sustainable growth”

As I highlighted in my Group Chairman’s statement earlier, 2020 
was a year of extraordinary global turbulence. As COVID-19 and 
geopolitical events evolved across our footprint, the Board 
accelerated its interactions to ensure it was kept updated on the 
potential impact of the pandemic on our clients, communities, 
colleagues and our shareholders, whilst maintaining effective 
Board oversight and good corporate governance.

Despite the multifaceted uncertainties externally, the Board 
continued to prioritise making Standard Chartered more 
profitable and resilient, focusing on delivering safe and sustainable 
growth. During the year, we discussed and approved our 
Corporate Plan and refreshed strategic priorities which set rightly 
ambitious, but achievable steps to make this possible. This requires 
a careful balancing act between business opportunities on the 
one hand, and risks and controls on the other. Ensuring good 
conduct and a culture of transparency and trust across the Group 
are also critical to the effective delivery of our strategic objectives. 

The Board also spent considerable time discussing a number of 
material issues during the year. These included the withdrawal of 
the 2019 final dividend and share buy-back, our ongoing response 
to COVID-19 and the support provided to clients, colleagues and 
communities, US/China relations, geopolitical and sanction 
challenges in relation to Hong Kong, changes in the risk profile 
resulting from COVID-19, and the delivery of our digital ambitions.

The Board adapted rapidly to new ways of working, quickly 
adopting new technology for virtual meetings which were held 
frequently as the Board continued to monitor the evolving impact 
of COVID-19 across our markets. This required significant change 
to planned Board agendas given the various markets in our 
footprint and locations of Board members. The Board worked  
hard to ensure that all items on the forward plan were covered 
during the year, including training and external speakers to share 
perspectives on matters of significant strategic or geopolitical 
importance. The corporate governance summary on pages 90 to 
107 highlights the significant breadth of topics and meetings held 
over the year and our progress against the Board action plan. 

As the impact of the pandemic continued, we stepped up our 
engagement with our shareholders. In November, I hosted a virtual 

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Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

Investor Stewardship event, joined by all of our Committee Chairs and 
institutional investors representing a sizeable proportion of our equity, 
as well as several shareholder representative bodies. We updated 
investors on the key activities and areas of focus for the Board and 
each of the Committees, followed by a question and answer session. 

We were sadly unable to allow shareholders to attend our Annual 
General Meeting (AGM) in May 2020 given the restrictions in place  
at the time in the UK. We intended to hold an in-person engagement 
event later in the year, however, as the pandemic continued, a 
physical meeting proved impossible. Instead, we hosted our first ever 
virtual retail shareholder meeting in November, where shareholders 
were able to hear directly from me and Bill Winters, with all Board 
members available to participate in a virtual question and answer 
session. We were encouraged by the high level of participation  
and the positive feedback received, and following approval of the 
changes to our Articles of Association at the 2020 AGM, we will look  
to enhance virtual elements of our AGMs going forward. 

Employee engagement was an area of additional focus during 2020, 
not least because of the impact of COVID-19 on employee welfare 
and ongoing changes in working arrangements, resulting in many 
colleagues working from home. The Board was keen to hear directly 
from employees and their experiences during these challenging  
times. Given travel restrictions, we were unfortunately unable to  
meet colleagues in our markets, but with the adoption of various 
technologies we hosted virtual townhall meetings in every major 
region in our footprint, with every Board member participating in  
at least one event. The response from our employees has been 
extremely positive and we will seek to build on this in the year ahead.

Improved linkages between the Group and subsidiary boards  
was a further key area of focus for us in 2020 following our Board 
effectiveness reviews last year and the creation of our Greater  
China & North Asia hub. We held regular meetings with subsidiary 
board members across our footprint to ensure a strong sharing of 
perspectives and the re-enforcing of linkages between the Group  
and all its key subsidiaries. I am pleased with the progress that has 
been made here. You will see reference to the annual subsidiary calls 
for the sharing of issues and views on page 107.

As part of Board succession planning, we welcomed Phil Rivett to the 
Board in May following the retirement of Louis Cheung earlier in the 
year. In December, Phil succeeded Naguib Kheraj as Chair of the  
Audit Committee while Naguib succeeded David Conner as Chair  
of the Board Risk Committee. In September, we announced that  
Maria Ramos would join the Board, Audit Committee and Board Risk 
Committee in January 2021. Our succession planning discussions  
also led us to set ambitious aspirations in relation to the diversity of 
our Board both in terms of ethnicity and the wider diversity agenda. 
Further details on Board and committee changes during 2020, 
forward succession planning and changes to our diversity policy are 
provided in the Governance and Nomination Committee report  
on pages 125 to 129. Following the recent announcement of Ngozi 
Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment as Director-General of the World Trade 
Organisation from 1 March 2021, Ngozi will step down from the Board 
on 28 February 2021. Ngozi has made valuable contributions to the 
Board during her tenure and we wish her all the best in her new role.

The year ahead will remain challenging, and we have much to deliver. 
The Board has started the year focusing on the impact of climate 
change and our progress on our sustainability agenda. This is a good 
place to start the discussion for the future and the need to deliver in 
the changed environment in which we find ourselves today. 

If we execute our Corporate Plan well, leading with our purpose, we 
will be able to deliver not just a leaner, more profitable and strongly 
capitalised bank in the coming years, but a better one. Better for our 
customers, our communities, our employees and our shareholders. 

I would like to close by thanking my colleagues across the Group and 
my fellow Board members for their commitment and contribution over 
this intense and challenging period. 

José Viñals  
Group Chairman

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Board of Directors

Committee key

Committee Chair shown in green

A

Ri

V

N

C

R

Audit Committee

Board Risk Committee

Brand, Values and Conduct Committee

Governance and Nomination Committee

Board Financial Crime Risk Committee

Remuneration Committee

José Viñals (66) 
Group Chairman

Appointed October 2016 and Group 
Chairman in December 2016. José was 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
Chartered Bank in April 2019.

Bill Winters, CBE (59) 
Group Chief Executive

Appointed June 2015. Bill was also 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
Chartered Bank in June 2015.

Andy Halford (61)
Group Chief Financial Officer

Appointed: July 2014. Andy was also 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
Chartered Bank in July 2014. 

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Experience José has substantive experience 
in the international regulatory arena and 
has exceptional understanding of the 
economic and political dynamics of our 
markets and of global trade, and a deep 
and broad network of decision-makers in 
the jurisdictions in our footprint.

Career José began his career as an 
economist and as a member of the faculty 
at Stanford University, before spending 
25 years at the Central Bank of Spain, where 
he rose to be the Deputy Governor. José 
has held many other board and advisory 
positions, including Chair of Spain’s Deposit 
Guarantee Fund, Chair of the International 
Relations Committee at the European 
Central Bank, member of the Economic 
and Financial Committee of the European 
Union, and Chair of the Working Group 
on Institutional Investors at the Bank for 
International Settlements. José joined the 
International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2009 
and stepped down in September 2016 to 

Experience Bill is a career banker with 
significant frontline global banking 
experience and a proven track record of 
leadership and financial success. He has 
extensive experience of working in emerging 
markets and a proven record in spotting and 
nurturing talent.

Career Bill began his career with JP Morgan, 
where he went on to become one of its top 
five most senior executives and later co-chief 
executive officer at the investment bank 
from 2004 until he stepped down in 2009. 
Bill was invited to be a committee member 
of the Independent Commission on Banking, 
established in 2010, to recommend ways to 
improve competition and financial stability 
in banking. Subsequently, he served as an 

Experience Andy has a strong finance 
background and deep experience of 
managing complex international businesses 
across dynamic and changing markets.

Career Andy was finance director at East 
Midlands Electricity plc prior to joining 
Vodafone in 1999 as financial director 
for Vodafone Limited, the UK operating 
company. Andy was later appointed 
financial director for Vodafone’s Northern 
Europe, Middle East and Africa region, and 
later the chief financial officer of Verizon 
Wireless in the US. He was a member of 
the board of representatives of the Verizon 
Wireless Partnership. Andy was appointed 
chief financial officer of Vodafone Group plc 
in 2005, a position he held for nine years. 

join Standard Chartered PLC. While at the 
IMF, he was the Financial Counsellor and 
the Director of the Monetary and Capital 
Markets Department, and was responsible 
for the oversight and direction of the IMF’s 
monetary and financial sector work. He 
was the IMF’s chief spokesman on financial 
matters, including global financial stability. 
During his tenure at the IMF, José was 
a member of the Plenary and Steering 
Committee of the Financial Stability  
Board, playing a key role in the reform  
of international financial regulation.

External appointments José is a Board 
Member of the Institute of International 
Finance (IIF) and a Member of the IIF’s 
Group of Trustees of the Principles for Stable 
Capital Flows and Fair Debt Restructuring. 
He is also a member of the Board of 
Directors of the Bretton Woods Committee 
and serves as a Board Member of the Social 
Progress Imperative. 

Committees  N

adviser to the Parliamentary Commission on 
Banking Standards and was asked by the 
Court of the Bank of England to complete an 
independent review of the bank’s liquidity 
operations. In 2011, Bill founded Renshaw 
Bay, an alternative asset management 
firm, where he was chairman and CEO. 
He stepped down on appointment to the 
Standard Chartered PLC Board.

Bill was previously a non-executive director 
of Pension Insurance Corporation plc and 
RIT Capital Partners plc. He received a CBE 
in 2013.

External appointments Bill is an 
independent non-executive director of 
Novartis International AG.

Bill Winters leads the 
Management Team

As Group Chief Financial Officer at Standard 
Chartered, Andy is responsible for Finance, 
Corporate Treasury, Strategy, Group 
Corporate Development, Group Investor 
Relations, Property and Supply Chain 
Management functions.

External appointments Andy is Senior 
Independent Director and Chair of the Audit 
Committee at Marks and Spencer Group 
plc. He is also a trustee of the Standard 
Chartered Foundation.

Andy Halford also sits on the 
Management Team

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Directors’ report

Board of Directors

Naguib Kheraj (56)
Deputy Chairman 

Appointed January 2014 and Deputy 
Chairman in December 2016. Naguib  
was appointed to the Court of Standard 
Chartered Bank in April 2019.
Chartered Bank in April 2019.
Chartered Bank in April 2019.

Christine Hodgson, CBE (56)
Senior Independent Director 

Appointed September 2013 and Senior 
September 2013 and Senior 
Appointed September 2013 and Senior 
Appointed 
Independent Director in February 2018. 
Independent Director in February 2018. 
Independent Director in February 2018. 
Independent Director in February 2018. 
Independent Director in February 2018. 

Gay Huey Evans, OBE (66)
Independent Non-Executive Director 

Appointed April 2015. Gay was  
appointed to the Court of Standard 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
Chartered Bank in April 2019.
Chartered Bank in April 2019.
Chartered Bank in April 2019.

Phil Rivett (65)
Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed May 2020. Phil was also 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
Chartered Bank in May 2020.
Chartered Bank in May 2020.
Chartered Bank in May 2020.

Experience Naguib has significant banking 
and finance experience. 

Career Naguib began his career at Salomon 
Brothers in 1986 and went on to hold senior 
positions at Robert Fleming, Barclays,  
JP Morgan Cazenove and Lazard. Over the 
course of 12 years at Barclays, Naguib served 
as group finance director and vice-chairman 
and in various business leadership positions 
in wealth management, institutional asset 
management and investment banking. 
Naguib was also a Barclays’ nominated non-
executive director of ABSA Group in South 
Africa and of First Caribbean International 
Bank. He also served as chief executive 
officer of JP Morgan Cazenove. 

Naguib is a former non-executive director of 
NHS England and served as a senior adviser 
to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs 
and to the Financial Services Authority in 
the UK. He also served as a member of the 
investment committee of the Wellcome 
Trust and the Finance Committee of the 
Oxford University Press.

External appointments Naguib is Chairman 
of Rothesay Life, a specialist pensions insurer 
and a member of the Finance Committee of 
the University of Cambridge. Naguib spends 
a substantial amount of his time as a senior 
adviser to the Aga Khan Development 
Network and serves on the boards of various 
entities within its network.

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Experience Christine has strong business 
leadership, finance, accounting and 
technology experience. 

Career Christine held a number of senior 
positions at Coopers & Lybrand and was 
corporate development director of Ronson 
plc before joining Capgemini in 1997, where 
she held a variety of roles including chief 
financial officer for Capgemini UK plc and 
chief executive officer of technology services 
for North West Europe. Christine stepped 
down as chair for Capgemini UK plc in 
March 2020. Christine was previously a 
trustee of MacIntyre Care, a non-executive 
director of Ladbrokes Coral Group plc, and 
stepped down from the board of The Prince 

of Wales’ Business in the Community on  
9 February 2021.

External appointments Christine is chair  
of Severn Trent Plc and The Careers & 
Enterprise Company Ltd, a government-
backed company established to help inspire 
and prepare young people for the world  
of work. She is also Senior Pro Chancellor  
and Chair of Council of Loughborough 
University and External Board Advisor to 
Spencer Stuart Management Consultants 
NV. Christine received a CBE for services  
to education in the Queen’s New Year 
Honours 2020.

Committees  R   A   C   V   N

Experience Gay has extensive banking and 
financial services experience with significant 
commercial and UK regulatory and 
governance experience. 

Career Gay spent over 30 years working 
within the financial services industry, the 
international capital markets and with the 
financial regulator. Gay spent seven years with 
the Financial Services Authority from 1998  
to 2005, where she was director of markets 
division, capital markets sector leader, with 
responsibility for establishing a market-
facing division for the supervision of market 
infrastructure, oversight of market conduct 
and developing markets policy. From 2005 to 
2008, Gay held a number of roles at Citibank, 
including head of governance, Citi Alternative 

Investments, EMEA, before joining Barclays 
Capital where she was vice chair of investment 
banking and investment management.  
She was previously a non-executive director 
at Aviva plc, the London Stock Exchange 
Group plc and Itau BBA International Plc.  
She received an OBE for services to financial 
services and diversity in 2016.

External appointments Gay is Chair of the 
London Metal Exchange, a non-executive 
director of ConocoPhillips and IHS Markit, 
and a non-executive member of the HM 
Treasury board. Gay also sits on the panel  
of senior advisers at Chatham House and 
the Board of the Benjamin Franklin House.

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Experience Phil has significant professional 
accountancy and audit experience, 
specifically focused in the financial  
services sector. He has a strong technical 
understanding and broad financial and 
business experience.

Career Phil joined PricewaterhouseCoopers 
(PwC) as a graduate trainee accountant in 
1976, becoming a Partner in 1986. He spent 
more than 30 years as a Partner at PwC and 
was lead relationship Partner for several 
large FTSE 100 companies including a 
number of international banks and financial 
services institutions. He also has substantial 
international experience, having worked 
with banks across the Middle East and Asia, 
in particular China.

He became Leader of the Financial Services 
Assurance practice in 2007 and was 
appointed Chairman of its Global Financial 
Services Group in 2011. Phil has sat on a 
number of global financial services industry 
groups, producing guidelines for best 
practice in governance, financial reporting 
and risk management.

External appointments Phil is an 
independent non-executive director of 
Nationwide Building Society, the world’s 
largest building society.

Committees  A   Ri   N  

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Jasmine Whitbread (57) 
Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed April 2015. Jasmine was 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
Chartered Bank in April 2019.
Chartered Bank in April 2019.
Chartered Bank in April 2019.

David Conner (72)
Independent Non-Executive Director 

Appointed January 2016. David was 
January 2016. David was 
Appointed January 2016. David was 
Appointed 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
Chartered Bank in April 2019.
Chartered Bank in April 2019.
Chartered Bank in April 2019.
Chartered Bank in April 2019.
Chartered Bank in April 2019.

Byron Grote (72)
Independent Non-Executive Director 

July 2014.
Appointed July 2014.
Appointed July 2014.
Appointed 

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (66)
Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed November 2017. Ngozi was 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
Chartered Bank in April 2019. 

Ngozi will be appointed as Director-General 
of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) 
from 1 March 2021 and will step down from 
from 1 March 2021 and will step down from 
from 1 March 2021 and will step down from 
the Board on 28 February 2021.
the Board on 28 February 2021.
the Board on 28 February 2021.

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Experience Jasmine has significant business 
leadership experience as well as first-hand 
experience of operating across our markets. 

Career Jasmine began her career in 
international marketing in the technology 
sector and joined Thomson Financial in  
1994, becoming managing director of the 
Electronic Settlements Group. After 
completing the Stanford Executive Program, 
Jasmine set up one of Oxfam’s first regional 
offices, managing nine country operations  
in West Africa, later becoming international 
director responsible for Oxfam’s 
programmes worldwide. Jasmine joined 
Save the Children in 2005, where she was 
responsible for revitalising one of the UK’s 
most established charities. In 2010, she was 

appointed as Save the Children’s first 
international chief executive officer, a 
position she held until she stepped down  
in 2015. Jasmine stepped down as a 
non-executive director from the Board  
of BT Group plc in December 2019.

External appointments Jasmine is chief 
executive of London First, a business 
campaigning group with a mission to  
make London the best city in the world to  
do business and a non-executive director  
of WPP Plc. She will step down as chief 
executive of London First and become  
chair of Travis Perkins plc in March 2021. 

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Experience David has significant global and 
corporate, investment and retail banking 
experience, strong risk management 
credentials and an in-depth knowledge  
of Asian markets. 

Career David spent his career in the 
financial services industry, living and working 
across Asia for 37 years, for both Citibank 
and OCBC Bank. He joined Citibank in 1976 
as a management trainee and went on  
to hold a number of Asia-based senior 
management roles, including chief executive 
officer of Citibank India and managing 
director and marketing manager at Citibank 
Japan, before leaving Citibank in 2002. 

David joined OCBC Bank in Singapore as 
chief executive officer and director in 2002. 
He implemented a strategy of growth and 
led the bank through a period of significant 
turbulence. David stepped down as chief 
executive officer in 2012 but remained as  
a non-executive director on the board of 
OCBC Bank, before leaving the group in 
2014. He was previously a non-executive 
director of GasLog Ltd.

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David is also a member of the Combined  
US Operations Risk Committee of Standard 
Chartered Bank.

Experience Byron has broad and deep 
commercial, financial and international 
experience. 

Career From 1988 to 2000, Byron worked 
across BP in a variety of commercial, 
operational and executive roles. He was 
appointed as chief executive of BP 
Chemicals and a managing director of BP 
plc in 2000 and had regional group-level 
accountability for BP’s activities in Asia from 
2001 to 2006. Byron was chief financial 
officer of BP plc from 2002 until 2011, 
subsequently serving as BP’s executive vice 
president, corporate business activities,  
from 2012 to 2013, with responsibility for  

the group’s integrated supply and trading 
activities, alternative energy, shipping and 
technology. Byron was a non-executive 
director at Unilever plc and Unilever NV 
before stepping down in 2015. 

External appointments Byron is Senior 
Independent Director at Anglo American 
plc, a non-executive director and chair of  
the Audit Committee at Tesco PLC and is 
deputy chairman of the supervisory board 
at Akzo Nobel NV. He is also a member of 
the European Audit Committee Leadership 
Network.

Committees  A   R  

Experience Ngozi has significant geopolitical, 
economic, risk and development experience 
and expertise at a governmental and 
intergovernmental level.

Career A development economist, Ngozi 
spent 25 years working at the World Bank in 
various positions. After leaving in 2003, she 
served as the Finance Minister of Nigeria 
from 2003 to 2006. She returned to the 
World Bank in 2007, serving as a Managing 
Director until 2011, when she was appointed 
to the role of Minister of Finance and 
Coordinating Minister of Economy in the 
Nigerian government, a position she held 
until 2015. During her time in government, 
she spearheaded Nigeria’s successful 
programme to obtain debt relief and is 
credited with developing reforms that 
helped improve governmental transparency 
to stabilise and grow the Nigerian economy. 
Ngozi was until recently chair of GAVI and 

the African Risk Capacity, and co-chair of 
Lumos Global before stepping down in 2020.

External appointments Ngozi is an 
independent director of Twitter, Inc. and 
holds a number of prestigious international 
advisory positions, including the Asian 
Infrastructure Investment Bank. Ngozi is 
co-chair of the Global Commission on 
Economy and Climate. She is also a member 
of the G20 Eminent Persons Group, reviewing 
Global Financial Governance, an ambassador 
of the Open Government Partnership and is 
a trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for 
International Peace. Ngozi was appointed 
special envoy for the Access to COVID-19 Tools 
Accelerator as well as the African Union to 
address the economic challenges as a result  
of the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020.

Committees  V  

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Directors’ report

Board of Directors

Maria Ramos (62)
Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed January 2021. Maria was  
also appointed to the Court of Standard 
Chartered Bank in January 2021.
Chartered Bank in January 2021.
Chartered Bank in January 2021.
Chartered Bank in January 2021.
Chartered Bank in January 2021.

David Tang (66) 
Independent Non-Executive Director 

Appointed June 2019. David was also 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
Chartered Bank in June 2019.

Carlson Tong (66) 
Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed February 2019. Carlson was 
appointed to the Court of Standard 
Chartered Bank in April 2019.

Amanda Mellor (56)
Amanda Mellor (56)
Group Company Secretary 
Group Company Secretary 

Appointed Amanda was appointed  
Amanda was appointed 
Appointed Amanda was appointed 
Appointed 
Group Company Secretary in May 2019. 
Group Company Secretary in May 2019. 
Group Company Secretary in May 2019. 
Group Company Secretary in May 2019. 
Group Company Secretary in May 2019. 

Experience Maria has extensive CEO, 
banking, commercial, financial, policy and 
international experience.

Career Based in South Africa, Maria served as 
chief executive officer of ABSA Group Limited 
(previously Barclays Africa Group), a diversified 
financial services group serving 12 African 
markets from 2009 to 2019. Before joining 
ABSA, Maria was the group chief executive  
of Transnet Ltd, the state-owned freight 
transport and logistics service provider for  
five years. Prior to her CEO career, Maria 
served for seven years as director-general of 
South Africa’s National Treasury (formerly the 
Department of Finance) where she played a 
key role in transforming the National Treasury 
into one of the most effective and efficient 
state departments in the post-apartheid 

Experience David has deep understanding  
and experience of emerging technologies in 
the context of some of our key markets, most 
notably mainland China.

Career David has more than 30 years of 
international and Chinese operational experience 
in the technology and venture capital industries, 
covering venture investments, sales, marketing, 
business development, research and 
development, and manufacturing. From 1989 
to 2004, David held a number of senior 
positions in Apple, Digital Equipment Corp 
and 3Com based in China and across the  
Asia Pacific region. From 2004 to 2010, David 
held various positions in Nokia, including 
corporate vice president, chairman of Nokia 
Telecommunications Ltd and vice chairman of 
Nokia (China) Investment Co. Ltd. He went on 

Experience Carlson has a deep understanding 
and knowledge of operating in mainland 
China and Hong Kong and has significant 
experience of the financial services sector in 
those markets.

Career Carlson joined KPMG UK in 1979, 
becoming an Audit Partner of the Hong Kong 
firm in 1989. He was elected Chairman of 
KPMG China and Hong Kong in 2007, before 
becoming Asia Pacific chairman and a member 
of the global board and global executive 
team in 2009. He spent over 30 years at KPMG 
and was actively involved in the work of the 
securities and futures markets, serving as a 
member of the Main Board and Growth 
Enterprise Market Listing Committee of the 
Stock Exchange of Hong Kong from 2002 to 
2008 (Chair from 2006 to 2008). After retiring 
from KPMG in 2011, he was appointed a 
non-executive director of the Securities and 
Futures Commission, becoming its Chair in 

Experience Prior to joining Standard 
Chartered, Amanda was Group Secretary 
and Head of Corporate Governance at Marks 
and Spencer Group plc (M&S) from 2009-2019, 
where she was also an executive member of 
the Operating Committee. From 2004-2009, 
she was Head of Investor Relations at M&S 
having been Director of Corporate Relations at 
Arcadia Group plc and the Burton Group plc. 
Prior to working in investor relations, Amanda 
worked in investment banking at James Capel 
and Robert Fleming.

administration. Maria has served on a number 
of international boards, including Sanlam Ltd, 
Remgro Ltd, and SABMiller plc and more 
recently was a non-executive director of  
The Saudi British Bank and Public Investment 
Corporation Limited before stepping down  
in December 2020.

External appointments Maria is Chair of 
AngloGold Ashanti Limited and a non-
executive director of Compagnie Financière 
Richemont SA. She is also a member of the 
Group of Thirty, sits on the International 
Advisory Board of the Blavatnik School of 
Government at Oxford University, the advisory 
board of the Bretton Woods Committee, and 
the Board of Protectors of Ikamva Labantu 
Charitable Trust. 

Committees  A   Ri  

to become corporate senior vice president, 
regional president of Advanced Micro  
Devices (AMD), Greater China, before joining 
NGP Capital (Nokia Growth Partners) as 
Managing Director and Partner in 2013.

External appointments David is managing 
director and partner of NGP Capital in Beijing, 
managing investments in a range of 
technology start-up and emerging technology 
companies. David is also a non-executive 
director of JOYY Inc., the Chinese live 
streaming social media platform, listed on the 
Nasdaq, and Kingsoft Corporation, a leading 
Chinese software and internet services company, 
listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Committees  V   Ri  

2012 until he stepped down in October 2018. 
He oversaw a number of major policy initiatives 
during his term as the chair including the 
introduction of the Hong Kong and Shanghai/
Shenzhen Stock connect schemes and the 
mutual recognition of funds between the 
mainland and Hong Kong. Carlson was appointed 
as a non-executive director of the Hong Kong 
International Airport Authority in 2017, a position 
he held until he stepped down in July 2020.

External appointments Carlson sits on various 
Hong Kong SAR government bodies, including 
as chair of the University Grants Committee 
and a member of the Hong Kong Human 
Resource Planning Commission. Carlson is also 
an observer on behalf of the Hong Kong 
Government for Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.

Committees  A   Ri   C

Career Amanda is a non-executive director of 
Volution Group PLC and a member of all their 
board committees, having previously served 
as a non-executive director and Chair of the 
Remuneration Committee of Kier Group plc. 
Amanda served as a member of the Council 
and the Remuneration Committee of Leeds 
University from 2013-2019, where she is also 
a visiting professor of the Inter-Disciplinary 
Ethics Applied Centre. Amanda is a Fellow  
of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries.

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Management Team

Bill Winters, CBE (59) 
Group Chief Executive

Andy Halford (61)
Group Chief Financial Officer

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Simon Cooper (53)
Simon Cooper (53)
Simon Cooper (53)
CEO, Corporate, Commercial 
CEO, Corporate, Commercial 
CEO, Corporate, Commercial  
& Institutional Banking and  
& Institutional Banking and 
& Institutional Banking and 
Europe & Americas
Europe & Americas
Europe & Americas
Europe & Americas
Europe & Americas

David Fein (60) 
Group General Counsel

Appointed Simon joined the Group as 
CEO, Corporate & Institutional Banking 
in April 2016. He assumed additional 
responsibility for Commercial Banking 
in March 2018 and the Europe & 
Americas region in January 2021.

Career Simon was previously group 
managing director and chief executive  
of Global Commercial Banking at HSBC.  
He has extensive experience across our 
markets and client segments. Simon joined 
HSBC in 1989 and held a number of senior 
roles there, including deputy chairman and 

chief executive officer, Middle East and 
North Africa; chief executive officer, Korea; 
and head of Corporate and Investment 
Banking, Singapore. He has significant 
experience in the areas of corporate finance, 
corporate banking and transaction banking.

External appointments Simon is a member 
of the advisory board of the Lee Kong 
Chian School of Business and a trustee of 
the Standard Chartered Foundation.

Appointed David joined the Group in 
September 2013 as Group General Counsel, 
advising the Board and the Court of the 
Bank on all material legal matters. He 
oversees Standard Chartered’s Legal 
function, Group Corporate Secretariat  
and Shared Investigative Services. 

External appointments David is Chair of 
the United for Wildlife Financial Taskforce, 
a member of the Board of Trustees and 
Treasurer of American Friends of The Royal 
Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of 
Cambridge and a member of the Board  
of Guiding Eyes for the Blind.

Dr. Michael Gorriz (61) 
Group Chief Information Officer

Career David has held various senior roles 
in the US Government, including as US 
Attorney for the District of Connecticut  
and as Associate Counsel to the President. 
He has extensive experience fighting 
financial crime and a track record of forming 
and supporting public-private partnerships.

Appointed Michael joined Standard 
Chartered as Group Chief Information 
Officer (CIO) in July 2015.

Career An industry award winner, Michael 
joined from Daimler AG where he was 
most recently vice president and CIO with 
responsibility for the smooth operation of 
all Daimler systems and the management 
of IT projects globally. He has held various 
CIO roles within the Daimler group and has 
spent many years working across Standard 
Chartered’s footprint.

External appointments None

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Directors’ report Management Team

Judy Hsu (57)
CEO, Consumer, Private  
CEO, Consumer, Private 
CEO, Consumer, Private 
and Business Banking
and Business Banking
and Business Banking
and Business Banking
and Business Banking

Benjamin Hung (56)
CEO, Asia

Tanuj Kapilashrami (43)
Group Head, Human Resources

Sunil Kaushal (55) 
CEO, Africa & Middle East

Appointed Judy was appointed CEO, 
Consumer, Private and Business Banking  
on 1 January 2021.

Career Prior to her most recent 
appointment, Judy was Regional CEO, 
ASEAN & South Asia, a position she held 
from June 2018. Judy was the country 
CEO for Standard Chartered Singapore 
from 2015 to 2018. She joined Standard 
Chartered in December 2009 as the Global 
Head of Wealth Management and led the 
strategic advancement of the Bank’s wealth 

management business. Prior to this, Judy 
spent 18 years at Citibank, where she held 
various leadership roles in its Consumer 
Banking business in Asia. Her last role at 
Citibank was Regional Head of Retail  
Bank for Asia Pacific and Country Head  
for International Personal Banking.

External appointments Judy sits on the 
Statutory Board of Workforce Singapore 
and the Board of Urban Redevelopment 
Authority, Singapore.

Appointed Ben was appointed CEO, Asia  
on 1 January 2021.

Career He joined Standard Chartered 
in 1992 and has held a number of senior 
management positions spanning corporate 
and retail banking. Prior to his current 
role, Ben was Regional CEO for Greater 
China & North Asia and CEO for the Bank’s 
Retail Banking and Wealth Management 
businesses globally. He is currently based in 
Hong Kong and has international banking 
experience in the United Kingdom and in 
Canada. Ben was previously chairman of the 
Hong Kong Association of Banks, a member 
of the Financial Services Development 
Council and a board member of the Hong 

Kong Airport Authority and the Hong Kong 
Hospital Authority. He was also a Council 
Member of the Hong Kong University.

External appointments Ben is an 
independent non-executive director of 
the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing 
Limited and a member of the Hong Kong 
Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers on 
Innovation and Strategic Development. 
He also sits on the Exchange Fund 
Advisory Committee and is a member 
of the General Committee of the Hong 
Kong General Chamber of Commerce.

Appointed Tanuj joined the Management 
Team as Group Head, Human Resources 
(HR) in November 2018. She joined the 
Bank in March 2017 as Group Head, Talent, 
Learning and Culture and took on additional 
responsibility as Global Head HR, Corporate, 
Commercial and Institutional Banking in 
May 2018.

Career Prior to joining the Group, Tanuj 
built her career at HSBC. She has worked 
across multiple HR disciplines in many of our 
footprint markets (Hong Kong, Singapore, 
Dubai, India and London).

External appointments Tanuj is a non-
executive director of Sainsbury’s PLC 
and a member of their Nomination and 
Remuneration Committees. She is a member 
of the Asia House board of trustees, of 
which Standard Chartered is a founding 
stakeholder. Asia House is a London-based 
centre of expertise on trade, investment 
and public policy whose mission it is to 
drive political, economic and commercial 
engagement between Asia and Europe. 
Tanuj is also a board member of the UK 
Financial Services Skills Commission.

Singapore, Global Head Small and Medium 
Enterprises (SME) and New Ventures in 
Singapore and Chief Executive Officer of 
Standard Chartered Bank (Taiwan) Ltd. 
Before joining Standard Chartered in 1998, 
Sunil held various banking positions at a 
number of leading international financial 
institutions.

External appointments None

Appointed Sunil was appointed CEO,  
Africa & Middle East on 1 October 2015. 

Career Prior to his current role, he was 
regional CEO South Asia, responsible for 
Standard Chartered’s operations in South 
Asia (which included India, Bangladesh, Sri 
Lanka, and Nepal). Sunil has over 32 years 
of banking experience in diverse markets 
and has been with Standard Chartered 
for approximately 23 years, holding senior 
roles across the Wholesale and Consumer 
Bank. He has rich experience across the 
Group’s footprint, having served as the 
Head of Corporate Banking in UAE, Head 
of Originations and Client Coverage in 

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Tracey McDermott, CBE (51) 
Group Head, Corporate Affairs,  
Brand & Marketing, Conduct,  
Financial Crime and Compliance

Mark Smith (59)
Group Chief Risk Officer

David Whiteing (52)
Group Chief Operating Officer 

Appointed Tracey joined as Group Head, 
Corporate, Public and Regulatory Affairs  
in March 2017. She has subsequently 
expanded her portfolio to take on Brand & 
Marketing and Conduct, Financial Crime 
and Compliance.

Career Prior to joining the bank, Tracey 
served as Acting Chief Executive of the 
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) from 
September 2015 to June 2016. She joined  
the then Financial Services Authority (FSA)  
in 2001 where she held a number of senior 
roles, including: Director of Supervision and 
Authorisations, and Director of Enforcement 
and Financial Crime. Tracey also served as a 
Board Member of the FSA from April 2013, as 
a member of the Financial Policy Committee 

of the Bank of England, and as non-
executive director of the Prudential 
Regulation Authority (PRA) from September 
2015 to June 2016. Prior to joining the FCA, 
Tracey worked as a lawyer in private 
practice, having spent time in law firms in 
the UK, USA and Brussels. In 2016, Tracey 
received a CBE for her services to financial 
service consumers and markets.

External appointments Tracey is a board 
member of UK Finance; a member of the 
International Regulatory Strategy Group 
(IRSG) Council; an Honorary Professor at the 
Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen 
Mary University of London; and a trustee of 
the Standard Chartered Foundation.

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Appointed Mark was appointed Group 
Chief Risk Officer in January 2016. Mark is 
responsible for managing Credit, Market 
and Operational Risk across the Group 
and ensuring the broader risk framework is 
effective. Mark is a member of the Court of 
Standard Chartered Bank.

Career Before joining Standard Chartered, 
Mark was the chief risk officer Europe, 
Middle East and Africa and global head, 
Wholesale Credit and Traded Risk for 
HSBC. He had a long and successful career 
at HSBC, having joined Midland Bank as 
a graduate trainee prior to its acquisition 
by HSBC. Other roles at HSBC included 

Appointed David joined Standard 
Chartered as Group Chief Operating  
Officer in September 2018.

Career David joined Standard Chartered 
from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia 
where he was the Group CIO, responsible for 
all of the technology and operations teams 
of the Group and for delivering the Group’s 
strategic pillar of ‘world leading application 
of operations and technology.’ He is a 
highly experienced executive with a track 
record of delivering cultural transformation 

chief operating officer, Global Corporate 
& Institutional Banking. He has worked in 
London and Hong Kong.

External appointments Mark is chair of the 
International Financial Risk Institute.

in Australia and overseas. Prior to joining 
the CBA Group in 2013, David was Vice 
President of Enterprise Systems at BP in the 
UK. He is a former Accenture technology 
and operations partner with extensive 
transformation experience.

External appointments David is an 
independent director of Silicon Quantum 
Computing Ltd.

Tracy Clarke was Regional CEO, Europe & Americas and CEO, Private Bank during the year before retiring from the Group, 
including the Management Team, on 31 December 2020. 

Claire Dixon will join the Management Team on 1 March 2021 as the Group Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing. 
Tracey McDermott will continue to run Conduct, Financial Crime and Compliance. 

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Corporate 
governance

The Board spends significant time 
considering and interacting with its 
key stakeholders to better understand 
their views and perspectives 

Our stakeholders, their perspectives: Driving commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity 

Clients 

Suppliers 

•  Differentiated 

products across 
our unique 
footprint, 
preferred bank

•  Digitally enabled 

and positive 
experience

•  Open, transparent 
and consistent 
tender process

•  Willingness to 

adopt supplier- 
driven innovations

Regulators and 
governments
•  Robust capital 

base and strong 
liquidity position

•  Standards for 
conduct and 
accountability  
for actions

Society 

Investors 

Employees 

•  Positive social 
and economic 
contributions

•  Strong and 
sustainable 
performance

•  Strong community 

• 

outreach and 
sustainability 
programme

Increased income, 
profit and return 
on investment

•  Fair and 

competitive 
performance 
management and 
remuneration

•  Engaged and 

diverse workforce

Key areas of Board discussion during 2020
The Board starts each year discussing its key priorities which 
help shape the forward plan. The agenda is structured to 
create the right balance between standing items, governance 
requirements, and areas of strategic and operational focus. 
The following pages provide insight into the content and 
structure of Board meetings during 2020, as well as the Board’s 
consideration and interaction with stakeholders.

Board meetings are an important mechanism to facilitate 
discussion and action. Some of the areas detailed on the 
following pages formed part of the standing agenda for  
each meeting, while others were reviewed periodically 
through the year.

Directors are alert to their statutory duties and obligations, 
including those outlined under section 172 of the Companies 
Act 2006 (s.172), and this forms an integral part of director 
induction and annual training. Directors recognise the 
importance of promoting open dialogue and the need to 
foster positive stakeholder relationships. 

The impact on stakeholders, their views and their feedback 
are collectively at the heart of Board discussions and 
actions, and directors spend significant time interacting 
with key stakeholders to better understand their views and 
perspectives. Some examples of this can be found in the  
s.172 disclosure on pages 54 to 71, within spotlight items  
on the following pages and on pages 102 to 107.

The Board will continue to enhance ways to ensure that 
stakeholders are given consideration as part of the Board’s 
decision-making. 

COVID-19 response

The pandemic crisis has significantly 
impacted people across the world, 
altering the way they work and how 
they live their lives. 

Standard Chartered is no exception, with the ever-changing 
pandemic landscape affecting how we operate across all of 
our markets. During this challenging time, upholding effective 
governance remotely has been a key priority for the Board.

The Board has played a crucial role in steering the Group’s 
COVID-19 response, assessing and evaluating potential actions. 
The Board’s focus, as the pandemic continued throughout this 
year, has been on protecting and advancing the interests of 
shareholders while also ensuring the wellbeing of colleagues, 
supporting the Group’s customers and clients, and showing 
solidarity with our communities. Most importantly, the Board 
has aspired to respond to this crisis, and everything it does, with 
humanity. In order to assist with this aim, the Board has delegated 
specific responsibilities to its committees and senior management 
team. This, combined with key stakeholder and expert opinions 
where necessary, ensured effective and considered decision-
making during 2020.

This year the Group committed to providing $1 billion in not-for-
profit loans to help finance companies that supply goods and 
services in the battle with COVID-19. The Group also created  
a $50 million Global Charitable Fund to provide emergency  
support, and longer-term assistance, for the communities most 
impacted by the pandemic. Find out more about the Group’s 
responses to COVID-19, and how we have supported our clients, 
colleagues and communities on pages 6 to 9.

The COVID-19 crisis has reinforced the relevance of the Group’s 
strategic priorities and has not prevented the Board from 
interacting with key stakeholders. The Board continues to engage 
with stakeholders virtually, both individually and as a group.  
All Board and committee meetings since March 2020 were 
adapted into virtual meetings, utilising interactive technology  
to ensure agile and robust engagement. In addition, a number  
of virtual ad hoc Board meetings were held through the year  
to ensure key areas of discussion were not compromised.  
Weekly risk reports were produced and provided to the Board 
during the peak of the pandemic.

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Key areas of Board discussion during 2020 continued

Group strategy

•  Reviewed and approved the Group’s refreshed strategic 

•  Reviewed and scrutinised the Group’s data and analytics 

priorities and critical enablers

strategy

•  Reviewed and approved the five-year Corporate Plan 

•  Discussed the Group’s technology strategy and core  

as a basis for preparation of the 2021 budget, receiving 
confirmation from the Group Chief Risk Officer that the plan 
is aligned to the Enterprise Risk Management Framework and 
the Group Risk Appetite Statement 

•  Reviewed and scrutinised the strategic and operational 

performance of the business across client segments, product 
groups and regions, which included details of their priorities, 
progress, opportunities and response to current events, 
including: 

–  The Greater China and North Asia region, particularly 
China, Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area strategy 

banking programme 

•  Discussed the Group’s Brexit preparedness

•  Approved the revised terms for the sale of the Group’s interest 

in PT Bank Permata Tbk

•  Discussed growth strategy for the Group’s retail, affluent  

retail and wealth businesses

•  Debated the Group’s operational alignment and  

operating model 

•  Received and discussed regular corporate development 

updates

–  The Middle East strategy, its priorities, the progress and 

•  Discussed the Group’s digital bank strategy and approved 

opportunities

initiatives in relation to digital bank partnerships

–  Priorities and progress against the strategy in Europe 

•  Reviewed the performance, opportunities and lessons from 

and Americas

the launch of Mox Bank 

–  Key activities and progress of SC Ventures and detail on 

managing risk associated with early stage venture

–  Corporate and Institutional Banking and Commercial 

Banking businesses, including performance and progress 
against the refreshed strategy 

•  Received an update on and discussed the key activities and 
progress of SC Ventures including detail on the new types of 
risks in digital business models

•  Discussed progress of the costs and investment initiatives  

and programmes

•  Reviewed and discussed the Group’s sustainable finance 

•  Discussed the Group’s investment in China Bohai Bank six 

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months after the Initial Public Offering

offering

Spotlight

Refreshing the Group’s strategic priorities

Providing oversight of the Group’s strategy is a central role of the Board. In June 2020,  
the Board held a two-day strategy session at which it focused on the evolution of  
the Group strategy towards four strategic priorities: Digital Network; Affluent; Mass 
Retail; and Sustainability, underpinned by three critical enablers: People and Culture; 
Innovation and Productivity and New Ways of Working. The Board spent time probing 
and scrutinising the refreshed strategic priorities supporting the approach to extend  
the Group’s existing scale and impact in a number of key areas, ultimately improving  
our return on tangible equity and delivering benefits to our key stakeholders. 
Further detail on the Group’s refreshed strategic priorities and critical enablers can be 
found in the Strategic report on pages 26 and 27.

Stakeholders

Clients

Suppliers

Regulators and governments

Society

Investors

Employees

Risk management

•  Received and discussed regular risk reports from the Group Chief 

Spotlight

Risk Officer including updates on the impact of COVID-19 on 
the Group’s operations, financial health and resilience, business 
resilience, liquidity and capital ratios

•  Approved material changes to the Enterprise Risk Management 

Framework arising from the 2020 review
•  Discussed and reviewed IT Governance
•  Received an update on, and discussed, the Group’s Information 
and Cyber Security strategy, risk profile and progress in respect 
to the transformation and remediation programme 
•  Approved the renewal of the Group’s insurance policies  

for 2020/21

COVID-19 risk reports

During the peak of the pandemic this year, the Board 
received weekly reports from the Group Chief Risk Officer 
regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the financial markets, 
the Group’s client segments, product groups and markets 
as well as employees and the communities in which we 
operate. Updates were later incorporated into Board 
papers throughout the year. 

•  Approved the risk appetite validation of the 2021 Corporate Plan 
•  Engaged with the PRA on the findings of their 2020 Periodic 

Stakeholders

Summary Meeting Letter

Clients

Suppliers

Regulators  
and governments

Society

Investors

Employees

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Key areas of Board discussion during 2020 continued

Financials and performance

•  Approved the Group’s 2021-25 Corporate Plan and 2021 budget
•  Monitored the Group’s financial performance
•  Approved the full year and half year results
•  Monitored and assessed the strength of the Group’s capital and 

liquidity positions 

•  Considered the Group’s approach to capital returns taking into 
account the significant change in the external environment and 
the regulatory landscape. Agreed the subsequent withdrawal of 
the 2019 dividend, suspension of the buy-back programme and 
took the decision not to pay any dividends in 2020

•  Supported the launch of a $50 million global fund to provide 
assistance to those across the Group’s markets affected by 
COVID-19

•  Received bi-annual updates on and discussed the Group’s major 
investment programmes in 2020 including an update on the 
evolution to client-led operations

•  Received bi-annual updates on, and discussed, investor  

relations matters

•  Discussed balance sheet optimisation and UK Solo resilience
•  Approved a number of internal capital actions in relation to the 

Group’s exit from the Principal Finance business

People, culture and values

Spotlight

Withdrawal of 2019 final dividend

In response to a request from the PRA and in reaction 
to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, the Board took the 
decision to withdraw its recommendation to pay a 20 
cents per ordinary share final dividend for 2019 and to 
suspend the buy-back programme. The Board took the 
decision after significant discussion and having taken 
into account the views and impact on key stakeholders.

Stakeholders

Regulators and  
governments

Investors

Employees

•  Approved the Group’s 2019 Modern Slavery Statement
•  Discussed progress made against the refreshed people strategy 
•  Discussed aspects of the Group’s global employee engagement 

Spotlight

Board Diversity Policy 

survey, My Voice

•  Discussed the Group’s approach to the Future Workplace,  

Now initiatives

•  Received an update on the progression and evolution of the 

Management Team’s succession plans

•  Discussed the Group’s Global Diversity & Inclusion initiatives
•  Discussed and approved the addition of two new aspirations 

into the Board Diversity Policy

•  Reviewed an annual report update on the operation and 
effectiveness of the Group’s Speaking Up programme

External environment

•  Received updates on the macroeconomic headwinds and 
tailwinds in the global economy, including an assessment 
of the impact on the key drivers of the Group’s financial 
performance

•  Received internal and external briefings and input across a 

range of subjects, including:
–  Overview of the growth outlook and risks across Africa 

and Middle East regions, and insights into the prospects 
and outlook across Europe, UK and the US

–  US-China relations and trade tensions, including impact 

on Hong Kong

–  Global response to COVID-19, global health and 

healthcare policy

–  Impact of COVID-19 on the global economy
–  Developments and key trends in international trade

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Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

This year the Board introduced two progressive aspirations 
into the Board Diversity Policy, demonstrating the Board’s 
commitment to reflecting the business and network we 
operate and to ensure that we better reflect the Group’s 
aspirations in relation to other strands of diversity. These 
changes included the adoption of an aspiration that a 
minimum of 30 per cent of the Board is from an ethnic 
minority background and for the Board to align with other 
aspects of diversity. We will report on progress against these 
aspirations alongside the more long-standing aspirations 
in next year’s report. Further details are set out on pages 127 
and 128.

Stakeholders

Regulators and  
governments

Society

Investors

Employees

Spotlight

Geopolitical landscape 

The Board invited a number of guest speakers to attend 
Board sessions providing important and specialist  
insight and context to the Board discussion, on a variety  
of highly relevant geopolitical matters, including:  
US-China tensions; Hong Kong regulatory environment;  
US political context and the impact of the US elections;  
and developments in global trade.

Stakeholders

Clients

Suppliers

Regulators and 
governments

Society

Investors

Employees

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Key areas of Board discussion during 2020 continued

Governance

•  Approved the appointments of Phil Rivett and Maria Ramos to 

Spotlight

the Board and approved changes to the Chairs of the Board Risk 
and Audit Committees

Subsidiary governance

•  Agreed new Articles of Association to be approved by resolution 

at the 2020 AGM

•  Received reports at each meeting from the Board committee 
Chairs on key areas of focus for the committees and quarterly 
updates from Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited 
and its Audit and Board Risk Committees

•  Approved the re-appointment of independent external adviser 

to the Board on cyber security and cyber threats 

•  Authorised various potential conflicts of interest relating to 

directors’ external appointments

•  Approved changes to the Group Sources of Authority Framework 

to support changes to the Group structure

•  Discussed the observations and themes arising from the 2020 

internal Board and committees’ effectiveness review and 
approved the 2021 Action Plan

•  Approved the adoption of the Board’s new formal Terms of 
Reference and the updated Terms of Reference for each of  
its committees 

•  Further developed meaningful linkages between the Board  

and its subsidiaries at chair, board and committee level

The Board made significant progress in developing  
and enhancing its linkages and engagement with the 
Group’s subsidiary boards during the year through a 
variety of forums. This included: the Group Chairman’s 
virtual meetings with subsidiary chairs; subsidiary board 
committee chairs calls with the Audit, Board Risk, Board 
Financial Crime Risk and Remuneration Committees; 
and Board member attendance at subsidiary board 
and/or committee meetings, including those held by 
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and 
Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited.

Further detail regarding the Board’s engagement with 
the Group’s subsidiaries can be found on page 107.

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Stakeholders

Clients

Suppliers

Regulators  
and governments

Society

Employees

Shareholder and stakeholder engagement

•  Engaged virtually with investors, held meetings with brokers, 

Spotlight

discussed the views of institutional shareholders

•  Responded to retail shareholders’ questions received in 

Virtual retail shareholder event

advance of the 2020 AGM

•  Held a virtual retail shareholder event

•  Held a virtual stewardship event

•  Engaged with key clients and regulators 

•  Discussed support provided to clients, colleagues and 

communities during the pandemic 

•  Received bi-annual updates from Investor Relations, 
including share price and valuation analysis, market 
engagement and ownership analysis and sell side sentiment

•  Received an update on and discussed the Group’s global 

community initiative, Futuremakers by Standard Chartered

•  Approved the launch of a shareholder tracing programme

Given the impact of COVID-19, we were forced to hold 
the Standard Chartered PLC AGM in May 2020 as a 
procedural meeting, in line with the emergency framework 
approved by the government in the UK. We were unable 
to invite shareholders to attend the meeting, but instead 
asked them to vote in advance and submit questions by 
email. While we had every intention of holding a retail 
shareholder event later in the year, COVID-19 restrictions 
in the UK continued. Instead the Board hosted a virtual 
event, giving shareholders the opportunity to hear directly 
from the Board on topics raised by shareholders through 
an interactive Q&A session. Some of the areas covered 
included: performance against the Group’s refreshed 
strategic priorities; the impact of COVID-19 across the 
Group’s markets; the decision to withdraw the 2019 final 
dividend; as well as detail on the initiatives the Group  
had put in place to support our clients, colleagues  
and communities.

Stakeholders

Regulators and governments 

Society

Investors

Employees

For a detailed overview of our strategy see pages 24 to 27

Examples of how the Board considered stakeholder perspectives in some 
principal decisions during the year are provided on pages 55 and 60

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Board and committee structure: decisions, responsibilities and delegation of authority

Standard Chartered PLC
The Board is collectively responsible for 
establishing the Company’s purpose, 
values and strategy, promoting its 
culture, overseeing its conduct and 
affairs for promoting the long-term 
success of the Group and for ensuring 
leadership within a framework of 
effective controls.

The Board sets the strategic direction of 
the Group, approves the strategy and 
takes the appropriate action to ensure 
that the Group is suitably resourced to 
achieve its strategic aspirations. 

The Board considers the impact of its 
decisions and its responsibilities to all 
of the Group’s stakeholders, including 
the Group’s employees, shareholders, 
regulators, clients, suppliers, the 
environment and the communities in 
which it operates.

The Board discharges its responsibilities 
directly or, in order to assist it in 
carrying out its function of ensuring 
effective independent oversight and 
stewardship, delegates specified 
responsibilities to its committees. Details 
of the significant topics discussed and 
considered by the Board committees in 
2020 can be found in this report.

Biographies for each director are set out 
on pages 83 to 86.

Audit Committee
Oversight and review of matters relating to financial reporting, the Group’s 
internal controls and internal financial controls, and the work undertaken 
by Conduct, Financial Crime and Compliance, Group Internal Audit and 
the Group’s Statutory Auditor, Ernst & Young LLP (EY).

Read more  
on page 108

Board Risk Committee
Oversight and review of the Group’s Risk Appetite Statement, the 
appropriateness and effectiveness of the Group’s risk management 
systems and the principal risks to the Group’s business. Furthermore, 
consideration of the implications of material regulatory change 
proposals and due diligence on material acquisitions and disposals.

Brand, Values and Conduct Committee
Oversight of the Group’s brand, culture, valued behaviours, conduct, 
government and regulatory relations, sustainability priorities and 
processes for managing reputational risk and workforce engagement. 

Governance and Nomination Committee
Oversight and review of the Board and executive succession, overall 
Board effectiveness and corporate governance issues. 

Board Financial Crime Risk Committee
Oversight and review of the effectiveness of the Group’s policies, 
procedures, systems, controls and assurance arrangements designed  
to identify, assess, manage, monitor and prevent and/or detect money 
laundering, non-compliance with sanctions, bribery, corruption and  
tax crime by third parties.

Read more  
on page 115

Read more  
on page 121

Read more  
on page 125

Read more  
on page 130

Remuneration Committee
Oversight and review of remuneration, share plans and other incentives. 

Read more  
on page 133

Group Chief Executive
Responsible for the management of all aspects of 
the Group’s businesses, developing the strategy in 
conjunction with the Group Chairman and the 
Board, and leading its implementation.

The Board delegates authority for the operational 
management of the Group’s business to the Group 
Chief Executive for further delegation by him in 
respect of matters that are necessary for the 
effective day-to-day running and management  
of the business. The Board holds the Group Chief 
Executive accountable in discharging his delegated 
responsibilities.

Management Team
The Management Team comprises the Group Chief Executive  
and the Group Chief Financial Officer, regional CEOs, client  
segment CEOs, and our global function heads. It has responsibility 
for executing the strategy. Details of the Group’s Management  
Team can be found on pages 87 to 89.

Terms of Reference for the Board and each committee are in place to provide clarity over where responsibility for decision-
making lies. These are reviewed annually against industry best practice and corporate governance provisions and guidance, 
including the PRA Supervisory Statement on Board Responsibilities.

With the exception of the Governance and Nomination Committee (where the Group Chairman is its Chair) and the Board 
Financial Crime Risk Committee (where two external advisers are members), all of the Board committees are comprised of 
independent non-executive directors (INEDs) who bring a diversity of skills, experience and knowledge to the discussion,  
and play an important role in supporting the Board.

Written Terms of Reference for the Board and its committees can be viewed at sc.com/termsofreference

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Code compliance

The UK Corporate Governance Code 2018 (the 
Code) and the Hong Kong Corporate Governance 
Code contained in Appendix 14 of the Hong 
Kong Listing Rules (HK Code) are the standards 
against which we measured ourselves in 2020. 

The directors are pleased to confirm that Standard 
Chartered PLC (the Company) continued to comply with 
the provisions set out in the Code and the HK Code for 
the year under review other than those identified below.

Throughout this corporate governance report we 
have provided an insight into how governance 
operates within the Group and how we have applied 
the principles set out in the Code and HK Code.

The Group confirms that it has adopted a code of 
conduct regarding directors’ securities transactions on 
terms no less exacting than required by Appendix 10 
of the Hong Kong Listing Rules. Having made specific 
enquiry of all directors, the Group confirms that all 
directors have complied with the required standards  
of the adopted code of conduct.

Due to inadvertent oversight, the Company did not maintain on 
the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Limited’s website an updated 
list of its directors identifying their roles and functions in October 
and November 2020, and therefore deviated from provision A.3.2 
of the HK Code. The Company did maintain detail on its own 
website, a key aspect of the provision, and notified the market via 
regulatory announcements on the London Stock Exchange and 
Hong Kong Stock Exchange Limited. The deviation was rectified 
by uploading an updated list of its directors immediately upon 
discovering the oversight.

Copies of the UK Corporate Governance Code and the Hong Kong 
Corporate Governance Code can be found at frc.org.uk and  
hkex.com.hk respectively

To the extent applicable, information required by paragraphs 
13(2)(c), (d), (f), (h) and (i) of Schedule 7 of the Large and  
Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and  
Reports) Regulations 2008 is available in Other disclosures  
on pages 167 to 176

Our Board meetings
The Board, supported by the Group Company Secretary, 
recognises the importance of maintaining a robust schedule 
of meetings and a rolling agenda to ensure its time is used 
most effectively and efficiently. Flexibility in the programme 
is key and allows specific items to be added to any agenda 
so that the Board can focus on important matters at the 
appropriate time. 

In response to the impact of the pandemic, the Board 
was quick to adapt to new ways of operating. The Board 
significantly increased the number of ad hoc meetings it held 
this year, representing an increase of 60 per cent compared 
to 2019. The number of informal sessions and interactions, 
which allow Board members to discuss areas of the business, 
strategy and the external environment with members of 
the Management Team and/or external advisers, were also 
notably increased during the year. The Group Chairman 
continued to engage privately with the Deputy Chairman,  
the Senior Independent Director and the INEDs to assess  
their views and discuss matters arising.

Performance against delivery of the agreed key financial 
priorities is reviewed at every meeting with particular 
reference to the detailed Group management accounts. 
The Group Chief Executive and Group Chief Financial Officer 
comment on current trading, business performance, the 
market, employees, relevant stakeholders and regulatory 
and external developments at each meeting, and present 
comparative data and client insight. In addition, the Group 
Chief Risk Officer periodically attends meetings to update  
the Board on the key risks.

Sir Iain Lobban, who is engaged by the Board to act as an 
independent adviser to the Board and its committees on 
cyber security and cyber threat management, attended 
a number of Board and committee meetings to provide 
an independent and current view on the Group’s progress 
in this area. The Board continue to find Sir Iain’s input 
relevant, practical and challenging. In 2020, Sir Iain Lobban’s 
appointment was renewed for a further 12-month term.

Our Board committees
The Board places significant reliance on its committees by 
delegating a broad range of responsibilities and issues to 
them. It therefore remains crucial that effective linkages are 
in place between the committees and the Board as a whole, 
not least as it is impracticable for all INEDs to be members of 
all of the committees. Mechanisms are in place to facilitate 
these linkages, including ensuring that there are no gaps 
or unnecessary duplications between the remit of each 
committee and overlapping membership between Board 
committees where necessary. Alongside interconnected 
committee membership, the Board receives a written 
summary of each of the committee’s meetings and verbal 
updates at the Board, where appropriate.

Further details on each committee, including their oversight 
and focus during 2020, can be found in the Board committee 
reports starting on page 108.

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Development of Board activities in 2020

Eight scheduled Board meetings were due to take place 
this year, three of which were to be held overseas. As the 
pandemic emerged across our markets, the Board had to 
adapt quickly, utilising interactive technology to ensure 
agile and robust engagement. From March, all Board and 
committee meetings were shifted to a virtual format. 

Scheduled meetings were condensed, and a number of 
additional ad hoc meetings and informal sessions were 
arranged to ensure key areas of discussion were not 
compromised. This approach also provided the Board with 
the opportunity to gain further external perspective from  
a range of subjects as well as informal training sessions.

As a truly international Board composed of directors 
residing across our markets, the move to a virtual meeting 
format meant that the structure of the Board agendas for 
the year had to be altered to take account of the multiple 
time zones.

The Group Chairman adjusted quickly to the virtual  
Board meeting format, delivering strong leadership and 
ensuring, alongside the rest of the Board, effective, robust 
and collaborative discussion during Board meetings  
and sessions.

The diagram on this page shows the Board’s collective 
engagement during the year.

Board activities during 2020

Ad hoc  
meeting

Ad hoc  
meeting

Ad hoc  
meeting

Informal  
session

2020

January

February

March

April

May

June

Scheduled  
meeting

Scheduled  
meeting

Scheduled  
meeting

Scheduled  
meeting 

Informal  
session  
x2

Ad hoc  
meeting

Ad hoc  
meeting

Informal  
session 

Retail  
shareholder  
event

Informal  
session 

Ad hoc  
meeting

July

August

September

October

November

December

Scheduled  
meeting

Scheduled  
meeting

Scheduled  
meeting 

Scheduled  
meeting 

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Breakdown of Board composition, roles and attendance in 2020

Group Chairman
J Viñals

AGM1

Y

Retail 
shareholder 
event 2

Attendance

Scheduled  Ad hoc

Responsibilities

Y

8/8

6/6

Deputy Chairman 
N Kheraj3 

Y

Y

8/8

5/6

Senior Independent Director 
C M Hodgson, CBE

Y

Y

8/8

6/6

Responsible for leading the Board, ensuring its effectiveness 
in all aspects of its role and developing the Group’s culture in 
conjunction with the Group Chief Executive. Promotes high 
standards of integrity and governance across the Group 
and ensures effective communication between the Board, 
management, shareholders and wider stakeholders.

Provides support and guidance to the Group Chairman as 
required and, in coordination with the Group Chairman, acts as 
an ambassador for the Board and Group in their relationships 
with governments, regulators, colleagues, and clients. Deputises 
for the Group Chairman at Board, general shareholder, or other 
meetings when the Group Chairman is unable to attend.

Provides a sounding board for the Group Chairman and 
discusses concerns that are unable to be resolved through 
the normal channels or where such contact would be 
inappropriate with shareholders and other stakeholders. 
Chairs the Governance and Nomination Committee 
when considering succession of the Group Chairman.
Is available to shareholders if they have concerns that cannot 
be resolved or for which the normal channels would be 
inappropriate. Can be contacted via the Group Company 
Secretary at 1 Basinghall Avenue, London EC2V 5DD.

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Executive Directors

Group Chief Executive 
W T Winters

Group Chief Financial Officer 
A N Halford

Independent  
Non-Executive Directors

D P Conner 

B E Grote

G Huey Evans, OBE 

N Okonjo-Iweala3 
(will step down from the Board on 
28 February 2021)

P G Rivett  
(appointed to the Board on  
6 May 2020)

D Tang

C Tong3

J M Whitbread

L Cheung  
(retired from the Board on  
25 March 2020)

M Ramos (appointed to the  
Board on 1 January 2021)

Retail 
shareholder 
event 2

Attendance

Scheduled Ad hoc

Responsibilities

Y

Y

8/8

6/6

8/8

6/6

Responsible for the management of all aspects of the Group’s 
businesses, developing the strategy in conjunction with the 
Group Chairman and the Board and leading its implementation.

Responsible for Finance, Corporate Treasury, Strategy, Group 
Corporate Development, Group Investor Relations, Property  
and Supply Chain Management functions.

Responsibilities

Provides an independent perspective, constructive  
challenge, and monitors the performance and  
delivery of the strategy within the risk appetite and  
controls set by the Board.

Retail  
shareholder  
event 2

Attendance

Scheduled Ad hoc

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N/A

8/8

8/8

8/8

8/8

6/6

6/6

6/6

4/6

6/6

4/4

8/8

8/8

8/8

2/2

6/6

5/6

6/6

0/0

N/A

0/0

0/0

1   Given the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak, including restrictions put in place by the UK Government regarding the maximum number of attendees at 

meetings at the time, Standard Chartered PLC’s AGM on 6 May 2020 was held as a procedural meeting to meet its statutory obligations. Shareholders were  
asked not to attend but instead to vote in advance and submit any questions via email. The Group Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director 
engaged via teleconference. Further details regarding the AGM can be found on page 104.

2   The Board held a virtual retail shareholder event on 23 November 2020. Further details can be found on page 104.

3   A number of ad hoc meetings were arranged during the year. As they took place outside of the scheduled Board calendar, it impacted the ability of our directors 
to attend these meetings. All directors who were unable to attend received accompanying material and had opportunities to provide comments to the Board. 
Further detail is provided below:

–  Naguib Kheraj was unable to attend the ad hoc meeting held on 14 December 2020 as a result of a long-standing external board commitment

–  Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was unable to attend the ad hoc meetings held on 4 June and 28 October 2020 as a result of a long-standing external board 

commitment and previously arranged external business engagement, respectively 

–  Carlson Tong was unable to attend the ad hoc meeting held on 28 October 2020 as a result of a previously arranged external business engagement

All directors attended all scheduled meetings for 2020.

The roles of the Group Chairman and Group Chief Executive are distinct from one another and are  
clearly defined in detailed role descriptions which can be viewed at sc.com/roledescriptions

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Composition of the Board as at 31 December 2020

The Group Chairman is committed to ensuring optimal Board effectiveness. A key 
mechanism to drive this is the appropriate composition and balance of individuals. 

The Board is comprised of a majority of independent non-executive directors.

Detail regarding Board diversity can be found within the Governance and Nomination Committee report on pages 125 to 129

Group Chairman

INEDs

INEDs that have joined

Group Chairman
J Viñals

Deputy Chairman 
N Kheraj

P G Rivett

Executive Directors

Senior Independent Director 
C M Hodgson, CBE

Group Chief Executive 
W T Winters, CBE

Group Chief Financial Officer 
A N Halford

D P Conner

B E Grote

Phil Rivett, who has more than 40 years 
of professional accountancy and audit 
experience specifically focused in the 
financial services sector, was appointed 
to the Board as an INED on 6 May 2020 
and stood for election at this year’s 
AGM. The resolution to elect Phil Rivett 
was successfully passed by shareholders.

G Huey Evans, OBE

N Okonjo-Iweala

Following the recent announcement of 
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment 
as Director-General of the World 
Trade Organisation from 1 March 2021, 
Ngozi will step down from the Board 
on 28 February 2021.

D Tang

C Tong

M Ramos  
1 January 2021

Maria Ramos joined the Board as 
an INED on 1 January 2021. Maria 
has deep executive and non-
executive experience covering 
banking, commercial, financial, 
policy and international sectors. 
Maria will stand for election at the 
2021 AGM. All other Board directors 
will stand for re-election.

J M Whitbread

INEDs that have stepped down

L Cheung

After seven years as an INED, Louis 
Cheung retired from the Board on 
25 March 2020.

The biographies of each director 
are set out on pages 83 to 86 

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Director induction 
One new director, Phil Rivett, was appointed to the Board 
during 2020. Phil possesses highly relevant skills and a 
breadth of knowledge relevant to the Board debate. Phil has 
significant professional accountancy and audit experience, 
specifically focused in the financial services sector. He has 
a strong technical understanding and broad financial and 
business experience. 

Prior to being appointed to the Board and subsequently 
Audit Committee Chair, Phil was given a number of induction 
sessions to ensure a smooth transition into taking up his roles. 
He shadowed the existing Audit Committee Chair during the 
Company’s half year and third quarter results processes, as 
well as meeting the outgoing and incoming statutory auditor 
lead partners. 

On joining the Board, Phil undertook a wide-ranging and 
robust induction programme to ensure that he was well 
placed to make a positive contribution from the outset. 
While this was adapted into a virtual format in light of 
travel restrictions across our markets, this was no less 
comprehensive. Whilst a proportion of the induction is 
relevant to all new Board members, the content of the 
programme is tailored to meet each director’s individual level 
of experience and expertise. In the case of Phil, a key element 
of the programme was ensuring he developed a detailed 
understanding of the Group’s strategy and the complexities 
of operating through client segments, product groups and 
regional businesses.

Maria Ramos joined the Board on 1 January 2021. Maria  
brings a wealth of CEO, banking, commercial, financial,  
policy and international experience to the Board. Maria  
also brings considerable non-executive experience, having 
served on international boards. Good progress has been 
made regarding Maria’s induction plan so far this year.

2020 Director Training Overview

The Group Corporate Secretariat is resourced to support  
the INEDs as they undertake their induction programmes. 
They are typically completed within the first six to nine months 
of an INED appointment. 

Ongoing development plans
Training and development of our directors is ongoing 
and does not end following their induction. Continuous 
development of our Board directors is crucial to maintaining 
a highly engaged, well-informed and effective Board. 
Mandatory learning and training are key elements of 
directors’ fit and proper assessments as mandated under 
the Senior Managers Regime. During the year, all directors 
received a combination of mandatory learning and training, 
internal and external briefings, presentations from guest 
speakers and papers on a range of topics to ensure the 
directors are well-informed and that the Board remains 
highly effective. The Board committee members also received 
specific training relevant to the work of their committee.  
The Group Chairman reviews with each director their training 
and development needs both in real time and as part of 
the annual performance cycle. Where it is recognised that 
the Board or individual directors need further training or 
development in key areas, additional sessions are arranged 
with subject matter experts.

The directors’ ongoing training in 2020 took the form of formal 
refresher sessions and informal meetings, covering a variety of 
topics throughout the year, the majority held virtually in light 
of the pandemic. The table below gives further detail on who 
received these briefings.

All of the directors have access to the advice of the Group 
Company Secretary, who provides support to the Board 
and is responsible for advising the Board on governance 
matters. Directors also have access to independent 
professional advice at the Group’s expense where they judge 
it necessary to discharge their responsibilities as directors. 

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Directors’ duties  
and regulatory 
updates2

Political landscape 
post US elections2

Geopolitical and 
global trade 
developments2

Group public cloud 
strategy; big data 
and analytics

Digital assets

J Viñals

W T Winters, CBE 

A N Halford

D P Conner 

B E Grote

C M Hodgson, CBE

G Huey Evans, OBE 

N Kheraj

N Okonjo-Iweala 

P G Rivett3

D Tang

C Tong

J M Whitbread 
L Cheung4

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

1  Applicable to directors who received induction training during 2020

2  External speaker

3  Phil Rivett joined the Board on 6 May 2020

4  Louis Cheung retired from the Board on 25 March 2020

 Director attended the session

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

 Director did not attend the session but received accompanying material and had opportunities to raise questions with the Group Chairman and Group  
Company Secretary

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Board effectiveness

Following the thorough evaluation of the Board by 
Independent Board Evaluation at the end of last year in 
parallel to the review carried out by the PRA, this year’s 
Board and committees’ effectiveness review was conducted 
internally, facilitated by the Group Company Secretary, and  
in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code.

Progress against the 2020 Action Plan 
The 2020 Action Plan set out a number of actions to be 
achieved following the external effectiveness reviews 
conducted by Independent Board Evaluation and the PRA 
in 2019. The 2020 Action Plan was regularly reviewed during 
the year and good progress had been made against many 
of the actions as evidenced by this year’s internal Board 
effectiveness review. While the ambition of the plan meant 
that it was a 12-18 month programme, limitations to travel 
during the year has impacted on the delivery of some  
specific actions which have been carried forward to 2021. 

2020 Board effectiveness review 
Questionnaires were sent to each director for completion, 
seeking to draw out and explore some of the themes 
highlighted in last year’s review as well as pose some wide-
ranging and probing questions. The results were compiled 
into a detailed report and conclusions were discussed with 
the Group Chairman and by the Governance and Nomination 
Committee ahead of a Board discussion. Here, the key 
findings and recommendations were presented along with  
an action plan for 2021, which was approved by the Board. 
Details of the key observations from this year’s review and  
the agreed Action Plan are set out on this page. 

The Board’s six committees were also included as part of  
the effectiveness review. The observations and key themes 
were shared with the relevant committee Chairs before 
discussion by each of the committees and action plans for  
2021 approved. Details of the key observations and action 
plans for each of the committees can be found within each  
of the committees’ reports.

Internal evaluation process 

Key observations from the 2020  
internal effectiveness review

•  The Board has made good progress in meeting its 

priorities against a difficult backdrop which prevented 
in-person engagement between the Board or with 
stakeholders across our markets

•  Positive progress was made against the KPIs and on the 
quality of Board papers and management information. 
Directors were encouraged to continue giving feedback 
in this area

•  Suggestions and recommendations made to further 

drive efficiencies in the operation of the Board 
committees

•  Improvements were made to the linkages with subsidiary 
boards and committees through active engagement 

•  Further scope for Board training in respect to information 

cyber security and technology

2021 Action Plan

•  Review efficiency of Board and committee structures. 

Review allocation of current committee matters across 
the Board and its committees

•  Continue to drive employee engagement with more 

events (virtually, if necessary), including more informal 
virtual sessions with colleagues and country teams

•  Arrange for Board members to meet country 

management teams (virtually, if necessary) to extend 
understanding and relationships

•  Continue focus on technology, IT and SC Ventures  

and establish a programme to expose the Board to 
both the challenges and the opportunities for the 
Group in this area

Approach to  
the review agreed 

Questionnaires 
completed

Evaluation  
and report

Shared findings with 
committee Chairs

Discussed findings  
with Governance and  
Nomination Committee

Board discussion and agreed  
Action Plan for 2021

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Group Chairman’s performance 
The Senior Independent Director, Christine Hodgson, led the 
process of reviewing the Group Chairman’s performance.  
She met and spoke with the INEDs separately, without the 
Group Chairman present, to evaluate his performance,  
taking into account the views of the executive directors.  
The feedback was collated, and consolidated feedback  
was shared with José Viñals.

Directors’ performance 
Evaluation of individual director performance was carried out 
by the Group Chairman in 2020. These one-to-one discussions 
provided an opportunity for each of the INEDs, to discuss with 
José Viñals, among other things:

•  Their performance against the core competencies and their 

individual effectiveness

•  Their time commitment to the Group, including (where 
relevant) the potential impact of any outside interests

•  Their ongoing development

•  The Board’s composition, taking into account when each 

INED envisaged stepping down from the Board

•  The current and future committee membership and 

structure

These performance reviews are used as the basis for 
recommending the re-election of directors by shareholders 
at the 2021 AGM and to assist the Group Chairman with 
his assessment of the INEDs’ competencies. In addition, the 
Group Chairman has responsibility for assessing on an annual 
basis, the fitness and propriety of the Company’s INEDs and 
the Group Chief Executive Officer under the Senior Managers 
Regime. These assessments were carried out in respect of 
each INED and the Group Chief Executive at the end of 2020. 

Director independence
In determining the independence of a non-executive director, 
the Board considers each individual against the criteria set 
out in the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Hong Kong 
Listing Rules and also considers their contribution and conduct 
at Board meetings, including how they demonstrate objective 
judgement and independent thinking. 

The Board considers all of the non-executive directors to be 
independent of Standard Chartered and has concluded that 
there are no relationships or circumstances likely to impair any 
INED’s judgement.

Time commitment 
Our INEDs commit sufficient time in discharging their 
responsibilities as directors of Standard Chartered. In general, 
we estimate that each INED spent approximately 35 to 70 
days on Board-related duties, and considerably more for 
those who chair or are members of multiple committees.

External directorships and other  
business interests
Board members hold external directorships and other outside 
business interests. We recognise the significant benefits 
that greater boardroom exposure provides for our directors. 
However, we closely monitor the nature and number of 
external directorships our directors hold, in order to satisfy 
ourselves that any additional appointments will not adversely 
impact their time commitment to their role at Standard 
Chartered, and to ensure that all of our Board members 
remain compliant with the PRA directorship requirements, as 
well as the shareholder advisory groups’ individual guidance 
on ‘over-boarding’. These requirements impose a limit on the 
number of directorships both executive and independent non-
executive directors are permitted to hold.

Details of the directors’ external directorships can be found 
in their biographies on pages 83 to 86. Before committing to 
an additional appointment, directors confirm the existence of 
any potential or actual conflicts, that the role will not breach 
their limit as set out by the PRA, and provide the necessary 
assurance that the appointment will not adversely impact 
their ability to continue to fulfil their role as a director of  
the Company.

Our established internal processes ensure that directors 
do not undertake any new external appointments without 
first receiving formal approval of the Board. The Board has 
delegated authority to make such approvals to the Group 
Chairman, with the exception of his own appointments. Of 
those INEDs who took on new external directorships during 
the year, two were regarded as significant directorships 
(appointed to the board of a listed company) and as 
such were announced to the market in line with our listing 
obligations. Further detail on the specific appointments are 
provided below:

•  Gay Huey Evans was appointed an INED of IHS Markit 
on 21 August 2020 and Jasmine Whitbread will be 
appointed Chair of Travis Perkins plc on 31 March 2021. 
Gay and Jasmine individually discussed their respective 
appointments with the Group Chairman in advance of 
accepting the positions and each provided assurance 
that their appointments would not impact their abilities to 
devote sufficient time and focus to both their Board and 
committee responsibilities

•  Gay and Jasmine continue to hold no more than the 

maximum number of INED directorships permitted under 
the PRA rules. Gay stepped down from the board of Itau 
BBA International Plc on 21 August 2020 and Jasmine will 
step down as chief executive of London First on 31 March 
2021, ensuring that both directors are able to continue to 
devote sufficient time to Standard Chartered

The Board’s executive directors are permitted to hold only one 
non-executive directorship. Of our executive directors, Andy 
Halford is the Senior Independent Director and Chair of the 
Audit Committee at Marks and Spencer Group plc, listed on 
the FTSE 250, and Bill Winters is a non-executive director of 
Novartis International AG, listed on SIX Swiss Exchange.

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Stakeholder 
engagement

Ensuring strong engagement  
across our markets

Clients

Society

Suppliers

Investors

Regulators and 
governments

Employees

Stakeholder consideration  
supports good governance and  
the following elements illustrate 
different aspects of this:

The Board recognises the significance of stakeholder 
consideration and engagement as part of Board discussions 
and decision-making. A key enabler of stakeholder 
engagement in recent years has been Board and/or director 
visits to the Group’s markets. Mandatory restrictions and 
social distancing measures brought in across our markets 
at different times, to limit the spread of COVID-19 across the 
Group’s footprint, prevented most traditional approaches to 
engagement this year. As with Board meetings, engagement 
with stakeholders during 2020 were adapted and became 
virtual experiences. While utilising interactive technology 
ensured effective and efficient dialogue in some areas it did 
prevent the breadth of engagement which the Board would 
usually undertake.

Engagement with our stakeholders, regardless of whether 
in physical or virtual form, continues to enhance the Board’s 
understanding of how the Group is operating across our 
diverse markets, how the strategy is landing, as well as the 
changing nature of the business and the sector.

In addition to collective Board engagement with stakeholders, 
our INEDs and the external adviser members to the Board 
Financial Crime Risk Committee engaged directly with a wide 
range of management and stakeholders during the year. 
Informal and formal sessions with individuals and groups 
across our footprint provide INEDs and external adviser 
members with a deeper understanding of the business and 
the market environment within which the Group operates. 

Further detail regarding the Board’s engagement with our 
stakeholders can be found on the following pages.

•  Testing the execution of the Group’s strategic priorities

•  Enhanced understanding of the changing nature  

of the business and its wider market

•  A mechanism for better informed decision-making

•  More effective risk management

•  Promoting a shared vision and purpose among  

key stakeholders

•  Sharing of experience, knowledge and expertise  

across different groups

•  Helping identify strategies to promote  

competitive strength

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Engagement with  
investors

Our approach
The Board recognises the importance of delivering  
robust returns and long-term sustainable value for the 
Company’s shareholders. Trusted and open relationships 
with our investors are important to us, and we believe  
they are strengthened by ensuring we consistently and 
openly seek feedback.

The Group Chairman and other Board directors maintain 
direct contact with investors and advisory voting bodies, 
and receive regular updates from the Investor Relations 
team, including reports on market and investor sentiment.

During the year, we maintained a comprehensive 
programme of engagement with investors and other 
key stakeholders, including investor advisory bodies and 
credit rating agencies, and provided updates on progress 
made to transform our business for improved returns. 

José Viñals and the INEDs engaged directly with 
shareholders through the year, hosting the 2020 Virtual 
Retail Shareholder Event as well as Virtual Stewardship 
Event, the latter attended by a number of the Group’s 
largest institutional investors. In addition, Christine 
Hodgson, Chair of the Remuneration Committee,  
continued to discuss with and collect feedback from 
shareholders on a range of remuneration matters.

Bill Winters and Andy Halford are the primary spokespeople 
for the Group. Throughout the year they engaged 
extensively with existing shareholders and potential new 
investors during individual or group virtual meetings and 
conferences. In addition, each member of the Management 
Team responsible for a client segment or a geographic 
region, as well as the Group Treasurer, virtually met with 
investors to promote greater awareness and understanding 
of the strategy in their respective areas, as well as taking 
the opportunity to receive investor feedback first hand.

Engaging with investors:  
what we did during 2020 

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Institutional shareholders
The Group maintains a diverse, high-quality and 
predominantly institutional shareholder base. The Investor 
Relations team has primary responsibility for managing 
day-to-day communications with these shareholders 
and provides support to the Group Chairman, Group 
Chief Executive, Group Chief Financial Officer, other 
Board members and senior management in conducting 
a comprehensive engagement programme.

Presentation material and webcast transcripts  
are made available on the Group’s website and can  
be viewed at sc.com/investors

Virtual Stewardship Event

The Group Chairman and Chairs of the Board 
committees hosted a virtual stewardship event on 
23 November 2020. The event was attended by investors 
representing a sizeable proportion of our equity as 
well as several shareholder representative bodies. 
The Group Chairman and committee Chairs provided 
strategic updates regarding Board and committee 
activities during the year. This was followed by a Q&A 
session. The event was held via videoconference, with 
Q&A facilitated through a web-based platform. 

Debt investors and credit rating agencies

Our Treasury team has primary responsibility for managing 
the Group’s relationships with debt investors and the three 
major rating agencies, with local market chief executives and 
chief financial officers leading on smaller subsidiary ratings.  
In 2020, management met mostly virtually with debt investors 
across Europe, North America and Asia, and maintained a 
regular dialogue with rating agencies. It is important that the 
Group, as an active issuer of senior unsecured and non-equity 
capital, maintains regular contact with debt investors to 
ensure continued appetite for the Group’s credit. The Group’s 
credit ratings are a key part of the external perception of our 
financial strength and creditworthiness.

Further information can be viewed at sc.com/investors

February
2019 Full Year  
results

March
Investor conferences  
and roadshows

April
2020 First  
Quarter results

May
AGM

June
Investor conferences  
and roadshows

July
2020 Half Year  
results

August
Investor conferences 
and roadshows

September
Investor conferences 
and roadshows

October
2020 Third  
Quarter results

November
Virtual Retail Shareholder Event 
and Stewardship Event, investor 
conferences and roadshows

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Engagement with investors 
continued

Engagement with  
clients and suppliers 

Retail shareholders

AGM
The Group Company Secretary oversees communication with 
our retail shareholders. Given the challenges of the COVID-19 
pandemic, including restrictions put in place by the UK 
Government regarding the maximum number of attendees 
at meetings at the time, the Company’s AGM on 6 May 
2020 was held as a procedural meeting to meet its statutory 
obligations. Shareholders were asked not to attend but 
instead to vote in advance and submit any questions by email. 
All the proposed resolutions were passed, with shareholder 
support for each ranging from 95.50 per cent to 99.99 per cent. 
Resolution 2, to declare a final dividend of $0.20 per ordinary 
share for the year ended 31 December 2019, was withdrawn 
by the Board in response to a request from the PRA and as 
a consequence of the unprecedented challenges facing the 
world as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clients are central to everything we do in the Group 
and the Board recognises the importance of promoting 
robust relationships with them. In previous years, a large 
proportion of key customer engagements were built 
into Board and director visits to the Group’s markets. 
Limitations on international travel meant that our 
usual approach could not be carried out during 2020. 
Members of the Board adapted rapidly to the pandemic, 
holding a number of calls with clients as well as receiving 
updates from senior management on the wider Group’s 
interaction. In addition, members of the Board virtually 
engaged with suppliers during the year.

Virtual Retail Shareholder Event
At the time of this year’s AGM, it was announced 
that Standard Chartered PLC would aim to hold a 
dedicated retail shareholder event with the Board 
later in the year. As restrictions in the UK continued, 
the Board decided to host a virtual event instead. 
The event, which took place on 23 November 2020, 
gave shareholders the opportunity to hear directly 
from the Board on a range of issues, including 
performance against the Group’s refreshed strategic 
priorities, the impact of COVID-19 across its markets 
and the initiatives the Group had put in place to 
support our clients, colleagues and communities. 

The event was held via teleconference, with the Q&A 
session facilitated through a web-based platform.  
The platform enabled shareholders to view the 
questions that others had asked, and vote on those 
questions they viewed as most important for the Board 
to address during the event. The questions asked 
covered a variety of topics, including sustainable 
growth, shareholder value, the withdrawal of the 
2019 final dividend and the impact of geopolitical 
developments.

Shareholder uptake for the event was high and the 
Board received positive feedback regarding the 
electronic format. 

The results of the voting at the 2020 AGM can  
be viewed at sc.com/investors

Engagement with  
regulators and governments

As an international banking Group, the Board regularly 
engages with relevant authorities across our footprint. 
Uncertainty caused by the pandemic and evolving 
geopolitical events has only served to reinforce the 
importance of supporting the effective functioning of 
the financial system and economic environment. As with 
most forms of stakeholder engagement during 2020, 
physical meetings were modified to virtual interactions 
and calls as the year progressed. The Board engaged 
with regulators and governments via a number of forums, 
either collectively or individually.

Engagement with  
society

The Board receives regular updates from management 
concerning the communities and environment in which 
we operate. During the outbreak of the pandemic, 
updates were presented to the Board on a fortnightly 
basis to monitor the evolving impact across our footprint. 
As part of this process, the Board endorsed the initiatives, 
approach and leadership management had taken 
in launching the $50 million global fund to provide 
assistance to those affected by COVID-19.

Due to travel restrictions in place through 2020, the 
Board was unable to physically visit many of the Group’s 
markets. As such, external and internal speakers provided 
input to the Board’s discussion throughout the year, which 
covered some key societal issues around the evolving 
geopolitical landscape, the longer-term impact of the 
pandemic and the future of global trade.

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Engagement with  
employees

The Board values the opportunity to engage with 
employees and the wider workforce and understands the 
importance of the business having a firm understanding  
of their views, ideas and concerns. The Board is also  
acutely aware of the role it has in maintaining a  
genuine and open two-way dialogue with employees. 
As with other forms of stakeholder interaction this year, 
traditional approaches to employee engagement 
were adapted in light of the pandemic. The Board took 
every opportunity to engage with employees, either 
collectively or individually during the year, helping to gain 
a genuine understanding of their views and issues.

Similar to last year, the Board continued to adopt an 
alternate approach to the workforce engagement methods 
set out in the UK Corporate Governance Code. The primary 
reason for taking a different approach was that as a global 
organisation with more than 83,000 employees across 
59 diverse markets, it is vital that any Board engagement 
should gather unfiltered feedback which is representative 
of the whole workforce in order to be truly effective. 

A more formalised framework was put in place to 
supplement the channels which already exist, for the 
Board to understand the views of the workforce, which 
includes: the annual My Voice survey; the confidential 
Speak Up process; information reported from senior 
management on culture; disciplinaries and grievances 
data and themes; and direct engagement the Board has 
with employees as it engages with its markets, collectively 
and individually. The key themes and action plans were 
reported to, and discussed by, the Brand, Values and 
Conduct Committee before being reported to the Board.

Last year, we experimented with the introduction of an 
additional method of direct engagement and two-way 
dialogue between the Board and our employees, consisting 
of two interactive engagement sessions, held between 
employees and the Board. Building on the positive feedback 
from employees who participated and constrained by 
restrictions on travel, the Board enhanced its engagement 
this year by hosting four events, each dedicated to a 
particular region of the Group’s footprint at the time.  
These included Europe & Americas, Greater China & North 
Asia, ASEAN & South Asia and Africa & the Middle East. 
The events were facilitated through a teleconference, with 
a live Q&A session accessed via a web-based platform. 

Employee feedback from all four engagements sessions was 
positive, with employees appreciating the interactive Q&A 
element that allowed them to vote on popular questions. 

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Board engagement with employees

Greater China & North Asia 

Europe & Americas

November 2020

July 2020 

The Group Chairman hosted each of the employee engagement sessions and was joined by a combination of all INEDs over 
the four events. The composition of those who attended was carefully considered in order to ensure a good balance of skills, 
experience, knowledge and perspectives for each region, promoting insightful and tailored engagement.

Africa & Middle East

ASEAN & South Asia 

November 2020 

September 2020 

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Engagement with employees  
continued

Employees were asked during the sessions which areas  
they would like to see the Board have greater impact.  
The top responses received included explaining the 
rationale for the Group’s strategy, supporting talent 
development, committing to fintech, digital transformation 
and emerging technologies, championing diversity in 
senior teams, and promoting a culture where colleagues 
are encouraged to offer challenging and diverse views. 

When asked about what the Group had done well during 
the pandemic, employees consistently selected the 
widespread adoption of flexible working, and expressed 
a desire to see this embedded in the future. Colleagues 
also acknowledged the Group’s efforts to prioritise their 
wellbeing.

Review of employee engagement
The Board was encouraged by the level of interest 
employees had shown in engaging directly with Board 
members and remains committed to evolving and  
refining this form of engagement to ensure they remain 
genuine interactions.

The Brand, Values and Conduct Committee conducted  
and agreed a number of proposals to further enhance our 
employee engagement programme and develop this for 
the year ahead.

Further detail regarding employee engagement this year can 
be found within the Brand, Values and Conduct Committee 
report starting on page 121

Key themes raised by employees  
during engagement sessions

The Q&A element of the sessions provided the Board with 
deep insight into employee views, concerns and interests. 
Key themes raised by employees at each 
Some of the items covered varied by region, however,  
there were also several collective themes that were 
engagement session
discussed across more than one region. A number of  
The Q&A element of the sessions provided the Board with 
them are illustrated below.
deep insight into employee views, concerns and interests. The 
themes covered on the calls varied by region, covering HR-
related topics such as local hiring practices as well as strategic 
topics such as the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the 
Group’s business. A number of them are illustrated below.

ASEAN  
& South Asia 

•  Employee performance

•  Composition of the Board  
and Management Team

Greater China  
& North Asia 

• 

Investment in technology

•  Managing  
Climate Risk

Collective themes

• Organisational structure developments 

• Investment in our people 

• Job security

• Evolution of our long-term strategy 

• Employee wellbeing 

• Impact of COVID-19 on the Group  
and our response 

• Capital management

Europe  
& Americas

• 

Impact of geopolitical  
events on the Group

•  Changes to the  
way we work

Africa  
& Middle East

•  Board and Management Team priorities

•  Diversity and inclusion

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continued

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Engagement and linkages with  
the Group’s subsidiaries 
The Board and its committees recognise the importance 
of creating, maintaining and building upon appropriate 
linkages with the Group’s subsidiaries. As with the majority 
of stakeholder engagement during 2020, the Board’s ability 
to physically meet with people from across the Group’s 
footprint was limited. Despite this, the Group Chairman 
and INEDs engaged with the Group’s subsidiaries through a 
number of forums. This included chair and committee chair 
engagement sessions, as well as other forms of interaction.

Following the Board’s global subsidiary governance 
conference last year, the Group Chairman hosted three 
subsidiary chair engagement sessions during 2020. Each event 
opened with remarks from the Group Chairman, followed by 
a Q&A session. All three sessions were held virtually, with the 
Group Chairman encouraged by the high level of interaction. 
Items discussed across the three sessions included:

•  Group performance

•  Impact of COVID-19 across the Group’s markets

•  Geopolitical developments

•  Sustainability

•  Areas of focus for the Group’s boards

•  Board effectiveness

The Audit Committee held its annual conference call during 
the year, which was hosted by the Audit Committee Chair  
and attended by the chairs of subsidiary audit committees. 
The Group Head, Finance, Group Head of Internal Audit, 
Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, Conduct, 
Financial Crime and Compliance, lead audit partner of the 
Group’s outgoing statutory auditor at the time, KPMG, lead 
audit partner of the Group’s incoming statutory auditor at the 
time, EY, and the Group Company Secretary also participated 
in the call. Items discussed during the call included:

•  2020 Audit Committee focus areas

•  Developments that had an impact on the Audit 

Committee’s work, including COVID-related impacts

•  Financial reporting developments including IFRS 9 models

•  Conduct, financial crime and compliance developments

•  Group Internal Audit strategy and Quality Assurance review

•  Group statutory auditor transition from KPMG to EY

In response to feedback on the structure of this call, the 
format of subsequent committee chair engagement 
sessions was modified from traditional conference calls to 
video conference calls, which facilitated a more engaging 
and livelier environment for discussion and Q&A.

In conjunction with the Chair of the Board Financial Crime 
Risk Committee, the Board Risk Committee Chair hosted its 
annual conference call with chairs of the subsidiary board 
risk committees. The Group Chairman, Group Chief Risk 
Officer, Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, 
Conduct, Financial Crime and Compliance, Co-Heads 

of Financial Crime Compliance, Group General Counsel 
and the Group Company Secretary also participated 
in the call. Items examined during the call included:

•  2020 Board Risk Committee and Board Financial 

Crime Risk Committee focus areas

•  Developments that had an impact on both Committees’ 

work, including the impacts of COVID-19

•  Group Chief Risk Officer’s 2020 priorities

•  Financial crime compliance developments

Building upon existing linkages with the Group’s subsidiaries, 
the Remuneration Committee Chair held the first 
conference call attended by the subsidiary remuneration 
committee chairs and the chairs of subsidiary boards that 
have remuneration responsibilities. The Group Chairman, 
a member of the Remuneration Committee, the Global 
Head, Performance, Reward & Employee Relations, Head, 
Executive Compensation and Reward Governance, 
regional heads of Performance, Reward & Benefits and 
the Group Company Secretary also participated in the 
call. Participants noted the importance for remuneration 
committees to be connected across the organisation  
and to foster knowledge-sharing as the focus on 
remuneration governance increases. Items covered  
during the call included:

•  2020 Remuneration Committee focus areas 

including monitoring the short and long-term 
impact of the pandemic on remuneration

•  Implementation of required changes under 

new legislation and regulation

•  2020 to 2021 Performance, Reward and Benefits priorities 

All Board Committee Chairs who hosted audio and/or video 
conference calls welcomed feedback and suggestions 
on how improvements could be made to the format for 
future sessions. The engagement calls were well received 
by its participants, with particular praise for the live Q&A 
element that was built into the agenda for each session. 

Formal reporting mechanisms to improve linkages between 
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (SCB 
Hong Kong), Standard Chartered Bank and Standard 
Chartered PLC were enhanced during the year. This 
included the Group Chairman and some committee chairs 
attending subsidiary board meetings and subsidiary 
chairs attending aspects of the Group Board meetings:

•  The Group Chairman attended a SCB Hong Kong  

Board meeting

•  The Chair of the Audit Committee at the time attended  

a SCB Hong Kong audit committee meeting 

•  The chair of SCB Hong Kong attended part of a  

Board meeting

•  The chair of the audit committee for SCB Hong Kong 

attended an Audit Committee meeting

Further detail regarding how the Group engages with its 
stakeholders can be found on pages 54 to 71

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Audit Committee

“ Unsurprisingly, the impacts of 
COVID-19 have been a significant 
focus for the Committee this year”

Committee composition

P G Rivett (Chair) 
(Appointed 6 May and became Chair on 
1 December 2020)

D P Conner

C M Hodgson, CBE

B E Grote

N Kheraj

C Tong

Scheduled 
meetings

Ad hoc

5/5

8/8

8/8 

8/8 

8/8 

8/8 

0/0

 1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

Maria Ramos joined the Committee on 1 January 2021. 

Other attendees at Committee meetings in 2020 included: 
Group Chairman; Group Chief Executive; Group Chief Financial 
Officer; Group Chief Risk Officer; Group General Counsel, Group 
Head of Internal Audit; the Group Head of Conduct, Financial 
Crime and Compliance; the Group Head, Central Finance; 
representatives from Group Finance; Group Statutory Auditor  
and Group Company Secretary.

Prior to KPMG’s resignation as the Group’s Statutory Auditor after 
the completion of our consolidated accounts for the year ended 
31 December 2019, EY attended two Committee meetings as  
an observer.

Phil Rivett attended two Committee meetings as an observer, 
until his appointment as a Committee member on 6 May 2020.

As part of, and in addition to, each scheduled Committee 
meeting, the Committee held private members-only meetings.

The Committee members have detailed and relevant experience 
and bring an independent mindset to their role. The Board is 
satisfied that Phil Rivett has recent and relevant financial 
experience and that the other Committee members also have a 
depth of experience having managed complex balance sheets or 
having knowledge of financial reporting in international business.

Biographical details of the committee members  
can be viewed on pages 83 to 86

Main responsibilities of the Committee 
The Committee is responsible for oversight and advice to the 
Board on matters relating to financial reporting. The Committee’s 
role is to review, on behalf of the Board, the Group’s internal 
controls and internal financial controls. The Committee has 
exercised oversight of the work undertaken by Conduct, Financial 
Crime and Compliance (CFCC), Group Internal Audit (GIA)  
and the Group’s Statutory Auditor, EY. The Committee  
reports to the Board on its key areas of focus following each  
Committee meeting.

The Committee has written Terms of Reference that can be 
viewed at sc.com/termsofreference

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Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

As the new Chair of the Audit Committee, I am pleased to present the 
Audit Committee’s report for the year ended 31 December 2020.

In addition to the disclosure requirements relating to audit committees 
under the UK Corporate Governance Code 2018, the following report 
sets out the areas of significant focus for the Committee and its activities 
over the course of the year. The report also covers the review undertaken 
on the effectiveness of the Group’s Statutory Auditor, EY and ongoing 
oversight of the effectiveness of the GIA function. Assurance has been 
sought and received by the Committee concerning the resourcing of 
Group Finance, GIA and CFCC.

Since April 2019, meetings have taken place as dual Audit Committee 
meetings of Standard Chartered PLC and Standard Chartered Bank, 
under the governance structure put in place to reflect the Group’s 
corporate entity restructuring. I joined the Audit Committee on  
6 May and became Chair on 1 December 2020. I had an ample period  
of time shadowing Naguib Kheraj, the outgoing Committee Chair,  
which provided critical insight into the ways of working for this role.  
I would like to thank Naguib for the time he dedicated to this and  
the comprehensive handover I received. I am delighted that Naguib  
remains a member of the Audit Committee. I would also like to  
welcome Maria Ramos, who joined the Committee on 1 January 2021. 

Unsurprisingly, the impacts of COVID-19 have been a significant focus  
for the Committee this year. In particular, time has been spent reviewing 
credit impairment provisions, key accounting issues and significant 
accounting estimates and judgements made by management to 
ensure appropriateness and that the Group’s public disclosures are 
transparent with regard to the impacts of COVID-19. In particular,  
focus has been placed on the judgements and management overlays 
relating to IFRS 9, which is a technically complex area. Attention was 
placed on the Monte Carlo model and observations made that the 
macroeconomic variables used by this model can be narrow. In response 
to challenge from the Committee, management provided assurance 
that the parameters used for this model were being updated in order  
to generate a wider set of scenarios. Significant time and focus has  
also been placed on the judgements involved in aviation and shipping, 
given the turbulent external environment. 

As a result of COVID-19, GIA took a revised approach to the Group’s 
audits. GIA focused on providing timely, nimble and independent 
assurance over the Group’s approach to managing COVID-19. This 
revised approach was based on the principle that GIA should protect 
the Group and its assets, while minimising disruption to the first and 
second lines of defence. Throughout the year, the Committee continued 
to probe that the Group’s internal controls infrastructure was not being 
adversely impacted by working from home (WFH) arrangements, as a 
result of lockdowns across the Group’s network. The Committee was 
able to seek and receive assurance that the Group’s response to and 
operations during COVID-19 remained appropriate for our shareholders, 
customers and colleagues. 

2020 has been EY’s first year as the Group’s Statutory Auditor, and 
notably it has been a challenging environment to perform audit work, 
given the impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns across the Group’s network.  
I am pleased to report that EY has brought both fresh perspective and 
independent challenge this year, which is beneficial for management.  
A number of subject matter experts from EY have presented to the 
Committee over the course of the year on areas such as Aviation 
Finance, the UK Audit Reform and Regional/Country overviews on  
key markets in which the Group operates. This is a practice that we  
will encourage for 2021 and beyond.

The Committee has exercised its authority delegated by the Board for 
ensuring the integrity of the Group’s published financial information by 
discussing and challenging the judgements and disclosures made by 
management, and the assumptions and estimates on which they are 
based. The Committee has exercised judgement in deciding which of 
the issues it considered to be significant in the financial statements,  
and this report sets out the material matters that it has considered in 
these deliberations. Management reporting to the Committee from 
across the business has provided the opportunity for the Committee  
to challenge, probe, discuss and seek assurance from management, 
enabling the Committee to provide an independent perspective.

As a result of the Committee’s work in 2020, assurance has been 
provided to the Board on the quality and appropriateness of the  
Group’s financial reporting, in particular taking account of COVID-19 
impacts, and on internal audit, compliance and regulatory matters, to 
continue to safeguard the interests of the Group’s broader stakeholders.  
The following pages provide insight and context into the Committee’s 
work and activities during the year.

Phil Rivett 
Chair of the Audit Committee

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Activities during the year

Financial  
reporting

•  Satisfied itself that the Group’s accounting policies and practices are appropriate

•  Reviewed the clarity and completeness of the disclosures made within the published financial 

statements

•  Considered any changes in disclosures arising from best practice in applying the UK Finance Code 

for Financial Reporting Disclosure, recommendations from the Taskforce on disclosures on expected 
credit losses (DECL), high-quality practices with regards to implementation of expected credit 
losses (ECL) suggested by the PRA and Financial Reporting Council (FRC) publications on aspects of 
UK reporting

•  Monitored the integrity of the Group’s published financial statements and formal announcements 
relating to the Group’s financial performance, reviewing the significant financial judgements and 
accounting issues

Significant accounting judgements considered during 2020 are shown below.

The Committee can confirm that the key judgements and significant issues reported are consistent 
with the disclosures of key estimation uncertainties and critical judgements as set out in Note 1 
starting on page 304. 

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Key area

Action taken

Impairment of 
loans and 
advances

Impairment of 
aircraft 

Goodwill 
impairment

Reviewed and challenged, on a quarterly basis, reports detailing the 
composition and credit quality of the loan book, concentrations of risk and 
provisioning levels.

Reviewed and considered judgemental post model adjustments and 
management overlays in both the wholesale and retail portfolios on a quarterly 
basis that were required to estimate ECL as the significant volatility in economic 
forecasts meant that certain ECL models operated outside of the boundaries  
to which they were calibrated. In addition, the models were not able to capture 
the full level of uncertainty related to COVID-19, and in particular, the impact  
of government-relief measures in many markets in which the Group operates. 
The Committee was also briefed on the performance of the IFRS 9 models  
and the remediation plans in place to address material non-performance  
issues where these had been identified, the most significant of which was the 
redevelopment and implementation of the Large Corporate Probability of 
Default model. This included considering the appropriateness of the staging of 
higher risk loans. The expectation of elevated losses in industries and locations 
that have been particularly affected by lockdowns was also considered. In 
respect of high-risk credit grade exposures, the Committee was also briefed on 
business plans, including remedial actions and management assessment of the 
recoveries and collateral available. 

Reviewed and challenged, on a quarterly basis, management’s assessments of 
impairment losses on aircraft operating lease assets, including the assumptions 
used to determine asset value-in-use (ViU) and market valuations. In particular, 
the Committee challenged management’s assessments and the detailed 
sensitivity analysis to ensure that the implications of COVID-19 had been fully 
considered, as the aircraft industry was particularly affected by COVID-19 and 
lockdowns. The Committee reviewed detailed sensitivity analysis on the factors 
that would impact the ViU assessments including residual values, remarketing 
periods after lease terminations, reductions in market rental rates and  
discount rates while assessing the impairment calculations for the aircraft.  
The Committee also focused its review on lease payment deferrals granted  
to lessees as a result of COVID-19 to assess any potential impact on the ViU 
assessments for the related aircraft and monitored progress on repayments  
of the deferrals and any extensions.

Reviewed management’s annual assessment of impairment covering key 
assumptions (including forecasts, discount rate, significant changes from the 
previous year), headroom availability and sensitivities to possible changes in  
key assumptions.

The goodwill impairment calculations were another area with additional focus 
as a result of COVID-19 as the forecasts, discount rates and GDP growth rates, 
which are all components of the ViU valuations for the cash-generating units, 
were negatively impacted resulting in some impairments.

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Activities during the year continued

Carrying value  
of investments  
in associates

Recoverability of 
parent company’s 
investment in 
subsidiaries
Information 
Technology –  
user access 
management

Other areas of focus:

Classification of 
assets as held 
for sale

Restructuring 
costs
Capitalisation of 
software assets

Reviewed and considered management’s carrying value assessments on the 
Group’s investment in China Bohai Bank, covering key assumptions and potential 
sensitivity to changes. The Committee reviewed management’s assessment that 
the Group maintained significant influence after being diluted as part of the 
initial public offering in July 2020 and satisfied itself that it remained appropriate 
to continue to equity account for the investment. The Committee also reviewed 
the change in the methodology for equity method accounting to incorporate  
a three-month lag, now China Bohai Bank is a public company and its results  
are not available on the same timetable as the Group publishes its results.  
The Committee also reviewed the methodology changes to the China Bohai 
Bank ViU calculation as set out in Note 32 on pages 399 and 400 after the initial  
public offering in July 2020.

Discussed and received confirmation from management that it had adequately 
assessed the recoverability of investments in subsidiaries, together with any 
intercompany indebtedness.

Received an update from EY where new and existing IT observations had  
been identified related to user access management supporting in-scope 
applications including privileged access, user access review and other user 
access management controls. The Committee discussed how management  
and EY are working to assess this matter and sought and received assurance  
this matter is receiving senior management attention.

Reviewed management’s assessment of whether assets or disposal groups 
should be reclassified as held for sale. This included reviewing the facts and 
circumstances for the proposed sale of shipping assets, the Group’s investment  
in PT Bank Permata Tbk and Principal Finance investments.

Reviewed and considered, on a quarterly basis, income statement charges 
classified as restructuring.

Assessed the findings of management’s review of the Group’s software asset 
capitalisation processes, including recommendations for changes from a  
project based to an application-based methodology and revisions to  
estimated useful lives. The Committee also reviewed and considered the  
results of management’s impairment review for the software assets.

Hedge accounting Reviewed the ineffectiveness reported in operating income from hedge 
accounting and significant hedge terminations and the reasons for this.

Valuation of 
financial 
instruments held 
at fair value

Taxation

Provisions for 
legal and 
regulatory 
matters

Received reports and updates at each reporting period detailing the key 
processes undertaken to produce and validate valuations of financial 
instruments, including any changes in methodology from prior years and 
significant valuation judgements. The Committee received regular updates  
on the level of unsold positions in the syndications portfolio and the valuation  
of these positions and plans for sell down. The Committee also reviewed  
credit valuation adjustments, debit valuation adjustments, funding valuation 
adjustments and own credit adjustments and considered the rationale for any 
significant movements.

Reviewed and considered management’s judgements and assumptions with 
respect to tax exposure risks, including uncertain tax positions, and ensured 
adequate disclosure in the financial statements has been made. This included 
coordination of the Group’s effective tax rate, the quantum and basis of 
recognition of deferred tax assets and the UK bank levy charge for the year.  
The Committee also reviewed the recoverability of the Group’s deferred tax 
assets given the impact of COVID-19 on the forecasts included in the most  
recent Corporate Plan.

Considered advice presented on the current status of significant legal and 
regulatory matters, and considered management’s judgements on the level  
of provisions and the adequacy of disclosure, as set out in Notes 24 and 26 on 
pages 376 and 378.

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Activities during the year continued

Going concern 
assessment and 
viability statement

•  Reviewed management’s process, assessment and conclusions with respect to the Group’s going concern 
assessment and viability statement, including the forward-looking Corporate Plan cashflows, principal 
and emerging risks, liquidity and capital positions and key assumptions. The review had a particular  
focus on the impacts of COVID-19. The Committee also ensured that the going concern assessment  
and viability statement is consistent with the Group’s Strategic report and other risk disclosures

Fair, balanced and 
understandable

Examples  
of deeper 
discussions  
into specific topics

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Further details can be found on pages 78, 79 and 306

•  The Committee considered, satisfied itself and recommended to the Board, that the processes  
and procedures in place ensure that the Annual Report, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and 
understandable, and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s  
position and performance, business model and strategy, and the business risks it faces. The statement  
is underpinned by the Committee’s, and the Board’s, belief that all important elements have been 
disclosed; and that the descriptions of the Group’s business as set out in the Strategic report, are 
consistent with those used for financial reporting in the Group’s financial statements

•  IFRS 9 models: Received and discussed updates on the Group’s use of the IFRS 9 Corporate Probability  

of Default model used to calculate the year-end ECL, issues that have been experienced with the model 
and actions underway by management to address these issues. At the request of the Committee, a 
dedicated IFRS 9 technical pre-briefing session was held in April 2020, to enable a focused discussion  
on IFRS 9 guidance and credit impairment relating to aircraft and shipping. The Committee discussed  
a further update on IFRS 9 models to understand any potential issues to be aware of ahead of year-end. 
As part of this discussion, attention was placed on the Monte Carlo model and observations made  
that macroeconomic variables used by this model can be narrow. In response to challenge from the 
Committee, management provided assurance that the parameters used for this model were being 
updated in order to generate a wider set of scenarios

•  Financial regulatory reporting: Discussed the Group’s financial regulatory reporting, in light of the 

considerable increase in volume and complexity of reporting requirements, impacting both capital and 
liquidity reporting. Furthermore, towards the end of the year, the Committee received and discussed  
an update with regard to the remediation activities concerning financial regulatory reporting. This will 
continue to be an area of focus for 2021

•  EY partner regional overviews: Received overviews and topical updates from EY’s local regional partners 
from GCNA, India and Singapore. These regional overviews provided insight into the challenges faced  
in the Group’s markets from a statutory audit perspective; and provided the Committee with the local 
audit partner’s assessment of the Group’s control systems in these markets, the quality of the Group’s 
management from a control perspective and a benchmark of the Group’s control environment against 
local and international peers. The overviews also provided insight into local regulatory developments,  
the Group’s standing and engagement with local regulators and areas of focus for 2020

•  EY Aviation Finance Audit approach: At the request of the Committee, EY’s Aviation Partner presented 

on the interim review procedures in the first half of 2020 and EY’s conclusions and observations

•  EY UK Audit reform: At the request of the Committee, EY provided a presentation on how it expects  

the audit reform agenda to be realised across the ecosystem by 2024. Discussion included the  
various consultation work underway such as Kingman, Brydon and the Audit Committee Chairs’ 
Independent Forum

•  New Integrated Data Management Framework: Received and discussed two papers on the New 

Integrated Data Management Framework, intended to enable a more joined-up and robust approach  
to the management of the Group’s data-related risks. The Committee sought and received assurance 
that sufficient funding and resource is in place to deliver this holistic approach to data management

•  Tax update: At the Committee’s request, discussed a tax update on accounting judgements. In addition, 

the Committee reviewed the tax reporting processes and changes to the reporting structure of the  
Tax function

•  MiFID II Implementation and Significant Transaction Reporting Obligations (STORs): Discussed the 
Group’s compliance with MiFID II requirements and the Group’s STORs, their current risk profile and 
challenges posed by STORs. This will continue to be an area of focus for 2021

•  Finance resourcing: Reviewed and discussed a paper providing assurance that the Accounting  
and Financial Reporting function is adequately resourced; the qualifications, experience and  
training of colleagues is appropriate; and the budget allocated is sufficient to maintain external  
reporting obligations

•  Internal financial controls: Received and discussed a paper providing assurance on the Group’s internal 

financial controls

•  Major disputes and significant cross-border orders: Received and discussed two updates on major 

disputes and significant cross-border orders facing the Group

•  Annual Volcker Compliance report: Discussed an annual review of the effectiveness of the Group’s 

Volcker Compliance Programme. Context was sought and received on how training is conducted for 
relevant employees on the revised requirements for Volcker compliance

•  Statutory auditor private reporting: Discussed the contents of KPMG’s private report to the PRA for  

the year ended 31 December 2019, and the scope of EY’s private report for 2020

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Activities during the year continued

Group Statutory 
Auditor, EY

Provided oversight of the work undertaken by EY as the Group’s Statutory Auditor. In particular, the 
Committee:

•  Reviewed and discussed the risks identified by EY’s audit planning, seeking and receiving assurance that 

these risks have been addressed properly in the audit strategy

•  Satisfied itself that EY has allocated sufficient and suitably experienced resources to address these risks

•  Sought and received assurance that no undue pressure has been asserted on the level of audit fees,  

to ensure that there is no risk to audit work being conducted effectively and independently

•  Although this is EY’s first year as the Group’s Statutory Auditor, conducted an annual performance and 
effectiveness review of EY. Input was received from Committee members, Chairs of subsidiary audit 
committees, the Management Team, regional/country chief financial officers, members of the Group 
Finance Leadership Team and the GIA Management Team. The results of this input was discussed by  
the Committee. Overall, it was felt that EY is considered to be effective, objective and independent in  
its role as the Group’s Statutory Auditor

•  Reviewed and discussed EY’s audit planning report, interim reviews and EY audit strategy update for  

year-end

The Committee met privately with EY at the end of certain Committee meetings, without management 
being present.

Both Naguib Kheraj and Phil Rivett, as outgoing and incoming Audit Committee Chairs, met regularly with 
EY during the course of the year.

The Company complies with the Statutory Audit services for Large Companies Market Investigation 
(Mandatory Use of Competitive Tender Process and Audit Committee responsibilities) Order 2014. EY has 
been the Group’s Statutory Auditor for just under one year. In accordance with the Audit Practices Board’s 
requirements, the lead audit engagement partner has held the role for less than one year. The lead 
engagement partner has a background of auditing banks and understands the markets in which the  
Group operates.

Following the 2017 audit tender, EY was appointed as the Group’s Statutory Auditor for the financial year 
ending 31 December 2020.

Non-audit services •  Responsible for setting, reviewing and monitoring the appropriateness of the provision of non-audit 
services, applying the Group’s policy on the award of non-audit services to the external auditor, while 
taking into account the relevant ethical guidance

Internal  
controls

• 

In 2020, the Group spent $2.6 million on non-audit services provided by EY and $5.1 million on audit-
related services such as quarterly and half year reviews and regulatory reporting
Further details on non-audit services provided by EY can be found in Note 38 on page 406 
and the Group’s approach to non-audit services on page 175

•  Discussed reports from GIA that provide GIA’s view on the system of internal controls across all risk types, 

business and country functions, including summary highlights of the most significant matters being 
monitored by GIA and areas of thematic interest that have arisen as part of the audits and warrant the 
Committee’s attention. The Board Risk Committee, the Board Financial Crime Risk Committee and the 
Brand, Values and Conduct Committee discussed separate reports from the Group Head of Internal 
Audit on GIA’s appraisal of controls across key risks, subject to each Committee’s oversight. Collectively, 
the reports received by these Committees provided assurance that there are effective internal controls 
within the Group

•  Received an update on KPMG’s observations of the Group’s controls arising from KPMG’s audit for the  
year ended 2019 (and items remaining open from 2018) and management’s responses to the findings, 
together with proposed timelines for addressing the findings. The observations raised by KPMG did  
not suggest any fundamental concerns over the control framework or procedures

•  Throughout the year, the Committee continued to probe that the Group’s internal controls infrastructure 

was not being adversely impacted by WFH arrangements, as a result of lockdowns across the  
Group’s network

Further details on internal controls can be found on page 171

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Activities during the year continued

Group  
Internal  
Audit

During 2020, GIA revised its approach to audits, in order to respond to the changed risk landscape of the 
Group. GIA focused on providing timely, nimble and independent assurance over the Group’s approach to 
managing COVID-19. There were shorter, sharper focused pieces of work on emerging risks, which provided 
the Committee with assurance that the Group’s response to and operations during COVID-19 remained 
appropriate for our shareholders, customers and colleagues and aligned to our Here for good brand 
promise. The Committee sought and received assurance from management that this revised approach  
was adding value to the business and continued to focus on the effectiveness of controls and processes. 
The Committee also monitored, on an ongoing basis, that travel restrictions and WFH arrangements were 
not impacting the quality or integrity of audit work or the internal controls infrastructure of the Group.

In 2019, an external assessor, Grant Thornton (selected by the Committee from a competitive request for 
proposal process), conducted an external quality assurance review on the GIA function, which assessed  
the requirements of GIA against key professional and regulatory bodies governing the practice of internal 
audit. While it was recognised that GIA “generally conforms” to the requirements of these standards, some 
recommendations were made. During the course of 2020, the Committee received updates on progress 
against these recommendations.

In 2020, for the most significant matters being monitored by GIA, business and/or regional management 
were invited to attend meetings to provide updates on the steps being taken to enhance the control 
environment and address internal audit findings.

The Committee:

•  Reviewed the adequacy of resourcing and proposed work plans for GIA and is satisfied that these are 

appropriate in light of proposed areas of focus, expertise and skills that are required

•  Assessed the role and effectiveness of the GIA function, and reviewed and monitored GIA’s progress 

against its annual audit plan and the review and monitoring of post-audit actions. Changes to the audit 
plan, in particular COVID-related changes, and people changes were also discussed by the Committee

•  Reviewed and approved GIA’s 2021 audit plan and budget

•  Reviewed and approved the refreshed GIA charter

•  Received and discussed reports from the Global Head, Audit Quality Assurance (QA) on the QA function’s 

view of the control environment in GIA

The Committee is satisfied with the independence of the GIA function. 

Both Naguib Kheraj and Phil Rivett, as outgoing and incoming Audit Committee Chairs, met regularly with 
the Group Head of Internal Audit and the GIA Management Team.

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Group compliance Regular compliance reporting to the Committee sets out the work carried out the by CFCC function, 

significant compliance and regulatory risks and issues facing the Group, and key actions being taken to 
address and mitigate these matters.

In 2020, the Committee was updated on the following:

•  Key supervisory areas of focus, the status of the Group’s core college regulatory relationships and 

enforcement matters

•  The function’s operating model, including an overview of the CFCC budget and organisational changes 
to simplify the function. In conjunction with the Board Risk Committee and Board Financial Crime Risk 
Committee, the Committee has received regular updates on the CFCC Transformation

•  Trade and communications surveillance across the Group

•  Data sovereignty

•  The Group’s preparedness for Brexit

•  Cross-Border risks in Retail Banking

•  Conduct, in particular focusing on managing the impacts of COVID-19 and WFH arrangements

•  Updates from CFCC Assurance

The Committee reviewed an update on compliance resourcing and confirmation was received from 
management that the function is adequately resourced.

The Committee also reviewed the 2021 Compliance Plan and priorities.

Both Naguib Kheraj and Phil Rivett, as outgoing and incoming Audit Committee Chairs, met regularly 
throughout the year with the Group Head, CFCC.

The Board Financial Crime Risk Committee received reports on financial crime compliance-related matters.

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Activities during the year continued

Speaking Up

Speaking Up is the Group’s confidential and anonymous whistleblowing programme (the Programme).

The Programme has been designed to comply with the Group’s UK lead regulators, the PRA and the FCA 
Whistleblowing Rules. Our whistleblowing channels are available to anyone – colleagues, contractors, 
suppliers and members of the public – to raise concerns confidentially and anonymously.

Through the Compliance Regulatory report, the Committee was provided with regular updates on  
the Programme.

The Committee reviewed and discussed an annual report on the operation and effectiveness of the 
Programme which was subsequently tabled to the Board. The report provided the Committee with 
assurance of the Group’s ongoing compliance with the Whistleblowing Rules. The Committee discussed  
the linkages between Speaking Up and data within the Group’s My Voice (employee engagement  
survey) results.

In 2020, the Committee Chair regularly received Speak Up management information reports with details  
of Speak Up cases and themes. 

Further details on Speaking Up can be found on page 67

Interaction  
with regulators

Typically, the Committee meets with the PRA on an annual basis, without members of management  
being present. The purpose of such meetings is to enable a discussion between the Committee and  
the PRA concerning areas of focus for both the Committee and the PRA. This discussion was held on  
19 February 2020 with representatives from the PRA.

Linkages with 
subsidiary audit 
committees

Phil Rivett attended a trilateral meeting with EY and the PRA. Naguib Kheraj also attended meetings with 
the PRA in 2020 in his capacity as Audit Committee Chair.

There are strong linkages and interactions in place between the Committee, regional hub audit committees 
and banking subsidiary audit committees. In 2020, Naguib Kheraj attended a Standard Chartered Bank 
(Hong Kong) Limited (SCB Hong Kong) Audit Committee meeting; and the Audit Committee Chair of SCB 
Hong Kong attended a Standard Chartered PLC Audit Committee meeting. This practice will continue in 
2021 and beyond to reinforce these important linkages.

Details of the annual call held with Naguib Kheraj, as Committee Chair in March 2020,  
and the chairs of banking subsidiary audit committees can be found on page 107

Committee effectiveness review
During 2020, an internally facilitated Board and Board committee effectiveness review was facilitated by the Group  
Company Secretary.

Key observations from the 2020 internal 
effectiveness review
The feedback on the Committee’s functioning and 
effectiveness was positive and it specifically highlighted 
that:

•  The Committee has maintained a high standard of work, 

and the Committee Chair is well prepared

•  The handover to EY, as the Group’s Statutory Auditor,  

had gone well

•  Suggestions were provided on potential topics for  

training sessions

•  The scheduling of meetings is in close proximity to  

Board meetings

2021 Action Plan

The 2021 Action Plan for the Committee reflects suggestions 
from the evaluation and continues to build on the solid 
progress made last year:

•  Ensure effective handover to the new Chair

•  Schedule training sessions to cover new developments in 
reporting (including ESG/Climate), valuation of financial 
instruments (including the XVA framework), IFRS 9 and 
best practice in reporting new areas of work 

•  Review the quality and timing of papers and scheduling  

of Committee meetings to enhance efficiency

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Board Risk  
Committee

“ Throughout the year, focus has been 
placed on the impact of COVID-19 
and how the Group has responded 
to and managed the related risks”

Committee composition

N Kheraj (Chair) 
(Appointed as Committee Chair on 1 December 2020)

D P Conner

G Huey Evans, OBE

P G Rivett  
(Appointed 6 May 2020)

D Tang 
(Appointed 1 October 2020)

C Tong

Scheduled 
meetings

6/6

6/6

6/6

3/3

1/1

6/6

Maria Ramos joined the Committee on 1 January 2021.

Other attendees at Committee meetings in 2020 included: Group 
Chairman; Group Chief Executive; Group Chief Financial Officer; 
Group Chief Risk Officer; Group General Counsel; the Treasurer;  
Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, Conduct, 
Financial Crime and Compliance; the Group Head of Internal Audit; 
the Group’s Statutory Auditor and Group Company Secretary.

Phil Rivett attended one meeting and David Tang attended two 
meetings before joining the Committee as members. Byron Grote, 
Christine Hodgson and Jasmine Whitbread attended Committee 
discussions on Climate Risk and Model Risk management in 2020.  
Sir Iain Lobban, Cyber Adviser to the Board, regularly attends 
discussions on Information and Cyber Security (ICS) Risk and 
Technology matters. EY attended three Committee meetings as  
an observer, ahead of their formal appointment as the Group’s 
Statutory Auditor in May 2020. As part of, and in addition to, each 
scheduled Committee meeting, the Committee held private 
members-only meetings.

The Committee’s membership comprises INEDs who have a deep and 
broad experience of banking and the risk factors affecting the Group.

Biographical details of the committee members  
can be viewed on pages 83 to 86

Main responsibilities of the Committee 
The Committee is responsible for exercising oversight, on behalf of  
the Board, of the key risks of the Group. It reviews the Group’s Risk 
Appetite Statement and makes recommendations to the Board. Its 
responsibilities also include reviewing the appropriateness and 
effectiveness of the Group’s risk management systems, considering 
the implications of material regulatory change proposals, reviewing 
reports on principal risks to the Group’s business and ensuring 
effective due diligence on material acquisitions and disposals.  
The Committee reports to the Board on its key areas of focus following 
each Committee meeting. 

The Committee has written Terms of Reference that can be 
viewed at sc.com/termsofreference

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As the new Chair of the Board Risk Committee, I am pleased to 
present the Board Risk Committee’s report for the year ended 
31 December 2020. 

Since April 2019, meetings have taken place as dual Risk Committee 
meetings of Standard Chartered PLC and Standard Chartered Bank, 
under the governance structure put in place to reflect the Group’s 
corporate entity restructuring. I became Chair of the Board Risk 
Committee on 1 December 2020, having been a member for a number 
of years. I would like to thank David Conner for the comprehensive 
handover I received and am delighted that David remains on the 
Committee as a member. I would like to welcome the newer members 
to the Committee: Phil Rivett who joined on 6 May 2020, David Tang 
who joined on 1 October 2020 and Maria Ramos who joined on 
1 January 2021.

Throughout the year, focus has been placed on the impact of 
COVID-19 and how the Group has responded to and managed the 
related risks. On a regular basis, the Committee received and 
discussed a paper on COVID-19 risks, which provided an assessment 
of the Group’s response to COVID-19. The incorporation of COVID-19 
into the Group’s stress scenarios and portfolio reviews of the exposures 
most at risk in the economic downturn has enabled management  
to identify potential areas of vulnerability and manage these 
appropriately. The Committee spent time reviewing vulnerable 
sectors and consumer credit portfolio performance. We monitored  
to ensure that appropriate action was taken as credit conditions 
deteriorated. Furthermore, attention was placed on interest rate risk, 
and the impact of market volatility on the Financial Markets business 
and the Capital Management portfolio. Outside of Committee 
meetings, David Conner had regular calls with the Group Chief Risk 
Officer (GCRO) to ensure that he was kept informed of emerging 
developments as they occurred, and in turn, this enabled Committee 
members to be notified of any significant matters in real-time. This 
communication mechanism was important as COVID-19 evolved.

ICS Risk remained a key priority this year, with reporting from 
management in the first, second and third lines of defence, to enable 
the Committee to understand the progress being made and areas  
of improvement being worked on. This remains a priority for 2021.

Operational resilience became a significant focus for the Committee 
as COVID-19 unfolded and various lockdowns across the Group’s 
network came into effect. Operational and ICS risks, resulting from 
colleagues working from home (WFH) were carefully monitored, to 
ensure that these risks were not increasing or manifesting themselves 
in different ways. The Committee continued to place focus on the risks 
associated with the Interbank Offered Rate (IBOR) transition, Model 
Risk management and Operational Risk, through dedicated papers 
and regular reporting such as the GCRO’s reports and GIA reports.

We held a ‘blue sky thinking/horizon scanning’ discussion, which 
covered the potential risks that the Group might be or could become 
exposed to. Recognising the importance of being able to step back 
and consider emerging risks, a dedicated ‘blue sky thinking/horizon 
scanning’ session has been scheduled for 2021, and will be an annual 
agenda item going forward. 

In 2020, the Committee held two informal sessions covering COVID-19 
stress test and recovery capacity and SC Ventures governance.  
These sessions were opened up to all Board members and provided 
dedicated time and space to dive deeper into these topics. 

Climate Risk remains a key priority for the Group and the Committee 
has monitored the progress being made against our Climate Risk 
workplan, and the speed of execution in integrating Climate Risk into 
mainstream risk processes. Needless to say, this will be a continued 
priority for 2021, not least given the Bank of England’s climate-related 
stress test this coming year. 

The Committee applied scrutiny to the risks related to US-China 
tensions and US elections. In anticipation of market disruption ahead 
of Brexit and ongoing US-China tensions, the Committee reviewed 
and approved liquidity limits for the Group. Given the ever-changing 
external environment, the Committee continues to discuss key 
macroeconomic and geopolitical risks and challenges faced by the 
Group, and probe how these are being managed and mitigated  
by management.

The following pages provide insight and context into the Committee’s 
work and activities during the year.

Naguib Kheraj 
Chair of the Board Risk Committee

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Activities during the year 

Risk Appetite

Reviewed and challenged the formulation of the Group’s Risk Appetite Statement, in order to assure that it 
is effective in setting appropriate boundaries in respect of each Principal Risk Type.

Considered and recommended the Group’s Risk Appetite to the Board for approval.

During 2020, the following changes were made to the Risk Appetite:

•  Enterprise Risk Appetite: given the importance of external credit ratings to the Group’s business, clients, 

investors and regulators, three new credit rating metrics were included

•  Model Risk: a new Model Risk Appetite Statement and a number of new metrics were approved to 

capture the risk profile of the overall model landscape

•  Capital and Liquidity Risk: the methodology for setting Group Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) Risk  

Appetite metric was revised to be set at the higher of the sum of regulatory requirements or 13 per cent. 
The Group’s Liquidity Coverage Ratio was proposed to be increased to 130 per cent

•  Operational Risk: Changes were proposed covering new and amended metrics. Existing metrics were 
challenged to reflect a more forward-looking view of the risks and ensure that new risks and elevated 
residual risks are sufficiently emphasised

•  ICS Risk: ICS Risk Appetite metrics were developed to measure the Group’s security and resilience to ICS 
events and incidents which could impact its most critical systems and assets. A comprehensive and 
in-depth review of the historic ICS metrics was undertaken, looking at whether they are fit for purpose, to 
ensure that proposed metrics drive change and align to the key risk elements of the Group’s ICS strategy

•  Climate Risk: Recognised as a material cross-cutting risk for the Group. A number of Climate Risk metrics 

are being developed for introduction in 2022

•  Credit Risk: A number of changes were made with regard to definitions and thresholds

•  Traded Risk: Thresholds for a number of metrics were amended to reflect a change in methodology

•  Reputational Risk and Compliance Risk: Changes largely related to the tightening of definitions and  

an increase in the reporting frequency of Compliance metrics from quarterly to monthly

•  Operational Risk: Changes were proposed covering new and amended metrics. Existing metrics were 
challenged to reflect a more forward-looking view of the risks and ensure that new risks and elevated 
residual risks are sufficiently emphasised

•  Financial Crime Risk – Fraud: New Fraud Risk Appetite metrics were proposed for Fraud Risk losses.  
This is part of the ongoing development and maturation of Fraud Risk management, with forward-
looking metrics and a greater focus on elevated residual risks

Monitored actual exposures relative to Risk Appetite limits using regular Board Risk Information reports.

Tracked a broad range of risk metrics that are reported to the Committee periodically.

The Board Financial Crime Committee reviews the Risk Appetite Statement and metrics for Financial Crime 
Risk, excluding Fraud Risk.

Further details of the Group’s Risk Appetite are set out on page 250

Enterprise Risk 
Management 
Framework (ERMF)

The ERMF sets out the principles and standards for risk management across the branches and subsidiaries 
of the Group. The Committee:

•  Reviewed proposed material changes to the ERMF, arising from the 2020 annual review, and 

recommended these changes to the Board for approval

•  Discussed the approach and key outcomes of the 2020 annual effectiveness review of the ERMF. 
Affirmation was received from the GCRO that the Group’s risk management and internal control 
framework is materially effective and improvement areas were highlighted for management attention

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Activities during the year continued

Principal Risk 
Types

The Group’s Principal Risk Types are reported on at each scheduled Committee meeting, through a Board 
Risk Information report, which accompanies the GCRO’s report. In addition, the Committee had deeper 
discussions on the topics set out below.

In 2020, some changes were made to the Principal Risk Types, in order to reflect the changing risk dynamics 
and ensure appropriate focus. Accordingly, the definitions of Operational and Reputational Risk were 
expanded to include Technology and Sustainability Risk, respectively. Additionally, recognising the 
importance of Conduct Risk across the wider organisation, this will be managed through the overall ERMF, 
so that it becomes embedded in all Principal Risk Types. Furthermore, Country Risk should also be taken into 
account across all Principal Risk Types, with a particular focus on Credit Risk, which also now forms part of 
the overall framework.

•  Operational and Technology Risk

The Group defines Operational and Technology Risk as the potential for loss resulting from inadequate or 
failed internal processes, technology events, human error, or from the impact of external events (including 
legal risks). Recognising the importance of Technology Risk, in December 2020, the Operational Principal 
Risk Type was expanded to include Technology.

The Committee:

•  Discussed the risk profile for non-Financial Risk Types under the Operational Risk Principal Risk Type

•  Discussed updates on Operational Risk, including the Operational Risk Enhancement project

•  Reviewed and discussed the overall status of technology obsolescence including timelines and funding 

allocated. The Committee endorsed the timeline of the technology obsolescence programme

•  Reviewed and discussed the Group’s approach to IT governance, including management’s plans to 

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strengthen this

•  Model Risk

Model Risk is the potential loss that may occur as a consequence of decisions or the risk of mis-estimation 
that could be principally based on the output of models, due to errors in the development, implementation 
or use of such models. 

The Committee:

•  Reviewed and discussed the key risks and issues relating to Model Risk management frequently in 2020

•  Reviewed management’s action plans to improve current capabilities in Model Risk management

•  Discussed Model Risk management benchmarking undertaken by an external consultant

Discussed COVID-related impacts on models and resourcing in place, which all Board members were 
invited to attend

•  ICS Risk

ICS Risk is the risk to the Group’s assets, operations and individuals due to the potential for unauthorised 
access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification or destruction of information assets and/or information 
systems.

The Committee:

•  Discussed regular reports from management on the work underway to improve the Group’s defences  
and create stronger control frameworks, focusing on what had gone well and could have gone better 
throughout the year

•  Discussed regular reports on the Group’s Transformation and Remediation Portfolio and ICS Risk profile

•  Discussed and monitored the progress of key risk reduction initiatives across key controls domains

•  Reviewed the Group’s ICS three-year strategy and made a recommendation to the Board for 

endorsement

•  Reviewed and discussed 2021 ICS Risk metrics, including Risk Appetite metrics

•  Reviewed and discussed an external report on the Group’s ICS programme and management’s response

•  Regularly sought assurance that the first, second and third lines of defence are aligned in progressing the 

Group’s ICS priorities

•  Received and discussed a paper setting out a deep dive review of the impacts of COVID-19 on ICS Risk

Sir Iain Lobban, who is one of the external adviser members of the Board Financial Crime Risk Committee 
and Cyber Adviser to the Board, joined Committee meetings for these discussions, together with the  
Group Chief Operating Officer, Group Chief Information Officer, the Group Chief Information Security 
Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Trust, Data and Resilience and the Group Chief Information Security 
Risk Officer.

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Activities during the year continued

Principal Risk 
Types continued

•  Capital Risk and Liquidity Risk

Capital Risk is the potential for insufficient level, composition or distribution of capital to support the Group’s 
normal activities. Liquidity Risk is the risk that the Group may not have sufficient stable or diverse sources of 
funding to meet its obligations as they fall due.

The Committee receives a Treasurer’s report at each meeting which covers market developments, liquidity, 
capital, recovery and resolution planning, together with rating agency updates.

During the year, the Committee considered and discussed the Group’s capital and liquidity position and  
the regulatory environment, including the approval of the Group’s Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment 
Process (ICAAP) submission to the PRA; in order to satisfy itself that the Group’s approach to capital 
planning is comprehensive, rigorous and consistent with both the current regulatory requirements and  
the likely anticipated outlook.

The Committee also considered and discussed the Group’s Internal Liquidity Adequacy Assessment Process 
(ILAAP) for submission to the PRA, which considers the Group’s liquidity position, its framework and whether 
sufficient liquidity resources are being maintained to meet liabilities as they fall due (see section on stress 
testing for further details).

In December 2020, the Committee reviewed and provided feedback on the stress test scenarios for the 2021 
Group and Solo ICAAP Stress Tests and the Reverse Stress Test.

The Committee held an informal session covering COVID-19 stress test and recovery capacity, which 
provided the Committee with an opportunity to discuss the results and insights from the COVID-19 stress 
test and the assessment of recovery capacity for capital and liquidity (see section on stress testing for 
further details).

Further details on Capital and Liquidity Risk are set out on pages 259 and 260

•  Credit Risk

Credit Risk is the potential for loss due to failure of a counterparty to meet its agreed obligations to pay  
the Group.

The Committee received and discussed updates on Credit Risk. These discussions were further enhanced 
through deep dives into various country and business/client segments. For example, a paper on Retail 
Banking Unsecured Lending was discussed, which provided an overview of the Group’s unsecured retail 
lending business, including the impact from COVID-19 and progress being made on the Retail strategy.

•  Traded Risk

Traded Risk is the potential for loss resulting from activities undertaken by the Group in Financial Markets.

The Committee received and discussed an update on major Traded Risk developments and changes.

A paper covering XVA hedge effectiveness was received and discussed.

Further detail on the Group’s Principal Risk Types can be found on page 251

Stress testing

The objective of stress testing is to support the Group in assessing that it:

•  Does not have a portfolio with excessive risk concentration that could produce unacceptably high losses 

under severe but plausible scenarios

•  Has sufficient financial resources to withstand severe but plausible scenarios 

•  Has the financial flexibility to respond to extreme but plausible scenarios

•  Understands the key business model risks and considers what kind of event might crystallise those risks – 
even if extreme with a low likelihood of occurring – and identifies, as required, actions to mitigate the 
likelihood or impact as required

The Committee provided oversight, challenge and approval for:

•  The scenario and stress test results for the 2020 Group ILAAP Stress Test

•  The scenarios and results for the 2020 Group ICAAP Stress Test and Reverse Stress Test

In December 2020, the Committee reviewed and provided feedback on the stress test scenarios for the 2021 
Group and Solo ICAAP Stress Tests and the Reverse Stress Test.

The Committee held an informal session covering COVID-19 stress test and recovery. All Board members 
were invited to attend this session.

Further details of stress testing are set out on page 251

Internal controls

Discussed reports from the Group Head of Internal Audit which provided summaries of GIA’s appraisals of 
controls across key risks, subject to the Committee’s oversight, together with the key risk issues identified by 
GIA’s work and management actions put in place to address the findings.

The Audit Committee, Board Financial Crime Risk Committee and the Brand, Values and Conduct 
Committee discuss separate reports from the Group Head of Internal Audit on GIA’s appraisal of controls 
across key risk types, subject to each respective Committee’s oversight. Collectively, the reports received  
by these Committees provide assurance that there are effective internal controls within the Group.

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Activities during the year continued

Remuneration as a 
risk management 
tool

Considered advice provided by the GCRO to the Remuneration Committee concerning the risk factors to be 
taken into account by the Remuneration Committee in determining incentives for the Group Chief Executive 
and other colleagues. Such advice assists the Remuneration Committee in its assessment as to whether  
the Group’s remuneration policy, practices and procedures are consistent with and promote sound and 
effective risk management, and do not encourage risk-taking that exceeds the level of tolerated risk of  
the Group.

Further details concerning the Group’s approach to using remuneration as a risk management tool are set 
out in the Directors’ remuneration report.

Regulatory

Group regulator 
communications

Examples of 
deeper discussions 
into specific topics

BCBS 239 Principles
In May 2020, the Committee received and discussed an update on the outcome of the BCBS 239 self-
assessment as of end 2019, the roadmap for compliance and challenges faced by the Group to comply  
with BCBS 239.

At the end of the year, the Committee discussed the trajectory of the BCBS 239 Programme including the 
progress made and challenges faced.

The Committee will receive an update on the level of compliance (as at 31 December 2020), once the 
outcome of the self-assessment is available on 26 February 2021.

The Committee discussed key communications from the PRA and FCA, where risk was the main theme.

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•  Blue sky thinking/horizon scanning: Discussed the potential risks that the Group may be, or could 
become exposed to, in addition to the risks identified in the Emerging Risk disclosure in the 2019  
Annual Report 

•  Aviation Finance deep dive: Received and discussed a paper covering the aviation finance operating 
lease and debt portfolios and the Group’s strategy; the key risks in the business and steps being taken  
to address previous challenges and market developments; and benchmarking conducted against the 
Group’s peers

•  Enterprise Risk Review (ERR) function: Discussed the review and re-deployment activities undertaken  
by the ERR Credit Risk Review and Liquidity Risk Review teams in 2020. The Committee discussed the 
interaction between the ERR and GIA functions on credit review-related matters

•  Safety and Security Risk: Received an update on Safety and Security Risk and discussion focused on how 

management is dealing with the impact from COVID-19, including WFH arrangements and business 
travel restrictions

•  Climate Risk management: Discussed an annual progress update on Climate Risk, which all Board 
members were invited to attend. The Committee has monitored the progress being made against  
our Climate Risk workplan and the speed of execution in integrating Climate Risk into mainstream  
risk processes

Further detail on Climate Risk can be found on page 269

•  Operational resilience – Client Service resilience: Discussed an update on progress being made to 

support the implementation of emerging regulatory requirements pertaining to the management of 
operational resilience

•  Wholesale Credit deep dive: Discussed the annual Credit Risk review of the Group’s Corporate, 

Commercial and Institutional Banking (CCIB) portfolio

•  IBOR transition: The Committee received updates during the course of the year from an industry and 
Group perspective on the IBOR transition. The programme of work was discussed, including the work 
undertaken to manage the risks associated with this transition, in particular, the financial implications, 
legal risks and consequences for clients. The Committee continues to seek assurance that this Transition 
Programme is on track and adequately resourced. This will remain a key focus for 2021

•  CCIB Fraud Risk: At the request of the Committee, a paper was received and discussed on the findings 
from a review of all first-party fraud instances related to credit exposures in CCIB. Focus was placed on 
the training programme being rolled out and during discussion the importance of first-line ownership  
was reinforced

•  SC Ventures – venture building: SC Ventures is a business unit that provides a platform and catalyst  
for the Group to promote innovation, invest in disruptive financial technology and explore alternative 
business models. Following on from a discussion on SC Ventures governance in 2019, the Committee 
received and discussed papers setting out the venture-building activity of SC Ventures and Crypto-Asset 
Risk management. One of the outcomes of this discussion was a Committee teach-in on SC Ventures 
governance and a Board teach-in on Crypto-Assets, which both took place in 2020

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Committee effectiveness review
During 2020, an internally facilitated Board and Board committee effectiveness review was facilitated by the Group Company 
Secretary.

Key observations from the 2020 internal 
effectiveness review
The feedback on the Committee’s functioning and 
effectiveness was positive and it specifically highlighted 
that:

•  Overall performance has remained consistent, and the 

Committee Chair is well prepared and diligent

•  Committee members would like papers to become more 
succinct, with key issues highlighted more clearly up front 
to help focus the Committee’s discussions

•  Committee members provided feedback on key areas of 

focus and topics for future training sessions

Risk information provided to the Committee
The Committee is authorised to investigate or seek any 
information relating to an activity within its Terms of 
Reference, receives regular reports on risk management,  
and tracks a wide range of risk metrics through a Board Risk 
Information report. This report provides an overview of the 
Group’s risk profile against the Group’s Risk Appetite 
Statement. The GCRO’s report covers the macroeconomic 
environment, geopolitical outlook, material disclosures and 
ongoing risks. Coverage of Principal Risk Types and regulatory 
matters are also included in this report. By way of example, 
regular updates on the US elections, Brexit and US-China 
tensions have been reported on and discussed throughout 
the year.

The Committee has the authority to request and receive 
relevant information consistent with the requirements of  
BCBS 239 that will allow the Committee to fulfil its governance 
mandate relating to risks to which the Group is exposed,  
and alert senior management when risk reports do not  
meet its requirements.

Risk management disclosures
The Committee has reviewed the risk disclosures in the Annual 
Report and the Half Year Report, and has also reviewed the 
disclosures regarding the work of the Committee.

Interaction with the Group Chief Risk Officer
The Committee Chair meets individually with the GCRO 
regularly between formal Committee meetings. These 
meetings allow open discussion of any matters relating to 
issues arising from the Committee’s formal discussions and 
inform the forward-looking agenda.

Interaction with management
The Committee is mindful of the need to hold management 
directly accountable when issues have arisen and have been 
reported by the GCRO. Senior management has attended 
Committee meetings for deeper discussions in such instances. 
The Committee Chair also meets individually with senior 
leaders of the Risk function.

2021 Action Plan

The 2021 Action Plan for the Committee reflects suggestions 
from the evaluation and continues to build on the solid 
progress made last year:

•  Ensure effective handover to the new Chair

•  Consider ways to enhance discussions on ICS-related 

matters, operational resilience and technology 
obsolescence

•  As with all Committees, keep under review the quality and 
length of papers and ensure they draw out the key issues 
to help focus the Committee’s discussion effectively

•  Schedule training sessions to include Treasury risks, 

technology and models

Interaction with regulators
The Committee Chair meets periodically with the Group’s UK 
lead regulators, the PRA, as well as the FCA. 

Typically, the Committee meets with the PRA on an annual 
basis, without members of management being present.  
In 2020, this meeting was postponed due to COVID-19.  
The purpose of these meetings is to enable a discussion 
between the Committee and the PRA concerning prudential-
focused topics. 

Interaction between Board committees  
on risk-related issues
In the few instances where it does not have primary oversight 
for a given type of risk, the Committee interacts closely with 
other Board Committees where the remit of these other 
Committees clearly covers risk-related matters. For example, 
the Audit Committee has oversight of the Group’s internal 
financial controls and regulatory compliance; the Board 
Financial Crime Risk Committee has oversight of the 
responsibilities in relation to financial crime compliance-
related matters; and the Brand, Values and Conduct 
Committee has oversight of the mechanisms by which 
Reputational Risk is managed. The interaction assists the 
Committee in ensuring that it is well informed on discussions 
held, and the close collaboration of the Committee Chairs 
helps to ensure that there are no gaps and any potential for 
unnecessary duplication is avoided.

Risk function resourcing
The Committee has sought and received assurance that  
the Risk function is adequately resourced to perform its 
function effectively. The Committee’s discussions included  
an overview of the changes to the Risk function in 2020; and 
management’s forward-looking view of the Risk function.

Linkages with subsidiary board risk committees
In conjunction with the Chair of the Board Financial Crime Risk 
Committee, David Conner (the outgoing Committee Chair) 
co-hosted an annual call with the chairs of subsidiary board 
risk committees in July 2020. David Conner also attended a 
board risk committee of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria 
Limited as an observer.

Details of this call can be found on page 107

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Brand, Values and 
Conduct Committee

“ The Committee provided 
guidance and challenge to 
ensure new policies and practices 
remained consistent with the 
Group’s values and supported 
long-term sustainable success”

Committee composition

J M Whitbread (Chair) 

C M Hodgson, CBE

N Okonjo-Iweala*

D Tang

D Conner  
(Appointed 1 December 2020)

Scheduled 
meetings

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

1/1

*  Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will step down from the Committee on 

28 February 2021.

Other attendees at Committee meetings in 2020 included: 
Group Chairman; Group Chief Executive; Group Head, Human 
Resources, the Group Head Corporate Affairs, Brand & 
Marketing, Conduct, Financial Crime and Compliance and  
the Group Company Secretary.

Biographical details of committee members  
can be found on pages 83 to 86.

Main responsibilities of the Committee
The Committee has responsibility for reviewing the Group’s 
brand, culture, valued behaviours and conduct, as well as  
the processes by which the Group identifies and manages 
workforce engagement framework, reputational risk, 
sustainability priorities and the approach to main government 
and regulatory relationships.

The Committee reports to the Board on its key areas of focus 
following each Committee meeting.

The Committee has written terms of reference that  
can be viewed at sc.com/termsofreference

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In an extraordinary year, the Committee focused its attention on 
employee engagement and wellbeing; support for our communities 
and clients; and driving forward our sustainability agenda. 

During the first quarter, in response to COVID-19 social distancing 
restrictions, a fundamental change to our working practices took 
place with the vast majority of our colleagues around the world 
adapting to the demands of remote working. The Committee 
provided guidance and challenge to ensure new policies and 
practices remained consistent with the Group’s values and  
supported long-term sustainable success. Plans for investment in 
employee wellbeing initiatives were accelerated and the Committee 
endorsed the launch of the Group’s Standard for Tackling Domestic 
Violence and Abuse to support the wellbeing of colleagues following 
global reports of an increase of domestic violence as a result of  
the pandemic. 

In the early stages of the pandemic the Committee monitored 
progress on delivery of the $50m COVID-19 Charitable Fund and  
the launch of the $1bn financing at cost for COVID-19 mitigation 
across qualifying Global and Commercial Banking clients. 

Given the particularly challenging circumstances faced by all in  
2020, maintaining two-way dialogue with the workforce remained  
a high priority for the Board and enhancements to the workforce 
engagement framework continued at pace. The 2020 workforce 
engagement plans were updated in response to travel restrictions 
and four regional calls were hosted by Board members. The agenda 
for each call comprised relevant themes for each region in order to 
support meaningful dialogue. The Committee noted the positive 
feedback received from employees on the engagement sessions  
and continues to discuss how to make these sessions more interactive 
and to increase employee participation further. During the year,  
the Committee also held an informal session with the Americas 
Management Team to discuss culture, brand, diversity and inclusion. 

With diversity core to our purpose, this year’s heightened focus on the 
Black Lives Matter movement acted as a spur to increase listening 
and engagement with colleagues, develop appropriate toolkits for 
use with clients and communities, and set ethnicity targets for senior 
leadership in the US and UK.

Since the diversity and inclusion strategy was launched two years ago, 
the Committee has seen improvements across the key performance 
indicators, and we continue to discuss the work undertaken on 
inclusion and the progress being made. 

In last year’s report, I provided an update on the development and 
embedding of the Culture and Conduct Dashboards. During the year, 
the Committee discussed the functionality of the Conduct Dashboard 
and monitored progress on embedding it across the organisation. 
Committee members received a practical demonstration on how the 
business was using and responding to the Conduct Dashboard noting 
that the insights would provide Management with enhanced trend 
analysis across the conduct risk sphere.

The Group’s sustainability strategy rests on three pillars. Following 
discussion by the Board on the first pillar, sustainable finance, the 
Committee undertook deep dives into the remaining two pillars – 
specifically relating to the Group’s ambition to build its reputation and 
its external sustainability leadership position, as well as the Group’s 
work on inclusive communities and promoting economic inclusion and 
tackling inequality. This included consideration of the rapidly evolving 
external landscape in relation to ESG reporting and indices as well as 
the development of our Futuremakers programme which focuses on 
education, employability and entrepreneurship within our 
communities.

Sustainability within our supply chain continues to be a key focus area 
and the Committee reviewed progress being made on supply chain 
data, labour standards and aspirational targets to achieve the living 
wage across the Group’s supply chain.

The following report provides further insight into the Committee’s 
work during the year.

Jasmine Whitbread 
Chair of the Brand, Values and Conduct Committee

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Activities during the year

Board-workforce 
engagement and 
workforce policies 
and practices

The Committee has responsibility for overseeing the Board’s engagement framework with the workforce 
and ensuring workforce policies and practices remain consistent with the Group’s valued behaviours, in 
order to satisfy certain provisions in the UK Corporate Governance Code. 

This year the Group has adapted working practices to meet the needs of the workforce during the COVID-19 
pandemic while enhancing our Board-workforce engagement. Technology has played a central role in 
ensuring interactive and two-way engagement between colleagues and Board members across our global 
footprint at a time when travel has been unprecedently restricted. 

The Committee has overseen the following activity:

•  The making of significant changes to working practices during the pandemic, including accelerating the 
planned investment in wellbeing support, and commencing a new project (Future Workplace, Now) to 
capitalise on the strategic opportunities created by the pandemic and address employee questions 
about future flexibility and ways of working 

•  The launch of a People Leader Standard and a Standard for Tackling Domestic Violence and Abuse 

•  The annual engagement survey (My Voice) and COVID-19 pulse survey across the Group

•  The Board hosted four regional engagement calls covering the Africa & Middle East, ASEAN & South Asia, 
Europe & Americas and GCNA regions, facilitated by an online Q&A session and polling tool, to enable 
Board members to engage with colleagues in an interactive manner with as much two-way dialogue as 
possible. The themes covered during the sessions varied from region to region, covering people-related 
topics such as redundancies, remuneration, diversity and future skills, as well as strategic topics such as 
the Group’s investment in digital and technology, geopolitical tension, the role of the Board and the 
long-term impact of COVID-19 on the Group’s business

•  The feedback loop that would support the Board and workforce dialogue and the enhancements that 

would strengthen the Board’s accountability to the workforce

Furthers details regarding the Board’s regional engagement calls with colleagues  
can be found on pages 105 and 106

Workforce engagement framework: how we engaged during 2020

My Voice  
employee 
engagement 
survey

Regional calls 
hosted by Board 
members

Culture  
Dashboard

Acceleration of 
wellbeing support 
initiatives

Dialogue on 
ways of working 
and Future 
Workplace, Now

Listening  
and engagement 
sessions on race

Speak Up 
data

Culture and  
valued behaviours 

The Committee:

•  Reviewed the culture transformation progress across the Group towards building an inclusive, innovative 

culture underpinned by sustainability and conduct

•  Reviewed the key insights from the Brand and Culture Dashboard, including developments to the 
Dashboard to increase its adoption across the Group, aiming to drive discussion and action on  
culture change

•  Discussed the steps being taken to create a clear link between the Group’s purpose and strategy

•  My Voice employee survey results and interpretation, assessing and monitoring the Group’s culture and 

valued behaviours with a focus on Employee Value Proposition metrics and future ways of working

•  Reviewed the Group’s approach to Diversity and Inclusion and discussed the focus to create a more 

inclusive workplace through initiatives across the Group’s unique footprint 

•  Held a session with the Americas management team on culture, brand, diversity and inclusion.  

The session provided an opportunity to gain insight into keys areas of focus including community 
engagement and racial equality, an area brought into greater focus following the Black Lives  
Matter movement

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Activities during the year continued

Culture Dashboard 
insight: monitoring 
an inclusive culture 

Why does the Committee monitor the culture of inclusion: Inclusion is the key to harnessing the Group’s 
unique diversity, unlocking innovation and creating shareholder value. 

How does the Committee monitor inclusion: The Brand and Culture Dashboard reports on an inclusion 
index, an aggregation of data from eight questions in the annual employee survey. The index covers areas 
such as access to growth and development opportunities, supportive leadership and having the tools 
needed to do one’s job. This data is then used by the Committee, along with additional insights from My 
Voice and the broader Brand and Culture Dashboard, as a source of information to track progress on the 
effectiveness of Group initiatives and provide challenge and observations that are fed back into the Group’s 
programmes. 

Brand

The Committee:

•  Discussed the Group’s Brand Refresh Campaign brand 

•  Discussed the brand evolution to update the visual identity of the Group to reflect increased digital usage

•  Held a session with the Americas management team which included a discussion on the brand building 

Conduct

The Committee:

campaigns across the Americas

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Reputational Risk 
management

•  Discussed the steps being taken by Management to embed Conduct into the three lines of defence

•  Discussed and received assurance on COVID-19 conduct risks considerations and response 

•  Provided oversight of the Conduct Dashboard implementation, discussing the functionality and 

embedding the Dashboard

•  Received a demonstration from the Wealth Management team on how it used the Dashboard and 

gained insight into the conduct framework’s contribution to the business

The Committee:

•  Received updates on monitoring Reputational and Conduct Risk during COVID-19

•  Discussed the expanded reputational and sustainability risk definition and the approach on embedding 

key ESG risk 

•  Discussed the work being undertaken by the Group to understand positive and negative reputational risk 
drivers across its markets, drawing together insights from the Reputational Risk and Corporate Affairs 
teams. Reflected on the external environment and changing expectations on corporates in the light of 
events in 2020, in particular the increased focus on stakeholder capitalism and ‘building back better’

•  Provided oversight of the key reputational risk themes being tracked across the Group

•  Provided oversight on how the Group’s Position Statements were aligned to the Group’s Risk Appetite 

Sustainability 

The Committee: 

•  Discussed the Group’s Sustainability Leadership Strategy and further actions that it will take on 
addressing climate change and promoting financing that supports sustainable development

•  Discussed and endorsed the Group’s creation of the $50 million COVID-19 Global Charitable Fund

•  Monitored the Group’s compliance with its public commitments in relation to ESG and integration of  

ESG Risk management

•  Discussed stakeholder capitalism and stakeholder views and concerns around the changing external 

environment and how the corporate sector responds

•  Provided oversight on diversity within the Group’s supply chain

•  Received an update on the roll-out of the Group’s community strategy, Futuremakers by Standard 

Chartered

•  Monitored the Group’s compliance with its public commitments in relation to ESG matters including the 

Sustainability Aspirations, and resultant scores from ESG analysts and indices

The Committee:

•  Reviewed the Group’s approach to its main government and regulatory relationships across its key 

markets, focusing on the quality of these relationships and emerging themes for the next twelve months

•  Provided input on the areas of priority for the Group including issues of geopolitical importance, 

implications of COVID-19 for banks and financial system stability, regulatory reform, Brexit, climate 
change, fintech and innovation and country/regional-specific issues 

Government  
and regulatory 
relationships

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Committee effectiveness review
As part of the 2020 internal Board evaluation, a review of the Committee’s effectiveness was conducted. Broadly, members felt 
that the Committee was continuing to function highly, and that the agenda had matured over the past year. A summary of key 
observations and the subsequent recommendations can be found below.

Progress against the actions set out in the Committee’s 2020 Action Plan has been positive; a summary of the progress against 
each of the actions is set out below.

Progress against the 2020 Action Plan:
•  Enhancements to the workforce engagement framework continued during the year. The 2020 workforce engagement plans 

were updated in response to travel restrictions and face-to-face sessions were replaced by four regional calls hosted by Board 
members 

•  During the year, the Committee discussed the functionality of the Conduct Dashboard and monitored progress on 

embedding it across the organisation. Committee members received a practical demonstration on how the business was 
using and responding to the Conduct Dashboard noting that the insights would provide Management with enhanced trend 
analysis across the conduct risk sphere

•  The Group’s sustainability strategy rests on three pillars. Following review by the Board on the first pillar, sustainable finance, 
the Committee undertook deep dives into the remaining two pillars – specifically relating to the Group’s ambition to build  
its reputation and its external sustainability leadership position, as well as the Group’s work on inclusive communities and 
promoting economic inclusion and tackling inequality. This included consideration of the rapidly evolving external landscape 
in relation to ESG reporting and indices as well as the development of the Futuremakers programme

•  The Committee held a joint strategy session with the Remuneration Committee to discuss common topics around culture, 

values and brand

2021 Action Plan

The 2021 Action Plan for the Committee reflects suggestions 
from the evaluation drawn together with the Committee’s 
forward-looking agenda for next year:

•  Consider reinforcing the Committee’s expertise on 

sustainability and environmental issues, particularly 
climate change

•  Consider inviting further guest speakers and contributors 

to meetings on specific, key topics to add new 
perspectives

Key observations from the 2020 internal 
effectiveness review
•  Committee members felt that they had made steady 
progress during the year on all topics in their remit

•  Feedback for the Chair was positive. The Chair allowed 

Committee members the time to have robust discussion 
while keeping meetings on track. The Chair’s style was 
noted as being open and inclusive 

•  The Committee may consider inviting external advisers or 
presenters to offer different perspectives on key issues and 
to extend the Committee’s horizons 

•  In terms of composition, the Committee was felt to be well 

stocked with relevant expertise 

•  Committee members rated the quality of the information 
the Committee gets highly, and the Conduct Dashboard 
was felt to be a positive addition to the Committee’s work

•  Members noted that any existing overlaps between the 

Brand, Values and Conduct Committee and, for instance, 
the Remuneration Committee had been well handled 
during the year by holding joint meetings

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Governance and 
Nomination Committee

“ The Committee remained 
focused on ensuring that the 
combined skillset, experience and 
capabilities of the Board further 
enhanced the effective oversight 
of the Group’s refreshed strategy”

Committee composition

J Viñals (Chair) 

N Kheraj

C M Hodgson 

J Whitbread 

D Conner  
(Stepped down 1 December 2020)

P G Rivett  
(Appointed 1 December 2020)

Scheduled 
meetings

Ad Hoc 

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4 

0/0

2/2

2/2

2/2

2/2

2/2

0/0

Other attendees at Committee meetings in 2020 included: 
Group Chief Executive; Group Head, HR; and the Group 
Company Secretary.

Biographical details of the committee members  
can be viewed on pages 83 to 86

Main responsibilities of the Committee 
The Committee has responsibility for keeping the size, 
structure and composition of the Board and its committees 
under review. As part of the Committee’s succession planning 
for the Board, it takes into account the Group’s strategy and 
challenges, and makes recommendations to the Board in 
respect of any adjustments to the Board’s composition.  
The Committee also: keeps under review the leadership  
needs of, and succession plans for, the Group in relation to 
both executive directors and other senior executives; has 
oversight of the process by which the Board, its committees 
and individual directors assess their effectiveness; keeps the 
diversity of the Board under review and monitors progress 
towards achieving its objectives in this area; considers any 
potential situational conflicts of interest declared by Board 
members; considers the impact of material changes to 
corporate governance regulation and legislation affecting  
the Group, and has oversight of the Group’s approach to 
subsidiary corporate governance.

The Committee reports to the Board on its key areas of focus 
following each Committee meeting.

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During the year the Committee remained focused on ensuring that 
the combined skillset, experience and capabilities of the Board further 
enhanced the effective oversight of the Group’s refreshed strategy, 
while maintaining a balanced composition over the medium to 
longer term. 

Louis Cheung, a long standing INED retired from the Board in March 
2020. We discussed the balance of characteristics, criteria and 
attributes required of future Board members, taking into account 
feedback from last year’s externally facilitated effectiveness review 
and during the year, identified and recommended to the Board the 
appointment of two new INEDs. Phil Rivett joined the Board at our 
AGM in May. Phil brings significant professional accountancy and 
audit experience, specifically from within the financial services sector 
and was joined more recently by Maria Ramos in January 2021.  
Maria has extensive CEO, banking, commercial, financial, policy  
and international experience. Following the recent announcement  
of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment as Director-General of the 
WTO from 1 March 2021, Ngozi will step down from the Board on  
28 February 2021. On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Ngozi 
for her valuable insight and contributions over the past 3 years.

We also refreshed the membership of a number of Board committees, 
most notably towards the end of the year, when Phil Rivett succeeded 
Naguib Kheraj as Chair of the Audit Committee and Naguib took over 
from David Conner as Chair of the Board Risk Committee. 

Our focus on succession plans remained broader than the Board  
and its committees. We continued to focus in detail on succession 
readiness and plans for the executive directors, the Management 
Team and other senior executives, as well as initiatives underway to 
develop talent internally. We were able to assure ourselves that 
succession readiness had improved through the year and that all key 
roles have credible plans with suitable flexibility for the immediate to 
longer term.

As part of our annual review of the Board Diversity Policy we discussed 
the importance of the Policy remaining relevant and aligned with  
the diversity of our footprint and governance recommendations, 
specifically in the area of gender, social and ethnic backgrounds, 
knowledge, personal attributes, skills and experience. We 
recommended adopting a new diversity aspiration, that the Board  
is composed of a minimum of 30 per cent of directors from ethnic 
minority backgrounds. More detail on these changes along with the 
ethnicity of our Board can be found on pages 126 to 128.

The Committee also spent time reviewing plans for the Board’s 
engagement with the workforce, taking into account the UK 
Corporate Governance Code provisions. We enhanced the already 
significant dialogue the Board has with the workforce with the 
introduction of quarterly engagement calls targeted at each of the 
regions. With COVID-19 impacting the ability for the Board to travel 
across our markets through 2020, these virtual sessions proved key in 
being able to continue our direct dialogue with the workforce across 
the Group. Given the ongoing travel restrictions we are planning to 
further expand this engagement in 2021. Insight into the sessions  
held this year and the key outputs are set out on pages 105 and 106. 

As part of its governance oversight role, the Committee continued to 
receive updates from the regional CEOs who each have responsibility 
for the subsidiary governance processes across their regions, and 
provide a holistic view of the governance framework and challenges 
faced across the Group’s footprint. The Committee also oversaw the 
embedding of a workable and sustainable governance structure to 
support the UK and GCNA hub model. 

The Committee oversaw progress made in meeting the actions 
recommended in last year’s externally conducted Board effectiveness 
review and agreed the approach taken to this year’s internally run 
evaluation. Details of both are set out on page 100. We also reflected 
on the progress the Committee has made against those actions 
highlighted in its own effectiveness review. This year’s Committee 
effectiveness review was also conducted internally, the results of 
which showed some significant improvements around focus and 
clarity of purpose. A summary of the key findings and actions for  
2021 can be found on page 129.

The Committee has written Terms of Reference that can be 
viewed at sc.com/termsofreference

José Viñals 
Chair of the Governance and Nomination Committee 

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Board composition as at 31 December 2020

Gender diversity

Executive

INED (including Chair)

31%

(2019: 31%)

Female

0

Male

2

0%

(2019: 0%)

Female

4

Male

7

36%

(2019: 36%)

Board

Female

4

Male

9

Experience

International 
experience

Representation 
from key markets

Banking, risk, finance, 
accounting experience 
amongst INEDs 

92%

31%

80%

INED tenure (including Chair)

1

0–1 year 9%

2

1–3 years 18%

5

3–6 years 46%

3

6–9 years 27%

Nationality: The nationality of our 
directors does not in itself demonstrate  
the diversity of the Board’s composition. 
Between them, the directors have 
significant experience of either living, 
working or managing operations across  
the markets in which we operate. 

Ethnicity: Our aspiration is for our Board 
to reflect the diversity of our footprint.  
Our global ethnicity categories represent 
the breadth of diversity across our markets. 
31 per cent of the Board are from an ethnic 
minority background.

3

2

4

1

1. White 

2. Chinese 

3. Black 

9 Directors

2 Directors

1 Director

4. South Asian 

1 Director

Further details on the work 
of the Governance and 
Nomination Committee 
can be found below

Activities during the year

Board and senior 
talent succession 
planning 

•  Discussed the composition of the Board and considered the orderly succession of current INEDs and the 
skills, knowledge, experience, diversity (in the widest sense) and attributes required of future INEDs, both 
immediately and in the medium to longer-term. In considering the Board’s succession, the Committee 
takes into account the length of tenure of the INEDs, and the importance of regularly refreshing the 
Board membership 

•  Systematically reviewed a number of INED long and short lists throughout the year to identify potential 

candidates with a diverse range of skills, experience, knowledge and perspectives

•  Engaged the executive search firms Heidrick & Struggles* and Egon Zehnder*, to review the market, 
resulting in the emergence of Phil Rivett and Maria Ramos as highly regarded candidates. Between  
them they bring a strong technical understanding, professional accountancy and broad financial  
and business experience along with a wealth of CEO, banking, commercial, financial, policy and 
international experience

•  Discussed Phil Rivett and Maria Ramos’ candidacy and recommended them to the Board for 

• 

appointment as INEDs
Introduced a more tailored induction programme for new INEDs. Reviewed the induction plans of new 
INEDs ahead of their appointment

•  Provided oversight of the detailed executive and senior management (level below Management Team) 

succession plans, including diversity

•  Reviewed succession plans for the committee chair roles, identifying appropriate individuals with the 
necessary skills and attributes to provide emergency cover as required, as well as on a longer-term  
basis, including acknowledging and addressing where gaps exist. Out of this process the Committee 
recommended the appointment of Phil Rivett to succeed as Chair of the Audit Committee and Naguib 
Kheraj as Board Risk Committee Chair

•  Conducted a review of the search firm providers for the next stage of the Board’s succession planning

*  Heidrick & Struggles and Egon Zehnder are a signatory to the voluntary code of conduct for executive search firms. Heidrick & 

Struggles and Egon Zehnder also supply senior resourcing to the Group

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Activities during the year continued

Board and 
committees’ 
effectiveness 
review

•  Provided oversight of the Board and committees’ internal evaluation, facilitated by the Group Company 
Secretary, and monitored progress against the 2020 Action Plan which incorporated the findings from 
Independent Board Evaluation and the PRA’s review of the Board

•  Discussed the observations and recommendations which flowed from the 2020 internally facilitated 

Board and committees’ review and discussed the shape of the Board’s 2021 Action Plan

Details of this year’s Board and committees’ evaluation, including the process which we followed, 
observations from the review and the resulting 2021 Action Plan can be found on page 100

Board Diversity 
Policy 

•  Reviewed progress made in 2020 against the agreed objectives set out in the Board Diversity Policy, 

including how the Board has performed in achieving its stated aim to have 33 per cent female 
representation on the Board

•  Discussed the role of the Board Diversity Policy in advancing the composition and effectiveness of the 

Board and recommended two changes to the Policy. The first change reflects the Board’s aspiration for 
the Board to reflect the diversity of the Group’s footprint by introducing an aspiration that 30 per cent  
of directors are from an ethnic minority background. The second change reflects the Group’s aspiration  
in relation to other strands of diversity, such as disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender 
expression

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Further details of progress the Board has made against the key objectives set out in the 
Board Diversity Policy are set out below

Corporate 
governance 

Conflicts of 
interest 

•  Enhanced the mechanism for dialogue between the Board and the workforce. Introduced quarterly 
engagement calls, one for each region. The Committee agreed that the oversight for the Board’s 
approach to workforce engagement transitioned to the Brand, Values and Conduct Committee 

•  Conducted an annual review of the directors’ existing and previously authorised potential and actual 
situational conflicts of interest and considered whether any circumstances would necessitate the 
authorisation being revoked or amended. Also noted directors’ other directorships and business interests, 
taken during the year in the context of time commitment, overboarding and the PRA limits on 
directorships as well as other regulatory requirements in this area

Assessment of the 
non-executive 
directors’ 
independence 

Subsidiary 
governance

•  Considered the independence of each of the non-executive directors, taking into account any 

circumstances likely to impair, or which could impair, their independence

•  Noted the thorough process undertaken to assess individual director performance and effectiveness, 

taking these reviews into account along with tenure and succession plans in making its recommendation 
to appoint the INEDs for a further year

•  Received updates from the four Regional CEOs on the Group’s approach to subsidiary governance. 

Received assurance of effective oversight and compliance with the Group’s Subsidiary Governance Policy

•  Discussed linkages between banking subsidiaries and the Group, and the process for escalation of  

key risks

•  Considered the most effective, robust and practical governance structure to support the UK and Hong Kong 
regional hub model. Discussed the composition of Standard Chartered Bank’s Court to ensure a substantially 
mirrored board while ensuring clarity in respect to operational governance and linkages

Terms of Reference •  Conducted a review of the Committee’s Terms of Reference during the year, taking into account the 

responsibilities, obligations and best practice principles it has in the UK and Hong Kong

Implementation of the Board Diversity Policy 
The Committee conducted its annual review of the Board 
Diversity Policy (the Policy) during 2020, to ensure that it 
continues to promote and drive diversity in its broadest sense, 
while continuing to take account of best practice initiatives, 
including the Parker Report into ethnic diversity, the Hampton-
Alexander Review on women in leadership positions and  
the UK Corporate Governance Code 2018. This year we 
recommended two important changes to the Policy, in part  
to keep pace with current market diversity and governance 
recommendations and to align more closely to the aspirations 
of the Group. The first amendment was the adoption of  
an ethnicity aspiration of a minimum 30 per cent from an 
ethnic minority background, demonstrating the Board’s 
commitment to reflecting the business and network we 
operate. The second was to ensure that the composition of 
the Board considers the Group’s aspirations in relation to other 
strands of diversity including: disability, sexual orientation, 
gender identity and gender expression.

We strive to maintain a diverse Board recognising the benefits 
of having a Board made up of individuals with a diverse mix of 
gender, social and ethnic backgrounds, knowledge, personal 
attributes, skills and experience. We also aim to reflect the 
Group’s aspirations in relation to its employees and its values 
and to position the Group as a global leader in these areas. 
This diversity provides a range of perspectives which we 
believe contribute to the effective Board dynamics. 

Aligned to the Policy’s broad ambition, following this year’s 
additions it has seven specific objectives which the Board 
remains committed to in order to further enhance progress  
in this area:

•  Increasing the representation of women on the Board  
with an aim to have a minimum of 33 per cent female 
representation

•  Adopting an ethnicity aspiration of a minimum of  
30 per cent from an ethnic minority background

•  Ensuring that our Board reflects the diverse markets in 

which we operate

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

•  Ensuring that the Board is comprised of a good balance  
of skills, experience, knowledge, perspective and varied 
backgrounds

•  Ensuring that we consider the Group’s aspirations in  

relation to disability, sexual orientation, gender identity  
and gender expression

•  Only engaging search firms who are signed up to the 
Voluntary Code of Conduct for Executive Search firms

•  Reporting annually on the diversity of the executive  

pipeline as well as the diversity of the Board, including 
progress being made on reaching the Board’s gender  
and ethnicity aspirations

Details of the Board’s diverse composition are set out on  
pages 83 to 86 of this report, and that of the Management  
Team can be found on pages 87 to 89

Details of the Group’s wider Diversity and Inclusion strategy, 
including gender balance across the Group and targets for  
ethnic representation can be found on page 61 of this report

A copy of the full Board Diversity Policy can be viewed at  
sc.com/boarddiversitypolicy and further details on the  
Group’s approach to Diversity and Inclusion can be viewed  
at sc.com/diversity-and-inclusion

Progress against the key objectives set out in the Board Diversity Policy are set out below. The more recent changes to the Policy 
were made at the end of 2020. Progress against the new aspirations will be reported in next year’s report. 

Board Diversity Policy objectives

Progress update

Increasing the representation of  
women on the Board with an aim to  
have a minimum of 33 per cent female 
representation

Ensuring that our Board reflects the  
diverse markets in which we operate 

Ensuring that the Board is comprised  
of a good balance of skills, experience, 
knowledge, perspective and varied 
backgrounds

Only engaging search firms who are  
signed up to the Voluntary Code of 
Conduct for Executive Search firms

Reporting annually on the executive  
pipeline as well as the diversity of the 
Board, including progress being made  
on reaching the Board’s gender target

Increasing gender representation on the Board continues to be an important focus 
of the Board’s succession planning process, ensuring that female candidates are 
fairly represented on long and short lists. The Board changes in 2020 (retirement  
of Louis Cheung and the appointment of Phil Rivett) did not impact the proportion  
of female directors, which has remained unchanged at 31 per cent. In addition,  
the Board announced the appointment of Maria Ramos who joined the Board on  
1 January 2021. Female representation has increased significantly from 10 per cent  
in 2014 to 31 per cent today. 

What sets Standard Chartered apart is our diversity of people, cultures and 
networks. The Board has representation from across the regions in which we 
operate, including the UK, North America, Asia and Africa. Many of the INEDs have 
additional experience of having worked and lived in many of the Group’s markets.  
A significant number of INED candidates considered as part of the succession 
planning process this year were representative of some of our key regions and 
markets. Maria Ramos was recommended by the Committee to the Board as part  
of this process and joined the Board as an INED on 1 January 2021. Maria is based  
in South Africa and has significant emerging markets experience, particularly  
within Africa.

Throughout the year the Committee has focused on identifying the skills and 
expertise required both immediately and in the medium to longer term. It has 
systematically reviewed candidate longlists to identify potentially suitable INED 
candidates. Areas of particular focus in 2020 included wide-ranging emerging 
markets, commercial, CEO, finance, banking and accounting experience, and 
geographical representation from across our key markets.

We continue to engage only search firms signed up to the Voluntary Code of 
Conduct. During 2020 the Committee engaged Egon Zehnder and Heidrick & 
Struggles to assist in identifying and building a pipeline of high-quality potential 
INED candidates. Egon Zehnder and Heidrick & Struggles are both signed up to the 
Voluntary Code and remain committed in supporting our ambitions to widen all 
aspects of diversity on the Board.

The Committee takes an active role in reviewing the succession planning for the 
executive directors, Management Team and senior management one level below 
the Management Team. In recent years we have further improved our reporting  
of Board and senior talent succession planning as well as reporting on the 
importance of a diverse Board as a means of capturing differing perspectives  
and enhancing discussion. 

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Committee effectiveness review
As part of the 2020 internal Board evaluation, a review of the 
Committee was conducted. Broadly, members felt that the 
Committee’s performance had improved this year, with a 
greater focus on timeliness of decisions, results, and clarity  
of agenda and purpose. A summary of the key observations 
and the subsequent recommendations can be found below. 

Progress against the actions set out in the Committee’s 2020 
Action Plan has been positive; a summary of the progress 
against each of the actions is set out below.

Progress against the 2020 Action Plan
•  The development of a Board manual in relation to 

succession plans is ongoing, with progress expected in  
the year ahead

•  Introduced a formal template of Board skills and a matrix 

that tracks existing skills, knowledge, diversity and 
experience to support the Committee’s succession  
planning processes

•  Introduced a more robust and tailored Board induction 
programme, for new Board and committee members

•  COVID-19 prevented the Board travelling through 2020, 
impacting the Committee’s ability to ensure members  
of the Committee had sufficient time and contact with 
high-potential employees across the business. However, 
many of these individuals continued to have exposure  
to the Board through presentations to the Board and 
committees. In person contact will resume once visits to 
markets allow for interaction and more informal sessions

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2021 Action Plan

The 2021 Action Plan for the Committee reflects suggestions 
from the evaluation and continues to build on the solid 
progress made last year:

•  Continue to enhance the induction programme and 

ongoing training for directors

•   Continue to ensure sufficient time is allocated in the 

annual calendar for the Committee to be exposed to 
internal high-potential individuals

•   Commission external market mapping of candidates for 

key management roles

•  Refresh the Board skills matrix and review succession plans 

for Committee chairs

Key observations from the 2020 
internal effectiveness review
The feedback from the 2020 internally conducted 
Governance and Nomination Committee effectiveness 
review was broadly positive. There was an overall feeling 
that the Committee’s performance had improved 
during the year, with a greater focus on timeliness of 
decisions, results, and clarity of agenda and purpose. 
Some of the key findings highlighted that:

•  The Committee was well chaired, with more purposeful 

discussion this year

•  Despite the Committee having exercised diligent  

oversight of succession for key executive roles in recent 
years, there were not as many firm options in place as 
members would like

•  The Committee could improve its management of search 
consultants to raise the quality of candidate lists coming 
through and to improve the reach into markets in Asia, 
Africa and the Middle East

•  The Committee is broadly happy with its own composition, 

although there is some sensitivity around discussing 
succession for Committee Chairs as a result

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Board Financial Crime 
Risk Committee

“ The Group continues to strive to 
remain at the forefront of the 
ongoing fight against financial crime”

Committee composition

G Huey Evans, OBE (Chair)

D P Conner

C M Hodgson, CBE

N Kheraj

C Tong

External adviser members

B H Khoo

Sir Iain Lobban

Scheduled 
meetings

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

Other attendees at Committee meetings in 2020 included: 
Group Chairman; Group Chief Executive; Group Head, 
Conduct, Financial Crime and Compliance; Group General 
Counsel; Group Chief Risk Officer; Global Co-Heads, Financial 
Crime Compliance; Group Head of Internal Audit; the  
Global Head, Government Investigations and the Group 
Company Secretary.

Byron Grote, Jasmine Whitbread and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala 
attended one Committee meeting in 2020 as part of their 
ongoing engagement programmes. David Tang and Phil 
Rivett attended two Committee meetings in 2020 as part of 
their induction programmes. As part of, and in addition to, 
each scheduled Committee meeting, the Committee held 
private members-only meetings.

The Committee’s membership is currently comprised of five 
INEDs and two independent external adviser members  
who are neither directors nor employees of the Group, but  
who provide a valuable external perspective and have 
extensive experience in counter-terrorism, cyber security  
and international security. 

Biographical details of the committee members  
can be viewed on pages 83 to 86

Main responsibilities of the Committee
The Committee provides oversight of the effectiveness of the 
Group’s policies, procedures, systems, controls and assurance 
arrangements designed to identify, assess, manage,  
monitor and prevent and/or detect money laundering, 
non-compliance with sanctions, bribery, corruption and tax 
crime by third parties. The Committee reports to the Board  
on its key areas of focus following each Committee meeting.

The Committee has written Terms of Reference that can be 
viewed at sc.com/termsofreference

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Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

As Chair of the Board Financial Crime Risk Committee, I am pleased to 
present the Board Financial Crime Risk Committee’s report for the year 
ended 31 December 2020.

The Committee has placed particular focus on the impacts of 
COVID-19 on Financial Crime Risk (FCR) and colleagues working from 
home (WFH). The Committee was pleased to note the establishment 
of a Financial Crime Working Group to identify COVID-related 
emerging risks and take action to address these. Furthermore, regular 
reporting from GIA has provided assurance on the effectiveness of 
controls during these unprecedented times. The Committee has 
continued to monitor the Group’s control capability to ensure the 
Group is well protected against FCR. 

The Committee has monitored the US Supervisory Remediation 
Programme and was pleased to note its closure at the end of 2020. 
Furthermore, in November 2020, Navigant and the New York 
Department of Financial Services completed their review activities 
related to US Demand Deposit Accounts, marking the end of the 
Bank’s engagement with Navigant. Key lessons were learnt and the 
Committee has been focused to ensure that these are well embedded 
within the Group.

Attention has been placed on the US-China relationship and risks and 
challenges relating to Hong Kong/China sanctions and the Hong 
Kong National Security Law (NSL). The Committee discussed the 
Group’s Sanctions Policy and sought and received assurance that  
the Group’s approach is in line with industry peers and continues to 
drive compliance with all laws and regulations. The CEO of Standard 
Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited attended one of the discussions, 
and the Committee found it useful to hear ‘on the ground’ perspective 
on the challenges faced locally.

At the request of the Committee, papers on SC Ventures and New 
Payment Method Oversight were received and discussed. With 
regard to SC Ventures, the Committee discussed the framework 
adopted to identify, manage and mitigate FCR within SC Ventures. 
The balance to be struck between enabling ventures to thrive and 
leveraging the Group’s culture, governance framework, policies and 
processes was recognised by the Committee. A discussion was held 
on New Payment Method Oversight, with specific client examples of 
effective risk management. Both of these discussions provided useful 
assurance of how FCR is being managed in these areas.

The Committee has monitored the CFCC Transformation over the 
course of the year, which is intended to improve the efficiency of  
how the Group manages non-financial risk and to build on existing 
initiatives to reduce cost and improve effectiveness. Given the 
linkages of this to the Board Risk Committee and Audit Committee, 
Committee Chairs sessions were held to discuss this Transformation 
and ensure that associated risks are well managed, and change is 
implemented effectively.

One of the impacts of COVID-19 was restrictions on physical meetings. 
However, the Committee was pleased to note that Correspondent 
Banking Academies were held virtually and that management 
participated in a number of United for Wildlife hosted webinars on 
COVID-19 predictions, the risk of poaching and combatting illegal 
wildlife trade (IWT), which Committee members were invited to 
attend. The Committee fully supported these virtual forums to  
enable the Group to continue to play a leading role in Financial Crime 
Compliance (FCC) sharing initiatives. The Group continues to strive to 
remain at the forefront of the ongoing fight against financial crime. 

The following pages provide insight and context into the Committee’s 
work and activities during the year.

Gay Huey Evans 
Chair of the Board Financial Crime Risk Committee

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Activities during the year

US supervisory 
remediation 
programme

Assessment  
of financial  
crime risks

Financial crime  
risk control 
environment

Financial crime  
future threats

Group Risk 
Appetite 
Statement in 
relation to 
financial crime
CFCC function

Financial crime 
compliance-
related matters

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•  Exercised oversight of the activity required to comply with the requirements of the various FCC-related 
Consent Agreements, Cease and Desist Orders and Deferred Prosecution Agreements with the US  
and UK authorities and discussed material risks and business strategy plans pertaining to the Group’s 
businesses in the US

•  Discussed reports on FCR faced by the Group across a number of the Group’s client segments  

and geographies, with members of country and regional management attending meetings to  
provide perspective

•  Assurance was sought and received on the actions underway to strengthen controls in relation to  

these risks

•  Reviewed GIA’s view on the Group’s control environment relating to FCR. Discussions included the  
grading of audit reports across FCC Risk themes, gaps and deficiencies that have been identified. 
Assurance was sought and received concerning management’s response and resulting management 
actions. Given WFH arrangements due to COVID-19 lockdowns, the Committee probed into how GIA 
was managing its audits and sought assurance that robust controls were being maintained

•  Discussed an annual report from the Money Laundering Reporting Officer covering: responsibilities 

across the Group for anti-money laundering systems and controls and the structure within which they 
operate; an overall assessment of the Financial Crime (FC) programme; an assessment on the operation 
of systems and controls; a summary of business strategy; a summary of key FCC Risk issues, conclusions 
and 2021 priorities; and a report from the Nominated Officer

•  Received regular reports from the Global Co-Heads, FCC setting out status updates on the FC 

programme, FC objectives and key risks involved. In particular, progress being made on the CFCC 
Transformation. The Co-Heads reports also provided updates on compliance with regulation including 
matters in relation to Politically Exposed Persons and EU Money Laundering Directives 

•  At the request of the Committee, discussed an overview of the framework adopted by SC Ventures  

(SC Ventures is a business unit that provides a platform and catalyst for the Group to promote 
innovation, invest in disruptive financial technology and explore alternative business models) to  
identify, manage and mitigate financial crime risks within SC Ventures

•  At the request of the Committee, a paper setting out fintech/ New Payment Method segment oversight 

was received and discussed, which included specific client examples of effective risk management

•  Discussed an update on the progress being made on Group-level Anti-Money Laundering and Counter 

Terrorist Financing regulatory obligations

•  Following on from a discussion in 2019, received and discussed updates on data quality management 

relating to FCR in Retail Banking and Transaction Banking

•  Received and discussed updates on the US-China relationship on the risks and impacts of US sanctions

•  Discussed the leak of US Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network  

(FinCEN) files

•  At the request of the Committee, received and discussed a paper setting out lessons learned from key 

FCC investigations and emerging FCC threats and management’s response

•  The Committee was pleased to note the establishment of a FC Working Group set up to identify 

COVID-related emerging risks and take action to address these. Areas of heightened exposure were 
noted as: health care-related procurement fraud; cyber-enabled crime and fraudulent scams; changes  
in behaviour in cash-intensive businesses; money-mule vulnerabilities and account use; charities and 
charitable giving scams; government corruption primarily in healthcare procurement and economic 
stimulus programmes; fraudulent investment schemes; and public assistance/unemployment fraud.  
The Committee reviewed and discussed these risks and probed into the sufficiency of the Group’s 
response in managing these evolving financial crime risks

•  Reviewed and recommended to the Board the Group’s Risk Appetite Statement, metrics and thresholds 

in relation to FCR, excluding Fraud Risk, which is overseen by the Board Risk Committee

•  Regularly reviewed metrics measuring against FC Risk Appetite

•  Regularly discussed the engagement of people and the impacts of the CFCC Transformation 

Programme and actions to manage the risks and implement change

•  Received and discussed updates on significant FCC-related matters

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Directors’ report

Corporate governance

Activities during the year continued

Financial crime 
compliance 
information 
sharing initiatives

•  Discussed reports on FCC information sharing initiatives to which the Group contributes, in order to 

protect the integrity of the global financial system and improve the effectiveness of the contributions  
of financial institutions in fighting financial crime

•  Discussed how the Group contributes to industry thinking on reform and information sharing 

partnerships in a number of markets, as well as working with international fora such as the Wolfsberg 
Group

Ongoing 
engagement

•  Discussed the Group’s role in partnering with industry peers, non-governmental organisations  

and government officials, to engage in coordinated efforts to combat some of the world’s most 
pernicious crimes, including human trafficking, terrorism, IWT and transnational organised money 
laundering networks

•  The Group participated in a number of United for Wildlife hosted webinars, on topics such as COVID-19 
predictions, the risk of poaching and combatting IWT. These webinars brought together experts and 
stakeholders to share knowledge and perspective on these challenges and what the financial sector  
can do to combat these issues and discuss emerging IWT trends and threats. Committee members  
were invited to attend these webinars, as part of their ongoing engagement programmes

•  Technology training, which was provided to the entire Board, included artificial intelligence in FCC,  

at the request of the Committee

Committee effectiveness review
During 2020, an internally facilitated Board and Board committee effectiveness review was facilitated by the Group  
Company Secretary.

Key observations from the 2020 internal 
effectiveness review
The feedback on the Committee’s functioning and 
effectiveness was positive and it specifically highlighted 
that:

•  The Committee’s effectiveness has remained constant 

over the year, and the Committee Chair is well prepared 
and effective

•  Commentary was provided on the future role and focus  

of the Committee

2021 Action Plan

The 2021 Action Plan for the Committee reflects suggestions 
from the evaluation and continues to build on the solid 
progress made last year:

•  Consideration to be given to inviting external speakers to 

Committee meetings/informal sessions to help inform and 
stimulate debate

•  Review the forward-looking agenda to ensure efficiency of 
meetings and to focus on the key areas agreed for 2021

•  Share existing online training modules with Committee 

•  Extra training was suggested for Committee members

members

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Directors’ 
remuneration report

“ Supporting colleagues through 
challenging times, prioritising 
their wellbeing and providing 
fair remuneration”

Committee composition

C M Hodgson, CBE (Chair)

L Cheung 
(Stepped down 25 March 2020)

B E Grote

N Kheraj

J M Whitbread

Scheduled 
meetings

Ad hoc

6/6

3/3

6/6

6/6

6/6

1/1

0/0

1/1

1/1

1/1

Other attendees for relevant parts of Committee meetings in 
2020 included: Group Chairman; Group Chief Executive (CEO); 
Group Head, HR; Global Head, Performance, Reward and 
Employee Relations; Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO); 
Group Chief Risk Officer; Group General Counsel; Group  
Head, Conduct, Financial Crime and Compliance; Group 
Company Secretary.

Biographical details of the Committee members  
can be viewed on pages 84 to 85

Main responsibilities of the Committee
The Committee is responsible for setting the governance 
framework for remuneration for all employees, ensuring 
alignment with our culture and the requirements of the UK 
Corporate Governance Code. In particular, the Committee:

•  Reviews and approves the Group’s Fair Pay Charter which 

includes oversight of the development and implementation 
of workforce remuneration policies and practices,  
ensuring they are consistent with sound and effective risk 
management, the Group’s culture and valued behaviours 
and long-term sustainable success

•  Approves Group discretionary incentives, including 

adjustment for current and future risks

•  Determines and agrees with the Board the remuneration 

framework and policies for the Group Chairman, executive 
directors and other senior executives, using the Fair Pay 
Charter principles and taking into account workforce 
remuneration and the alignment of incentives and reward 
with culture

•  Oversees the identification of material risk takers and 

ensures their incentives are structured in accordance with 
the requirements of the prevailing remuneration rules

The Committee has written terms of reference that can be 
viewed at sc.com/termsofreference

Summary of 2020 remuneration decisions

•  Total discretionary incentives down 23 per cent  

year-on-year

•  Annual incentives for executive directors down almost  
70 per cent year-on-year given voluntary waiver of  
cash portion

•  No salary increases for executive directors

•  Distribution of 2020 annual discretionary incentives and 

2021 salary increases targeted at junior colleagues

•  No UK Government support taken and no colleagues 
made redundant or furloughed due to the impact of 
COVID-19

•  Prioritisation of health and wellbeing for all colleagues

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Introduction
On behalf of the Remuneration Committee, I am pleased to 
present our directors’ remuneration report for the year ended 
31 December 2020. The report provides an overview of the 
Committee’s work in the year on remuneration for executive 
directors and the wider workforce. 

Supporting colleagues during the COVID-19 
pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an extraordinary impact 
across the globe, not only in an economic sense but on the 
lives of everyone. Throughout the year we have supported our 
colleagues, prioritising their wellbeing, safety and security, and 
have accelerated the implementation of wellbeing initiatives. 
91 per cent of colleagues who responded to our COVID-19 
pulse survey in April believed that their health and wellbeing 
was a top priority for the Group and 80 per cent felt that  
our response to the pandemic had minimised stress for 
employees. We have supported colleagues to work both from 
home and safely from Group locations for essential roles, 
offering flexibility to provide the most positive outcome for 
them and for the Group.

We maintained pay for employees who were unable to  
work full hours as a result of family care requirements and 
provided flexibility for those whose return to their usual 
working location was impacted because of travel restrictions. 
We did not access UK Government support schemes and no 
colleagues were made redundant or furloughed due to the 
impact of COVID-19. Where business transformation that  
was underway before the pandemic impacted some roles, 
increased investment was made in redeployment and 
reskilling programmes and any employees leaving the Group 
received their full salary for 2020, in addition to severance pay.

Our Fair Pay Charter continues to guide our performance and 
reward decision-making globally and has been the compass 
in our approach to support colleagues fairly and consistently 
through the challenges of the pandemic. We have continued 
to implement changes to improve colleagues’ experience, 
including launching our flexible benefit plan in Poland, as  
part of the phased roll-out, and expanding the use of salary 
ranges to cover 74 per cent of colleagues globally. In 2019 we 
introduced fair pay reporting and our 2020 Fair Pay Report 
provides an update of the progress made and summarises 
how we meet the principles of our Fair Pay Charter. 

The 2020 Fair Pay Report can be viewed at  
sc.com/fairpaycharter

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Directors’ report Directors’ remuneration report

Impact of COVID-19 on remuneration during 2020
As the pandemic developed the Committee considered 
remuneration decisions very carefully, exercising judgement, 
taking account of the developing crisis situation and the 
impact of COVID-19 on our external stakeholders and our 
colleagues. This included the payment of annual discretionary 
incentives in respect of performance in 2019 which were 
communicated to colleagues in February and paid in March 
2020. These decisions were made in good faith, and pre-dated 
the Prudential Regulation Authority’s (PRA) statement at  
the end of March requesting that we suspend shareholder 
distributions due to the impact of COVID-19. There are no  
plans for these 2019 awards to be repaid or clawed back.  
The Committee considered the withdrawal of the 
recommendation to pay a final ordinary dividend for  
2019 when making 2020 decisions.

Our performance in 2020
Throughout the year the Group has remained resilient  
and competitive, despite the economic and geopolitical 
challenges, even though our progress has inevitably slowed  
in some areas. The pandemic has been one of the most 
significant events in recent history and it materially impacted 
the financial performance of most banks, including us, in 2020. 

The impact of COVID-19 has meant that some of the measures 
and targets set within the Group scorecard at the start of 2020 
were unachievable. No changes were made to business 
performance criteria and targets for 2020 incentive outcomes.

Underlying profit before tax is down 40 per cent on 2019 and 
return on tangible equity (RoTE) is down 340 basis points  
to 3.0 per cent. The Group’s capital is strong, with the  
Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio at a historically high  
level, demonstrating our resilience in the face of such an 
extraordinary economic shock.

The total scorecard outcome was 37 per cent with 13 per cent 
being based on financial achievements including effective cost 
management and growth in high performing liabilities and  
24 per cent based on non-financial achievements including 
improved digital client onboarding, on-track development of 
new ventures and an improved employee net promoter score 
of 6 points to 17.5. 

2020 annual discretionary incentives
Whilst the annual scorecard has been used as a starting point 
for determining the Group’s discretionary incentives, the 
Committee has needed to exercise its judgement carefully.

The Committee considered several factors including the 
Group’s underlying performance, the experience of our 
stakeholders, the withdrawal of the 2019 final ordinary 
dividend, the resilience of our business, inherent future risks,  
the significant contribution of our colleagues who have 
continued to serve clients whilst managing the crisis and the 
need to compete for talent globally across 59 markets. 

The Committee also considered carefully, throughout the  
year and when incentives were determined, risk, control  
and conduct matters, reviewing material issues from across 
the Group.

Considering all factors, the Committee applied a downward 
adjustment of $160 million to total discretionary incentives of 
$1,150 million, resulting in overall discretionary incentives of 
$990 million, which is 23 per cent lower than 2019. 

In allocating the discretionary incentives, focus was primarily 
placed on Group performance given the challenges created  
by COVID-19 in fairly and objectively assessing the relative 
performance of each business, function, region and country. 

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The one notable exception was within the Corporate & 
Institutional Banking (CIB) business, where discretionary 
incentives were differentiated for Financial Markets in order  
to reward colleagues for the strong performance in 2020.

Across the rest of the Group, at an individual level, focus was 
placed on protecting compensation levels for more junior 
colleagues as shown in the table below. 

Average year-on-year change (%)

Number of 
colleagues1

Annual 
discretionary 
incentives 

 Total 
compensation 

Management Team 

Managing Directors

Other senior leaders

11

1,055

2,621

All other colleagues

62,304

(43)

(34)

(30)

(27)

(23)

(13)

(6)

0

1   Number of colleagues eligible for annual discretionary incentives, excluding 

Financial Markets 

Executive director remuneration in 2020

Annual incentives for executive directors
The annual incentives for Bill and Andy are directly linked  
to the Group scorecard outcome with potential to adjust 
upwards or downwards based on personal performance.  
In April 2020, Bill and Andy announced they will waive any 
cash portion of an annual incentive award in respect of 2020 
performance, reducing any potential award for 2020 by  
50 per cent. In addition, along with other members of the 
Management Team they made significant personal 
donations to the COVID-19 assistance fund.

Based on the scorecard assessment of 37 per cent, and the 
voluntary waiver of the cash element (50 per cent of the 
award), the Committee concluded that the annual incentives 
for 2020 set out below were appropriate:

Annual incentives for 
executive directors

% of maximum

Bill Winters (CEO)

Andy Halford (CFO)

Year-on-year 
change  
(%)

20201

18.5%

2019

55%

(69)

(68)

£385,836

£1,251,360

£246,642

£776,600

1   All to be delivered in shares subject to a 12-month retention period

The approach impacts the annual incentive outcomes for  
Bill and Andy significantly more than for the wider workforce. 
The Committee considered the personal performance of both 
executive directors against their objectives and recognised 
their exceptional performance in leading the Group through 
the crisis. Taking account of the total discretionary incentive 
outcomes for the wider workforce, and the broader impact of 
the pandemic, no adjustment has been made for personal 
performance to the outcome.

2018-20 LTIP awards vesting in March 2021 
The 2018-20 long-term incentive plan (LTIP) awards are due  
to vest in March 2021 based on performance over three  
years from 2018 to 2020. Following an assessment of the 
performance conditions, the expected levels of vesting are:

•  Return on equity (RoE) – 0% vesting

•  Total shareholder return (TSR) – 0% vesting

•  Strategic priorities – 26% vesting underpinning our progress 
towards our target to deliver higher returns in the medium 
term, despite the challenging economic environment

We have not adjusted the performance targets to reflect  
the increased stretch in both the financial and strategic 
measures caused by the impact of the pandemic for existing 
LTIP awards.

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The value delivered by the 26 per cent vesting outcome and 
included in the single total figure of remuneration is based  
on a share price of £4.22 (the three-month average to  
31 December 2020) compared with the share price at grant  
in 2018 of £7.78. This reduces the award outcome value by  
46 per cent. 

Single total figure of remuneration for 2020 

The 2020 annual incentive and expected 2018-20 LTIP vesting 
results in a 2020 single figure for Bill of £3,812,000 and for  
Andy of £2,381,000. This represents a year-on-year decrease 
of 29 and 27 per cent respectively.

On 1 January 2020, the pension allowance for Bill and Andy 
was reduced from 20 per cent of salary to 10 per cent of salary, 
aligned with the UK workforce. 

2020 single total figure of remuneration £000

29% decrease for
Bill Winters in 2020
27% decrease for
Andy Halford in 2020

3,812

5,360

Salary (cash and shares)

Annual incentive

Pension

Benefits

Bill Winters

2020

2019

Andy Halford

2020

2019

LTIP

2,381

3,282

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

Executive directors’ shareholdings
A significant portion of Bill and Andy’s total remuneration is 
delivered in shares which will be released over the next eight 
years. The deferral, retention and recovery provisions of their 
pay reinforce continued alignment with shareholder interests 
and the Group’s long-term performance. Alignment has been 
demonstrated in 2020 in particular through the reduction in 
the value of Bill and Andy’s shareholdings, their unvested 
deferred remuneration and their extant LTIP awards.

As at 31 December 2020, both Bill and Andy had exceeded 
their shareholding requirement outlined below. Shares 
purchased voluntarily from their own funds are equivalent to 
61 and 44 per cent of salary for Bill and Andy, respectively.

Executive director shareholdings (% of salary)

Actual shareholding

Shareholding requirement

colleagues who are behind market and in locations with  
high wage inflation. In line with this approach, fixed pay for 
Bill, Andy and the Management Team will not be increased  
in 2021.

2021-23 LTIP awards to be granted in March 2021
After considering 2020 performance, 2021-23 LTIP awards will 
be granted to both Bill and Andy of 120 per cent of fixed pay  
in line with our policy. Subject to performance over the next 
three years, awards will vest pro rata over years three to seven 
with an additional retention period of 12 months after vesting. 
Performance will be assessed based on RoTE with a CET1 
underpin, TSR relative to a peer group, and the achievement 
of measures that are aligned to the Group’s refreshed 
strategic priorities.

To reflect the Group’s ambition to become the world’s most 
sustainable and responsible bank and increased focus  
on sustainability, we are adjusting the weightings of the 
performance measures and including a standalone 
sustainability priority. The sustainability measures have been 
selected carefully from our broader range of sustainability 
aspirations based on their level of impact for the Group and 
wider society and ability to drive financial returns in the 
medium term. The other strategic measures have been 
adjusted to align with the refreshed strategic priorities. The 
Committee will assess progress against the specific targets 
and proof points for the strategic measures at the end of the 
three-year performance period and will disclose full details of 
their assessment of achievement against targets at vesting.

2021-23 LTIP performance measures and weightings 
summary

Previous 
weighting

33% 

33% 

2021-23 

weighting Key measures/targets

30% 

•  6 to 10 per cent

30% 

•  Median to upper quartile

RoTE 

TSR 

Sustainability 

– 

15% •  Grow our sustainable 

finance business and be a 
responsible company with 
targets to reduce our carbon 
footprint

Other 
strategic 
measures 

33% 

25% •  Grow across our client 
footprint and improve  
client satisfaction

•  Drive culture of innovation, 
adopt new ways of working 
and continue to increase 
diversity and culture of 
inclusion

•  Underpinned by risk and 
control management

Bill Winters

Andy Halford

250%

249%

200%

0

50%

100%

150%

200%

250%

300%

350%

400%

Executive directors’ remuneration in 2021
The Group has adopted a highly targeted approach to salary 
increases for 2021 given affordability constraints and the 
challenging macroeconomic environment, prioritising junior 

382%

RoTE is one of the financial KPIs used to measure progress 
against our strategy (see page 1). We consider target setting 
carefully before each grant and set targets that are 
challenging and act as an effective incentive for executive 
directors to execute our strategy. 

The RoTE target range for 2021-23 LTIP awards is 6 to 10 per 
cent. This is a wider range than in previous years given the 
unusually uncertain macroeconomic environment, including 
the impact of severe economic dislocations and low interest 
rates on the Group’s returns. It takes into account our 
expectation that our refreshed strategic priorities should allow 
us to improve our RoTE from the 3 per cent we delivered in 
2020 to over 7 per cent by 2023 as we progressively advance 
to our target of over 10 per cent. The current market consensus 
estimate for RoTE in 2023 is 6.9 per cent. 

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Directors’ report Directors’ remuneration report

We will assess the value of the 2021-23 LTIP on vesting and 
consider the share price when the awards were made to 
determine whether vesting is a result of genuine underlying 
performance and not just a market rebound from a recession. 

Meetings with shareholders were held in December 2020  
and January 2021 on the development of these performance 
measures and targets, and the helpful feedback was taken 
into account and contributed to the final decisions made by 
the Committee.

In the rest of this report we present the disclosures required  
by regulations, as well as additional information to explain 
how our executive remuneration aligns with our strategy,  
with shareholder interests and with wider workforce pay.

We hope shareholders recognise the way the Committee  
has endeavoured to achieve appropriate outcomes in 
extraordinary circumstances, and we strongly valued the 
continued engagement of shareholders as we sought to  
strike the appropriate balance in making remuneration 
decisions. We look forward to further engagement in 2021.

Christine Hodgson
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

Priorities for the Committee in 2021 

Specific priorities for the Committee in 2021, in addition to 
its usual scheduled activities, will be to:

•  Review and develop the directors’ remuneration policy 

for approval and implementation in 2022

•  Continue to review the implementation of our Fair Pay 

Charter and alignment of workforce policies and 
practices with its principles

•  Monitor market trends to ensure the Group’s 

remuneration remains competitive, in the context of 
improving performance and productivity

•  Continue to assess the alignment between Group 
incentives and the delivery of the strategy and our 
desired performance-orientated, innovative culture, 
underpinned by conduct and sustainability

•  Oversee compliance with the applicable remuneration 
rules following implementation of the European Capital 
Requirements Directive V

Committee effectiveness review
This year the Board effectiveness review comprised an internally facilitated, questionnaire-based evaluation for the Board and 
its Committees completed by every Board member. 

Key observations from the 2020 
internal effectiveness review
The review outcomes for the Remuneration Committee were 
very positive and highlighted that:

2021 Action Plan

The 2021 Action Plan for the Committee reflects the 
feedback from the review and will focus on continuing to:

•  Review the annual calendar and forward-planner to 

•  The Committee continues to improve its efficiency, with 

ensure efficiency of Committee time

clearer papers and presentations and that it is well 
supported by the Group Reward team 

•  In terms of composition, the Committee regards itself as 
well populated with members who have up-to-date and 
relevant experience, gained in their executive careers or on 
other boards 

•  The quality of the material for the Committee is  

regarded as excellent and members felt well briefed 
ahead of meetings

•  Of note, members valued the strategy meeting, held 

jointly with the Brand, Values and Conduct Committee 
(BVCC) this year, to explore the interface between 
remuneration and environmental, social and governance 
(ESG) issues

•  Develop the framework and measures including the use  

of ESG measures for future LTIP awards

•  Strategically collaborate with BVCC on common topics 

around culture, values and ESG

•  Consider specific areas of remuneration, including  

SC Ventures

All disclosures in the Directors’ remuneration report are unaudited unless otherwise stated. Disclosures marked as audited 
should be considered audited in the context of the financial statements as a whole.

136

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Remuneration alignment

How does our executive remuneration align to our strategy?
Remuneration decisions made across the Group and by the Committee align with our strategy, our shareholders’ interests to 
deliver long-term sustainable value and with the wider workforce in line with the principles set out in our Fair Pay Charter.

We have refined our focus onto four strategic priorities and three enablers. The diagram below sets out how we have aligned 
our strategy with the measures that determine incentives for executive directors and the wider workforce. 

How we align our strategy and 
remuneration measures

Annual and long-term 
incentive performance 
measures and targets sit 
under these priorities 

Strategic priorities

Clients

Sustainability

Within our wholesale network, affluent client and mass retail 
businesses we will:
• 
•  Deliver growth in clients and network income
•  Grow revenue from new ventures – key digital partnerships, 

Improve client satisfaction

platforms and technologies

•  Deliver sustainable finance 

business growth: track 
progress against the Bank’s 
Paris Alignment of Financing 

•  Bank’s carbon footprint: 

reduce and offset emission 
waste from flights, properties 
and suppliers

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Driving shareholder returns

•  Operating profit

•  Total shareholder return

•  Return on tangible equity

The combination of these measures help us to deliver shareholder returns

These priorities are driven by three 
critical enablers

Performance against the 
enablers is measured in  
the annual and long-term 
incentives

Within our risk and control 
framework with targets 
included in the annual and 
long-term incentive plans

Through people and culture, new ways of working and innovation

•  Drive culture of innovation across the Group
•  Adopt new ways of working that results in quicker decision-making and delivery
• 

Increase our culture of diversity and inclusion across the Group 

Additional risk and control measures support the sustainability of our business through good management of risk

•  Maintain risk profile within the Group’s Risk Appetite
•  Successfully deliver milestones within the cyber risk management plan

How does our executive remuneration align with shareholder interests?
The diagram below shows how a portion of fixed pay, annual incentive and long-term incentive is paid in shares which are 
released up to eight years following grant, so that the final component of pay granted in 2021 is released in 2029. This creates 
strong alignment between the interests of executives and shareholders to create long-term value. On a maximum opportunity 
basis, Bill’s total remuneration is delivered 68 per cent in shares (including those subject to performance conditions) and  
32 per cent in cash. 

LTIP  
(up to 120%  
of fixed 
pay)

Annual 
incentive  
(up to 80%  
of fixed pay)

 Benefits

Fixed pay =  
salary + 
pension

Vesting based on performance  
measured over 3 years

LTIP shares vest pro rata  
over years 3 to 7 with additional  
retention period of 12 months

20%

20%

20%

20%

20%

100%

20%

20%

20%

20%

20%

Shares  
(up to 40% of  
fixed pay)
Cash  
(up to 40% of  
fixed pay)

Benefits
Pension

Salary  
shares

Salary cash

Salary shares released pro rata over 5 years

Annual 
incentive and 
LTIP shares  
are also 
subject to 
clawback for  
up to 10 years 
from grant

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

Alignment has been demonstrated in 2020 in particular through the reduction in the value of Bill and Andy’s shareholdings, their 
unvested deferred remuneration and their extant LTIP awards. The chart on the next page shows Bill’s increased shareholding 
since 2019 (increased by 19 per cent) and the decrease in value (decreased by 22 per cent).

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

137

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Directors’ report Directors’ remuneration report

Value of CEO shareholding

CEO shareholding 
(million)

CEO shareholding value 
(£ million)

Share price

)
n
o

i
l
l
i

m

i

l

(
g
n
d
o
h
e
r
a
h
s
O
E
C

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

How does our executive remuneration align with 
the wider workforce?
Our approach to remuneration is consistent for all employees 
and is designed to help ensure pay is fair and competitive  
in line with our Fair Pay Charter principles which apply  
globally. As we say in Principle 6 of the Charter, pay structure 
varies according to location. The diagram below shows  
how our executive director remuneration aligns with our  
UK workforce, being the most relevant market, as this is  
where they are based.

In addition to our existing reward offering, during 2020 we 
have accelerated and implemented a variety of wellbeing 
initiatives to support colleagues with the range of challenges 
they faced due to the pandemic. Further information is on 
page 141 in our Group-wide remuneration in 2020 section.

)
£
(
e
c
i
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p
e
r
a
h
S

All UK employees

Executive directors and the 
Management Team

Executive directors only

Salary

Pension

Annual incentive

LTIP

Shareholding 
requirement

•  Salary is the 

•  10% of salary for all  

contractually fixed 
amount paid and set 
based on role, skills 
and experience

UK employees, aligned 
to the provisions of  
the UK Corporate 
Governance Code 

• 

It is set and reviewed 
annually against 
relevant market 
benchmarks for  
all employees

•  Executive director 
salary is paid in a 
combination of cash 
and shares to align 
with shareholder 
interests

•  For other employees, 
salary is paid 100%  
in cash in line with 
market norms

•  Pension is set as a 

percentage of salary 
for all employees

•  For the executive 
directors both the 
cash and share 
elements of salary  
are pensionable

• 

In line with the  
UK Corporate 
Governance Code, 
only salary is 
pensionable

•  Benefits and 

incentives are  
not pensionable

•  All UK employees are 
eligible for an annual 
incentive

•  Annual incentives  

are based on Group 
performance against 
the annual Group 
scorecard and 
individual 
performance

•  The same Group 

scorecard is used to 
determine incentives 
for executive directors 
and other UK 
employees

•  Annual incentives  
are subject to risk 
adjustment provisions

Benefits

Sharesave

•  LTIP awards are 

•  Executive directors 

have a shareholding 
requirement of 250% 
of salary for the CEO 
and 200% for the CFO

•  A post employment 

shareholding 
requirement equal to 
the full shareholding 
requirement for one 
year and 50% for  
an additional year 
applies to the 
executive directors

granted to senior 
executives who have 
clear line of sight to 
influence the targets 
linked to the long-term 
performance of the 
Group

•  The grant of awards  
is dependent on 
performance in  
the year and the 
vesting of awards  
is dependent on 
performance over  
a three-year 
post-grant period

•  Vested shares are 
subject to further 
retention periods

•  LTIP awards are 
subject to risk 
adjustment provisions

All UK employees are 
eligible to participate  
in the Sharesave plan, 
which enables 
employees to share  
in the success of the 
Group at a discounted 
share price

•  The core benefits offered to executive directors  

and other employees are the same: private medical 
insurance, life assurance, income protection, 
accidental death and disability insurance and  
a cash benefits allowance

•  Executive directors receive a lower cash benefits 

allowance than other UK employees as a 
percentage of their salary

•  Executive directors have a role based provision  
of the use of a Company vehicle and driver on 
account of the security and privacy requirements  
of the role

•  The CEO is entitled to a contribution to the 

preparation of his annual tax returns owing to  
the complexity of his tax affairs, in part due to  
his extensive travel on Group business

•  Employees are eligible for tax return preparation in 
the year of an international relocation owing to the 
complexity of their returns in those years

138

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The Remuneration Committee

The Committee is responsible for overseeing the remuneration 
of all employees, which includes determining the framework 
and policies for the remuneration of the Group Chairman,  
the executive directors and other senior management, and 
overseeing workforce remuneration, for alignment of reward, 
incentives and culture.

Advice to the Committee 
The Committee was assisted in its considerations by PwC  
who were formally re-appointed by the Committee as  
its remuneration adviser in 2020 for an additional year.  
The Committee will undertake a detailed review of potential 
advisers in 2021. 

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PwC is a signatory to the voluntary Code of Conduct in 
relation to remuneration consulting in the UK. PwC also 
provides professional services to the Group in the ordinary 
course of business including assurance, advisory, tax advice 
and certain services relating to Human Resources. The 
Committee considered PwC’s role as an adviser to the Group 
and determined that there was no conflict or potential  
conflict arising. The Committee is satisfied that the advice  
the Committee receives is objective and independent. The 
total fee paid to PwC (on an agreed per diem fee basis) was 
£100,000 which includes advice to the Committee relating  
to executive directors’ remuneration and regulatory matters. 

The CFO and Group Chief Risk Officer provided the 
Committee with regular updates on finance and risk matters, 
respectively. The Committee recognises and manages any 
conflicts of interest when receiving views from executive 
directors or senior management on executive remuneration 
proposals and no individual is involved in deciding their  
own remuneration. 

14  
January

29  
January

25  
February

16  
July

30 
September

26 
November

The Committee has written terms of reference that can  
be viewed at sc.com/termsofreference

Shareholder voting and shareholder engagement
The table below shows the votes cast1 at our AGM in May 
2020 on remuneration-related matters. 

For

Against

Withheld

Advisory vote on the 
2019 remuneration 
report

583,380,384
(96.96%)

18,288,372
(3.04%)

6,824,454 

1   Number of votes is equal to number of shares held

Our 2019 remuneration report was well supported, following 
comprehensive engagement with shareholders where we 
sought feedback on changes to our remuneration policy and 
our enhanced disclosures. We were grateful for the level of 
engagement and positive feedback received on the changes 
made to the executive directors’ pension contributions and  
on the explanatory disclosures included in the report. We also 
engaged with shareholders on our recent remuneration 
decisions in relation to 2020 and received helpful feedback. 
Further information is on page 103 in our engaging with 
investors section.

Committee activities in the year 

Executive directors’ remuneration

Review of the directors’ remuneration policy and implementation 

Review of fixed and variable remuneration

Senior management remuneration

Review of recruitment and termination

Review of fixed and variable remuneration

Identification of material risk takers

All employee remuneration 

Group-wide discretionary incentives 

Outcomes from the annual performance and reward review

Incentive performance measures, targets and outcomes

Group-wide reward, the Fair Pay Charter and gender pay gap

Reward governance

Consideration of risk, control and conduct matters

Engagement with stakeholders and regulatory, investor and political matters

The Committee held an additional strategy meeting, jointly with the BVCC, to discuss the Group’s approach to sustainable 
reward. The Committee also held one additional meeting in April to discuss the PRA announcement relating to 2019 dividends 
and remuneration for material risk takers and COVID-19. Virtual Board meetings were held from April onwards due to  
COVID-19 restrictions. 

The Committee dealt with certain less material matters on an ad hoc basis through email circulation. Details on how the 
Committee understands the views of the workforce can be found on pages 58 to 60.

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Directors’ report Directors’ remuneration report

Group-wide remuneration in 2020

Our Fair Pay Charter 
Our Fair Pay Charter sets out 10 principles we use to guide 
performance and reward decision-making globally, and has 
been fundamental to our approach to supporting colleagues 
through the challenges of the pandemic, acting as a compass 
for consistent and fair decision-making as we rapidly adapted 
to support new ways of working.

In February 2020 we published our second internal Fair Pay 
Report to all colleagues to explain how our performance and 
reward approach meets the principles of the Charter and to 
provide an update on areas where we are working to enhance 
our approach. In addition we published our first external Fair 
Pay Report to share our progress with wider stakeholders.  
Both reports were well received. 

How do we understand the views of our 
workforce?
There is a wide range of mechanisms the Group uses to seek 
feedback from colleagues on remuneration as well as other 
workforce policies and practices. Our 2020 engagement 
survey was completed by over 74,500 employees and 3,600 
non-employed workers, answering questions on how they  
feel about different areas of reward. We also conducted an 
annual survey that asked employees about their experience  
of the performance and pay review process, including 
whether they understand variable pay, whether they believe 
performance and pay decisions are fair, and whether they 
understand the principles which form our Fair Pay Charter.  
The results from both of these engagement surveys are 
analysed by various demographics, and summary trends  
and key findings on year-on-year movements in sentiment  
are presented to the Committee for discussion. Results  
are also shared with the workforce along with relevant 
commentary on action being taken based on findings in  
our Fair Pay Reports. 

The Board engages and listens to the views of employees, 
through several sources including the increased use of virtual, 
interactive regional engagement sessions, with four being 
held in 2020, and from information provided by senior 
management. More than 3,500 employees joined these 
sessions and asked about a range of people-related topics 
including business restructuring, remuneration, diversity and 
inclusion and the long-term impact of COVID-19. 

Further information on our workforce engagement framework 
is included in our BVCC report on pages 121 to 124.

Fair Pay Charter principles

1 We commit to pay a living wage in all our markets  
and seek to go beyond compliance with minimum  
wage requirements

2 We provide an appropriate mix of fixed and variable pay 
and a core level of benefits to ensure a minimum level of 
earnings and security to colleagues and to reflect the 
Group’s commitment to wellbeing

3 We support colleagues in working flexibly, in ways  

that balance both business needs and their personal 
circumstances, and provide colleagues with the 
opportunity to select the combination and level of 
benefits that is right for them

4

Pay is well administered with colleagues paid accurately, 
on time and in a way that is convenient for them
5 We provide a competitive total fixed and variable pay 

opportunity that enables us to attract, motivate and 
retain colleagues based on market rates for their role, 
location, performance, skills and experience

6

The structure of pay and benefits is consistent for 
colleagues based on their location and role, with a  
clear rationale for exceptions

7 We are committed to rewarding colleagues in a way 

that is free from discrimination on the basis of diversity, 
as set out in our Group Code of Conduct

8 We ensure pay decisions reflect the performance of the 
individual, the business they work in and the Group, and 
recognise the potential, conduct, behaviours and values 
demonstrated by each individual

9 We set clear expectations for how colleagues are 

rewarded and the principles guiding decisions, including 
clear personal objectives and feedback
10 We provide clear communication of pay and 

performance decisions, and seek feedback and input 
from colleagues on our pay structures and outcomes

Responding to the views of the workforce
•  In our annual survey employees told us that recognition 
is just as important to them as the financial reward  
they receive

•  We have used this, along with dedicated research  

and focus group insights, to support the development 
of a refreshed approach to performance, reward, 
recognition and talent management. Through driving 
behaviour and mindset change we aim to deliver a 
performance orientated, inclusive and innovative 
culture focusing on both extrinsic and intrinsic 
motivation to drive individual performance

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Wellbeing 
Our wellbeing strategy was refreshed in 2019 and the 
challenges of the pandemic highlighted the importance of 
this work. We know we are moving in the right direction, with 
87 per cent of respondents to our annual survey telling us  
they feel the Group supports their wellbeing (+4 percentage 
points since 2019), but we have more to do, particularly for the 
40 per cent who told us they are experiencing a high level and 
frequency of work-related stress. 

In 2020 we provided colleagues with a range of support and 
tools, detailed below. In addition, we provided support for 
transport and meals for colleagues who continued to work  

at Group locations during periods of restrictions, financial 
support towards purchasing necessary equipment for working 
from home and maintained pay for those who were unable  
to work full hours as a result of family care requirements. We 
also provided flexibility for those whose return to their usual 
working location was impacted because of travel restrictions. 
In April we conducted a pulse survey to understand how 
employees were coping with the impact of COVID-19 and 
what support they needed. 91 per cent of respondents 
believed that their health and wellbeing was a top priority  
for the Group and 80 per cent felt that our response to the 
pandemic had minimised stress for employees. 

Support for 
colleagues 
suffering 
wellbeing 
challenges

•  Launched a new global employee assistance programme, enabling all colleagues and their household 

members to access confidential counselling and guidance, available 24/7

•  Mental health first aider (MHFA) programme expanded, increasing the number of trained MHFAs globally 

by 133%, whilst centralising support and introducing a Group Standard for Mental Health First Aid

•  Group Standard for Tackling Domestic Violence and Abuse launched, offering a broad range of help and 

support to colleagues who are experiencing domestic violence and abuse

Preventative 
wellbeing 
support to help 
colleagues in 
building skills for 
the future

• 

Introduced a new three-year wellbeing strategy, supporting colleagues in developing the skills needed for 
the future, building resilience, agility and inclusive leadership into the organisation to support us in realising 
our strategic ambitions 

•  Launched Unmind, a digital application and platform that enables colleagues to assess their wellbeing 

needs and receive personalised recommendations and coaching on simple steps to develop healthier habits

•  Launched the Switch+ platform, providing access to hundreds of live and on-demand classes dedicated to 

improving wellbeing. Over 6,000 colleagues from 57 countries have signed up

•  Launched a mental health and resilience learning programme, equipping colleagues and people leaders 
with the core skills they need to support others including recognising signs of poor wellbeing, to increase 
psychological flexibility and create sustainable high performance

Regular practical 
support and 
communications 
for colleagues 
through the 
pandemic

•  Provided guidance on how to manage wellbeing, productivity and social connection whilst working  

from home

•  Ran webinars on expected challenge areas while working at home including parenting, mindfulness and 

finding purpose

•  Shared helpful guidance and practical tips across our wellbeing framework through a colleague toolkit,  

with over 10,000 views to date

•  Ran global and local multi-media campaigns for World Mental Health Day focused on building resilience

Transforming our business
We have continued to transform our Group which has 
affected some colleagues. This was no change from our 
pre-pandemic plans. Where business transformation  
was already underway before the pandemic, we entirely 
paused all restructuring activity for the first half of the year. 
Once activity resumed, increased investment was made in 
redeployment and reskilling programmes. Given the unique 
circumstances, we adjusted our redundancy approach and  
all colleagues impacted in 2020 received enhanced support, 
ensuring they received their full salary for the year, in addition 
to severance pay and improved outplacement support. 

Future ready workforce 
Consistent with Principle 8 of the Fair Pay Charter, we are 
focused on how we adapt and remain future-ready in 
response to the evolving nature of work and changing 
expectations from clients and colleagues. 

Continuous learning is central to this, ensuring colleagues are 
able to adapt, upskill, reskill and retool not only to be better  
at their current jobs but to ensure they can develop and grow 
for new roles to best serve our clients in the future. In March 
2020 we launched a new digital learning platform, actively 
encouraging colleagues to adopt a learning mindset through 
setting and pursuing ‘aspirational’ goals and developing their 
careers. Since the launch more than 55,000 colleagues have 
accessed learning content and engagement in our second 
global learning week (over 400 events) spurred this on.

The pandemic has brought into focus the way in which our 
business and the ways of working are rapidly changing. 
Throughout the year we have listened to colleagues’ 
preferences for greater flexibility in working arrangements as 
we come out of the pandemic. Responses to our 2020 annual 
survey highlighted that 74 per cent of colleagues would 
choose to work from home or another non-primary workplace 
for at least 50 per cent of the time and 77 per cent told us they 
feel able to choose a reasonable balance between personal 
and work life. Rather than simply offering flexible working 
(which we had in all markets before COVID-19) we intend to 
implement a hybrid approach combining virtual and office-
based working with greater flexibility in working patterns  
and locations, balancing colleague preference and business 
demands. A review of all roles (where and how they can  
be done) showed that more than 80 per cent of roles are 
suitable for some form of flexible working. Beginning in 2021, 
employees in eight markets will be able to apply for formal 
flexi-working arrangements, with subsequent markets 
expected through 2021 to mid-2022. 

Other fair pay developments in 2020
We have made good progress in implementing the principles 
of our Charter since its launch in 2018 and implementation 
continues as our new ways of working evolve. During 2020  
we have made further progress to improve colleagues’ 
experience, including:

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Directors’ report Directors’ remuneration report

•  Assurance that all colleagues are paid a living wage, as 
measured by the benchmarks in place through our work 
with Fair Wage Network. In addition, we have taken the  
first steps in assessing the feasibility of incorporating  
living wages into our supply chain, which is a multi-year 
undertaking. During 2021, we will focus on specific actions 
for non-employed workers

•  We have Group-wide principles, guided by market data,  
for making salary decisions to help us balance what is  
right for colleagues with the Group’s financial position. 
During 2020, we expanded the use of salary ranges to  
cover 74 per cent of colleagues globally (increased from  
25 per cent in 2019). We expect salary ranges to improve 
further the transparency and fairness of fixed pay  
decision-making

•  Our multi-year review of benefits is progressing, increasing 
the consistency of the structure of pay and benefits by 
country, including the removal of differentiation of 
allowances and benefits solely by band, age, tenure and 
dependent status. The phased roll-out of our flexible 
benefits plan which enables colleagues to choose benefits 
which best suit their individual needs continues, with the 
introduction in Poland in September 2020 and preparation 
work completed for launch in Malaysia in March 2021

•  Work in additional markets continues to align benefits  
more closely to the Charter and to increase inclusivity.  
For example, in India, medical benefits and domestic 
relocation benefits were extended from 2020 to LGBT+ 
partners of colleagues

Our Strategic report contains further information on colleagues, 
including a summary of our gender pay gap on page 61

Determining Group-wide 2020 discretionary 
incentives
The Group delivered a resilient performance in 2020 in 
conditions that became extremely challenging. Strong and 
broad-based growth in the initial months was followed by 
lower income year-on-year in the second half and for the year 
overall driven by the effects of COVID-19, which led to severe 
global economic contraction and substantially reduced 
interest rates. As a result, pre-provision operating profit 
declined despite lower expenses. Underlying profit fell 
because of substantially higher credit impairments due mainly 
to provisions against credit losses booked in the first half 
driven by the deterioration in the macroeconomic outlook. 
The Group remains strongly capitalised despite the external 
challenges, with a CET1 ratio of 14.4 per cent above the top of 
the medium-term target range enabling recommencement  
of shareholder distributions. 

The total scorecard outcome was 37 per cent with 13 per cent 
being based on financial achievements including effective 
cost management and growth in high-performing liabilities, 
and 24 per cent based on non-financial achievements 
including improved digital client onboarding, on-track 
development of new ventures and an improved employee  
net promoter score of 6 points to 17.5.

Outcome (%)/
Maximum (%) 

7/10

Deliver the financial
framework

Purpose and people

13/50

Deliver our network and
grow our affluent business

3/10

Improve productivity

Transform and disrupt
with digital

Risk and controls

Overall 2020 scorecard
outcome

3/5

6/10

5/15

37%

142

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

The annual scorecard is the starting point for determining  
the Group’s annual discretionary incentives. Based on the  
37 per cent outcome, and without any discretionary 
adjustment, total 2020 discretionary incentives would  
have been $1,150 million. 

However the Committee has exercised its judgement carefully 
for 2020 and considered several factors including the Group’s 
underlying performance, the experience of our stakeholders, 
the withdrawal of the 2019 final ordinary dividend, the 
resilience of our business, inherent future risks, the significant 
contribution of our colleagues whilst managing the crisis and 
the need to compete for talent globally across 59 markets. 

Considering all factors, the Committee applied a downward 
adjustment of $160 million, resulting in total discretionary 
incentives of $990 million, which is 23 per cent lower than  
2019 and the lowest in the last five years. $129 million of the 
total discretionary incentives is deferred and charged in  
future years, including $21 million in LTIP awards for senior 
management, the value of which will be determined by  
Group performance over the period 2021 to 2023. 

Total discretionary incentives – last five years ($ million)

1,400

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

1,146

1,179

1,278

1,039

990

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

In allocating discretionary incentives for 2020, we thought 
carefully about how to reflect the challenges of the pandemic 
and the need to recognise the collective contribution of 
colleagues to the Group’s performance. Focus was primarily 
placed on Group performance given the challenges created 
by COVID-19 in fairly and objectively assessing the relative 
performance of each business, function, region and country. 
The one notable exception was within the CIB business, where 
incentives were differentiated for Financial Markets in order  
to reward colleagues for the strong performance in 2020.

Across the rest of the Group, at an individual level, focus  
was placed on protecting compensation levels for junior 
colleagues, as shown in the table below. 

Average year-on-year change (%)

Number of 
colleagues1

Annual 
discretionary 
incentives 

Total 
compensation 

Management Team 

Managing Directors

Other senior leaders

11

1,055

2,621

All other colleagues

62,304

(43)

(34)

(30)

(27)

(23)

(13)

(6)

0

1   Number of colleagues eligible for annual discretionary incentives, excluding 

Financial Markets

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Directors’ remuneration in 2020

This section sets out how remuneration was delivered to the 
executive directors in 2020 under the remuneration policy 
approved by shareholders in 2019. It also sets out the 2020  
fees paid to the Group Chairman and the independent 
non-executive directors (INEDs). This section is subject to  
an advisory shareholder vote at the 2021 AGM. 

The Group’s executive directors’ remuneration policy was 
approved at the AGM held on 8 May 2019 and applies to the 
executive directors, the Group Chairman and INEDs for three 
years from that date. A summary is set out on pages 155 to 156. 
The full policy can be found on pages 108 to 115 of the 2018 
Annual Report and on the Group’s website. 

Annual incentive awards for the executive 
directors (audited)
Annual incentive awards for executive directors are based on 
the assessment of the Group scorecard and an assessment of 
individual performance. We use the same Group scorecard for 
all eligible employees, including the executive directors.

For Bill and Andy, the Committee considered Group 
performance, their individual performance, and risk, control 
and conduct-related matters (with input from Risk and other 
control functions). The Committee followed a three-step 
process for determining annual incentive awards.

•  Bill has led the Group exceptionally well through difficult 

circumstances in 2020

•  Bill has delivered resilient performance in light of the 

pandemic, building on the foundations he has laid since  
his appointment which put the Group in a position to 
absorb large shocks such as COVID-19

•  Bill has been the ultimate driver of change for digital 
partnerships, data and artificial intelligence, and  
SC Ventures

•  Bill recently assumed the role as a Chair of the Taskforce  
on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets, helping increase  
the Group’s standing around sustainability

The Committee considered Bill’s performance in the context of 
the significant challenges of 2020 and noted his performance 
against his key objectives in the year. Taking into account his 
request to waive the cash portion of any incentive in respect  
of 2020 (representing 50 per cent of any annual incentive), the 
Committee determined that despite the exceptional personal 
performance leading the Group through the crisis, no upward 
adjustment should be made. This results in an award of 
£385,836 (£1,251,360 in 2019) which equates to 18.5 per cent  
of the maximum opportunity and 15 per cent of fixed pay  
(44 per cent in 2019).

1.  Consider eligibility: The Committee considered that each 
director had exhibited an appropriate level of conduct 
against targets set and was deemed to have met the 
gateway requirement to be eligible for an incentive.

Andy Halford
A summary of some of Andy’s 2020 achievements against his 
key personal objectives and in response to the pandemic crisis 
is set out below:

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2. Evaluate performance against the Group’s scorecard: 

Throughout the year the Group has remained resilient and 
competitive, despite the economic and geopolitical 
challenges, even though our progress has inevitably slowed 
in some areas. The impact of COVID-19 has meant that 
some of the measures and targets set within the Group 
scorecard at the start of 2020 were unachievable.  
No changes were made to performance criteria and targets 
for 2020 incentive outcomes. Underlying profit before tax  
is down 40 per cent on 2019 and RoTE is down 340 basis 
points to 3.0 per cent. The Group’s capital is strong, with the 
CET1 ratio at a historically high level, demonstrating our 
resilience in the face of such an extraordinary economic 
shock. Full details of the scorecard outcome can be seen  
on page 144. 

3. Assess personal performance and finalise awards: As 

outlined in the policy, the Committee can make an upwards 
or downwards adjustment to the scorecard outcome for 
personal performance, consistent with the approach for 
other employees who are eligible to be considered for 
discretionary incentives. When considering whether such an 
adjustment is appropriate, the Committee considers the 
particular areas of responsibility of the executive director 
together with the objectives that they were asked to 
prioritise for the year and their personal contribution to the 
scorecard outcome. The adjustment will usually be in the 
range of +/- 10 percentage points to the scorecard outcome.

Assessment of personal performance and finalised awards 

Bill Winters
A summary of some of Bill’s 2020 achievements against his key 
personal objectives is set out as follows:

•  Andy led the completion of the restructuring of the Group’s 
legal entities during the year, which has resulted in realised 
benefits being contributed to the delivery of our strategy

•  Andy delivered the completion of the sale of the Group’s 

interest in PT Bank Permata Tbk, demonstrating significant 
progress on our strategic priorities and placing the Group  
in a strong position to give us confidence through the  
crisis period

•  Andy responded effectively to the liquidity challenges 

resulting from COVID-19, demonstrating the resilience of  
the Group

•  Andy chaired the Crisis Management Team and oversaw 

the Property function in response to the pandemic

•  Andy continued to deliver improvements in efficiency, with 
an ongoing focus that has continued to flow through to 
financial results

•  Andy has been key in the new ways of working initiative, 
enabling the Group’s drive for productivity with effective 
ways to measure and track our progress, critical for  
our success

The Committee considered Andy’s performance in the  
context of the significant challenges of 2020 and noted his 
performance against his key objectives in the year. Taking into 
account his request to waive the cash portion of any incentive 
in respect of 2020 (representing 50 per cent of any annual 
incentive), the Committee determined that despite the 
exceptional personal performance leading the Group through 
the crisis, no upward adjustment should be made. This results 
in an award of £246,642 (£776,600 in 2019) which equates to 
18.5 per cent of the maximum opportunity and 15 per cent of 
fixed pay (44 per cent in 2019).

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Directors’ report Directors’ remuneration report

Assessment of the 2020 Group scorecard 

Financial measures 

Weighting 

Threshold (0%)

Mid-point of  
target range

Maximum (100%)

Achievement 

Outcome 

Income1

Costs

Operating profit

RoTE2 plus CET1 underpin 

Growth of high-quality 
liabilities3

7%

7%

10%

20%

6%

$15.4bn

$10.6bn

$4.0bn

6.1%

$5.0bn

Other strategic 
measures 4
Purpose and 
people

Weighting  Target

10% •  Develop human capital by improving 
employee engagement, diversity and 
inclusion

•  Successfully embed sustainable and 
responsible practices in relation to  
climate, infrastructure, environment  
and community engagement

Deliver our 
network and 
grow our 
affluent 
business

10% • 

Improve client satisfaction rating

•  Deliver network growth in target segments
•  Deliver affluent growth in target markets

Improve 
productivity

5%

• 

• 

Improve efficiency and quality of client 
transformation experience
Improve working profit per full-time 
equivalent (FTE)

$16.0bn

$10.3bn

$4.4bn

6.8%

$9.9bn

$16.7bn

$14.8bn

$10.0bn

$9.8bn

$4.9bn

$2.5bn

7.5%

3.0%

$14.9bn

$46.2bn

Assessment of achievement
•  Employee net promoter and inclusion metrics 
materially exceeded set performance targets
•  Progress made in senior female diversity to 29.5%, 
which is slightly below the 2020 target of 30%
•  Exceeded our 2020 target in financing services  
for renewable energy projects and on track to  
the sustainability aspiration target of $35 billion.  
All other sustainability measures also at or  
above target
 Improved client satisfaction across all segments, 
targets exceeded in CIB and Private Banking
•  Network growth in CIB and affluent growth in 
Retail and Private Banking were adversely 
impacted by the difficult macroeconomic 
conditions (including the impact of COVID-19)
 Programmes to improve efficiency and quality of 
client transformation experience exceeded target

• 

• 

•  Working profit per FTE ratio of $56,000 was 

affected by the adverse impact of the difficult 
macroeconomic conditions on our financial 
performance and was behind threshold level

0%

7%

0%

0%

6%

Outcome
7%

3%

3%

Transform 
and disrupt 
with digital

10% •  Grow cash transactions initiated by clients 

•  Materially exceeded target for cash transactions 

6%

through digital channels

•  Manage key digital platforms and 

• 

partnerships to improve client experience
Improve data analytics to develop new 
products and attract new clients

• 

digitally initiated 
 Development of new ventures on track, target met 
for new products and services commercialised 
internally and externally

•  Targeted improvement in use of data analytics 

Risk and 
control

15% •  Manage elevated residual risks with 
effective controls in place

•  Successfully deliver milestones within the 

risk management plan

•  Maintain effective risk and control 

governance

•  Maintain the risk profile within the Group 

Risk Appetite boundaries

•  Maintain an effective Conduct Risk 

Management Framework to ensure there  
is a continuous process to identify and 
manage conduct risks

achieved

•  Slightly behind target on the management of 

5%

elevated residual risk and delivery of milestones 
within the risk management plan
 Met targets on risk and control governance 
effectiveness measured via audit management 
control approach
 The Group continues to operate within Risk 
Appetite
 Exceeded conduct risk management targets

• 

• 

• 

Total

100%

Total scorecard assessment 

37%

1   Total income and operating profit are on an underlying basis. Certain items are presented as restructuring and other items that are excluded from the underlying 
results of the Group. These are income, costs and impairment and resulting operating profit relating to identifiable business units, products or portfolios from the 
relevant dates that they have been approved for restructuring, disposal, wind down or redundancy. This includes realised and unrealised gains and losses from 
management’s decisions to dispose of assets as well as residual income, direct costs and impairment of related legacy assets of those identifiable business units, 
products or portfolios. See Note 2 page 306

2  Normalised RoTE represents the ratio of the current year’s profit available for distribution to ordinary shareholders, to the weighted average ordinary 

shareholders’ equity less the average goodwill and intangibles for the reporting period. The CET1 underpin was set at the higher of 13 per cent or the minimum 
regulatory level as at 31 December 2020 (taking into account any transition rules or material changes in regulatory rules)

3 

Initiative that targets growth of efficient and regulatory friendly deposits to improve our quality funding mix (liabilities) to support the Group’s growth aspirations 

4  A maximum/minimum performance threshold was set for each performance measure. For strategic measures, the Committee used its judgement to determine 
scorecard outcomes within this range (with a higher than 50 per cent outcome for performance above target and a lower than 50 per cent outcome for below 
target performance)

144

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Performance outcome for 2018-20 LTIP awards 
(audited)
The single total figure of remuneration table shows that  
LTIP awards will vest in March 2021 with an estimated value  
of £594,000 and £368,000 for Bill and Andy, respectively. 
These LTIP awards were granted to Bill and Andy in 2018  
with a face value of 120 per cent of fixed pay, to incentivise  
the continued execution of the strategy over the three-year 
period 2018 to 2020.

The awards were share-based and subject to the satisfaction 
of stretching performance measures over three years.  
The conduct gateway requirement must be met before any 
awards would vest. The awards were then subject to RoE  
and relative TSR targets and a qualitative and quantitative 
assessment of the strategic measures.

The Committee concluded that Bill and Andy exhibited 
appropriate conduct during the performance period and 
therefore the conduct gateway was met. The threshold RoE 

target has not been achieved and the relative TSR threshold 
target will be measured in March 2021 but is estimated not to 
have been achieved and, therefore, there will be no vesting for 
the 66.6 per cent of the awards subject to these measures.

The Committee considered performance against the proof 
points as set out in the table below and determined that the 
overall vesting of the LTIP would be 26 per cent. The table 
below sets out the performance required, the 2018-20 
performance achieved and the LTIP vesting outcome. The 
share price used to estimate the value of vesting of the 2018-20 
LTIP awards is lower than the share price on the award date of 
£7.78 and therefore the value attributable to share price growth is 
nil. The value of the awards vesting is reduced by 46 per cent 
when compared to the value at grant.

No discretion has been applied to the vesting outcome of  
the LTIP in respect of performance targets or share price 
movement. The awards will vest pro rata over 2021 to 2025 
and shares will be subject to a 12-month retention period 
post-vesting. Malus and clawback provisions apply.

Measure

Weighting

Performance for  
minimum vesting (25%)

Performance for  
maximum vesting (100%) Assessment of achievement 

Vesting 
outcome 

RoE1 in 2020 with  
CET1 underpin

Relative TSR 
performance against 
the peer group

One-third

6.0%

9.0%

One-third

Median

Upper quartile

Strategic measures

One-third

Total 2018-20 LTIP awards vesting outcome

Strategic measure Proof point

Assessment

RoE 2.6% and CET1 14.4%  
therefore 0% vesting

Performance currently estimated 
below median. TSR performance will 
be measured in March 2021

Improved performance against our 
strategic priorities

0%

0%

26%

26%

Strengthen 
foundations 
in risk and 
control

Maintain effective and 
sustainable anti-money 
laundering and 
sanctions controls

Successfully deliver 
cyber risk management 
plan

Improve client 
satisfaction rating 

Deliver client growth in 
target segments

Improve productivity

Deliver growth in  
digital volumes

Drive innovation 
through new products, 
solutions and services 
for clients
Improve scores against 
employee engagement 
and culture of inclusion 
metrics

Improve management 
diversity

Focus on 
clients and 
growth, and 
drive 
cross-bank 
collaboration

Improve 
efficiency, 
productivity, 
and service 
quality

Embed 
innovation, 
digitisation, 
and analytics
Invest in 
people, 
strengthen 
culture and 
conduct

The Group successfully delivered on its commitments to remediate deficiencies and 
regulatory gaps. Following seven years of additional oversight, the New York Department  
of Financial Services (DFS) Independent Consultant was not extended by the DFS at end  
of 2019. Over the plan period, the Group’s Financial Crime Risk and Control environment  
has strengthened, and the Group continue to deliver sustainable, effective financial crime 
regulatory compliance programs in all markets.
Over the plan period, with significant investment and focus, core information and cyber 
security controls have been established and significant improvement has been made in 
managing information and Cyber Security Risk. For 2020, projects enabling risk reduction  
in high risk domains were prioritised for protection and mitigation.
CIB and Private Banking client satisfaction metrics have exceeded the targets set in each 
year. Material improvement in retail client satisfaction measures over the plan period, 
meeting target in 2020.

The segmental targets are driven by year-on-year client growth and acquisition in CIB, 
Private and Retail Banking. Despite being adversely impacted by the difficult 
macroeconomic conditions (including the impact of COVID-19), improvement has been 
made in Retail and Private Banking, and some progress in CIB over the plan period.
Productivity gains were made in 2018 and 2019 as FTE reduced and profitability rose.  
Despite further reduction in FTE in 2020, productivity measures were impacted due to  
the impact of COVID-19 on financial performance.
Continued online adoption growth and digital sourcing initiatives achieved against the 
target set in each year. In 2020 the target for cash transactions digitally initiated was 
materially exceeded.
Significant progress made in driving innovation to improve the client experience. Measured 
via an innovation index, performance exceeded the targets set in 2018 and 2019. The 2020 
delivery of key digital platforms (including Mox) was in line with plan.

Material improvement in employee net promoter score (up from +11.3 in 2018 to +17.5 in 2020) 
and culture of inclusion score (up from 72.9% in 2018 to 81.7% in 2020) exceeding set targets.

Material progress has been made in senior female diversity, improving from 25.7% at the 
start of the period to 29.5% at the end of 2020. However, despite this progress we are slightly 
below the target of 30% by 2020 year end.

1   RoE was based on profit attributed to ordinary shareholders, adjusted, on a tax-effected basis, for profits or losses of a capital nature, restructuring charges, 

amounts consequent to investment transactions driven by strategic intent and infrequent/exceptional transactions that are significant or material in the context 
of the Group’s normal business earnings for the period. The CET1 underpin was set at the higher of 12 per cent or the minimum regulatory level as at 31 December 
2020 (taking into account any transition rules or material changes in regulatory rules)

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Directors’ report Directors’ remuneration report

The Committee considered the performance against the ESG 
metrics within the people and purpose element of the annual 
incentive scorecard and 2018-20 LTIP strategic measures, as 
well as the Group’s wider progress on ESG metrics (further 
details on pages 54 to 71), and determined that the outcomes 
were appropriate and that the incentive structures do not 
raise ESG risks by motivating irresponsible behaviour.

Salary
Pension
Benefits
Total fixed remuneration
Annual incentive award
Vesting of LTIP award

Value of vesting awards based on performance 
Value of vesting awards based on share price growth

Total variable remuneration
Single total figure of remuneration 

Notes to the single total figure of remuneration table

 Single total figure of remuneration for 2020 
(audited) 
The following table sets out the single total figure of 
remuneration for 2020 for the CEO and the CFO. The single 
figure consists of salary, pension, benefits and annual 
incentives receivable in respect of 2020 and the estimated 
values of 2018-20 LTIP awards vesting. All figures are in £000s. 
The LTIP value is based on the outcome of awards made in 
2018 and does not include the forward looking awards to be 
made in March 2021, in respect of 2020 performance and 
based on further three-year performance measures, due  
to vest in early 2024.

Bill Winters

Andy Halford

2020

2,370
237
225
2,832
386

594 
–
980
3,812

2019

2,353
470
231
3,054
1,251

1,055 
–
2,306
5,360

2020

1,504
150
113
1,767
246

368
–
614
2,381

2019

1,450
315
87
1,852
777

 653
 –
1,430
3,282

Salary

•  For executive directors part of salary is paid in cash and part is paid in shares, to align with shareholder interests
•  The salary shares are subject to a retention period of five years with 20 per cent released annually
•  The number of shares allocated is determined by the monetary value and the prevailing market price of the 

Company’s shares on the date of allocation

•  Bill’s salary is paid 50 per cent in cash and 50 per cent in shares and Andy’s salary is paid 67 per cent in cash and 

33 per cent in shares

•  As disclosed last year, Andy’s salary was increased 3 per cent effective 1 April 2020

Pension

•  Pension is set as a percentage of salary and can be delivered as a contribution to the UK pension fund or paid as 

a cash allowance

•  Pension for Bill is delivered as a cash allowance and a £4,000 contribution to the UK pension fund and for Andy, 

the pension is delivered as a cash allowance
In line with the UK Corporate Governance Code, only salary is pensionable

• 

Benefits

•  The core benefits provided to executive directors and other UK employees are the same: private medical 

insurance, life assurance, income protection, accidental death and disability insurance and a cash benefits 
allowance

•  Executive directors receive a lower cash benefits allowance than other UK employees as a percentage of their 
salary. In addition, the executive directors have the use of a Company vehicle and driver. In line with Principle 6  
of our Fair Pay Charter, this is a role-based provision given their executive role and the associated security and 
privacy requirements

•  Executive directors occasionally use a Group car service for travelling and their partners may travel to accompany 

attendance at Board or other similar events. The Group covers any tax liability that arises on these benefits
•  Bill is entitled to a contribution to the preparation of his annual tax returns owing to the complexity of his tax 

affairs, in part due to his extensive travel on Group business

•  The benefits figures refer to UK tax years 2019/20 and 2018/19 respectively

•  Fixed remuneration is the total of salary, pension and benefits

Fixed 
remuneration 

Annual incentive •  Executive directors’ annual incentive awards are delivered 50 per cent in cash and 50 per cent in shares, subject to 

Vesting of LTIP 
awards

a minimum 12-month retention period

•  For 2020, both executive directors waived the cash element of their annual incentive awards
•  The detail of how directors’ annual incentive awards are determined is set out on pages 143 to 144. Awards are 

subject to clawback for up to 10 years

•  The LTIP awards granted in March 2018 are due to vest in March 2021, based on performance over the years 2018 
to 2020. Following an estimated assessment of the performance measures (RoE with CET1 underpin, relative TSR 
and strategic measures), 26 per cent of these awards are expected to vest. The final assessment of relative TSR 
performance will be conducted in March 2021, the end of the three-year performance period. Based on a share 
price of £4.22, the three-month average to 31 December 2020, the estimated value to be delivered is £594,000 to 
Bill and £368,000 to Andy. The final value will be restated in the 2021 directors’ remuneration report based on final 
TSR performance and the share price at vesting. Awards are subject to malus and clawback for up to 10 years 
from grant. Further details are provided on page 145

•  The value of the awards vesting is reduced by £267,000 and £165,000 for Bill and Andy, respectively, when 

compared to the value at grant. The values of vesting awards for 2019 have been restated based on the actual 
share price of £4.49 when the awards vested in March 2020

146

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Bill Winters’ 2020 single total figure of remuneration

l

e
b
a
i
r
a
V

n
o
i
t
a
r
e
n
u
m
e
r

d
e
x
F

i

n
o
i
t
a
r
e
n
u
m
e
r

2018-20 LTIP 
594

2020 Annual 
incentive 386

Benefits 225

Pension 237

225

237

LTIP shares vest pro rata  
over years 3 to 7 with additional  
retention period of 12 months

118.8

118.8

118.8

118.8

118.8

386

237

237

237

237

Salary  
2,370

237

1,185

Salary shares released pro rata over 5 years

Annual 
incentive 
and LTIP 
shares  
are also 
subject to 
clawback 
for up to  
10 years 
from grant

D
i
r
e
c
t
o
r
s
’

r
e
p
o
r
t

Total: 3,812
£000

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Executive directors’ shareholdings and share 
interests including share awards (audited)
Executive directors are required to hold a specified level of 
shares, to be built up over a reasonable time frame from the 
date of appointment as an executive director (or, if later, from 
the date of any change to the terms of the shareholding 
requirement). Shares that count towards the requirements  
are beneficially owned shares, including vested share awards 
subject to a retention period, and unvested share awards for 

which performance conditions have been satisfied (on a 
net-of-tax basis). The shareholding requirement for 2020 was 
expressed as a percentage of salary, set as 250 per cent of 
salary for the CEO and 200 per cent of salary for the CFO.  
As at 31 December 2020, both Bill and Andy exceeded their 
shareholding requirement. Shares purchased voluntarily from 
their own funds are equivalent to 61 and 44 per cent of salary 
for Bill and Andy, respectively. The following table summarises 
the executive directors’ shareholdings and share interests: 

Vested

Unvested

Total 

Shares held beneficially  
(including shares awarded to deliver 
executive directors’ salaries)

Not subject to performance 
measures (net of tax)

Total towards shareholding 
requirements

Bill Winters

1,795,610

Andy Halford

718,535

148,778

92,743

1,944,388

811,278

•  All figures are as at 31 December 2020 unless stated 
otherwise. There were no changes to any executive 
directors’ interests in shares between 31 December 2020 
and 25 February 2021. No director has either (i) an interest in 
Company preference shares or loan stocks of any subsidiary 
or associated undertaking of the Group or (ii) any corporate 
interests in Company ordinary shares. The closing share 
price on 31 December 2020 was £4.66

•  The beneficial interests of directors and connected  

persons in the shares of the Company are set out above. 
The executive directors do not have any non-beneficial 
interests in the Company’s shares. None of the executive 
directors used shares as collateral for any loans

•  As Bill and Andy are both UK taxpayers: 0 per cent tax is 
assumed to apply to Sharesave (as Sharesave is a UK tax 
qualified share plan) and 47 per cent tax is assumed to 
apply to other unvested share awards (marginal combined 
PAYE rate of income tax at 45 per cent and employee 
National Insurance contributions at 2 per cent) – rates  
may change 

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147

 
 
 
 
 
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The peer group of companies selected for the calculation of 
the relative TSR performance are companies with generally 
comparable business activities, size or geographic spread  
to Standard Chartered or companies with which the Group 
competes for investor funds and talent. The peer group is 
intended to be representative of the Group’s geographic 
presence and business operations. The companies that make 
up the peer group are reviewed annually, prior to each new 
LTIP grant.

The TSR peer group for 2021-23 LTIP awards will be the same 
as for the 2020-22 LTIP and is detailed on the next page. TSR  
is measured in sterling for each company and the TSR data is 
averaged over a month at the start and end of the three-year 
measurement period which starts from the date of grant.

Remuneration regulations for European banks mean that 
dividend equivalent shares are not permitted to be awarded 
on vesting. The number of shares awarded in respect of the 
LTIP will take into account the lack of dividend equivalents 
(calculated by reference to market consensus dividend yield) 
such that the overall market value of the award is maintained.

These awards will vest in five annual tranches beginning after 
the third anniversary of the grant (i.e. March 2024 to March 
2028) subject to meeting the performance measures set out 
below at the end of 2023. All vested shares are subject to a 
12-month retention period.

The performance measures for the 2021-23 LTIP awards are 
set out in the table on the next page.

Directors’ report Directors’ remuneration report

LTIP awards for the executive directors to be 
granted in 2021
The size of the LTIP award has been determined based on 
Group and individual performance during the year. Awards  
for the 2020 performance year will be granted to Bill and  
Andy in March 2021 with a value of 120 per cent of fixed pay 
(£3.1 million and £2.0 million, respectively). This is the maximum 
amount receivable, unless the share price appreciates. The 
amount that the executive directors will receive at the end of 
the three-year performance period will be based on the level 
of performance achieved against the performance measures 
and the future share price.

We consider target setting carefully before each grant and 
set targets that are challenging and act as an effective 
incentive for executive directors to execute our strategy.  
To reflect the Group’s ambition to become the world’s most 
sustainable and responsible bank and increased focus on 
sustainability, we are adjusting the weightings of the 
performance measures and including a standalone 
sustainability measure.

The sustainability measures have been selected carefully from 
our broader range of sustainability aspirations based on their 
level of impact for the Group and wider society and ability to 
drive financial returns in the medium term. The other strategic 
measures have been adjusted to align with the refreshed 
strategic priorities. Details of the sustainability and other 
strategic measures and targets are shown in the table on  
the next page and are disclosed prospectively, except where 
the internal targets are considered commercially sensitive. 
Detailed disclosure of achievement against all internal  
targets will be disclosed retrospectively at the end of the 
performance period.

The RoTE target range for 2021–23 LTIP awards is 6 to 10 per 
cent. This is a wider range than in previous years given the 
unusually uncertain macroeconomic environment, including 
the impact of severe economic dislocations and low interest 
rates on the Group’s returns. It takes into account our 
expectation that our refreshed strategic priorities should allow 
us to improve our RoTE from the 3 per cent we delivered in 
2020 to over 7 per cent by 2023 as we progressively advance 
to our target of over 10 per cent. The current market consensus 
estimate for RoTE in 2023 is 6.9 per cent.

148

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D
i
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Performance measures for 2021-23 LTIP awards 

Measure 

1. RoTE1 in 2023 plus 
CET12 underpin of the 
higher of 13% or the 
minimum regulatory 
requirement

Weighting

30%

Amount vesting  
(as a % of total award)

Maximum – 30% 
Threshold – 7.5%  
Below threshold – 0%

Threshold performance target

Maximum performance target 

6%

10%

If RoTE reaches 6 per cent then 7.5 per cent of the award vests. If RoTE reaches 10 per cent then 30 per cent of the award vests. If RoTE is 
between the threshold and maximum, vesting is calculated on a straight-line basis between these two points

2. Relative TSR 
against the  
peer group

30%

Maximum – 30%  
Threshold – 7.5%  
Below threshold – 0%

Median

Upper quartile

Relative TSR is measured against a peer group of companies. If the Group’s TSR performance is at least equivalent to the median 
ranked company then 7.5 per cent of the award vests. If the Group’s TSR performance is at least equal to the upper quartile ranked 
company then 30 per cent of the award vests. Between these points, the Group’s TSR is compared with that of the peer companies 
positioned immediately above and below it and straight-line vesting applies

3. Sustainability

15%

Maximum – 15%
Minimum – 0%

Sustainable finance
•  Develop and implement a framework to align our financial services  
with net zero emissions by 2050, and deliver 2023 targets consistent  
with that plan

•  Provide $35 billion (cumulative) worth of project financing services, M&A 
advisory, debt structuring, transaction banking and lending services for 
renewable energy that align to our verified Green and Sustainable 
Product Framework

•  Only provide financial services to clients who are less than 80% 

dependent on earnings from thermal coal (based on % EBITDA at  
group level)

Responsible company
•  Reduction in property emissions of 10% annually
•  Reduction of flight emissions of 25%
•  Offset 95% of all residual emissions from our operations

4. Other strategic  
measures

25%

Maximum – 25%  
Minimum – 0%

• 

Improve client satisfaction rating evidenced in surveys and internal 
benchmarks

Clients

Enablers 
(innovation, new 
ways of working  
and people)

Risk and control

•  Deliver growth in qualified clients across Private, Priority & Premium 

Banking, and Wealth Management

•  Deliver network income growth in Corporate, Commercial and 

Institutional Banking (CCIB)

•  Add more than 2 million new customers via digital partnerships,  

platforms and technologies

•  Drive culture of innovation to generate new revenues
•  Adopt new ways of working that result in quicker decision-making  

and delivery
Increase senior female representation to 33%
Increase our culture of inclusion score from 81% to 84% (internal index)

• 
• 

•  Maintain effective risk and control governance
•  Successfully deliver milestones within the cyber risk management plan

1   Normalised RoTE represents the ratio of the current year’s profit available for distribution to ordinary shareholders, to the weighted average ordinary 

shareholders’ equity less the average goodwill and intangibles for the reporting period. Normalised RoTE normally excludes regulatory fines but, for remuneration 
purposes, this would be subject to review by the Committee

2   The CET1 underpin will be dynamically set at the higher of 13 per cent or the minimum regulatory level as at 31 December 2023 (taking into account any transition 

rules or material changes in regulatory rules). In addition, the Committee has the discretion to take into account at the end of the performance period any 
changes in regulatory capital and risk-weighted asset requirements that might have been announced and implemented after the start of the performance 
period, for example, in relation to Basel IV

The peer group for the TSR measure in the 2021-23 LTIP is unchanged from the 2020-22 award and is set out below:

Banco Santander 

Bank of America 

Bank of China 

Bank of East Asia 

Barclays 

BNP Paribas 

Citigroup

Credit Suisse

DBS Group

Deutsche Bank

HSBC

ICBC

ICICI

KB Financial Group

Oversea Chinese Banking Corporation

Société Générale

Standard Bank

State Bank of India

UBS

JPMorgan Chase

United Overseas Bank

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Directors’ report Directors’ remuneration report

Total variable remuneration awarded to directors in respect of 2020 (audited)

Annual incentive (£000)
Annual incentive as a percentage of fixed pay
LTIP award (value of shares subject to performance conditions) (£000)
LTIP award as a percentage of fixed pay
Total variable remuneration as a percentage of fixed pay
Total variable remuneration (£000)

Bill Winters

Andy Halford

2020

386
15%
3,128
120%
135%
3,514

2019

1,251
44%
3,413
120%
164%
4,664

2020

246
15%
2,000
120%
135%
2,246

2019

777
44%
2,118
120%
164%
2,895

LTIP awards for the 2020 performance year will be granted to executive directors in March 2021 and are based on their 2020 
fixed pay (as at December 2020).

Service contracts for executive directors 
Copies of the executive directors’ service contracts are available for inspection at the Group’s registered office. These contracts 
have rolling 12-month notice periods and the dates of the executive directors’ current service contracts are shown below.  
The contracts were updated effective 1 January 2020 to reflect the changes made following the implementation of the  
2019 remuneration policy and the change to pension contribution. Executive directors are permitted to hold non-executive 
directorship positions in other organisations (but no more than one position with a FTSE 100 company). Where such 
appointments are agreed with the Board, the executive directors may retain any fees payable for their services. Both executive 
directors served as non-executive directors elsewhere and received fees for the period covered by this report.

Date of Standard Chartered  
employment contract

Details of any non-executive directorship

Fees retained for any non-executive 
directorship (local currency) 

Bill Winters

1 January 2020

Andy Halford

1 January 2020

Novartis International AG

CHF353,333

Marks and Spencer Group plc

£102,500

Single figure of remuneration for the Chairman and INEDs (audited)
The Chairman and INEDs were paid in monthly instalments during the year. The INEDs are required to hold shares with a 
nominal value of $1,000.

The table below shows the fees and benefits received by the Chairman and INEDs in 2020 and 2019. The INEDs’ 2020 benefit 
figures are in respect of the 2019/20 tax year and the 2019 benefit figures are in respect of the 2018/19 tax year to provide 
consistency with the reporting of similar benefits in previous years and with those received by executive directors. 

Group Chairman
J Viñals
Current INEDs
L Cheung1
D P Conner2
B E Grote
C M Hodgson, CBE
G Huey Evans, OBE

N Kheraj
N Okonjo-Iweala
P Rivett3
D Tang
C Tong
J M Whitbread

Fees £000

Benefits £0004

Total £000

2020

2019

2020

2019

2020

2019

Shares 
beneficially 
held as at  
31 December5
2020

1,250

1,250

43

49

1,293

1,299

18,500

31
273
170
325
200

360
135
119
144
205
210

135
275
170
325
200

360
135
– 
75
176
210

6
1
–
3
7

4
7
–
5
6
1

9
2
–
2
2

4
4
– 
–
1
2

37
274
170
328
207

364
142
119
149
211
211

144
277
170
327
202

364
139
– 
75
177
212

2,571
10,000
80,041
2,571
2,615

40,571
2,034
2,128
2,000
2,000
3,615

1  Louis Cheung stepped down from the Board on 25 March 2020. His reported fee for 2020 of £31,000 is in respect of the period of 1 January 2020 to 25 March 2020. 
His benefits for 2020 of £6,000 are in respect of the period from 6 April 2019 to 25 March 2020, in line with the approach to disclose INED benefits in respect of the 
relevant tax year 

2  David Conner’s fee includes his role on the Combined US Operations Risk Committee

3  Phil Rivett was appointed to the Board on 6 May 2020 

4  The costs of benefits (and any associated tax costs) are paid by the Group

5  The beneficial interests of Chairman and INEDs, and connected persons in the shares of the Company are set out above. These directors do not have any 

non-beneficial interests in the Company’s shares. None of these directors used shares as collateral for any loans. No director had either (i) an interest in the 
Company’s preference shares or loan stocks of any subsidiary or associated undertaking of the Group or (ii) any corporate interests in the Company’s ordinary 
shares. All figures are as at 31 December 2020 or on the retirement of a director unless otherwise stated

Independent non-executive directors’ letters of appointment
The INEDs have letters of appointment, which are available for inspection at the Group’s registered office. Details of the INEDs’ 
appointments are set out on pages 84 to 86. INEDs are appointed for a period of one year, unless terminated by either party 
with three months’ notice. 

150

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2021 policy implementation for directors

Remuneration for the executive directors in 2021 will be in line 
with our directors’ remuneration policy as summarised on 
pages 155 to 156 of this report and set out in full on pages 108 
to 115 of the 2018 Annual Report with the exception of the 
implementation of the pension provision. 

allowance. Andy’s pension is delivered as a cash allowance.  
A portion of executive directors’ salaries is paid in shares to 
strengthen shareholder alignment. The pension allowance  
is set as a percentage of salary (both the cash and shares 
components). 

The policy is also set out on our website: sc.com

The key elements of remuneration for 2021 include salary 
(delivered in cash and shares), pension, benefits, an annual 
incentive and an LTIP award. Bill’s pension is delivered as a 
contribution to a defined contribution plan and as a cash 

The Committee reviews the salaries of the executive directors 
on an annual basis, after considering any changes to the 
scope or responsibility of the role, the individual’s development 
in the role, and alignment to market-competitive levels. 

Details of fixed pay for Bill and Andy with effect from 1 April 
2021 are set out below. All figures are in £000s.

D
i
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Salary

of which cash

of which shares

Pension

Total fixed pay

Proportion of total fixed pay paid in cash

Proportion of total fixed pay paid in shares 

Bill Winters

Andy Halford

2021

2,370

1,185

1,185

237

2,607

55%

45%

2020

2,370

1,185

1,185

237

2,607

55%

45%

% change

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2021

1,515

1,015

500

151

1,666

70%

30%

2020

1,515

1,015

500

151

1,666

70%

30%

% change

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Illustration of application of remuneration policy in 2021 
The charts below illustrate the potential outcomes under our 
directors’ remuneration policy approved by shareholders at 
the AGM in May 2019 based on the implementation of the 
policy in 2021 (i.e. for awards that would be made in March 
2022, based on 2021 fixed pay) and fixed remuneration with 
effect from 1 April 2021. 

The charts show potential remuneration outcomes for each 
executive director in four performance scenarios: minimum, 
on-target, maximum performance and maximum 
performance with 50 per cent share price appreciation in line 
with reporting requirements. The percentages shown in each 
bar represent the amount of remuneration provided by each 
element of pay. Also shown are the 2019 and 2020 single total 
figures of remuneration for Bill and Andy.

Executive director remuneration

Fixed remuneration

Annual incentive

LTIP

Bill Winters

Minimum

100%

2,832

On-target

Maximum

Maximum + 50%
share price increase

2019 single figure

2020 single figure

Andy Halford

50%

33%

28%

57%

74%

Minimum

100%

1,780

20%

30%

5,663

27%

22%

40%

8,495

50%

10,193

23%

20%

5,360

10% 16%

3,812

On-target

Maximum

Maximum + 50%
share price increase

2019 single figure

2020 single figure

50%

33%

28%

56%

74%

20%

30%

3,560

27%

22%

40%

5,340

50%

6,408

24% 20%

3,282

16%

2,381

10%

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

11,000

12,000

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Directors’ report Directors’ remuneration report

Fixed 
remuneration

All scenarios

•  Consists of total fixed remuneration – salary, benefits and pension
•  Salary – salary as at 1 April 2021
•  Benefits – based on 2020 single figure, actual fixed remuneration in 2021 will be dependent on 

Incentives

Minimum

the cost of benefits

•  Pension – 10 per cent of salary as at 1 April 2021

•  No annual incentive is awarded
•  No LTIP award vests

On-target

Maximum

•  Annual incentive of 50 per cent of target (40 per cent of fixed pay)
•  LTIP award vests at 50 per cent total award (60 per cent of fixed pay)

•  Annual incentive of 100 per cent of target (80 per cent of fixed pay)
•  LTIP award vests at 100 per cent total award (120 per cent of fixed pay)

Maximum + 50%  
share price increase

•  Annual incentive of 100 per cent of target (80 per cent of fixed pay)
•  LTIP award vests at 100 per cent total award (120 per cent of fixed pay) with  

50 per cent share price appreciation in the value of the vested LTIP award since time of grant

2019 single 
figure

Fixed remuneration

•  Salary – received in 2019
•  Benefits – received in 2018/19 tax year
•  Pension – contribution/cash allowance received in 2019

Incentives

•  Annual incentive – received in respect of 2019 performance year
•  LTIP – vesting of 2017-19 LTIP award

2020 single 
figure

Fixed remuneration

•  Salary – received in 2020
•  Benefits – received in 2019/20 tax year
•  Pension – contribution/cash allowance received in 2020

Incentives

•  Annual incentive – received in respect of 2020 performance year (50% cash portion waived)
•  LTIP – vesting of 2018-20 LTIP award

2021 annual incentive scorecard 
Our annual incentive scorecard reflects the refreshed strategic priorities set out in February 2021. The targets are set annually by 
the Committee and take into account the Group’s annual financial plan, strategy and its priorities for the next few years within 
the context of the economic environment. The Committee considers such targets to be commercially sensitive and that it would 
be detrimental to the interests of the Group to disclose them before the end of the financial year. Targets will be disclosed in the 
2021 Annual Report alongside the level of performance achieved. 

Financial measures make up 50 per cent of the annual incentive scorecard. Strategic measures are assessed by the Committee 
using a quantitative and qualitative framework. 

Step 1: Conduct gateway requirement to be met in order to be eligible for any annual incentive

Appropriate level of individual valued behaviours and conduct exhibited during the course of the year

Step 2: Measurement of performance against financial and other strategic measures 

Financial measures 

Weighting 

Target 

Income1

Costs

Operating profit

10%

10%

5%

RoTE2 plus CET13 underpin of the 
higher of 13% or the minimum 
regulatory requirement

20%

•  Targets to be disclosed to shareholders retrospectively 

Growth of high-quality liabilities4 5%
Other strategic measures

Weighting 

Target

Clients (network, affluent, mass) 10%

Sustainability

10%

Enablers (innovation, new ways 
of working and people)

15%

Improve client satisfaction rating

• 
•  Deliver growth in qualified clients across Private, Priority & Premium Banking,  

and Wealth Management activity across top 11 affluent countries

•  Deliver network income growth in CCIB
•  Deliver client growth in key digital partnerships, platforms and technologies

•  Progress against the Group’s Paris Agreement client commitment
•  Reduce and offset emission waste from flights, properties and supplier

•  Drive culture of innovation to generate new revenues 
•  Adopt new ways of working that result in quicker decision-making and delivery
•  Develop human capital by improving employee engagement, diversity and inclusion

Risk and controls

15%

•  Maintain effective risk and control governance 
•  Successfully deliver milestones within the cyber risk management plan 

1 

Income, costs and impairment and resulting operating profit relating to identifiable business units, products or portfolios from the date that have been approved 
for restructuring, disposal, wind down or redundancy are presented as restructuring and excluded from the underlying results of the Group. This includes realised 
and unrealised gains and losses from management’s decisions to dispose of assets as well as residual income, direct costs and impairment of related legacy 
assets of those identifiable business units, products or portfolios

152

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2  Normalised RoTE represents the ratio of the current year’s profit available for distribution to ordinary shareholders, to the weighted average ordinary 

shareholders’ equity less the average goodwill and intangibles for the reporting period. Normalised RoTE normally excludes regulatory fines but, for remuneration 
purposes, this would be subject to review by the Committee

3  The CET1 underpin will be dynamically set at the higher of 13 per cent or the minimum regulatory level as at 31 December 2021 (taking into account any transition 

rules or material changes in regulatory rules). In addition, the Committee has the discretion to take into account at the end of the performance period any 
changes in regulatory capital and risk-weighted asset requirements that might have been announced and implemented after the start of the performance 
period

4 

Initiative that targets growth of efficient and regulatory friendly deposits to improve our quality funding mix (liabilities) to support the Group’s growth aspirations

Step 3: Assessment of personal performance

The Committee reviews the individual performance of each executive director in their areas of personal responsibility. 
Consistent with the Group’s treatment of all employees, the Committee can make an adjustment to the annual incentive if the 
executive director’s performance is considered improved and is not fully reflected in the scorecard outcome (and vice versa), if 
appropriate. The Committee will generally consider personal performance adjustments in the range of up to +/- 10 percentage 
points on the scorecard outcome. 

Independent non-executive director fees 
The fee levels are based on market data and the duties, time commitments and contribution expected for the PLC Board  
and, where appropriate, subsidiary boards. The Chairman and the INEDs are eligible for benefits in line with the directors’ 
remuneration policy. Neither the Chairman or the INEDs receive any performance related remuneration. 

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Board member

Additional responsibilities

Deputy Chairman

Senior Independent Director

Chair

– Audit Committee 

– Board Risk Committee 

– Remuneration Committee 

– Board Financial Crime Risk Committee 

– Brand, Values and Conduct Committee 

Membership

– Audit Committee

– Board Risk Committee

– Remuneration Committee

– Board Financial Crime Risk Committee

– Brand, Values and Conduct Committee

– Governance and Nomination Committee

Effective  
1 January 2020 
£000

105

75

40

70

70

70

60

60

35

35

30

30

30

15

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Predictability 
•  The range of possible rewards to individual executive 

directors is set out in the scenario charts on page 151 where 
we also demonstrate the impact of a 50 per cent share 
price appreciation over the three-year performance period 
of the LTIP

•  Maximum awards levels under all incentives are capped at 
twice fixed pay. Other than vesting levels which are driven 
by performance outcomes, the only source of variation in 
final payouts is the fact that a significant part of incentive 
awards is delivered in shares and so linked to the share price

Simplicity and clarity 
•  Simplicity is a key driver for the structure of our executive 

pay as far as possible, notwithstanding the complexity of 
operating as a UK regulated bank

•  Additional information is included on the alignment of 

executive and wider workforce pay on page 138 in support 
of our commitment to clarity.

Directors’ report Directors’ remuneration report

How does our directors’ remuneration policy 
address the key features set out in the UK 
Corporate Governance Code?

Risk
•  The Committee considers risk adjustment in respect of  
the Group scorecard and has a track record of applying 
discretion appropriately

•  The rules of the LTIP give the Committee the necessary 
discretion to adjust vesting outcomes if it considers that 
they are inconsistent with underlying business performance

•  We operate malus and clawback in respect of our annual 

incentive and LTIP

•  We set the incentives of employees in Audit, Risk and 
Compliance functions independently of the business  
they oversee

Alignment to culture 
•  As set out on page 137, the performance metrics used to 
determine incentive outcomes directly align with our 
business strategy 

•  In line with our Fair Pay Charter, our incentive plans support 
us in embedding a performance-orientated culture and  
our principle that colleagues should share in the success of 
the Group. Our scorecard includes financial and strategic 
measures and all employees’ performance is assessed by 
what is achieved and how it is achieved in line with our 
valued behaviours

•  In combination with our risk procedures, our remuneration 

structure ensures that our valued behaviours are 
appropriately recognised and rewarded

Proportionality 
•  In line with our commitment to pay for performance, a 

significant proportion of executive director pay is delivered 
through incentives based on performance metrics aligned 
to our strategy 

•  Executive directors are further aligned to long-term 

shareholder interests through the deferred release of salary, 
annual incentive and LTIP share awards over a period of  
one to eight years with incentive awards also being subject 
to clawback for up to 10 years from grant 

•  Additional shareholding requirements are in place for 
executive directors to build and maintain a significant 
shareholding in Company shares whilst in employment and 
post-employment for two years. Both executive directors 
currently exceed the shareholding requirements

154

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Summary of the directors’ remuneration policy 

The forward-looking remuneration policy for executive directors and INEDs was approved at the AGM held on 8 May 2019 and 
applies for three years from that date. A summary of the policy, including the key remuneration elements, is set out below and is 
provided for information only. The full policy, including recruitment and leaver provisions, can be found on pages 108 to 115 of the 
2018 Annual Report and on our website.

The full policy is available on our website at sc.com

Summary of the remuneration policy for executive directors 

Fixed remuneration 

Remuneration element 

Operation 

Opportunity 

Performance required

Alignment with UK employees 

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Salary
Set to reflect the role, 
and the skills and 
experience of the 
individual, following 
the Group-wide 
principles which apply 
to all employees

Pension
The pension 
arrangements 
comprise part of a 
competitive 
remuneration package 
and facilitate 
long-term retirement 
savings for directors
Fixed pay for 
determining 
variable 
remuneration 
Benefits
A competitive benefits 
package to support 
executives to carry out 
their duties effectively

Delivered part in cash and 
part in shares
To maintain alignment 
with shareholders, the 
share element is subject to 
a holding period of five 
years, with 20 per cent 
being released annually
The same approach  
would be followed on  
the recruitment of an 
executive director

Normally paid as a cash 
allowance or contribution 
to a defined contribution 
scheme
For the current directors, 
from 2020, an annual 
pension allowance or 
contribution of 10 per cent 
of salary will be payable

Increases may occur 
where there is a role 
change, increased 
responsibility or to 
ensure market 
competitiveness

Any increase to salary is 
set in the context of the 
annual performance 
assessment of the 
individual

N/A

For new executive 
directors the  
maximum is an  
annual pension 
allowance or 
contribution of  
10 per cent of salary

The process of setting 
and annually reviewing 
salaries against market 
information is the same 
for all employees
The only difference for 
executive directors is 
that part of executive 
director salaries is 
delivered in shares
For other employees 
salary is delivered only 
as cash

The contribution rate  
of 10 per cent of salary 
applied in 2020 for  
the current executive 
directors is aligned  
with UK employees

The combined value of salary and pension form fixed pay on which variable remuneration is calculated

A range of benefits are 
provided (e.g. standard 
benefits such as holiday 
and sick pay, a benefits 
cash allowance, a car and 
driver or other car-related 
service, private medical 
insurance, permanent 
health insurance, life 
insurance, financial advice 
and tax preparation and 
tax return assistance)

N/A

The opportunity for 
benefits depends on  
the type of benefit and 
the cost of providing  
it, which may vary 
according to the 
market, individual 
circumstances and 
other factors

Core benefits are aligned 
with all employees
Some additional, 
role-specific benefits are 
received by the current 
executive directors (see 
page 146 for details)

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Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

155

 
Directors’ report Directors’ remuneration report

Variable remuneration 

Remuneration element 

Operation 

Opportunity 

Performance required

Alignment with UK employees 

Annual incentive
Performance 
dependent 
remuneration based 
on measurable 
performance criteria 
linked to the Group’s 
strategy and assessed 
over a period of one 
year

LTIP
Performance 
dependent 
remuneration based 
on measurable, 
long-term 
performance criteria

Annual incentive awards 
are delivered as a 
combination of cash and 
shares subject to holding 
requirements and  
deferred shares

The maximum value of 
an annual incentive 
award cannot exceed 
80 per cent of fixed pay 
(defined as salary and 
pension) and can be 
any amount from zero 
to the maximum

The maximum value of 
an LTIP award cannot 
exceed 120 per cent of 
fixed pay and can be 
any amount from zero 
to the maximum

LTIP awards are granted 
annually, based on the 
assessment of 
performance of the Group 
and the individual in the 
relevant year to determine 
the award size
LTIP awards are delivered 
in shares and may be 
subject to holding 
requirements
Following the grant of 
awards, Group 
performance is measured 
over three years with no 
award vesting before  
the third anniversary of  
the grant

Awards are determined 
by the Committee, 
based on the 
assessment of the 
Group scorecard which 
contains a mix of 
financial (at least 50 per 
cent of the scorecard) 
and strategic measures, 
as well as the personal 
performance of the 
individual

The long-term 
performance measures 
may be a mix of 
financial measures  
and other long-term 
strategic measures. 
Financial measures  
will comprise at least  
50 per cent of the 
performance measures

The annual incentive  
plan is operated for all 
employees, paid in cash 
to certain limits with the 
balance deferred over at 
least three years in shares 
and/or cash

Members of the 
Management Team  
are also eligible for LTIP 
awards, assessed on  
the same performance 
measures and targets, 
with awards typically  
at a lower level 

Total variable 
remuneration 
(annual incentive and 
LTIP)

The combined maximum variable opportunity of the annual incentive and the LTIP cannot exceed  
200 per cent of fixed pay. The LTIP forms at least 60 per cent of the maximum variable remuneration 
opportunity so that the majority of variable remuneration is based on long-term performance
The same approach for variable remuneration would be followed on the recruitment of an executive 
director

Other remuneration 

Remuneration element 

Operation 

Opportunity 

Performance required

Alignment with UK employees 

N/A

Savings per month  
of between £5 and  
the maximum set by  
the Group which is 
currently £250

All employees are eligible 
to participate on the 
same basis

N/A

N/A

Formal shareholding 
requirements are 
operated for the 
executive directors only.
However, other 
employees hold shares as 
part of the deferral and 
retention requirements

N/A

N/A

Policy applies to 
executive directors only

Sharesave
Provides an 
opportunity for all 
employees to invest 
voluntarily in the 
Group

Shareholding 
requirements
A requirement for 
executive directors to 
hold a specified value 
of shares for alignment 
with the interests of 
shareholders during 
employment

Post-
employment 
shareholding 
requirement

An all-employee plan 
where participants are 
able to open a savings 
contract to fund the 
exercise of an option  
over shares
The option price is set  
at a discount of up to  
20 per cent of the share 
price at the date of the 
invitation to participate

Executive directors are 
required to hold a specified 
level of shares, to be built 
up over a reasonable time 
frame from the date of 
appointment.
Under the policy, in 2019 
and 2020, the CEO and the 
CFO are required to hold 
250 per cent and 200 per 
cent of salary in shares, 
respectively

Shares to be held of  
100 per cent of the 
shareholding requirement 
in place for one year  
and 50 per cent of the 
requirement in place for 
the second year following 
cessation of employment

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Additional remuneration disclosures

The following disclosures provide further information and context in relation to executive director remuneration and 
remuneration for the wider workforce as required by company reporting regulations, corporate governance guidance and 
institutional investor guidelines. These include the Directors’ Remuneration Report Regulations, the UK Corporate Governance 
Code, Pillar 3 disclosure requirements and the requirements of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. 

Appropriateness of executive directors’ remuneration 
Our approach to remuneration is consistent for all employees and is designed to help ensure pay is fair and competitive in line 
with our Fair Pay Charter. Remuneration for the executive directors, in line with other employees, is reviewed annually against 
internal and external measures to ensure that levels are appropriate. Further details on the alignment of executive director and 
wider workforce remuneration is set out on page 138. 

Measure

Approach

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External 
market data

•  We compete for talent in a global marketplace, with many of our key competitors based outside the UK. We review 
executive director fixed and variable remuneration levels against a peer group of UK and international banks to 
ensure that it remains appropriately competitive. Market data used in benchmarking is based on the latest 
published report and accounts 
In addition, we consider their remuneration against FTSE30 companies, with data sourced from an external provider

• 

Internal 
measures

•  As with all employees, executive directors’ fixed pay levels are reviewed annually in line with the Group-wide salary 
increase principles. In addition, we review annually the year-on-year percentage change in remuneration for the 
executive directors and the wider employee population

•  Our incentive plans have a clear link to Group and business performance, through published scorecards. The same 

• 

Group scorecard is set to determine incentives for colleagues including the executive directors
Incentive decisions for colleagues, including the executive directors, are driven by the assessment of individual 
performance including achievements against personal objectives and conduct 

•  The remuneration structure for executive directors is considered as part of the broader directors’ remuneration 

policy review, which will next be reviewed in 2021

CEO pay 
ratio

• 
In line with UK regulations, we annually report pay ratios comparing CEO remuneration to all UK employees
•  We review year-on-year ratio changes to understand the reasons and appropriateness for such movements
• 

In addition, we review the median ratio against UK FTSE and industry peer averages

The relationship between the remuneration of the Group Chief Executive (CEO) and all UK employees

Ratio of the total remuneration of the CEO to that of the UK lower quartile, median and upper quartile employees

Year

2020

2019

2018

2017

Method

A

A

A

A

CEO 
£000

3,812

5,360

6,287

4,683

UK employee remuneration – £000

Pay ratio

P25

84

83

78

76

P50

128

128

124

121 

P75

199

212

208

203

P25

45:1

65:1

80:1

61:1

P50

30:1

42:1

51:1

39:1

P75

19:1

25:1

30:1

23:1

It is expected that the ratio will depend materially on long-term incentive outcomes each year, and accordingly may fluctuate. 
Therefore, the Committee also discloses the pay ratios covering salary and salary plus annual incentive, as UK employees are 
eligible to be considered for an annual incentive based on Group, business and individual performance. These show a more 
consistent ratio over time.

Additional ratios of pay based on salary and salary plus annual incentive

Salary

2020

2019

2018

2017

Salary plus annual incentive

2020

2019

2018

2017

CEO  
£000

2,370

2,353

2,300

2,300

2,756

3,604

3,691

3,978

£000

Pay ratio

P25

63

65

59

55

74

73

72

69

P50

93

90

86

81

104

109

105

103

P75

116

128

142

124

175

187

183

182

P25

38:1

36:1

39:1

42:1

37:1

49:1

52:1

58:1

P50

25:1

26:1

27:1

28:1

26:1

33:1

35:1

39:1

P75

20:1

18:1

16:1

19:1

16:1

19:1

20:1

22:1

•  The pay ratios are calculated using Option A published methodology, in line with investor guidance preference for this option 

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Directors’ report Additional remuneration disclosures

•  Employee pay data is based on full-time equivalent pay for UK employees as at 31 December for the relevant year and 

excludes leavers, joiners, and employee transfers in or out of the UK during the year, to help ensure data is on a like-for-like 
basis. Total pay is calculated in line with the single figure methodology (i.e. fixed remuneration accrued during the financial 
year and variable remuneration relating to the performance year) and data for insured benefits are based on notional 
premia. No other calculation adjustments or assumptions have been made

•  CEO pay is as per the single total figure of remuneration for 2020 and restated for 2019 to take account of the actual LTIP 
vesting in 2020. Further information on the single total figure is on page 146. The 2020 ratio will be restated in the 2021 
directors’ remuneration report to take account of the final LTIP vesting data for eligible employees and for the CEO

•  The Committee has considered the data for the three individuals identified for 2020 and believes that it is a fair reflection of 

pay at the relevant quartiles among the UK employee population. Each of the individuals identified was a full-time employee 
during the year and received remuneration in line with the Group remuneration policy, and none received exceptional pay

•  Our LTIP is intended to link total remuneration to the achievement of the Group’s long-term strategy and to reinforce 

alignment between executive remuneration and shareholder interest. As set out on page 138, participation is therefore 
typically senior employees who have line of sight to influence directly the performance targets on the awards. The lower 
quartile, median and upper quartile employees identified this year are not participants in the LTIP

•  The year-on-year decrease is due to the CEO receiving lower variable remuneration in relation to 2020: an annual incentive 

award of 18.5 per cent of maximum (55 per cent in 2019) and an LTIP award vesting at 26 per cent (38 per cent in 2019)

Group performance versus the CEO’s remuneration
The graph below shows the Group’s TSR performance on a cumulative basis over the past 10 years alongside that of the 
FTSE 100 and peer banks. The graph also shows historical levels of remuneration of the CEO over the 10 years ended 
31 December 2020 for comparison. The FTSE 100 provides a broad comparison group against which shareholders may  
measure their relative returns. 
Group performance vs the CEO’s remuneration

CEO total remuneration (Peter Sands)

CEO total remuneration (Bill Winters)

Standard Chartered

FTSE  100

Comparator median

0
1
0
2
r
e
b
m
e
c
e
D

1
3
n
o
d
e
t
s
e
v
n

i

0
0
1
£
f
o
e
u
a
V

l

250

200

150

100

50

0

Jan 11

Jan 12

Jan 13

Jan 14

Jan 15

Jan 16

Jan 16

Jan 17

Jan 18

Jan 19

Jan 20

Jan 21

10

8

6

4

2

0

)
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
£
(
n
o
i
t
a
r
e
n
u
m
e
r

l

a
t
o
t

O
E
C

The table below shows the single figure of total remuneration for the CEO since 2011 and the variable remuneration delivered as 
a percentage of maximum opportunity. 

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Single figure of total remuneration £000

Peter Sands (CEO until 10 June 2015)

7,779

6,951 4,378 3,093

1,290

–

–

–

––

Bill Winters (appointed CEO on 10 June 2015) 

–

–

–

– 8,399

3,392 4,683

6,287 5,360 3,812

Annual incentive as a percentage of maximum 
opportunity

Peter Sands

Bill Winters 

Vesting of LTIP awards as a percentage of maximum 
opportunity 

70% 63% 50%

–

–

–

0%

–

0%

–

–

–

––

0% 45% 76% 63% 55% 18.5%

Peter Sands

Bill Winters 

90% 77% 33% 10%

–

–

–

–

0%

–

0%

–

–

–

–

––

27% 38% 26%

•  Bill’s single figure of total remuneration in 2015 includes his buyout award of £6.5 million to compensate for the forfeiture of 

share interests on joining from his previous employment

•  The 2019 single figure for Bill has been restated based on the actual vesting and share price when the 2017-19 LTIP awards 

vested in March 2020

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Annual percentage change in remuneration of directors and employees

UK percentage change in remuneration 
In line with our Fair Pay Charter, we monitor year-on-year changes between the movement in salary, benefits and annual 
incentives for the CEO between performance years compared to the wider workforce. As required under the revised 
Shareholder Rights Directive we have expanded this to compare the directors of the PLC Board against an average full-time 
equivalent UK employee. The Shareholder Rights Directive requires this analysis to be undertaken for all individuals employed by 
Standard Chartered PLC (the parent company). As no individuals are employed by Standard Chartered PLC (they are employed 
by legal entities which sit below the parent company) we have voluntarily disclosed the comparisons against UK employees as 
we feel this provides a representative comparison.

CEO
B Winters
CFO
A Halford
Group Chairman
J Viñals
Current INEDs
L Cheung1
D P Conner
B E Grote
C M Hodgson, CBE
G Huey Evans, OBE
N Kheraj
N Okonjo-Iweala
P Rivett1
D Tang2
C Tong2
J M Whitbread
Workforce
Average FTE UK employee3, 4

Salary/fees 
% change 
2020

Taxable benefits 
% change 
2020

Annual incentive 
% change  
2020

0.7

3.7

0.0

–
(0.6)
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
–
–
–
0.0

3.8

(2.9)

(69.2)

30.2

(68.2)

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(11.7)

–
(57.5)
0.0
28.2
233.9
7.9
63.6
–
–
–
(49.2)

–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

2.9

(22.1)

1 

In 2020: Louis Cheung stepped down from the Board on 25 March and Phil Rivett was appointed to the Board on 6 May

2 

In 2019: Carlson Tong and David Tang were appointed to the Board on 21 February and 12 June, respectively 

3  Employee data is based on full-time equivalent pay for UK employees as at 31 December of the relevant year. This data excludes leavers, joiners and employee 

transfers in or out of the UK during the year to help ensure data is on a like-for-like basis. Salary percentage change reflects increases decided at the end of 2019 
and implemented in 2020

4  Average FTE UK employee percentage change has been calculated on a mean basis. As the employee population will change yearly and the mean average 

considers the full range of data, it is expected this will provide a more consistent year-on-year comparison. Any percentage changes impacted by extremes at 
either end of the data set will be explained in the supporting commentary

For the CEO and CFO and the Group Chairman and INEDs, the data the changes relate to are set out on pages 146 and 150, 
respectively. The change in taxable benefits relates to the change in the values for the 2019/20 and 2018/19 tax years. 

Due to the low value of the taxable benefits received by INEDs, which have not exceeded £7,000 in 2020 (set out on page 150), 
small changes to these values are expected to cause the percentage change to fluctuate year-on-year.

Scheme interests awarded, exercised and lapsed during the year 
Employees, including executive directors, are not permitted to engage in any personal investment strategies with regards to 
their Company shares, including hedging against the share price of Company shares. The main features of the outstanding 
shares and awards are summarised below:

Award

2016-18

2017-19

2018-20

2019-21

2020-22

Performance measures 

Accrues notional dividends?1 No. of tranches Tranche splits 

Performance outcome

33% – RoE
33% – TSR
33% – Strategic

33% – RoTE
33% – TSR
33% – Strategic

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

5

5

5

5

5

50% tranche 1 
12.5% tranches 2-5 

5 equal tranches

27%

38%

26%

To be assessed at end of 2021

To be assessed at end of 2022

1  2016-18 and 2017-19 LTIP awards may receive dividend equivalent shares based on dividends declared between grant and vest. From 1 January 2017 remuneration 
regulations for European banks mean that dividend equivalent shares are not permitted to be awarded therefore the number of shares awarded in respect of the 
2018-20, 2019-21 and 2020-22 LTIP awards took into account the lack of dividend equivalents (calculated by reference to market consensus dividend yield) such 
that the overall value of the award was maintained

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Directors’ report Additional remuneration disclosures

The following table shows the changes in share interests (audited).

Share award 
price (£)

As at  
1 January

Awarded1

Dividends 
awarded2

Exercised3

Lapsed

As at  
31 December

Performance 
period end

Vesting date

Change in interests during the period 1 January to 31 December 2020

B Winters4

2016-18 LTIP 

5.560

2017-19 LTIP 

7.450

2018-20 LTIP

7.782

2019-21 LTIP

6.105

2020-22 LTIP

5.196

A Halford4,5

2016-18 LTIP

5.560

2017-19 LTIP

7.450

2018-20 LTIP

7.782

2019-21 LTIP

6.105

2020-22 LTIP

5.196

33,506

33,506

33,506

33,507

118,550

118,550

118,550

118,550

118,551

108,378

108,378

108,378

108,378

108,379

133,065

133,065

133,065

133,065

133,067

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

161,095

161,095

161,095

161,095

161,095

20,008

20,008

20,008

20,009

73,390

73,390

73,390

73,390

73,394

67,108

67,108

67,108

67,108

67,108

85,094

85,094

85,094

85,094

85,096

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

99,976

99,976

99,976

99,976

99,977

–

1,466

34,972

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,169

48,218

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

874

20,882

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,962

29,850

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

73,501

73,501

73,501

73,501

73,502

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

45,502

45,502

45,502

45,502

45,504

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

11 Mar 2019

4 May 2020

33,506

33,506

33,507

4 May 2021

4 May 2022

4 May 2023 

–

13 Mar 2020

13 Mar 2020

45,049

45,049

45,049

45,049

108,378

108,378

108,378

108,378

108,379

13 Mar 2021

13 Mar 2022

13 Mar 2023

13 Mar 2024

9 Mar 2021

9 Mar 2021

9 Mar 2022

9 Mar 2023

9 Mar 2024

9 Mar 2025

133,065

11 Mar 2022

11 Mar 2022

133,065

133,065

133,065

133,067

161,095

161,095

161,095

161,095

161,095

11 Mar 2023

11 Mar 2024

11 Mar 2025

11 Mar 2026

9 Mar 2023

9 Mar 2023

9 Mar 2024

9 Mar 2025

9 Mar 2026

9 Mar 2027

–

11 Mar 2019

4 May 2020

20,008

20,008

20,009

4 May 2021

4 May 2022

4 May 2023 

–

13 Mar 2020

13 Mar 2020

27,888

27,888

27,888

27,890

67,108

67,108

67,108

67,108

67,108

85,094

85,094

85,094

85,094

85,096

99,976

99,976

99,976

99,976

99,977

1,807

13 Mar 2021

13 Mar 2022

13 Mar 2023

13 Mar 2024

9 Mar 2021

9 Mar 2021

9 Mar 2022

9 Mar 2023

9 Mar 2024

9 Mar 2025

11 Mar 2022

11 Mar 2022

11 Mar 2023

11 Mar 2024

11 Mar 2025

11 Mar 2026

9 Mar 2023

9 Mar 2023

9 Mar 2024

9 Mar 2025

9 Mar 2026

9 Mar 2027

–

1 Dec 2022

Sharesave

4.980

1,807

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1  For the 2020-22 LTIP awards granted to Bill Winters and Andy Halford on 9 March 2020; the values granted were Bill Winters: £3.4 million; Andy Halford:  

£2.1 million. Performance measures apply to 2020-22 LTIP awards. The share price at grant was the closing price on the day before the grant date (further  
details are included in Note 31, Share-based payments on pages 392 to 396)

2  On 31 March 2020 Standard Chartered announced that in response to the request from the PRA and as a consequence of the unprecedented challenges  

facing the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board decided to withdraw the recommendation to pay a final dividend for 2019. 1,200 dividend equivalent 
shares allocated to Bill’s 2017-19 LTIP award tranche vesting in March 2020 and 742 allocated to Andy’s 2017-19 LTIP award tranche vesting in March 2020  
relating to the cancelled dividend will therefore be deducted from the calculation of dividend equivalent shares to be allocated to shares vesting in March 2021. 
Dividend equivalent shares allocated to the 2016-18 LTIP award tranche vesting in May 2020 did not include any shares relating to the cancelled dividend

3  On 20 March 2020, Bill Winters exercised the 2017-19 LTIP award over a total of 48,218 shares. On 20 March 2020, Andy Halford exercised the 2017-19 LTIP award 
over a total of 29,850 shares. The closing share price on the day before exercise was £4.512. On 4 May 2020, Bill Winters exercised the 2016-18 LTIP award over a 
total of 34,972 shares. On 4 May 2020, Andy Halford exercised the 2016-18 LTIP award over a total of 20,882 shares. The closing share price on the day before 
exercise was £4.085

4  The unvested share awards held by Bill Winters and Andy Halford are conditional rights under the 2011 Plan. They do not have to pay towards these awards

5  The unvested Sharesave option held by Andy Halford is an option granted on 1 October 2019 under the 2013 Plan – to exercise this option, Andy has to pay an 

exercise price of £4.98 per share, which has been discounted by 20 per cent 

As at 31 December 2020, none of the directors had registered an interest or short position in the shares, underlying shares or 
debentures of the Company or any of its associated corporations that was required to be recorded pursuant to section 352  
of the Securities and Futures Ordinance, or as otherwise notified to the Company and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange pursuant 
to the Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Issuers. 

Shareholder dilution 
All awards vesting under the Group’s share plans are satisfied by the transfer of existing shares or, where appropriate, the 
issuance of new shares. The Group’s share plans contain monitored limits that govern both the aggregate amount of awards 
that may be granted and the amount of shares that may be issued to satisfy any subsequent exercise of awards. These limits 
are in line with those stated in the Investment Association’s Principles of Remuneration and the terms of our listing on The Stock 
Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

The Group has two employee benefit trusts that are administered by independent trustees and which hold shares to meet 
various obligations under the Group’s share plans. As each executive director is within the class of beneficiary of these trusts, 
they are deemed, for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, to have an interest in the trusts’ shares.

Details of the trusts’ shareholdings are set out in Note 28 to the financial statements on page 383

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Historical LTIP awards
The current position on vesting for all unvested LTIP awards from the 2018 and 2019 performance years based on current 
performance and share price as at 31 December 2020 is set out in the tables below. The TSR peer group for both awards is  
as set out on page 149. 

Current position on the 2019-21 LTIP award: projected partial vesting 

Measure

RoTE in 2021 plus CET1  
underpin of the higher of 13%  
or the minimum regulatory 
requirement

Relative TSR performance 
against the peer group

Weighting

Performance for  
minimum vesting (25%)

Performance for  
maximum vesting (100%)

2019-21 LTIP assessment as at  
31 December 2020

One-third

8.0%

11.0%

RoTE below threshold therefore 
indicative 0% vesting

One-third

Median

Upper quartile

TSR positioned below the median 
therefore indicative 0% vesting

Strategic measures

One-third

Targets set for strategic measures linked to 
the business strategy 

Tracking above target performance 
therefore indicative partial vesting

Current position on the 2020-22 LTIP award: projected partial vesting

Measure

RoTE in 2022 plus CET1  
underpin of the higher of 13%  
or the minimum regulatory 
requirement

Relative TSR performance 
against the peer group

Weighting

Performance for 
minimum vesting (25%)

Performance for 
maximum vesting (100%)

2020-22 LTIP assessment as at  
31 December 2020

One-third

8.5%

11.0%

RoTE below threshold therefore 
indicative 0% vesting

One-third

Median

Upper quartile

TSR positioned below the median 
therefore indicative 0% vesting

Strategic measures

One-third

Targets set for strategic measures linked to 
the business strategy 

Tracking above target performance 
therefore indicative partial vesting

The Committee assesses the value of LTIP awards on vesting and has the flexibility to adjust if the formulaic outcome is not 
considered to be an appropriate reflection of the performance achieved and to avoid windfall gains.

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Directors’ report Additional remuneration disclosures

The approach used to determine Group-wide total discretionary incentives in 2020 is explained on page 142 of this report.  
The following tables show the income statement charge for these incentives. 

Income statement charge for Group discretionary incentives 

Total discretionary incentives

Less: deferred discretionary incentives that will be charges in future years

Plus: current year charge for deferred discretionary incentives from prior years 

Total

2020  
$million

990

(129)

122

983

2019  
$million 

1,278

(155)

123

1,246

Year in which income statement is expected to reflect  
deferred discretionary incentives 

Discretionary incentives deferred from 2018 and earlier 

Discretionary incentives deferred from 2019

Discretionary incentives deferred from 2020

Total

Actual

Expected

2019  
$million

2020  
$million

2021  
$million

2022 and beyond  
$million

113

64

177

38

63

43

144

24

40

53

117

16

33

68

117

Allocation of the Group’s earnings between stakeholders
When considering Group variable remuneration, the Committee takes account of shareholders’ concerns about relative 
expenditure on pay and determines the allocation of earnings to expenditure on remuneration carefully, and has approached 
this allocation in a disciplined way over the past five years. The table below shows the distribution of earnings between 
stakeholders over the past five years. The amount of corporate tax, including the bank levy, is included in the table because  
it is a significant payment and illustrates the Group’s contribution through the tax system. 

Staff costs

Corporate taxation including 
levy

Paid to shareholders in 
dividends

Actual

Allocation

2020 
$million

6,886

2019  
$million

2018  
$million

2017  
$million

2016  
$million

7,122

7,074

6,758

6,303

1,193

1,720

1,763

1,367

983

0

720

561

0

0

2020  
%

85

15

0

2019  
%

74

18

8

2018  
%

75

19

6

2017  
%

83

17

0

2016  
%

87

13

0

Approach to risk adjustment 
Individual remuneration is aligned with our long-term interests and the time frame over which financial risks crystallise:

•  For relevant colleagues, a proportion of variable remuneration being delivered in the form of deferred awards: having an 

appropriate level of variable remuneration deferred for a sufficient period of time to which risk adjustments can be applied

•  The potential application of performance adjustment through: diminution in the value of any deferred variable remuneration 

award through non-vesting due to performance measures and share price movement until vesting

The operation of in-year adjustments, malus and clawback is summarised in the following table:

Criteria includes 

Application 

Individual level

•  Deemed to have (i) caused in full or in part a 

material loss for the Group as a result of reckless, 
negligent or wilful actions or (ii) exhibited 
inappropriate behaviours or (iii) applied a lack of 
appropriate supervision and due diligence

•  The individual failed to meet appropriate standards 

of fitness and propriety

• 

In-year adjustment, malus and clawback may be 
applied to all or part of an award at the Committee’s 
discretion

Business unit and/or 
Group level

•  Material restatement of the Group’s financials
•  Significant failure in risk management
•  Discovery of endemic problems in financial 

• 

In-year adjustment, malus and clawback may be 
applied to all or part of an award at the Committee’s 
discretion

reporting

•  Financial losses, due to a material breach of 

regulatory guidelines

•  The exercise of regulatory or government action  

to recapitalise the Group following material 
financial losses

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Pillar 3 disclosures on material risk takers’ remuneration and disclosures on the highest-paid 
employees

Identification of material risk takers 
Individuals have been identified as material risk takers in accordance with the quantitative and qualitative criteria set out in the 
European Banking Authority’s Regulatory Technical Standard (EU 604/2014 adopted by the PRA that came into force in June 
2014). Material risk takers are identified on a (i) Standard Chartered PLC (Group) and (ii) solo level consolidated entities under 
Standard Chartered Bank UK (Solo) basis. 

Quantitative criteria 
The quantitative criteria identify employees who:

•  Have been awarded total remuneration of EUR500,000 or more in the previous financial year

•  Are within the 0.3 per cent of the number of employees on a Group or Solo basis who have been awarded the highest total 

remuneration in the preceding financial year

•  Were awarded total remuneration in the preceding financial year that was equal to or greater than the lowest total 

remuneration awarded that year to certain specified groups of employees

Employees identified by only the quantitative criteria can be excluded from being identified as material risk takers if it can be 
evidenced that they do not have the ability to have a material impact on the risk profile of the Group or the Solo entity.

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Qualitative criteria 
The qualitative criteria broadly identifies the following employees:

•  Directors (both executive and non-executive) of Standard Chartered PLC

•  A member of senior management, which is defined as one or more of the following:

–  A senior manager under the PRA or Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Senior Manager Regime

–  A member of the Group Management Team and the Solo Management Team

•  The level beneath the Management Teams

•  Senior employees within the Audit, Compliance, Legal and Risk functions

•  Senior employees within material business units

•  Employees who are members of specific committees

•  Employees who are able to initiate or approve credit risk exposures above a certain threshold and sign off on trading book 

transactions at or above a specific value at risk limit

For the purpose of the Pillar 3 tables on pages 164 and 165, unless otherwise stated, senior management is defined as directors 
of Standard Chartered PLC (both executive and non-executive), senior managers under the PRA or FCA Senior Manager Regime 
and members of the Group Management Team.

Material risk takers’ remuneration delivery 
Remuneration for material risk takers was delivered in 2020 through a combination of salary, pension, benefits and variable 
remuneration.

Variable remuneration for material risk takers is structured in line with the PRA and FCA’s remuneration rules. For the 2020 
performance year, the following structure applies to variable remuneration awarded to material risk takers in accordance with 
the regulations:

•  At least 40 per cent of a material risk taker’s variable remuneration will be deferred over a minimum period of three years 

depending on the category of material risk taker

•  Non-deferred variable remuneration will be delivered 50 per cent in shares, subject to a minimum 12-month retention period, 

and 50 per cent in cash

•  At least 50 per cent of deferred variable remuneration will be delivered entirely in shares, subject to a minimum 12-month 

retention period (with the exception of deferred shares awarded to risk managers, which are subject to a six-month minimum 
retention period) in line with the regulations

•  For some material risk takers, part of their 2020 variable remuneration may be in share awards which vest after a minimum of 

three years, subject to the satisfaction of performance measures

•  Variable remuneration awards are subject to remuneration adjustment provisions. This provides the Group with the ability to 

reduce or revoke variable remuneration in respect of a risk, control or conduct issue, event or behaviour

•  Material risk takers are subject to the 2:1 maximum ratio of variable to fixed remuneration

Some material risk takers had been scheduled to receive the cash portion of their incentives after 31 March 2020, when the PRA 
issued their statement in relation to cash bonuses in response to COVID-19. This was after the main scheduled delivery of cash 
incentives in the March 2020 payroll. Where this was the case, share-based payments replaced outstanding cash incentive 
awards that would otherwise have been paid to material risk takers in the period April to December 2020. Such share-based 
payments were funded through existing shares held in the employee benefit trust.

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Directors’ report Additional remuneration disclosures

Material risk takers’ deferred variable remuneration delivery

Year 0 (grant)
March 2021

Year 1
March 2022

Year 2
March 2023

Year 3
March 2024

Year 4
March 2025

Year 5
March 2026

Year 6
March 2027

Year 7
March 2028

Minimum of 40% of 2020 variable remuneration

Minimum of 40% of 2020 variable remuneration

Minimum of 40% of 2020 variable remuneration

Senior  
managers 

Risk  
managers

Other  
material  
risk takers

Material risk takers’ deferred remuneration in 2020

Start of the year (1 January):

Unvested

Vested and unexercised

Impact of changes to material risk taker population including 
leavers during 2019 and joiners in 2020

Start of the year (1 January) (after adjustments):

Unvested

Vested and unexercised

Awarded during the year

Total reduction during the year due to malus or clawback;  
or performance measures not being met

Total deferred remuneration paid out in the financial year

Close of the year (31 December):

Unvested

Vested and unexercised 

Material risk takers’ 2020 fixed and variable remuneration 

Senior management $000

All other material risk takers $000

Total

Cash

Shares

Total

Cash

Shares

95,828

11,240

84,588

274,009

96,046

177,963

119

–

119

6,685

–

6,685

(6,004)

(704)

(5,300)

(5,686)

(1,455)

(4,231)

89,943

10,536

79,407

268,075

94,591

173,484

–

37,849

(6,361)

(6,788)

–

6,171

–

6,933

–

6,933

31,678

187,048

71,949

115,099

–

(6,361)

(5,371)

(2,959)

(2,412)

(696)

(6,092)

(98,208)

(36,788)

(61,420)

114,643

16,011

98,632

351,097

126,793

224,304

–

–

–

7,380

–

7,380

Fixed remuneration1

Number of employees

Total fixed remuneration

Cash-based

Of which deferred 

Shares or other share-linked instruments 

Of which deferred 

Other forms

Of which deferred 
Variable remuneration2, 3

Number of employees

Total variable remuneration

Cash-based

Of which deferred 

Shares or other share-linked instruments 

Of which deferred 

Other forms

Of which deferred 

Total remuneration

Senior 
management  
$000

27

36,712

34,566

–

2,146

–

–

–

16

41,302

9,703

2,868

31,599

23,957

–

–

All other 
material  
risk takers  
$000

778

349,588

349,588

–

–

–

–

–

739

224,869

121,459

49,956

103,410

49,776

–

–

78,014

574,457

1   Fixed remuneration includes salary, cash allowances, benefits and pension, in the case of the Chairman and INEDs, any fees

2   For some material risk takers, part of their 2020 variable remuneration may be delivered in share awards, with vesting subject to performance measures.  

These awards are shown on a face value basis. As the Chairman and INEDs are not eligible to receive variable remuneration they are not included in this data

3  The ratio between fixed and variable remuneration for all material risk takers in 2020 was 1:0.69

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Material risk takers’ aggregate 2020 remuneration by business 

2020

1   Private Banking includes Wealth Management

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking  
$000

Commercial 
Banking  
$000

327,895

5,134

Private  
Banking1
$000

24,159

Retail  
Banking 
$000

14,556

Central 
management  
& other2
$000

280,727

2   Central management & other includes Group executive directors, the Chairman, INEDs, control functions, support functions and central roles

Material risk takers’ sign-on and severance payments in 2020

Sign-on payments

Guaranteed incentives

Severance payments

Senior management

All other material risk takers

Number of 
employees

Total amount 
$000

Number of 
employees

Total amount 
$000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

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Remuneration at or above EUR1 million 
The table below is prepared in accordance with Article 450 of the Capital Requirements Regulation. 

Remuneration band
EUR

1,000,000 – 1,500,000

1,500,001 – 2,000,000

2,000,001 – 2,500,000

2,500,001 – 3,000,000

3,000,001 – 3,500,000

3,500,001 – 4,000,000

4,000,001 – 4,500,000

5,000,001 – 6,000,000

7,000,001 – 8,000,000

8,000,001 – 9,000,000

9,000,001 – 10,000,000

Total

Number of employees

90

21

12

6

3

7

1

1

1

1

1

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Remuneration of the five highest-paid individuals and the remuneration of senior management
In line with the requirements of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, the following table sets out, on an aggregate basis, 
the annual remuneration of (i) the five highest-paid employees; and (ii) senior management for the year ended 31 December 
2020.

Components of remuneration

Salary, cash allowances and benefits in kind

Pension contributions

Variable remuneration awards paid or receivable

Payments made on appointment

Remuneration for loss of office (contractual or other)

Other

Total

Total HK dollar equivalent 

1   The five highest-paid individuals include Bill Winters

Five highest  
paid1 
$000

Senior 
management2
$000

14,650

351

22,669

3,125

–

–

40,795

316,415

24,342

1,400

33,953

–

–

–

59,695

463,011

2   Senior management comprises the executive directors and the members of the Group Management Team at any point during 2020 

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Directors’ report Additional remuneration disclosures

The table below shows the emoluments of (i) the five highest-paid employees; and (ii) senior management for the year ended 
31 December 2020.

Remuneration band
HKD

18,500,001 – 19,000,000

21,000,001 – 21,500,000

24,000,001 – 24,500,000

25,000,001 – 25,500,000

27,500,001 – 28,000,000

29,500,001 – 30,000,000

33,000,001 – 33,500,000

33,500,001 – 34,000,000

34,500,001 – 35,000,000

39,500,001 – 40,000,000

45,500,001 – 46,000,000

48,500,001 – 49,000,000

62,500,001 – 63,000,000

76,500,001 – 77,000,000

82,000,001 – 82,500,000

Total

Number of employees

Remuneration band 
USD equivalent

Five highest  
paid 

Senior 
management1

2,385,158 – 2,449,622

2,707,477 – 2,771,940

3,094,259 – 3,158,723

3,223,186 – 3,287,650

3,545,505 – 3,609,969

3,803,360 – 3,867,824

4,254,606 – 4,319,070

4,319,070 – 4,383,533

4,447,997 – 4,512,461

5,092,634 – 5,157,098

5,866,199 – 5,930,663

6,252,981 – 6,317,445

8,057,966 – 8,122,429

9,862,950 – 9,927,414

10,572,051 – 10,636,515

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1

1

1

1

1

5

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

1

–

–

1

1

–

13

1   Senior management comprises the executive directors and the members of the Group Management Team at any point during 2020

The exchange rates used in this report 
Unless an alternative exchange rate is detailed in the notes to the relevant table, the exchange rates used to convert the 
disclosures to US dollars are set out in the table below.

EUR

GBP

HKD

Christine Hodgson
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

25 February 2021

2020

0.8827

0.7833

7.7563

2019

0.8930

0.7858

7.8387

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Other disclosures

The Directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2020 
comprises pages 82 to 177 of this report (together with the 
sections of the Annual Report incorporated by reference).  
The Company has chosen, in accordance with section 414C(11) 
of the Companies Act 2006, and as noted in this Directors’ 
report, to include certain matters in its Strategic report that 
would otherwise be disclosed in this Directors’ report. Both the 
Strategic report and the Directors’ report have been drawn up 
and presented in accordance with English company law, and 
the liabilities of the directors in connection with that report 
shall be subject to the limitations and restrictions provided by 
such law. Other information to be disclosed in the Directors’ 
report is given in this section. In addition to the requirements 
set out in the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules 
relating to the Annual Report, information required by UK 
Listing Rule 9.8.4 to be included in the Annual Report, where 
applicable, is set out in the table below and cross-referenced.

Information to be included in the Annual Report 
(UK Listing Rules 9.8.4)
Relevant Listing Rule 

Pages

LR 9.8.4 (1) (2) (5-14) (A) (B)

LR 9.8.4 (4)

N/A

145, 148 
and 149

Principal activities
Standard Chartered is a leading international banking group, 
with over 160 years of history in some of the world’s most 
dynamic markets. Our purpose is driving commerce and 
prosperity through our unique diversity. The Group’s roots in 
trade finance and commercial banking have been at the core 
of its success throughout its history, but the Group is now more 
broadly based across Retail Banking in its footprint markets in 
Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The Group operates in the 
UK and overseas through a number of subsidiaries, branches 
and offices.

Further details on our business, including key performance indicators, 
can be found within the Strategic report

Fair, balanced and understandable
On behalf of the Board, the Audit Committee has reviewed 
the Annual Report and the process by which the Group 
believes that the Annual Report, is fair, balanced and 
understandable and provides the information necessary  
for shareholders to assess the position and performance, 
strategy and business model of the Group. Following its 
review, the Audit Committee has advised the Board that  
such a statement can be made in the Annual Report.

Events after the balance sheet date
For details on post balance sheet events, see Note 37 to the 
financial statements.

Code for Financial Reporting Disclosure
The Group’s 2020 financial statements have been prepared in 
accordance with the principles of the UK Finance Disclosure 
Code for Financial Reporting Disclosure.

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Disclosure of information to auditor
As far as the directors are aware, there is no relevant audit 
information of which the Group statutory auditor, EY is 
unaware. The directors have taken all reasonable steps to 
ascertain any relevant audit information and ensure that the 
Group statutory auditors are aware of such information.

Viability and going concern
Having made appropriate enquiries, the Board is satisfied 
that the Company and the Group as a whole have adequate 
resources to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as 
they fall due for a period of at least 12 months from the date of 
this report and therefore continue to adopt the going concern 
basis in preparing the financial statements.

The directors’ viability statement in respect to the Group can 
be found in the Strategic report on pages 78 and 79, while the 
directors’ going concern considerations of the Group can be 
found on page 306.

Sufficiency of public float
As at the date of this report, the Company has maintained  
the prescribed public float under the rules governing the 
listing of securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong 
Limited (the Hong Kong Listing Rules), based on the 
information publicly available to the Company and within  
the knowledge of the directors.

Research and development
During the year, the Group invested $1.59 billion (2019:  
$1.60 billion) in research and development, primarily  
relating to the planning, analysis, design, development, 
testing, integration, deployment and initial support of 
technology systems.

Political donations
The Group has a policy in place which prohibits donations 
being made that would: (i) improperly influence legislation  
or regulation, (ii) promote political views or ideologies, and  
(iii) fund political causes. In alignment to this, no political 
donations were made in the year ended 31 December 2020.

Directors and their interests
The membership of the Board, together with their 
biographical details, are given on pages 83 to 86. Details of 
the directors’ beneficial and non-beneficial interests in the 
ordinary shares of the Company are shown in the Directors’ 
remuneration report on pages 133 to 166. The Group operates 
a number of share-based arrangements for its directors  
and employees. 

Details of these arrangements are included in the Directors’ 
remuneration report and in Note 31 to the financial statements

The Company has received from each of the INEDs an  
annual confirmation of independence pursuant to Rule 3.13  
of the Hong Kong Listing Rules and still considers all of the 
non-executive directors to be independent.

At no time during the year did any director hold a material 
interest in any contracts of significance with the Company  
or any of its subsidiary undertakings.

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Directors’ report Other disclosures

In accordance with the Companies Act 2006, we have 
established a process requiring directors to disclose proposed 
outside business interests before any are entered into. This 
enables prior assessment of any conflict or potential conflict  
of interest and any impact on time commitment. On behalf  
of the Board, the Governance and Nomination Committee 
reviews existing conflicts of interest annually to consider if  
they continue to be conflicts of interest, and also to revisit the 
terms upon which they were determined to be. The Board  
is satisfied that our processes in this respect continue to 
operate effectively.

Subject to company law, the Articles of Association and  
the authority granted to directors in general meeting, the 
directors may exercise all the powers of the Company and 
may delegate authorities to committees. The Articles of 
Association contain provisions relating to the appointment, 
re-election and removal of directors. Newly appointed 
directors retire at the AGM following appointment and are 
eligible for election. All directors are nominated for annual 
re-election by shareholders subject to continued satisfactory 
performance based upon their annual assessment.

Non-executive directors are appointed for an initial period of 
one year and, subject to (re)election by shareholders at AGMs. 
In line with the UK Corporate Governance Code 2018, all 
directors will stand for annual (re)election at the 2021 AGM.

The Company has granted indemnities to all of its directors  
on terms consistent with the applicable statutory provisions. 
Qualifying third-party indemnity provisions for the purposes 
of section 234 of the Companies Act 2006 were accordingly  
in force during the course of the financial year ended 
31 December 2020 and remain in force at the date of  
this report.

Qualifying pension scheme indemnities
Qualifying pension scheme indemnity provisions (as defined 
by section 235 of the Companies Act 2006) were in force 
during the course of the financial year ended 31 December 
2020 for the benefit of the UK’s pension fund corporate 
trustee (Standard Chartered Trustees (UK) Limited), and 
remain in force at the date of this report.

Significant agreements
The Company is not party to any significant agreements  
that would take effect, alter or terminate following a change 
of control of the Company. The Company does not have 
agreements with any director or employee that would provide 
compensation for loss of office or employment resulting from 
a takeover, except that provisions of the Company’s share 
schemes and plans may cause options and awards granted 
to employees under such schemes and plans to vest on  
a takeover.

Future developments in the business of the Group
An indication of likely future developments in the business of 
the Group is provided in the Strategic report.

Results and dividends
2020: no interim dividend paid  
(2019: paid interim dividend of 7 cents per ordinary share)

2020: proposed final dividend of 9 cents per ordinary share 
(2019: no final dividend paid)

2020: total dividend of 9 cents per ordinary share  
(2019: total dividend, 7 cents per ordinary share)

168

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

Share capital
The issued ordinary share capital of the Company was 
reduced by a total of 40,029,585 over the course of 2020.  
This was due to the cancellation of ordinary shares as part  
of the Company’s share buy-back programme. No ordinary 
shares were issued during the year. The Company has one 
class of ordinary shares, which carries no rights to fixed 
income. On a show of hands, each member present has the 
right to one vote at our general meetings. On a poll, each 
member is entitled to one vote for every $2 nominal value  
of share capital held.

The issued nominal value of the ordinary shares represents 
85.5 per cent of the total issued nominal value of all share 
capital. The remaining 14.5 per cent comprises preference 
shares, which have preferential rights to income and capital 
but which, in general, do not confer a right to attend and vote 
at our general meetings.

Further details of the Group’s share capital can be found in  
Note 28 to the financial statements

There are no specific restrictions on the size of a holding nor 
on the transfer of shares, which are both governed by the 
general provisions of the Articles of Association and prevailing 
legislation. There are no specific restrictions on voting rights 
and the directors are not aware of any agreements between 
holders of the Company’s shares that may result in restrictions 
on the transfer of securities or on voting rights. No person has 
any special rights of control over the Company’s share capital 
and all issued shares are fully paid.

Articles of Association
The Articles of Association may be amended by special 
resolution of the shareholders. Shareholders approved,  
by special resolution, new Articles of Association at the  
2020 AGM.

A copy of the Company’s new Articles of Association can be found  
on our website here sc.com/investors

The principal changes to the Company’s Articles of Association are 
summarised in Appendix 2 of the Notice of AGM 2020 which can be 
found on our website here sc.com/agm

Authority to purchase own shares
At the AGM held on 6 May 2020, our shareholders renewed 
the Company’s authority to make market purchases of up  
to 317,956,410 ordinary shares, equivalent to approximately  
10 per cent of issued ordinary shares as at 13 March 2020,  
and up to all of the issued preference share capital.

The authority to make market purchases up to 10 per cent  
of issued ordinary share capital was used during the year 
through the buy-back programme announced in February 
2020. This was utilised to reduce the number of ordinary 
shares in issue and as part of the Group’s approach to 
dividend growth and capital returns. In response to a request 
from the PRA and as a consequence of the impact of the 
COVID-19 pandemic, the Board decided to suspend the 
buy-back programme in March 2020. The share buy-back 
programme was launched on 2 March 2020 and ended on  
31 March 2020. A total of 40,029,585 ordinary shares with a 
nominal value of $0.50 were re-purchased for an approximate 
aggregate consideration paid of $242 million.

A monthly breakdown of the shares purchased during the 
period including the lowest and highest price paid per share  
is set out in Note 28 to the financial statements. All ordinary 
shares which were bought back were cancelled. 

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In accordance with the terms of a waiver granted by  
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKSE) as 
subsequently modified, the Company will comply with the 
applicable law and regulation in the UK in relation to holding 
of any shares in treasury and with the conditions of granting 
the waiver by the HKSE. No treasury shares were held during 
the year.

Further details can be found in Note 28 to the financial statements

Authority to issue shares
The Company is granted authority to issue shares by the 
shareholders at its AGM. The size of the authorities granted 
depends on the purposes for which shares are to be issued 
and is within applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

Major interests in shares and voting rights
As at 31 December 2020, Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited 
(Temasek) is the only shareholder that has an interest of  
more than 10 per cent in the Company’s issued ordinary  
share capital carrying a right to vote at any general meeting.

Information provided to the Company pursuant to the 
Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Disclosure and 
Transparency Rules (DTRs) is published on a Regulatory 
Information Service and on the Company’s website.

As at 19 February 2021, the Company has been notified of the 
following information, in accordance with DTR 5, from holders 
of notifiable interests in the Company’s issued share capital. 
The information provided in the table below was correct at 
the date of notification; however, the date received may not 
have been within 2020. It should be noted that these holdings 
are likely to have changed since the Company was notified. 
However, notification of any change is not required until the 
next notifiable threshold is crossed.

Notifiable interests 

Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited

BlackRock Inc.

Shareholder rights
Under the Companies Act 2006, shareholders holding  
5 per cent or more of the paid-up share capital of the 
Company carrying the right of voting at general meetings  
of the Company are able to require the directors to hold a 
general meeting.

A request may be in hard copy or electronic form and must be 
authenticated by the shareholders making it. Where such a 
request has been duly lodged with the Company, the directors 
are obliged to call a general meeting within 21 days of 
becoming subject to the request and must set a date for the 
meeting not more than 28 days from the date of the issue of 
the notice convening the meeting. 

Under the Companies Act 2006, shareholders holding  
5 per cent or more of the total voting rights at an AGM of the 
Company, or 100 shareholders entitled to vote at the AGM 
with an average of at least £100 paid-up share capital per 
shareholder, are entitled to require the Company to circulate  
a resolution intended to be moved at the Company’s next 
AGM. Such a request must be made not later than six weeks 
before the AGM to which the request relates or, if later, the 
time notice is given of the AGM. The request may be in hard 
copy or electronic form, must identify the resolution of which 
notice is to be given and must be authenticated by the 
shareholders making it.

Shareholders are also able to put forward proposals to shareholder 
meetings and enquiries to the Board and/or the Senior Independent 
Director by using the ‘contact us’ information on the Company’s  
website sc.com or by emailing the Group Corporate Secretariat at 
group-corporate.secretariat@sc.com

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Ordinary shares

510,451,383

183,640,172

Percentage of 
capital disclosed

16.01

5.55

Nature of holding as per disclosure

Indirect

Indirect (5.01%)
Securities Lending (0.39%)
Contracts for Difference (0.14%)

Norges Bank 

123,929,776

3.93

Direct

Related party transactions
Details of transactions with directors and officers and  
other related parties are set out in Note 36 to the  
financial statements.

Connected/continuing connected transactions
By virtue of its shareholding of over 10 per cent in the 
Company, Temasek and its associates are related parties  
and connected persons of the Company for the purposes  
of the UK Listing Rules and the Hong Kong Listing Rules, 
respectively (together ‘the Rules’). The Rules are intended to 
ensure that there is no favourable treatment to Temasek or  
its associates to the detriment of other shareholders in the 
Company. Unless transactions between the Group and 
Temasek or its associates are specifically exempt under the 
Rules or are subject to a specific waiver, they may require a 
combination of announcements, reporting and independent 
shareholders’ approval.

On 27 December 2018, the HKSE extended a waiver (‘the 
Waiver’) it previously granted to the Company for the  
revenue banking transactions with Temasek which do not fall 
under the passive investor exemption (the Passive Investor 
Exemption) under Rules 14A.99 and 14A.100. Under the Waiver, 
the HKSE agreed to waive the announcement requirement, 
the requirement to enter into a written agreement and set  
an annual cap and the reporting (including annual review) 
requirements under Chapter 14A for the three-year period 
ending 31 December 2021 on the conditions that:

a)  The Company will disclose details of the Waiver (including 
nature of the revenue banking transactions with Temasek 
and reasons for the Waiver) in subsequent annual reports, 
and

b)  The Company will continue to monitor the revenue banking 
transactions with Temasek during the three years ending  
31 December 2021 to ensure that the 5 per cent threshold for 
the revenue ratio will not be exceeded

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Directors’ report Other disclosures

The main reasons for seeking the Waiver were:

•  The nature and terms of revenue banking transactions  

The principal terms of the Investment Agreement are  
as follows:

may vary and evolve over time; having fixed-term written 
agreements would not be suitable to accommodate the 
various banking needs of the Company’s customers 
(including Temasek) and would be impractical and unduly 
burdensome

i.   SCBSL will sell its shares in CCPL to CCH for the aggregate 

amount of $33,705,585.94, such amount to be wholly 
satisfied by (i) the allotment and issue of 22,770,000 CCH 
Shares to SCBSL and (ii) the transfer of 99 incorporation 
CCH Shares from the CCH company secretary to SCBSL;

•  It would be impracticable to estimate and determine an 
annual cap on the revenue banking transactions with 
Temasek as the volume and aggregate value of each 
transaction are uncertain and unknown to the Company  
as a banking group due to multiple factors including market 
driven factors

•  The revenues generated from revenue banking transactions 
were insignificant. Without a waiver from the HKSE or an 
applicable exemption, these transactions would be subject 
to various percentage ratio tests which cater for different 
types of connected transactions and as such may produce 
anomalous results

For the year ended 31 December 2020, the Group provided 
Temasek with money market placement products and 
services that were revenue transactions in nature. As a result 
of the Passive Investor Exemption and the Waiver, the vast 
majority of the Company’s transactions with Temasek and its 
associates fall outside of the connected transactions regime. 
However, non-revenue transactions with Temasek or any of its 
associates continue to be subject to monitoring for connected 
transaction issues. The Company confirms that:

•  The revenue banking transactions entered into with 

Temasek in 2020 were below the 5 per cent threshold for the 
revenue ratio test under the Hong Kong Listing Rules, and

•  It will continue to monitor revenue banking transactions 

with Temasek during the three years ending 31 December 
2021 to ensure that the 5 per cent threshold for the revenue 
ratio will not be exceeded

The Company therefore satisfied the conditions of the Waiver.

Non-revenue transaction with Temasek
Temasek and the Group entered into the following non-
revenue transaction during the year ended 31 December 2020, 
in respect of which an announcement was published by the 
Company on 26 March 2020 (the Announcement).

On 26 March 2020, the Company, through its wholly-owned 
subsidiary, Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited 
(SCBSL), entered into the investment agreement (Investment 
Agreement) with Clifford Capital Holdings Pte. Ltd. (CCH), the 
special purpose vehicles wholly owned by Temasek, namely, 
Kovan Investments Pte. Ltd. and Aranda Investments Pte. Ltd. 
(Temasek SPVs) and DBS Bank Ltd., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking 
Corporation, Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) 
Limited, John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) 
(collectively the Other Transaction Parties), pursuant to which 
SCBSL (i) agreed to swap its existing shares in Clifford Capital 
Pte. Ltd. (CCPL) for ordinary shares in the capital of CCH (CCH 
Shares) at a 1:1 exchange ratio and (ii) committed to contribute 
additional funds to CCH up to a total amount of $43,438,824 
by way of subscription for CCH Shares as and when called by 
CCH within the period commencing on 26 March 2020 and 
ending on 31 December 2025 (the Commitment Period) at a 
price of $1.6775 per CCH Share. Such additional funds will be 
utilised to support further business growth at CCPL and the 
expansion of new business lines under CCH. 

ii.   SCBSL undertakes to contribute additional funds in the total 
amount of $43,438,824 to CCH by way of subscription for 
CCH Shares as and when called by CCH during the 
Commitment Period;

iii.  SCBSL currently holds 9.9% of CCPL. Following completion  

of the steps in (i) above, SCBSL will hold 9.9% of CCH. 
Following completion of the steps in (ii) above, SCBSL is 
anticipated to maintain a 9.9% holding in CCH; and

iv.  failure to subscribe for CCH Shares as and when called  
by CCH will result in SCBSL’s shareholding in CCH being 
diluted and will entitle other shareholders to acquire its  
CCH Shares at a discount to the lower of fair market value 
and book value.

On 26 March 2020, SCBSL also entered into the shareholders’ 
agreement (Shareholders’ Agreement) between CCH, the 
Temasek SPVs and the Other Transaction Parties. The 
Shareholders’ Agreement contains terms and shareholder 
rights customary for transactions of this nature, including as  
to board representation, voting, transfer restrictions and exit 
provisions. SCBSL’s material rights in this regard include:

i.   the right to appoint a director for so long as it holds 5% or 
more of the CCH Shares (see subsequent changes to this 
right below);

ii.   customary pre-emptive rights to subscribe, on a pro rata 

basis, for new equity securities to be issued by CCH;

iii.  a right of first refusal in respect of the transfer of CCH 

Shares by other shareholders; and

iv.  a tag along right in the event of a sale by one of the 
Temasek SPVs that would result in the occurrence of  
certain events.

Any sale of CCH Shares by SCBSL will be subject to customary 
pre-emptive rights in favour of the other shareholders. As 
Temasek and its associates are connected persons of the 
Company, and by virtue of Temasek holding more than 30% 
of the issued share capital of CCH and CCPL, CCH and  
CCPL are connected persons of the Company. Pursuant to 
Chapter 14A of the Hong Kong Listing Rules, the entry into  
the Investment Agreement and the Shareholders’ Agreement 
between SCBSL, CCH, the Temasek SPVs and the Other 
Transaction Parties constitutes a connected transaction for 
the Company. 

Subsequent to the Announcement, Asian Development Bank 
(ADB) made a commitment to invest $95 million into CCH  
on 8 September 2020, pursuant to which SCBSL entered  
into a restated and amended Investment Agreement and 
Shareholders’ Agreement with CCH, the Temasek SPVs,  
ADB and the Other Transaction Parties. SCBSL’s rights and 
obligations remain unchanged in all material respects,  
except that under the restated and amended Shareholders’ 
Agreement, at any time on or before 31 December 2024, 
SCBSL’s right to appoint a director would only be retained  
for so long as it holds 7.5% of the CCH shares, as opposed to 
the previous threshold of 5%. On or after 1 January 2025, the 
shareholding percentage threshold to trigger SCBSL’s right  
to appoint a director would revert to 5%.

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Since CCH is also an associate and a related party of the 
Group for the purposes of IAS 24, the above transaction 
constitutes a related party transaction. Please see Note 36  
to the financial statements for further details. 

Fixed assets

Details of additions to fixed assets are presented in Note 18  
to the financial statements.

Loan capital
Details of the loan capital of the Company and its subsidiaries 
are set out in Notes 22 and 27 to the financial statements.

Debenture issues and equity-linked agreements
During the financial year ended 31 December 2020, the 
Company made no issuance of debentures or equity-linked 
agreements.

Risk management
The Board is responsible for maintaining and reviewing the 
effectiveness of the risk management system. An ongoing 
process for identifying, evaluating and managing the 
significant risks that we face is in place. The Board is satisfied 
that this process constitutes a robust assessment of all of the 
principal risks, emerging risks and material cross-cutting risks 
facing the Group, including those that would threaten its 
business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity. 

The Risk review and Capital review on pages 180 to 283 sets out the 
principal risks, emerging risks and material cross-cutting risks, our 
approach to risk management, including our risk management 
principles, an overview of our Enterprise Risk Management Framework 
and the risk management and governance practices for each principal 
risk type. The Board-approved Risk Appetite Statement can be found 
on page 250

In accordance with Article 435(e) of the Capital Requirements 
Regulation, the Board Risk Committee, on behalf of the Board, 
has considered the adequacy of the risk management 
arrangements of the Group and has sought and received 
assurance that the risk management systems in place are 
adequate with regard to the Group’s profile and strategy.

Internal control
The Board is responsible for maintaining and reviewing the 
effectiveness of the internal control system. Its effectiveness  
is reviewed regularly by the Board, its committees, the 
Management Team and Group Internal Audit.

For the year ended 31 December 2020, the Board Risk 
Committee has reviewed the effectiveness of the Group’s 
system of internal control. As part of this review, confirmation 
was received that the Group Chief Risk Officer is satisfied that 
the Group’s risk management and internal control framework 
is materially effective and adequately highlights risks and 
improvement areas for management attention. Group 
Internal Audit represents the third line of defence and 
provides independent assurance of the effectiveness of 
management’s control of business activities (the first line) and 
of the control processes maintained by the Risk Framework 
Owners and Policy Owners (the second line). The audit 
programme includes obtaining an understanding of the 
processes and systems under audit review, evaluating the 
design of controls, and testing the operating effectiveness 
and outcomes of key controls. The work of Group Internal 
Audit is focused on the areas of greatest risk as determined by 
a risk-based assessment methodology. The Board considers 
the internal control systems of the Company to be effective 
and adequate. 

Group Internal Audit reports regularly to the Audit Committee, 
the Group Chairman and the Group Chief Executive; and the 
Group Head, Internal Audit reports directly to the Chair of the 
Audit Committee and administratively to the Group Chief 
Executive. The findings of all adverse audits are reported to 
the Audit Committee, the Chairman and the Group Chief 
Executive where immediate corrective action is required.  
The Board Risk Committee has responsibility for overseeing 
the management of the Company’s fundamental risks as well 
as reviewing the effectiveness of the Company’s Enterprise 
Risk Management Framework. The Audit Committee monitors 
the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting, compliance 
and internal control environment. 

The risk management approach starting on page 248 describes  
the Group’s risk management oversight committee structure.

Our business is conducted within a developed control 
framework, underpinned by policy statements and written 
procedures. There are written policies and procedures 
designed to ensure the identification and management of 
risk, including Credit Risk, Traded Risk, Capital and Liquidity 
Risk, Operational and Technology Risk, Reputational and 
Sustainability Risk, Compliance Risk, Information and Cyber 
Security Risk, Financial Crime Risk and Model Risk. The Board 
has established a management structure that clearly defines 
roles, responsibilities and reporting lines. 

Delegated authorities are documented and communicated. 
Executive risk committees regularly review the Group’s risk 
profile. The performance of the Group’s businesses is reported 
regularly to senior management and the Board. Performance 
trends and forecasts, as well as actual performance against 
budgets and prior periods, are monitored closely. Financial 
information is prepared using appropriate accounting 
policies, which are applied consistently. 

Operational procedures and controls have been established 
to facilitate complete, accurate and timely processing of 
transactions and the safeguarding of assets. These controls 
include appropriate segregation of duties, the regular 
reconciliation of accounts and the valuation of assets and 
positions. In respect of handling inside information, we have 
applied relevant controls on employees who are subject to 
handling inside information, including controls over the 
dissemination of such information and their dealings in the 
Company’s shares. Such systems are designed to manage 
rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve business 
objectives and can only provide reasonable and not absolute 
assurance against material misstatement or loss.

Employee policies and engagement
We work hard to ensure that our employees are kept  
informed about matters affecting or of interest to them,  
but more importantly to provide opportunities for feedback 
and dialogue. 

We continue to listen and act on feedback from colleagues  
to ensure internal communications remain impactful and 
meaningful, in support of the Group’s strategy and 
transformation. In addition to the Bridge (our business 
collaboration platform) which allows colleagues to receive  
key updates, exchange ideas and provide feedback, we also 
leverage a range of channels including email broadcasts, 
newsletters with customised content for each employee, 
audio and video calls, town halls and other engagement 
events. To continue to improve the way we communicate  
and ensure our employee communications remain relevant  
we periodically analyse and measure the impact of  
our communications. 

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Directors’ report Other disclosures

Our senior leaders and people leaders continue to have a 
critical role to play in engaging our people, ensuring that  
they are kept up to date on key business information, our 
performance and strategy, their role in executing the strategy 
and ensuring that they consult and listen to their teams’ views, 
feedback and concerns. Naturally COVID-19 was a major 
element of communication with our employees in 2020 and 
pleasingly 91% of those surveyed in April said they were 
satisfied with the communication they were getting from  
the organisation about its response to the pandemic,  
and 90% felt senior leadership were effective in leading.  
More information on this engagement survey and our annual 
My Voice survey can be found within the employee’s section  
of the Strategic report. 

Across the organisation, team meetings with people leaders, 
one-to-one discussions, and management meetings enable 
our people to discuss and clarify matters of concern to them 
as employees. There are global communications from our 
Group Chief Executive, supported by local meetings with 
regional and country CEOs to discuss the annual financial 
results and overall performance. Performance conversations 
provide the opportunity to discuss how individuals, the team 
and the business area have contributed to our overall 
performance and, in full year conversations, how any 
compensation awards relate to this.

The Board listens to the view of workforce through several 
sources, including information reported from senior 
management on culture and directly via workforce 
engagement sessions. More information can be found  
on pages 105 and 106 in the Directors’ report. 

Employees, past, present and future can follow our progress 
through the Group’s LinkedIn network and Facebook page, 
and other social network channels, which collectively have 
over 1.8 million followers. 

This mix of channels ensures that all our colleagues receive 
relevant information promptly regardless of how they prefer 
to be communicated with and regardless of where they sit in 
the organisation.

The wellbeing of our employees is central to our thinking 
about benefits and support, so they can thrive at work and in 
their personal lives. Our Group minimum standards provide 
employees with a range of flexible working options, and, in 
terms of leave, at least 30 days’ leave (through annual leave 
and public holidays), a minimum of 20 calendar weeks’ fully 
paid maternity leave, a minimum of two calendar weeks of 
leave for spouses or partners, and two calendar weeks for 
adoption leave. Combined, this is above the International 
Labour Organisation minimum standards.

We seek to build productive and enduring partnerships with 
various employee representative bodies (including unions  
and work councils). In our recognition and interactions, we  
are heavily influenced by the 1948 United Nations Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and several 
International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions including 
the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 
1949 (No. 98) and the Freedom of Association and Protection 
of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87). 
Additionally, we abide by all local country labour laws and 
regulations that protect employees’ rights to organise. 

The Group Grievance Standard provides a formal framework 
to deal with concerns that employees have in relation to  
their employment or another colleague, which affects  
them directly, and cannot be resolved through informal 
mechanisms, e.g. counselling, coaching or mediation. This  
can include bullying, harassment or discrimination situations, 
and concerns around conditions of employment (e.g. health 
and safety, work relations, new working practices or working 
environment). There is a distinct Group Speaking Up Policy 
which covers instances where an employee wishes to ‘blow 
the whistle’ on actual, planned or potential (non-employment 
related) wrongdoing by another employee or the Group. 

The Group is committed to creating a fair, consistent, and 
transparent approach to making decisions in a disciplinary 
context. This commitment is codified in our Fair Accountability 
Principles, which underpin our Group Disciplinary Standard. 

Dismissals due to misconduct issues and/or performance 
(where required by law to follow a disciplinary process) are 
governed by the Group Disciplinary Standard. Where local 
law or regulation requires a different process with regards to 
dismissals and other disciplinary outcomes, we have country 
variances in place. 

Our Group Diversity and Inclusion Standard (the Standard) 
has been developed to ensure a respectful workplace, with 
fair and equal treatment, diversity and inclusion, and the 
provision of opportunities for employees to participate fully 
and reach their full potential in an appropriate working 
environment. All individuals are entitled to be treated with 
dignity and respect, and to be free from harassment, bullying, 
discrimination and victimisation. This helps support effective 
and productive working conditions, decreased staff attrition, 
high morale and engagement, maintains employee wellbeing, 
and reduced risk.

The Group aims to operate diversity and inclusion policies, 
standards and practices that provide equality of opportunity 
for all, protect the dignity of employees and promote respect 
at work. All employees and contractors are required to take 
personal and individual responsibility to comply with the 
Standard, behave in a non-discriminatory way and not to 
participate in acts of inappropriate behaviour or conduct, 
harassment or bullying.

The Group is committed to provide equal opportunities and 
fair treatment in employment. We do not accept unlawful 
discrimination in our recruitment or employment practices  
on any grounds including but not limited to; sex, race, colour, 
nationality, ethnic, national or indigenous origin, disability, 
age, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, 
sexual orientation, gender identity, expression or 
reassignment, HIV or AIDS status, parental status, military  
and veterans status, flexibility of working arrangements, 
religion or belief. 

We strive for recruitment, appraisals, pay and conditions, 
training, development, succession planning, promotion, 
grievance/disciplinary procedures and employment 
termination practices that are free of barriers, both  
systemic and deliberate; and that do not directly or  
indirectly discriminate.

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Recruitment, employment, training, development and 
promotion decisions are based on the existing skills, 
knowledge and behaviour required to perform the role to the 
Group’s standards. Implied in all employment terms is the 
commitment to equal pay for equal work. We will also make 
reasonable workplace adjustments (including during hiring), 
inclusive for disabilities and religious practices. If employees 
become disabled, all reasonable efforts are made to ensure 
their employment continues, with appropriate training and 
workplace adjustments where possible.

As part of our engagement with the ‘Valuable 500’, each 
country with 50 or more employees in our network has 
completed an internal disability assessment and incorporated 
areas of improvement into their local diversity and inclusion 
plans. This disability benchmark will help every market 
measure and demonstrate progress towards becoming 
disability confident by reviewing inclusive processes and 
practices, infrastructure accessibility, client accessibility and 
impact in communities.

Health and safety
Our Health, Safety and wellbeing (H&S) programme covers 
both mental and physical wellbeing. The Group complies with 
both external regulatory requirements and internal policy and 
standards for H&S in all markets. It is Group policy to ensure 
that the more stringent of the two requirements is always met, 
ensuring our H&S practices meet or exceed the regulatory 
minimum. Compliance rates are reported quarterly to each 
country’s management team. H&S performance and risks are 
reported annually to the Group Risk Committee and the Board 
Risk Committee. Based on our risk profile, our H&S standards 
define our requirements for H&S governance and assurance, 
workstation ergonomics, fire safety, first aid and mental 
health first aid, indoor air quality and the work environment, 
vehicle and driving safety, incident reporting and 
investigation, and accessible design and wellbeing.

Major customers
Our five largest customers together accounted for  
1.9 per cent of our total operating income in the year  
ended 31 December 2020.

Major suppliers
Our five largest suppliers together accounted for 15 per cent  
of purchases in the year ended 31 December 2020.

Supply chain management 
For information about how the Group engages with suppliers 
on environmental and social matters, please see our Supplier 
Charter and Supplier Diversity and Inclusion Standard. 

As set out under the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015, the Group  
is required to publish a Modern Slavery Statement annually. 
The Group’s 2020 Modern Slavery Statement will be issued at 
the same time as the Annual Report. This document will give 
further detail on how the Group has managed modern slavery 
and human trafficking in its operations, financing and supply 
chain during 2020.

Our Supplier Charter and Supplier Diversity and Inclusion Standard  
can be viewed at sc.com/suppliercharter

Details of how we create value for our stakeholder groups  
can be found on pages 54 to 71

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Product responsibility
We aim to design and offer products based on client needs  
to ensure fair treatment and outcomes for clients.

The Group has in place a risk framework, comprising policies 
and standards, to support these objectives in alignment with 
our Conduct Risk Framework. This Framework covers sales 
practices, client communications, appropriateness and 
suitability, and post-sales practice. As part of this, we ensure 
products sold are suitable for clients and comply with relevant 
laws and regulations.

We have processes and guidelines specific to each of our 
client businesses, to promptly resolve client complaints, 
understand and respond to client issues. Conduct 
considerations are given significant weighting in front-line 
incentive structures to drive the right behaviours. 

Group Code of Conduct
The Board has adopted a Group Code of Conduct (the Code) 
relating to the lawful and ethical conduct of business and this 
is supported by the Group’s valued behaviours. It has been 
communicated to all directors and employees, all of whom  
are expected to observe high standards of integrity and fair 
dealing in relation to customers, employees and regulators  
in the communities in which the Group operates. Directors  
and employees are asked to recommit to the Code annually, 
and 99.8 per cent have completed the 2020 recommitment. 
All Board members have recommitted to the Code.

Managing environmental and social risk 
The Board is responsible for ensuring that high standards of 
responsible business are maintained and that an effective 
control framework is in place. This encompasses risk 
associated with clients’ operations and their potential impact 
on the environment, including climate change, and local 
communities. 

The Board recognises its responsibility to manage these  
risks and that failure to manage them adequately could  
have adverse impact on stakeholders as well as the Group. 
The Board, via the Brand, Values and Conduct Committee, 
reviews sustainability priorities, and oversees the development 
of, and delivery against, public commitments regarding the 
activities and/or businesses that the Group will or will not 
accept in alignment with our Here for good brand promise.

At a management level, the CEO, Corporate & Institutional 
Banking is responsible for sustainable finance, which 
incorporates E&S risk management. In 2020, this included  
the release of our first Sustainability Bond Impact Report  
and managing our COVID-19 $1 billion facility. The Group 
Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, Conduct, 
Financial Crime and Compliance leads a cross-business 
Sustainability Forum to develop and deliver the Group’s 
broader sustainability strategy. In addition, climate  
change is integrated into the Group-wide approach to  
risk management as a material cross-cutting risk to be 
considered. 

The Board welcomed the recommendations of the Taskforce 
on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). The Group 
has set out how climate change considerations are being 
incorporated into its governance, strategy, risk management 
and target-setting activities in its stand-alone TCFD report. 
This was approved by the Board before publication.

The Group’s TCFD report can be  
read at sc.com/tcfd

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Directors’ report Other disclosures

Community engagement 
We collaborate with local partners to support social and 
economic development in communities across our markets. 
For more on how we engage with communities go to page 70 
of the Sustainable and Responsible Business section.

ESG reporting guide
We comply with the requirements for environmental, social 
and governance reporting under Appendix 27 of the Hong 
Kong Listing Rules with the exception of A1.3 on hazardous 
waste and A1.6 on production and handling of hazardous 
waste and A2.5 on packaging. As an office-based financial 
services provider, we generate minimal hazardous waste or 
packaging material. As such, these issues are not material  
and we do not report them.

Environmental impact of our operations
We aim to minimise the environmental impact of our 
operations as part of our commitment to be a responsible 
company. We report on energy, water, paper and non-
hazardous waste data that are the basis of our Greenhouse 
Gas (GHG) emissions management, as well as the targets  
we have set to reduce energy, water and paper use. 

Our reporting criteria document sets out the principles and 
methodology used to calculate the GHG emissions of the 
Group. For more information, review the reporting criteria at 
sc.com/environmentcriteria 

Disclosures related to the Group’s environmental policies and 
performance are included in the Sustainable and responsible 
business section of the Strategic report on page 68. 

Our reporting methodology is based upon the World 
Resources Institute/ World Business Council for Sustainable 
Development Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate 
Accounting and Reporting Standard (Revised Edition). We 
report on all emission sources required under the Companies 
Act 2006 (Strategic report and Directors’ reports) Regulations. 

Using conversion factors from the International Energy 
Agency 2019 Emissions Factors and the UK Government’s 
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), 
emissions are reported in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide 
equivalent (CO2e), encompassing the six Kyoto gases. Our 
definition of different emission sources is provided below.

Scope 1 Scope 1 emissions are defined as arising from the 
consumption of energy from direct sources, such as by burning 
diesel within generators, during the use of property occupied 
by the Group. 

Scope 2 Scope 2 emissions are defined as arising from  
the consumption of indirect sources of energy, such as 
consumption of purchased electricity and heat, during the  
use of property occupied by the Group. Considering the 
amendment issued to the GHG Protocol in 2015, we report 
Scope 2 emissions under location-based and market-based 
methods. We continue to monitor the development of Scope 2 
Quality Criteria, as well as the development of residual mixes 
by national agencies. We have recently added market-based 
reporting as we have found data has become more available 
on emissions. The Group does not currently use any form of 
offset such as carbon credits to offset Scope 1 or Scope 2 
emissions; however, we will instigate an offset programme 
in 2021. 

Scope 3 Scope 3 emissions are defined as occurring as a 
consequence of the Group’s activities but arising from sources 
not controlled by us. The Group currently reports on Scope 3 
emissions arising from air travel and our outsourced data 
centres globally. 

Reporting period
The reporting period of our environmental data is from 
1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020. This allows sufficient 
time for independent assurance to be gained prior to the 
publication of results. Accordingly, the operating income  
used in this inventory corresponds to the same time period 
rather than the calendar year used in financial reporting.

Assurance
Our Scope 1 and 2 emissions are assured by an independent 
body, Global Documentation, against the requirements of 
ISO14064.

Indicator

Headcount

Net internal area of occupied property covered  
by reporting

Annual operating income from 1 October to  
30 September

Greenhouse gas emissions

Scope 1 emissions (combustion of fuels)

Scope 2 emissions (purchased electricity)

Scope 1 and 2 emissions

Scope 3 emissions with distance uplift (air travel)

Scope 3 emissions (Global Data Centre)

Total Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions

Total Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions/Headcount

Total Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions/m2

Total Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions/operating income

2020

83,657

2019

84,398

2018

85,402

Units

Headcount

 1,050,414 

 1,154,999 

1,185,929

15,233

15,200

14,958

m2

$m

 3,988 

 113,870 

 117,858 

33,811

29,562

 181,231

 2.17 

 173 

 11.90 

 4,542 

 141,771 

 146,313 

94,043

 46,362 

8,584

139,366

147,950

121,464

21,523

 286,718 

 290,937 

 3.40 

248

18.86

 3.41 

 245 

 19.45 

tonnes CO2 eq/year
tonnes CO2eq/year
tonnes CO2eq/year
tonnes CO2eq/year
tonnes CO2eq/year
tonnes CO2eq/year
tonnes CO2eq/ 
Headcount/year
kg CO2eq/m2/year
tonnes CO2eq/$m/year

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Electronic communication
The Board recognises the importance of good 
communications with all shareholders. Directors are in regular 
contact with our institutional shareholders and general 
presentations are made when we announce our financial 
results. The AGM presents an opportunity to communicate 
with all shareholders. Our shareholders are encouraged to 
receive our corporate documents electronically. The annual 
and interim financial statements, Notice of AGM and any 
dividend circulars are all available electronically. If you do not 
already receive your corporate documents electronically and 
would like to do so in future, please contact our registrars at 
the address on page 442. 

Shareholders are also able to vote electronically on the 
resolutions being put to the AGM through our registrars’ 
website at investorcentre.co.uk. 

Annual General Meeting
Our 2021 AGM will be held at 11:00am (UK time) (6:00pm 
Hong Kong time) on 12 May 2021. Further details regarding  
the format, location and business to be transacted will be 
disclosed within the 2021 Notice of AGM. 

Our 2020 AGM was held on 6 May 2020 at 11:00am (UK time) 
(6:00pm Hong Kong time) at 1 Basinghall Avenue, London, 
EC2V 5DD, United Kingdom. Special business at the meeting 
included the approval of the power to allot ECAT1 Securities 
for cash without certain formalities. 

All resolutions were passed at the meeting, the details of 
which can be viewed on our website.

Termination of Indian Depository Receipt (IDR) 
programme
In March 2020, the Group announced the termination of  
the IDR programme. The termination notice period ended  
on 15 June 2020. The approximately 750,000 underlying 
Standard Chartered PLC ordinary shares that these IDRs 
represented were sold on the London Stock Exchange on  
22 June 2020 and the net sale proceeds distributed to the 
relevant IDR holders. The IDR programme was formally 
delisted from the BSE Limited (formerly the Bombay Stock 
Exchange) and National Stock Exchange of India Limited  
with effect from 22 July 2020.

Non-audit services
The Group’s non-audit services policy (the policy) was 
reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee on 27 July 
2020. The policy is based on an overriding principle that, to 
avoid any actual or perceived conflicts of interest, the Group’s 
auditor should only be used when either there is evidence  
that there is no alternative in terms of quality and there is  
no conflict with their duties as auditor. EY can be used where 
the work is required by a regulator or competent authority.

The policy clearly sets out the criteria for when the Audit 
Committee’s prior written approval is required. The policy 
requires a conservative approach to be taken to the 
assessment of requests for EY to provide non-audit services. 
Subject to the overriding principle, the Audit Committee’s  
view is that EY can be of value in a range of non-audit service 
activities and should be allowed to tender subject to the terms 
of the policy. The Group is required to take a conservative 
approach to interpreting the potential threats to auditor 
independence and requires commensurately robust 
safeguards against them.

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EU legislation and guidance from the FRC sets out threats  
to audit independence including self-interest, self-review, 
familiarity, taking of a management role or conducting 
advocacy. In particular, maintaining EY’s independence from 
the Group requires EY to avoid taking decisions on the Group’s 
behalf. It is also recognised as essential that management 
retains the decision-making capability as to whether to act on 
advice given by EY as part of a non-audit service. This means 
not just the ability to action the advice given, but to have 
sufficient knowledge of the subject matter to be able to make 
a reasoned and independent judgement as to its validity.  
All of this is contained within the policy. 

By way of (non-exhaustive) illustration of the application of 
the principles set out in the policy, the following types of 
non-audit services are likely to be permissible under the policy: 

•  Reviews of interim financial information and verification of 

interim profits – the Group would also extend this to work on 
investor circulars in most foreseeable circumstances 

•  Extended audit or assurance work on financial information 
and/or financial or operational controls, where this work is 
closely linked to the audit engagement

•  Agreed upon procedures on materials within or referenced 

in the annual report of the Group or an entity within  
the Group

•  Internal control review services

Strictly prohibited under the policy:

•  Bookkeeping, information technology and valuation 

services

•  Internal audit, litigation support or corporate finance 

services

•  Tax or regulatory structuring proposals 

•  Services where fees are paid on a contingent basis (in whole 

or in part)

•  Consulting services that actively assist in running the 

business in place of management as opposed to providing 
or validating information, which management then utilises 
in the operation of the business 

The policy is not a prescribed list of non-audit services that EY 
is permitted to provide. Rather, each request for EY to provide 
non-audit services will be assessed on its own merits. The 
Audit Committee believes that such a case-by-case approach 
best accommodates (i) the need for the appropriate rigour 
and challenge to be applied to each request for EY to provide 
non-audit services while (ii) preserving sufficient flexibility for 
the Group to engage EY to provide non-audit services where 
they are able to deliver particular value to the Group and 
where the proposed services can be provided without 
compromising EY’s objectivity and independence. To ensure 
that the Group will comply with a cap that limits fees on 
non-audit services provided by EY to under 70 per cent of the 
average Group audit fee from the previous three consecutive 
financial years, (which will apply from EY’s fourth year of being 
the Group’s external auditor), the policy requires that annual 
non-audit service fees are lower than 70 per cent of the 
average annual Group audit fee up to this time. The caps 
exclude audit related non-audit services and services carried 
out pursuant to legislation. For 2020 the ratio, without 
deducting non-audit service fees which were required by law 
or regulation and performed by EY, was 36 per cent. Details 
relating to EY‘s remuneration as the Group statutory auditor 
and a description of the broad categories of the types of 
non-audit services provided by EY are given in Note 38 to the 
financial statements.

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Directors’ report Other disclosures

Auditor
The Audit Committee reviews the appointment of the Group’s 
statutory auditor, its effectiveness and its relationship with the 
Group, which includes monitoring our use of the auditors for 
non-audit services and the balance of audit and non-audit 
fees paid. 

Following an annual performance and effectiveness review of 
EY, it was felt that EY is considered to be effective, objective 
and independent in its role as Group statutory auditor. 

Each director believes that there is no relevant information of 
which our Group statutory auditor is unaware. Each has taken 
all steps necessary as a director to be aware of any relevant 
audit information and to establish that the Group statutory 
auditor is made aware of any pertinent information.

EY will be available at the 2021 AGM to answer any questions 
about their audit of the financial statements. In view of the 
external audit tender conducted in 2017, where it was agreed 
that EY be appointed as the Group’s statutory auditor for the 
financial year ending 31 December 2020, KPMG resigned as 
the Group’s statutory auditor from the conclusion of the 2019 
audit; and, the Board resolved to appoint EY to fill the casual 
vacancy. A resolution to appoint EY as auditor was proposed 
at the Company’s 2020 AGM and was successfully passed.

EY is a Public Interest Entity Auditor recognised in accordance 
to the Hong Kong Financial Reporting Council Ordinance.

By order of the Board

Amanda Mellor
Group Company Secretary

25 February 2021 

Standard Chartered PLC 

Registered No. 966425

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Statement of directors’ responsibilities

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The directors are responsible for the maintenance and 
integrity of the corporate and financial information included 
on the Company’s website. Legislation in the UK governing  
the preparation and dissemination of financial statements 
may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

Responsibility statement of the directors in 
respect of the annual financial report
We confirm that to the best of our knowledge: 

•  The financial statements, prepared in accordance with the 
applicable set of accounting standards, give a true and fair 
view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or 
loss of the Company and the undertakings included in the 
consolidation taken as a whole; and 

•  The Strategic report includes a fair review of the 

development and performance of the business and the 
position of the Company and the undertakings included  
in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a 
description of the emerging risks and uncertainties that 
they face 

We consider the Annual Report, taken as a whole is fair, 
balanced and understandable, and provides the information 
necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s position and 
performance, business model and strategy.

By order of the Board

Andy Halford
Group Chief Financial Officer

25 February 2021

The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report 
and the Group and Company financial statements in 
accordance with applicable law and regulations. 

Company law requires the directors to prepare Group and 
Company financial statements for each financial year.  
Under that law they are required to prepare the Group 
financial statements in accordance with international 
accounting standards in conformity with the requirements  
of the Companies Act 2006 and with International Financial 
Reporting Standards adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC)  
No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union (EU IFRS) 
and applicable law, and the Company financial statements 
in accordance with international accounting standards in 
conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Under company law the directors must not approve the 
financial statements unless they are satisfied that they  
give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group 
and Company and of their profit or loss for that period.  
In preparing each of the Group and Company financial 
statements, the directors are required to: 

•  Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

consistently

•  Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable, 

relevant and reliable

•  State whether they have been prepared in accordance with 
international accounting standards in conformity with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and with EU IFRS 

•  Assess the Group and the Company’s ability to continue as 
a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related 
to going concern; and 

•  Use the going concern basis of accounting unless they 

either intend to liquidate the Group or the Company or to 
cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to 
do so

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate 
accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain  
the Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable 
accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company 
and enable them to ensure that its financial statements 
comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are responsible 
for such internal control as they determine is necessary to 
enable the preparation of financial statements that are  
free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or 
error, and have general responsibility for taking such steps  
as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets  
of the Group and to prevent and detect fraud and  
other irregularities. 

Under applicable law and regulations, the directors are also 
responsible for preparing a Strategic report, Directors’ report, 
Directors’ remuneration report and Corporate Governance 
Statement that complies with that law and those regulations. 

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ªFeeding families  
in Singaporeº

When COVID-19 spread around the world, many of 
our employees did what they could to help their local 
communities. Singapore-based Operational Risk 
Officer, Himani Rajnikant Shah, wanted to go above 
and beyond simply donating money. Every week, 
Himani and a group of friends turn their homes into 
kitchens to prepare hundreds of chapatis – Indian  
flatbreads – to help feed migrant workers and low-
income families. The chapatis form part of larger 
bento boxes, including curry and rice, which help  
feed 1,400 families.

Read more online at sc.com/giveoneday

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Risk review and  
Capital review

180  Risk index

182  Risk update

185  Risk profile

248   Enterprise Risk Management 

Framework

277  Capital review

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Himani Rajnikant Shah  
Operational Risk Officer

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Risk review Index

Risk review and capital review

Risk Index

Risk update

Risk profile

Our risk profile in 2020

Credit Risk

Basis of preparation

Credit risk overview

IFRS 9 principles and approaches

Composition of credit impairment provisions

Maximum exposure to credit risk

Analysis of financial instrument by stage 

Credit quality analysis

•  Credit quality by client segment

•  Credit quality by geographic region

Movement in gross exposures and credit impairment for loans and advances, 
debt securities, undrawn commitments and financial guarantees

Movement of debt securities, alternative tier one and other eligible bills

Analysis of stage 2 balances

Credit impairment charge

COVID-19 relief measures

Problem credit management and provisioning

•  Forborne and other modified loans by client segment

•  Forborne and other modified loans by region

•  Credit-impaired (stage 3) loans and advances by client segment

•  Credit-impaired (stage 3) loans and advances by geographic region

•  Movement of credit-impaired (stage 3) loans and advances provisions  

by client segment

Credit risk mitigation

•  Collateral 

•  Collateral – Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking 

•  Collateral – Retail Banking and Private Banking

•  Mortgage loan-to-value ratios by geography

Other portfolio analysis

•  Maturity analysis of loans and advances by client segment 

•  Credit quality by industry 

• 

Industry and Retail Products analysis of loans and advances by 
geographic region 

•  Vulnerable sectors

•  Debt securities and other eligible bills

IFRS 9 methodology

Country Risk

Traded Risk

Market Risk changes

Counterparty Credit Risk

Derivative financial instruments Credit Risk mitigation

Liquidity and Funding Risk

Liquidity and Funding Risk metrics

Encumbrance

Liquidity analysis of the Group’s balance sheet

Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book

Operational Risk

Operational Risk profile

Other principal risks

Annual 
Report and 
Accounts

Pillar 3 
Report

182

185

186

186

186

186

188

189

190

192

192

198

199

201

206

206

207

208

208

209

210

210

211

212

212

213

214

214

215

215

217

218

220

223

224

233

233

234

237

237

237

238

240

243

246

247

247

247

32-81

47-57

58

71-73

2

82-97

5

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Risk Index

Risk management approach Enterprise Risk Management Framework

Capital

Principal Risks

Emerging Risks

Capital summary

•  Capital ratio

•  CRD Capital base

•  Movement in total capital

Risk-weighted asset

UK Leverage ratio

Annual 
Report and 
Accounts

248

254

270

277

278

278

279

280

283

Pillar 3 
Report

4-5

4

13-14

14

13-14

26

30

The following parts of the Risk review and Capital review form part of these financial statements and are audited by the 
external auditors:
•  a) Risk review: Disclosures marked as ‘audited’ from the start of Credit risk section (page 186) to the end of other principal risks 

in the same section (page 247)

•  b) Capital review: Tables marked as ‘audited’ from the start of ‘CRD capital base’ to the end of ‘Movement in total capital’, 

excluding ‘Total risk-weighted assets’ (pages 278 to 279).

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Risk review Risk update

Risk update

All risk types, both financial and non-financial, are managed and reported 
in accordance with the Group’s Enterprise Risk Management Framework. 
Our key highlights from the past year are shown here.

Key highlights 2020

•  Asset quality has deteriorated against a challenging 

macroeconomic environment 

•  Credit impairment more than doubled, reflecting the 

impact of COVID-19

•  The Group remains highly liquid and our capital 

position has strengthened further

Our portfolio quality
COVID-19 and the related economic shock has impacted our 
loan portfolio. The wide-ranging disruption to supply chains 
and normal business practices, in addition to the human cost 
of the pandemic, has placed intense pressure on the majority 
of our markets. Despite this, we have delivered resilient 
performance with risk fundamentals remaining solid in the 
face of unprecedented challenges. This has been helped by 
actions we have taken over the past five years to build a 
strong foundation and ensure our portfolios remain resilient. 

The impact has varied dramatically across markets and 
sectors but by leveraging our stress testing capabilities  
and conducting portfolio reviews, we have identified and 
proactively managed a number of portfolios that were at  
risk as the crisis unfolded. Collateral remains strong in the 
Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking 
books and we continue to support clients and offer alternative 
financing options where available.

In the second half of the year, we began to see signs of 
recovery in some markets as actions taken by governments 
helped to limit the economic effects of the pandemic. 
However, despite initial vaccine rollouts, cases increased as 
2020 came to a close, and lockdowns have been reintroduced 
in a number of territories. We remain cognisant that the 
recovery will be uneven globally, and the threat of prolonged 
weak economic outlooks may lead to a sustained period of 
increased risk aversion and uncertainty.

In the first half of the year, we placed selected clients on our 
watchlist categories for close monitoring, and have conducted 
extensive portfolio and sector reviews, particularly for areas 
with higher vulnerability to COVID-19 and volatile crude oil 
markets, such as our Aviation, Hospitality and Oil & Gas 
exposures. This has led to a $5.4 billion increase in early  
alerts exposure (2020: $10.7 billion; 2019: $5.3 billion). This is a 
reduction of $3.7 billion compared with 30 June 2020, with just 
over half due to reductions in exposure and regularisations, 
and the remainder due to downgrades. As a result, Credit 
Grade 12 loans have increased to $2.2 billion (2019: $1.6 billion) 
as outflows to non-performing loans were offset by inflows 
from early alert categories. 

182

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

The proportion of the Group’s loans and advances to 
customers in stage 1 and 2 has remained broadly consistent 
with the end of 2019, at 89 per cent and 8 per cent  
respectively, as we continue to focus on high-quality 
origination. The percentage of investment grade corporate 
exposure has also increased slightly to 62 per cent compared 
with 61 per cent a year ago. Stage 3 loans to customers 
increased to $9.2 billion (2019: $7.4 billion), although they 
remained at 3 per cent of overall loans and advances.

There has been an increase in exposure to our Top 20 
corporate clients as a percentage of Tier 1 Capital to  
60 per cent (2019: 56 per cent); however this has reduced 
slightly since half year. This is primarily driven by an increase  
in exposure to a few investment grade clients. The Corporate 
& Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking portfolios 
remain predominantly short-tenor and continue to be 
diversified across industry sectors, products, and geographies.

Our Retail Banking portfolio remains stable and resilient,  
with stage 1 loans increasing by $9 billion in 2020 driven by 
growth in mortgage products. Stage 1 loans now represent  
97 per cent of the Retail Banking portfolio (2019: 96 per cent). 
The majority of Retail products continue to be fully secured 
loans, which have increased slightly to 86 per cent of total 
loans (2019: 85 per cent). The overall average loan-to-value  
of the mortgage portfolio remains low at 45 per cent.  
The unsecured loan portfolio has remained flat compared 
with the previous year.

Average Group value at risk (VaR) in 2020 was $108 million, a 
significant increase compared with the previous year (2019: 
$30 million), driven by the extreme market volatility in interest 
rates and credit spreads following the outbreak of COVID-19 
and the collapse in oil prices. The increase in VaR was 
predominantly observed in the non-trading book from credit 
bonds held in the Treasury Markets liquid assets buffer which 
are almost exclusively of investment grade. Trading activities 
remain primarily client driven.

Despite challenges brought by COVID-19, the Group has 
remained resilient and kept a strong liquidity and funding 
position. The Group Liquidity Coverage Ratio was broadly 
stable year-on-year, closing December 2020 at 143 per cent 
(2019: 144 per cent) as the liquidity buffer and net outflows 
both increased in line with overall balance sheet growth. 
Customer deposits increased by 9 per cent driven by growth  
in stable current and savings account balances, which was 
offset by a decrease in term deposits, as we sought to 
manage liquidity more efficiently. Customer loan growth  
was mainly driven by mortgages in Hong Kong and Korea. 
The increase in overall deposits drove a decrease in the 
Group’s advances-to-deposits ratio which reduced to  
61 per cent (2019: 64 per cent). 

The Group’s Common Equity Tier 1 ratio increased by  
60 basis points (bps) to 14.4 per cent, which is above the  
top end of our target range of 13 to 14 per cent. 

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Key Indicators

Group total business1

Stage 1 loans ($ billion)

Stage 2 loans ($ billion)
Stage 3 loans, credit-impaired ($ billion)2 
Stage 3 cover ratio2
Stage 3 cover ratio (including collateral)2

Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking

Investment grade corporate net exposures as a percentage of total corporate  
net exposures

Loans and advances maturing in one year or less as a percentage of total loans  
and advances to customers

Early alert portfolio net exposures ($ billion)

Credit grade 12 loans ($ billion)

Aggregate top 20 corporate net exposures as a percentage of Tier 1 capital

Collateralisation of sub-investment grade net exposures maturing in more than one year

Retail Banking

Loan-to-value ratio of retail mortgages

1  These numbers represent total loans and advances to customers

2  Balances for 2019 and 2018 reflect interest due but unpaid together with equivalent credit impairment charges

2020

2019

2018

256.4

22.7

9.2

58%

76%

62%

61%

10.7

2.2

60%

46%

 45%

246.1

20.8

7.4

68%

85%

61%

62%

5.3

1.6

56%

45%

45%

237.1

17.4

8.5

66%

85%

62%

61%

4.8

1.5

55%

51%

 45%

COVID-19 
There is a heightened level of risk in the environment and  
we have taken a number of steps to mitigate the effect on  
our portfolios and risk profile, informed by stress testing of 
various COVID-related scenarios and deep-dives on specific 
portfolios. A number of management actions have been 
taken since the start of the year, including enhancing our 
monitoring of facility drawdowns, improving the Group’s 
position through reducing exposures where required. 

The Group has continued to support clients we believe are 
experiencing temporary issues due to COVID-19 and we  
have enacted comprehensive support schemes for retail and 
corporate customers, including loan and interest repayment 
holidays, covenant relief, fee waivers or cancellations, loan 
extensions and new facilities. In Corporate & Institutional 
Banking and Commercial Banking, around 54 per cent of the 
amounts outstanding have a remaining tenor of 90 days  
or less, and approximately 19 per cent of the amounts 
outstanding are to clients in vulnerable sectors. 

In Retail Banking, various short-term relief measures have 
been implemented and we have increased engagement with 
our customers to find alternative financing options where 
available. As of 31 December 2020, approximately 2 per cent 
of total Retail Banking exposure has relief measures approved, 
of which 81 per cent is fully secured with an average loan-to-
value of less than 40 per cent. The portfolio under moratoria 
reduced from $8.9 billion at its peak in the first half of the 
year (a significant portion of which was applied to all eligible 
loans and generally mandated or supported by regulators) to 
$2.4 billion, mainly concentrated in Singapore and Hong Kong 
which are largely secured. 

The macroeconomic environment remains challenging for the 
majority of the markets in our footprint and we are cognisant 
of the potential longer-term impact, especially once relief 
measures are eased. This will lead to an uneven recovery even 
as the global economy is expected to return to growth in 2021 
and beyond.

We are managing exposures to a set of identified vulnerable 
sectors, including Aviation*, Oil & Gas, Commodity Traders, 
Metals & Mining, Commercial Real Estate and Hotels & 
Tourism, particularly closely, and net exposure decreased by 
$6 billion in 2020. These sectors now represent 27 per cent  
(31 December 2019: 30 per cent) of the total net exposure in 
Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking, 
with reductions largely due to increased levels of collateral 
and reduced undrawn commitments, particularly in the 
Commodity Traders, Metals and Mining, and Commercial 
Real Estate sectors. 

Stage 3 loans
Overall gross credit-impaired (stage 3) loans for the Group 
increased by 25 per cent in 2020, from $7.4 billion to $9.2 billion, 
driven by downgrades in Corporate & Institutional Banking.

Gross credit-impaired (stage 3) loans in Corporate & 
Institutional Banking increased by 32 per cent (2020:  
$5.5 billion; 2019: $4.2 billion) driven by significant client 
downgrades in ASEAN & South Asia and Africa & Middle  
East across unrelated sectors. Total stage 3 inflows across 
Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking 
tripled to $3.6 billion in 2020, compared with $1.2 billion the 
previous year, driven by a few major downgrades. These stage 
3 inflows were offset by $1.2 billion of write-offs and $1.0 billion 
of recoveries. Stage 3 loans in Commercial Banking increased 
marginally from $2.0 billion to $2.1 billion. 

Private Banking stage 3 loans remained broadly stable at 
$0.4 billion.

Stage 3 loans in the Retail Banking portfolio increased by  
$0.3 billion driven by the impact of COVID-19 on the portfolio, 
but remains at 1 per cent of total Retail loans.

* 

In addition to the Aviation sector loan exposures, the Group owns $3.9 billion 
of aircraft under operating leases. Refer to page 371 – Operating lease assets.

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Risk review Risk update

The stage 3 cover ratio in the total customer loan book 
decreased by 10 percentage points to 58 per cent (2019: 
68 per cent) mainly in Corporate & Institutional Banking.  
This was driven by write-offs and new stage 3 loans with  
low levels of coverage, which benefit from credit insurance 
and guarantees, including from export credit agencies. 
The cover ratio including tangible collateral decreased 
to 76 per cent (2019: 85 per cent) with some of the 2020 
downgrades being covered by guarantees and insurance 
which are not included as tangible collateral.

Credit impairment 
At Group level, the total credit impairment charge including 
the restructuring portfolio is $2.3 billion (2019: $0.9 billion), 
representing a loan loss rate of 66 bps of average customer 
loans and advances (2019: 27 bps). Increases were seen across 
all three stages, with stage 3 impairment up $823 million, of 
which more than 60 per cent is from Corporate & Institutional 
Banking. Stage 1 and 2 impairment increased by $565 million, 
over half of which is due to management overlays of  
$353 million, with the remainder due to deteriorating 
macroeconomic forecasts and stage downgrades as a  
result of COVID-19 uncertainties.

Credit impairment for Corporate & Institutional Banking  
has increased significantly to $1,237 million, compared with 
$475 million last year. Stage 1 and 2 impairments increased by 
$226 million in part due to a judgemental overlay estimating 
the impact of further deterioration to the early alert portfolio, 
as well as deterioration of macroeconomic forecasts and 
stage downgrades from clients impacted by COVID-19 
volatility. Stage 3 impairments also increased by $536 million 
driven by three significant but unrelated downgrades in the 
first quarter of 2020.

Commercial Banking credit impairment also increased by 
$194 million (2020: $316 million, 2019: $122 million). Stage 3 
impairment increased by $111 million due to a few new client 
downgrades partly driven by the impact of the pandemic. 
Stage 1 and 2 impairments increased to $70 million in 2020 
compared with a release of $13 million the previous year.  
There was also a judgemental overlay for expected future 
early alert deterioration.

Retail Banking credit impairment has more than doubled 
(2020: $715 million, 2019: $336 million). Stage 3 impairment was 
higher particularly in ASEAN & South Asia unsecured products, 
as volatility created by the pandemic resulted in a slowdown 
in field collections. Stage 1 and 2 impairment more than 
doubled compared with 2019 at $414 million. This was due to 
deteriorations in macroeconomic forecasts and higher flows 
to stage 2, as well as an overlay of $156 million to account for 
the expected increase in delinquencies once government 
relief measures in our key markets expire.

Private Banking impairment increased to $2 million as 2019 
saw a material provision release in ASEAN & South Asia.

Central & Others saw impairment of $24 million (2019:  
$4 million), driven by stage 1 and 2 impairment from  
stage downgrades of sovereign clients in the Africa &  
Middle East region.

Credit impairment in the restructuring portfolio was a net 
$31 million from the Group’s discontinued businesses.

Ongoing business portfolio

Corporate & Institutional Banking

Retail Banking

Commercial Banking 

Private Banking

Central & Others

Credit impairment charge

Restructuring business portfolio

Others

Credit impairment charge

Total credit impairment charge

Stage 1 & 2 
$million

2020

Stage 3 
$million

Total 
$million

Stage 1 & 2 
$million

2019

Stage 3 
$million

Total
$million

321

414

70

(2)

24

827

–

–

827

916

301

246

4

–

1,237

715

316

2

24

1,467

2,294

31

31

31

31

1,498

2,325

95

175

(13)

1

4

262

1

1

263

380

161

135

(32)

-

644

1

1

645

475

336

122

(31)

4

906

2

2

908

Further details of the risk performance for 2020 is set out in the Risk profile section (pages 185 to 247)

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Risk profile

Our risk profile in 2020
The Enterprise Risk Management Framework (ERMF) enables 
us to closely manage enterprise-wide risks with the objective 
of maximising risk-adjusted returns while remaining within our 
Risk Appetite. We maintain a dynamic risk-scanning process 
for risk identification and assessment, with inputs from the 
internal and external risk environment, as well as potential 
threats and opportunities from the business and client 
perspectives, enabling us to proactively manage our portfolio. 
We maintain an inventory of the Principal Risk Types and risk 
sub-types that are inherent to the strategy and business 
model; and emerging risks that include near-term as well  
as longer-term uncertainties. 

The Group’s portfolios continue to exhibit a resilient risk profile. 
Our corporate portfolios remain predominantly short-tenor 
and diversified across industry sectors, products and 
geographies. Work done in previous years to build a strong 
foundation, including reducing our concentration to single 
names and high-risk sectors and increasing the proportion  
of investment grade assets, and actions taken in response to 
the heightened level of risk in the environment brought on by 
the pandemic, have helped to mitigate deterioration in our 
portfolios and risk profile. 

The table below highlights the Group’s overall risk profile 
associated with our business strategy. 

Our risk profile in 2020

Strong risk management underpinned by the ERMF
•  As part of the Group’s commitment to be a leader in 

sustainable and responsible banking, environmental,  
social and governance risks have been incorporated  
within the expanded Reputational and Sustainability  
Risk Type Framework 

•  Conduct Risk and Country Risk have been embedded as 

overarching components of the ERMF, rather than viewed 
as standalone risks 

•  Operational Risk has been expanded to include Technology 
Risk to meet the needs of the digital agenda of the Group

•  We are making good progress on integrating Climate Risk 

into mainstream risk management

•  Self-assessments performed in our footprint markets reflect 
the use of the ERMF and Principal Risk Types, with reinforced 
first line ownership 

•  Overall ERMF effectiveness has improved year-on-year, with 
a substantial focus on development of non-financial risk 
management 

Further details on the ERMF can be found on pages 248 to 253

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Resilient performance despite a challenging macroeconomic 
environment
•  Investment grade corporate net exposures have increased 

slightly to 62 per cent (2019: 61 per cent)

•  The Group’s proportions of stage 1 and stage 2 loans  
and advances to customers are broadly consistent at  
89 per cent and 8 per cent respectively

•  Stage 3 loans increased to $9.2 billion (up 25 per cent), 

although they remain at a consistent proportion of overall 
loans and advances. The overall stage 3 cover ratio has 
reduced to 58 per cent (2019: 68 per cent) mainly in 
Corporate & Institutional Banking, driven by write-offs and 
new stage 3 loans with low levels of coverage, which benefit 
from credit insurance and guarantees including from export 
credit agencies 

•  Early alerts increased by $5.4 billion to $10.7 billion on the 

back of proactive portfolio and sector reviews, particularly 
for vulnerable sectors

•  Total credit impairment more than doubled to $2.3 billion, 

reflecting the impact of COVID-19, with stage 3 impairment 
up $0.8 billion

•  86 per cent of our Retail Banking portfolio is fully secured 

(2019: 85 per cent). The average loan-to-value ratio of retail 
mortgages remains low at 45 per cent

•  Average Group value at risk (VaR) was $108 million (2019: 
$30 million), driven by the extreme market volatility due to 
COVID-19 and the collapse in oil prices

Our capital and liquidity positions remain robust 
•  We remain well capitalised and our balance sheet remains 

highly liquid 

•  Our liquidity buffer and cash outflows both grew in 2020  

in line with overall balance sheet growth, and our Liquidity 
Coverage Ratio remains strong and broadly stable at  
143 per cent

•   Our advances-to-deposits ratio decreased by 3.1 per cent  
to 61.1 per cent, driven by an increase in overall deposits 

•  Our customer deposit base is diversified by type  

and maturity

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Risk review Risk profile

Credit Risk (audited)

Basis of preparation
Unless otherwise stated the balance sheet and income 
statement information presented within this section is based 
on the Group’s management view. This is principally the 
location from which a client relationship is managed, which 
may differ from where it is financially booked and may be 
shared between businesses and/or regions. This view reflects 
how the client segments and regions are managed internally.

Loans and advances to customers and banks held at 
amortised cost in this Risk profile section include reverse 
repurchase agreement balances held at amortised cost,  
per Note 16 Reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements 
including other similar secured lending and borrowing.

Credit Risk overview
Credit Risk is the potential for loss due to the failure of a 
counterparty to meet its obligations to pay the Group. Credit 
exposures arise from both the banking and trading books.

Impairment model
IFRS 9 requires an impairment model that recognises  
the expected credit losses (ECL) on all financial debt 
instruments held at amortised cost, fair value through  
other comprehensive income (FVOCI), undrawn loan 
commitments and financial guarantees.

Staging of financial instruments
Financial instruments that are not already credit-impaired are 
originated into stage 1 and a 12-month expected credit loss 
provision is recognised. 

Instruments will remain in stage 1 until they are repaid, unless 
they experience significant credit deterioration (stage 2) or 
they become credit-impaired (stage 3). 

Instruments will transfer to stage 2 and a lifetime expected 
credit loss provision recognised when there has been a 
significant change in the Credit Risk compared with what  
was expected at origination. 

The framework used to determine a significant increase in 
credit risk is set out below. 

Stage 1
•  12-month ECL

•  Performing

Stage 2
•  Lifetime expected credit loss

Stage 3
•  Credit-impaired

•  Performing but has exhibited 

•  Non-performing

significant increase in credit risk 
(SICR)

IFRS 9 principles and approaches
The main methodology principles and approach adopted by the Group are set out in the following table.

Title

Description

Approach to 
determining 
expected  
credit losses

Incorporation of 
forward-looking 
information

For material loan portfolios, the Group has adopted a statistical 
modelling approach for determining expected credit losses that  
makes extensive use of credit modelling. While these models  
leveraged existing advanced Internal Ratings Based (IRB) models, for 
determining regulatory expected losses where these were available, 
there are significant differences between the two approaches.

The determination of expected credit loss includes various assumptions 
and judgements in respect of forward-looking macroeconomic 
information. Refer to page 225 for incorporation of forward-looking 
information, forecast of key macroeconomic variables underlying the 
expected credit loss calculation and the impact on non-linearity and 
sensitivity of expected credit loss calculation to macroeconomic 
variables.

Significant 
increase in credit 
risk (SICR)

Expected credit loss for financial assets will transfer from a 12-month 
basis (stage 1) to a lifetime basis (stage 2) when there is a SICR relative 
to that which was expected at the time of origination, or when the 
asset becomes credit-impaired. On transfer to a lifetime basis, the 
expected credit loss for those assets will reflect the impact of a  
default event expected to occur over the remaining lifetime of the 
instrument rather than just over the 12 months from the reporting date.
SICR is assessed by comparing the risk of default of an exposure at the 
reporting date with the risk of default at origination (after considering 
the passage of time). ‘Significant’ does not mean statistically significant 
nor is it reflective of the extent of the impact on the Group’s financial 
statements. Whether a change in the risk of default is significant or not 
is assessed using quantitative and qualitative criteria, the weight of 
which will depend on the type of product and counterparty.

Supplementary information

Credit Risk methodology
Determining lifetime expected 
credit loss for revolving products
Post-model adjustments

Incorporation of forward-looking 
information and impact of 
non-linearity
Forecast of key macroeconomic 
variables underlying the 
expected credit loss calculation
Management overlay and 
sensitivity to macroeconomic 
variables

Quantitative criteria
Significant increase in credit  
risk thresholds
Specific qualitative and 
quantitative criteria  
per segment:
Corporate & Institutional and 
Commercial Banking clients
Retail Banking clients
Private Banking clients
Debt securities

Page

224
224 

225

225 

225 

228

230
230 

231 

231 

231

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Title

Description

Assessment of 
credit-impaired 
financial assets

Transfers 
between stages

Modified 
financial assets

Governance and 
application of 
expert credit 
judgement in 
respect of 
expected credit 
losses

Credit-impaired (stage 3) financial assets comprise those assets that 
have experienced an observed credit event and are in default. Default 
represents those assets that are at least 90 days past due in respect of 
principal and interest payments and/or where the assets are otherwise 
considered unlikely to pay. This definition is consistent with internal 
Credit Risk management and the regulatory definition of default.
Unlikely to pay factors include objective conditions such as bankruptcy, 
debt restructuring, fraud or death. It also includes credit-related 
modifications of contractual cashflows due to significant financial 
difficulty (forbearance) where the Group has granted concessions  
that it would not ordinarily consider.
When financial assets are transferred from stage 3 to stage 2, any 
contractual interest earned while the asset was in stage 3 is recognised 
within the credit impairment line. The gross asset balances for stage 3 
financial instruments includes contractual interest due but not paid 
with a corresponding increase in credit impairment provisions. 

Assets will transfer from stage 3 to stage 2 when they are no longer 
considered to be credit-impaired. Assets will not be considered 
credit-impaired only if the customer makes payments such that they 
are paid to current in line with the original contractual terms.
Assets may transfer to stage 1 if they are no longer considered to have 
experienced a significant increase in credit risk. This will be immediate 
when the original probability of default (PD) based transfer criteria are 
no longer met (and as long as none of the other transfer criteria apply). 
Where assets were transferred using other measures, the assets will 
only transfer back to stage 1 when the condition that caused the 
significant increase in credit risk no longer applies (and as long as  
none of the other transfer criteria apply).

Where the contractual terms of a financial instrument have  
been modified, and this does not result in the instrument being 
derecognised, a modification gain or loss is recognised in the income 
statement representing the difference between the original cashflows 
and the modified cashflows, discounted at the effective interest rate. 
The modification gain/loss is directly applied to the gross carrying 
amount of the instrument.
If the modification is credit-related, such as forbearance or where the 
Group has granted concessions that it would not ordinarily consider, 
then it will be considered credit-impaired. Modifications that are not 
credit-related will be subject to an assessment of whether the asset’s 
Credit Risk has increased significantly since origination by comparing 
the remaining lifetime PD based on the modified terms to the 
remaining lifetime PD based on the original contractual terms.

The models used in determining ECL are reviewed and approved by the 
Group Credit Model Assessment Committee and have been validated 
by Group Model Validation, which is independent of the business. 
A quarterly model monitoring process is in place that uses recent data 
to compare the differences between model predictions and actual 
outcomes against approved thresholds. Where a model’s performance 
breaches the monitoring thresholds then an assessment of whether  
an ECL adjustment is required to correct for the identified model issue  
is completed.
The determination of expected credit losses requires a significant 
degree of management judgement which had an impact on 
governance processes, with the output of the expected credit  
models assessed by the IFRS 9 Impairment Committee.

Supplementary information

Retail Banking clients
Corporate & Institutional 
Banking clients
Commercial Banking and  
Private Banking clients

Page

231
231 

231

Movement in gross exposures  
and expected credit losses

199

COVID-19 relief measures
Forbearance and other  
modified loans

207
208

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Assessment Committee
IFRS 9 Impairment Committee

231 

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Risk review Risk profile

Composition of credit impairment provisions (audited)
The table below summarises the key components of the Group’s credit impairment provision balances at 31 December 2020  
and 31 December 2019.

Modelled ECL provisions, which include post-model adjustments (page 225), management overlays (page 228) and the  
impact of multiple economic scenarios (page 227) were 24 per cent of total credit impairment provisions at 31 December 2020, 
compared with 17 per cent at 31 December 2019. 11 per cent of the modelled ECL provisions at 31 December 2020 comprised 
post-model adjustments, management overlays and the impact of multiple economic scenarios compared with 1 per cent in 
2019, primarily due to COVID-19 related volatilities in 2020. 

Modelled ECL provisions increased by $623 million compared with 31 December 2019, just under half of which was due to an 
increased management overlay to capture risks arising from COVID-19 not identified by the credit impairment models. 
Excluding the effect of stage changes, the impact of deteriorating macroeconomic forecasts increased provisions by $81 million 
in 2020 (2019: increase of $96 million) with the remainder of the increase from portfolio movements and transfers into stage 2 
during the year. 

Stage 3 non-modelled provisions increased by 2 per cent compared with 2019.

ECL provisions (base forecast)

Of which: Post-model adjustments

Impact of multiple economic scenarios and management overlays

Total modelled ECL provisions

Of which: Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 3 non-modelled provisions

Total credit impairment provisions

2020  
$million

 1,380 

 (158) 

 351 

 1,731 

664 

 885

 182

 5,414 

 7,145 

2019  
$million

 1,079

(13)

 29 

 1,108 

 517 

 458 

 133 

 5,283 

 6,391 

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227

225

227-228

227

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Maximum exposure to Credit Risk (audited)
The table below presents the Group’s maximum exposure to Credit Risk for its on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet financial 
instruments as at 31 December 2020, before and after taking into account any collateral held or other Credit Risk mitigation.

The Group’s on-balance sheet maximum exposure to Credit Risk increased by $66 billion to $760 billion (2019: $694 billion).  
Cash and balances at central banks increased by $14 billion, and loans and advances to customers grew by $13 billion,  
primarily in mortgages which saw growth of $7 billion. Investment securities increased by $9 billion, of which the majority  
was in government and sovereign securities. Fair value through profit or loss assets and derivative exposure also increased  
by $12 billion and $22 billion respectively. 

Off-balance sheet instruments increased by $19 billion, of which undrawn commitments increased by $12 billion and financial 
guarantee, trade credit and irrevocable letters of credit increased by $7 billion.

2020

2019

Credit risk management

Credit risk management

Maximum 
exposure 
$million

Collateral 
$million

Master 
netting 
agreements 
$million

Net 
exposure 
$million

Maximum 
exposure 
$million

Collateral 
$million

Master 
netting 
agreements 
$million

Net 
exposure 
$million

On-balance sheet

Cash and balances at central banks
Loans and advances to banks1, 8

66,712

44,347

1,247

66,712

43,100

52,728

53,549

of which – reverse repurchase 
agreements and other similar 
secured lending7

1,247

1,247

– 

1,341

Loans and advances to customers1, 8

281,699

130,200

151,499

268,523

1,341

1,341

122,115

2,919

2,919

–

1,469

1,469

Loans and advances to banks

Loans and advances to customers

3,877

9,377

152,861

102,259

63,405

–

152,861

38,854

3,877

9,377

143,440

90,349

3,528

6,896

57,604

–

63,405

63,405

–

57,604

57,604

25,600

69,467

1,775

83

40,978

10,136

47,097

25,600

12,234

1,775

83

40,978

22,321

47,212

2,358

90

36,161

7,824

28,659

760,181

204,988

47,097

508,096

694,410

188,884

28,659

476,867

of which – reverse repurchase 
agreements and other similar 
secured lending7

Investment securities – debt securities 
and other eligible bills2
Fair value through profit or loss3, 7

Reverse repurchase agreements and 
other similar lending7

Investment securities – debt securities 
and other eligible bills2
Derivative financial instruments4, 7

Accrued income

Assets held for sale
Other assets5

Total balance sheet
Off-balance sheet6

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52,208

–

146,408

–

143,440

32,745

3,528

6,896

–

22,321

10,729

2,358

90

36,161

Undrawn commitments

Financial guarantees, trade credits and 
irrevocable letters of credit

Total off-balance sheet

Total

153,403

53,832

207,235

153,403

141,194

53,832

–

–

207,235

46,714

187,908

141,194

46,714

–

–

187,908

967,416

204,988

47,097

715,331

882,318

188,884

28,659

664,775

1   An analysis of credit quality is set out in the credit quality analysis section (page 192). Further details of collateral held by client segment and stage are set out in 

the collateral analysis section (page 212)

2   Excludes equity and other investments of $454 million (31 December 2019: $291 million). Further details are set out in Note 13 Financial instruments

3   Excludes equity and other investments of $4,528 million (31 December 2019: $2,469 million). Further details are set out in Note 13 Financial instruments

4   The Group enters into master netting agreements, which in the event of default result in a single amount owed by or to the counterparty through netting the sum 

of the positive and negative mark-to-market values of applicable derivative transactions

5   Other assets include Hong Kong certificates of indebtedness, cash collateral, and acceptances, in addition to unsettled trades and other financial assets

6   Excludes ECL allowances which are reported under Provisions for liabilities and charges

7   Collateral capped at maximum exposure (over-collateralised)

8   Adjusted for over-collateralisation, which has been determined with reference to the drawn and undrawn component as this best reflects the effect on the 

amount arising from expected credit losses

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Risk review Risk profile

Analysis of financial instrument by stage (audited)
This table shows financial instruments and off-balance sheet commitments by stage, along with the total credit impairment 
loss provision against each class of financial instrument.

The proportion of financial instruments held within stage 1 remained stable at 94 per cent (2019: 94 per cent). Total stage 1 
balances increased by $49 billion, of which around $14 billion in Cash and balances at central banks and $10 billion in loans and 
advances to customers primarily in mortgages, up $8 billion. Off-balance sheet exposures also increased, up $18 billion, mainly 
due to undrawn commitments.

Stage 2 financial instruments remained at 5 per cent (2019: 5 per cent). The proportion of loans and advances to customers 
classified in stage 2 remains stable at 8 per cent (2019: 8 per cent).

Stage 3 financial instruments were stable at 1 per cent of the Group total. Gross stage 3 loans and advances to customers 
increased by $1.8 billion primarily due to new but unrelated downgrades in Corporate & Institutional Banking.

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Total

Gross 
balance1
$million

Total credit 
impairment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
value 
$million

Gross 
balance1
$million

Total credit 
impairment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
value 
$million

Gross 
balance1
$million

Total credit 
impairment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
value 
$million

Gross 
balance1
$million

Total credit 
impairment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
value 
$million

2020

Cash and 
balances at 
central banks

Loans and 
advances  
to banks 
(amortised 
cost)

Loans and 
advances to 
customers 
(amortised 
cost)

66,649

– 66,649

67

(4)

63

44,015

(14) 44,001

349

(3)

346

–

–

–

–

–

66,716

(4) 66,712

–

44,364

(17) 44,347

256,437

(534) 255,903

22,661

(738) 21,923

9,214

(5,341) 3,873

288,312

(6,613) 281,699

Debt securities 
and other 
eligible bills5

Amortised cost
FVOCI2

149,316

19,246

130,070

Accrued income 
(amortised 
cost)4

Assets held  
for sale4

1,775

83

(56)

(15)

(41)

19,231

3,506

195

3,311

–

–

1,775

83

–

–

–

(26)

(2)

(24)

–

–

–

193

–

–

–

114

114

–

–

–

4

2

–

–

–

(3)

–

(58)

(58)

56

152,936

19,555

133,381

(140)

(75) 19,480

(65)

–

–

1

1,775

83

40,982

–

–

1,775

83

(4) 40,978

153,403

(117)

Other assets

40,978

(1) 40,977

Undrawn 
commitments3

143,703

(39)

9,698

(78)

Financial 
guarantees, 
trade credits 
and irrevocable 
letter of credits3 49,489

Total

752,445

(20)

(664)

3,573

39,854

(36)

(885)

770

(194)

10,104

(5,596)

53,832

802,403

(250)

(7,145)

1   Gross carrying amount for off-balance sheet refers to notional values

2   These instruments are held at fair value on the balance sheet. The ECL provision in respect of debt securities measured at FVOCI is held within the OCI reserve

3   These are off-balance sheet instruments. Only the ECL is recorded on-balance sheet as a financial liability and therefore there is no “net carrying amount”.  
ECL allowances on off-balance sheet instruments are held as liability provisions to the extent that the drawn and undrawn components of loan exposures  
can be separately identified. Otherwise they will be reported against the drawn component

4   Stage 1 ECL is not material

5   Stage 3 gross includes $38 million originated credit-impaired debt securities 

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Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Total

Gross 
balance1
$million

Total credit 
impairment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
value 
$million

Gross 
balance1
$million

Total credit 
impairment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
value 
$million

Gross 
balance1
$million

Total credit 
impairment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
value 
$million

Gross 
balance1
$million

Total credit 
impairment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
value 
$million

2019

52,728

–

52,728

–

–

–

52,634

(5) 52,629

924

(4)

920

–

–

–

–

–

52,728

–

52,728

–

53,558

(9) 53,549

246,149

(402) 245,747

20,759

(377) 20,382

7,398

(5,004)

2,394

274,306

(5,783) 268,523

138,782

13,678

125,104

2,358

90

36,161

(50)

(10)

13,668

(40)

4,644

277

4,367

–

–

2,358

90

(3)

36,158

–

–

–

(23)

(6)

(17)

–

–

–

271

–

–

–

75

75

–

–

–

(45)

(45)

30

–

–

–

143,501

14,030

129,471

2,358

90

(118)

(61)

13,969

(57)

–

–

2,358

90

36,325

(164)

36,161

–

–

3

164

(161)

132,242

(43)

8,951

(38)

1

–

141,194

(81)

42,597

703,741

(14)

(517)

3,509

38,787

(16)

(458)

608

8,246

(206)

(5,416)

46,714

750,774

(236)

(6,391)

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Cash and 
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central banks

Loans and 
advances  
to banks 
(amortised 
cost)

Loans and 
advances to 
customers 
(amortised 
cost)

Debt securities 
and other 
eligible bills

Amortised cost
FVOCI2

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Assets held  
for sale4

Other assets

Undrawn 
commitments3

Financial 
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trade credits 
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letter of credits3

Total

1   Gross carrying amount for off-balance sheet refers to notional values

2   These instruments are held at fair value on the balance sheet. The ECL provision in respect of debt securities measured at FVOCI is held within the OCI reserve

3   These are off-balance sheet instruments. Only the ECL is recorded on-balance sheet as a financial liability and therefore there is no “net carrying amount”.  
ECL allowances on off-balance sheet instruments are held as liability provisions to the extent that the drawn and undrawn components of loan exposures  
can be separately identified. Otherwise they will be reported against the drawn component

4   Stage 1 ECL is not material

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Risk review Risk profile

Credit quality analysis (audited)

Credit quality by client segment
For the Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking portfolios, exposures are analysed by credit grade (CG), 
which plays a central role in the quality assessment and monitoring of risk. All loans are assigned a CG, which is reviewed at 
least annually and amended in light of changes in the borrower’s circumstances or behaviour. CGs 1 to 12 are assigned to stage 1 
and stage 2 (performing) clients or accounts, while CGs 13 and 14 are assigned to stage 3 (defaulted) clients. The mapping of 
credit quality is as follows.

Mapping of credit quality
The Group uses the following internal risk mapping to determine the credit quality for loans.

Credit quality 
description

Internal grade  
mapping

S&P external ratings 
equivalent

Regulatory PD range (%)

Internal ratings

Number of days past due

Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking

Private Banking1

Retail Banking

Strong

1A to 5B

AAA to BB+

0 to 0.425

Class I and Class IV

Satisfactory

6A to 11C

BB to B-/CCC

0.426 to 15.75

Class II and Class III

Higher risk

 Grade 12

CCC/C

15.751 to 99.999

GSAM managed

Current loans (no past 
dues nor impaired)

Loans past due till 
29 days

Past due loans 
30 days and over  
till 90 days

1   For Private Banking, classes of risk represent the type of collateral held. Class I represents facilities with liquid collateral, such as cash and marketable securities. 
Class II represents unsecured/partially secured facilities and those with illiquid collateral, such as equity in private enterprises. Class III represents facilities with 
residential or commercial real estate collateral. Class IV covers margin trading facilities

The table overleaf sets out the gross loans and advances  
held at amortised cost, expected credit loss provisions and 
expected credit loss coverage by business segment and stage. 
Expected credit loss coverage represents the expected credit 
loss reported for each segment and stage as a proportion of 
the gross loan balance for each segment and stage.

Stage 1
Stage 1 gross loans and advances to customers increased by 
$10 billion, or 4 per cent compared with 31 December 2019 and 
represent 89 per cent of loans and advances to customers 
(2019: 90 per cent). The stage 1 coverage ratio remained at  
0.2 per cent compared with 31 December 2019.

In Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking 
the proportion of stage 1 loans has reduced to 80 per cent 
(2019: 83 per cent), although the percentage of stage 1 loans 
rated as strong is higher at 58 per cent (2019: 56 per cent) as 
the Group continues to focus on the origination of investment 
grade lending. Stage 1 loans reduced by $7 billion, primarily  
in the Energy, and Transport, Telecom and Utilities sector.  
The Central & Others segment increased by $9 billion due  
to an increase in exposure to Governments.

Commercial Banking stage 1 loans and advances decreased 
by $3.2 billion to $20.4 billion due to a number of corporate 
repayments mainly in the Greater China & North Asia region.

Retail Banking stage 1 loans increased by $9 billion primarily 
driven by new lending in mortgage products. The proportion 
rated as strong increased to 98 per cent (2019: 97 per cent). 
Stage 1 Private Banking assets reduced by $1 billion mainly  
in secured wealth products.

Stage 2
Stage 2 loans and advances to customers increased by  
$2 billion compared with 31 December 2019, with the 
proportion of stage 2 loans remaining stable at 8 per cent. 
This was largely due to a $3 billion increase in Corporate & 
Institutional Banking in the Transport, Telecoms and Utilities 
sector. Commercial Banking stage 2 balances decreased by 
$0.4 billion.

Retail Banking stage 2 loans saw a decrease of $0.6 billion 
primarily in mortgage products, mainly driven by repayments 
and a few downgrades to stage 3.

The overall stage 2 cover ratio almost doubled to 3.3 per cent 
primarily due to management overlays that were raised due 
to COVID-19 volatility and deterioration in macroeconomic 
forecasts during the year. 

Stage 2 loans to customers classified as ‘Higher risk’ increased 
by $0.9 billion, with the majority of the rise in Corporate & 
Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking following 
downgrades from early alerts in Africa & Middle East and 
ASEAN & South Asia.

Stage 3
Stage 3 loans and advances to customers increased by  
25 per cent to $9.2 billion (31 December 2019: $7.4 billion),  
with stage 3 provisions growing by $0.3 billion to $5.3 billion.  
As a result, the stage 3 cover ratio (excluding collateral) 
decreased by 10 percentage points to 58 per cent, largely 
driven by downgrades in Corporate & Institutional Banking 
and Commercial Banking with low levels of coverage  
and $1.2 billion of write-offs, most of which were heavily 
provisioned.

In Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking, 
gross stage 3 loans increased by $1.5 billion compared with  
31 December 2019, which included significant but unrelated 
downgrades in the ASEAN & South Asia and Africa & Middle 
East regions of $0.8 billion. Provisions rose by $0.1 billion from 
$4.5 billion to $4.6 billion as additional provisions of $1.4 billion 
were raised, but this was offset by a $1.2 billion reduction from 
exposures that were repaid or written off. The cover ratio 
dropped by 12 percentage points to 60 per cent, of which 
around 5 per cent of the decrease is due to write-offs and  
the remaining due to new downgrades with low level of 
coverage which are partially covered by credit insurance  
and guarantees, including export credit agencies. 

Stage 3 loans in the Retail Banking portfolio increased by  
$0.3 billion driven by the impact of COVID-19 on the portfolio, 
but remains at 1 per cent of total Retail loans. 

Private Banking stage 3 loans remained stable at $0.4 billion.

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Loans and advances by client segment (audited)

2020

Customers

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

Retail 
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private 
Banking 
$million

Central & 
other 
items 
$million

Customer 
Total 
$million

Undrawn 
commitments 
$million

Financial 
guarantees 
$million

90,559

113,162

20,434

58,031

110,903

32,528

16,408

2,538

12,326

1,544

2,259

2,459

1,328

661

470

168

64

661

470

6,246

14,188

3,596

218

2,779

599

34

84

13,132

8,863

4,269

198

194

4

–

2

10

5,506

1,173

2,146

389

19,150 256,437

143,703

49,489

18,889 202,932

122,792

30,879

261

53,505

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

22,661

4,278

15,770

2,613

865

628

9,214

20,911

9,698

3,537

5,522

639

–

–

2

18,610

3,573

386

2,399

788

–

–

770

Banks 
$million

44,015

34,961

9,054

349

95

233

21

–

29

–

44,364

112,473

116,794

26,176

13,719

19,150 288,312

153,403

53,832

(14)

(7)

(7)

(3)

–

(3)

–

–

–

–

(67)

(25)

(42)

(387)

(41)

(223)

(123)

(429)

(300)

(129)

(251)

(100)

(85)

(66)

(4)

(3)

(85)

(66)

(3,065)

(569)

(17)

(3,519)

(1,249)

(28)

(9)

(19)

(100)

(1)

(68)

(31)

(2)

(3)

(9)

(7)

(2)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(1,545)

(1,673)

(162)

(171)

(1)

–

(1)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(534)

(341)

(193)

(738)

(142)

(376)

(220)

(91)

(72)

(5,341)

(39)

(19)

(20)

(78)

(3)

(44)

(31)

–

–

–

(1)

(6,613)

(117)

Amortised cost

Stage 1

– Strong

– Satisfactory

Stage 2

– Strong

– Satisfactory

– Higher risk

Of which (stage 2):

– Less than 30 days past due

– More than 30 days past due

Stage 3, credit-impaired 
financial assets

Gross balance¹

Stage 1

– Strong

– Satisfactory

Stage 2

– Strong

– Satisfactory

– Higher risk

Of which (stage 2):

– Less than 30 days past due

– More than 30 days past due

Stage 3, credit-impaired 
financial assets

Total credit impairment

Net carrying value

44,347

108,954 115,545

24,503

13,548

19,149 281,699

Stage 1

– Strong

– Satisfactory

Stage 2

– Strong

– Satisfactory

– Higher risk

Of which (stage 2):

– Less than 30 days past due

– More than 30 days past due

Stage 3, credit-impaired 
financial assets

Cover ratio

Fair value through profit or loss

Performing

– Strong

– Satisfactory

– Higher risk

Defaulted (CG13-14)
Gross balance (FVTPL)2

Net carrying value (incl FVTPL)

0.0%

0.0%

0.1%

0.9%

0.0%

1.3%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

22,082

18,100

3,982

–

–

22,082

66,429

0.1%

0.0%

0.1%

0.4%

0.3%

5.7%

0.1%

0.1%

0.1% 0.0%

0.1% 0.0%

0.1% 0.0%

0.4%

2.4% 10.2%

2.8% 0.0% 0.0%

1.6%

7.5%

0.5% 0.0% 0.0%

1.8% 12.9%

2.4% 0.0% 0.0%

8.0% 14.0%

5.2% 0.0% 0.0%

0.2%

0.2%

0.4%

3.3%

3.3%

2.4%

8.4%

2.4% 12.9%

5.9% 0.0% 0.0% 10.5%

4.7% 14.0%

3.6% 0.0% 0.0% 11.5%

0.0%

0.0%

0.1%

0.8%

0.1%

0.8%

4.9%

0.0%

0.0%

55.7% 48.5%

72.0% 41.6% 0.0% 58.0%

0.0% 25.2%

3.1%

1.1%

6.4%

1.2% 0.0%

2.3%

0.1%

0.5%

51,549

27,323

24,144

82

37

135

133

2

–

–

2,835

2,204

631

–

9

51,586

135

2,844

–

–

–

–

–

–

12

54,531

8

4

–

–

29,668

24,781

82

46

12

54,577

160,540 115,680

27,347

13,548

19,161 336,276

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1   Loans and advances includes reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending of $2,919 million under Customers and of $1,247 million under 

Banks, held at amortised cost

2   Loans and advances includes reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending of $45,200 million under Customers and of $18,205 million under 

Banks, held at fair value through profit or loss

© 2020 Friend Studio Ltd 

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  Modification Date: 1 March 2021 3:29 pm

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

193

R
i
s
k
r
e
v

i

e
w
a
n
d
C
a
p
i
t
a

l

r
e
v

i

e
w

(20)

(13)

(7)

(36)

(3)

(19)

(14)

–

–

(194)

(250)

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

1.0%

0.8%

0.8%

1.8%

0.0%

0.0%

 
 
 
 
_38Z76_44253 U SCB AR 2020 Combined Text.pdf  | Page number | 194

2019

Customers3

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

Retail 
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private 
Banking 
$million

Central & 
other items 
$million

Customer 
Total 
$million

Undrawn 
commitments 
$million

Financial 
guarantees 
$million

94,226

103,899

23,683

14,249

10,092

246,149

132,242

42,597

58,623

101,246

35,603

13,454

2,711

9,652

1,091

145

175

2,653

3,029

2,231

462

336

462

336

6,941

16,742

3,985

208

3,493

284

58

86

10,145

4,104

284

280

4

–

–

4

4,173

846

2,013

366

9,961

186,916

131

59,233

7

–

–

7

–

–

–

20,759

5,430

13,611

1,718

665

601

7,398

113,195

19,047

8,951

3,988

4,601

362

–

–

1

27,417

15,180

3,509

1,049

2,248

212

–

–

608

Banks 
$million

52,634

41,053

11,581

924

225

476

223

2

23

–

53,558

111,853

107,774

29,681

14,899

10,099 274,306

141,194

46,714

(5)

–

(5)

(4)

(2)

(2)

–

–

–

–

(9)

(78)

(29)

(49)

(143)

(33)

(51)

(59)

(3)

(4)

(2,980)

(3,201)

(289)

(182)

(107)

(173)

(88)

(45)

(40)

(45)

(40)

(374)

(836)

(24)

(1)

(23)

(60)

(5)

(40)

(15)

(2)

(5)

(10)

(8)

(2)

(1)

(1)

–

–

–

–

(1,503)

(1,587)

(147)

(158)

(1)

–

(1)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(402)

(220)

(182)

(377)

(127)

(136)

(114)

(50)

(49)

(5,004)

(1)

(5,783)

Risk review Risk profile

Amortised cost

Stage 1

– Strong

– Satisfactory

Stage 2

– Strong

– Satisfactory

– Higher risk

Of which (stage 2):

– Less than 30 days past due

– More than 30 days past due

Stage 3, credit-impaired 
financial assets

Gross balance¹

Stage 1

– Strong

– Satisfactory

Stage 2

– Strong

– Satisfactory

– Higher risk

Of which (stage 2):

– Less than 30 days past due

– More than 30 days past due

Stage 3, credit-impaired 
financial assets

Total credit impairment

Net carrying value

53,549

108,652

106,938

28,094

14,741

10,098 268,523

Stage 1

– Strong

– Satisfactory

Stage 2

– Strong

– Satisfactory

– Higher risk

Of which (stage 2):

– Less than 30 days past due

– More than 30 days past due

Stage 3, credit-impaired 
financial assets

Cover ratio

Fair value through profit or loss

Performing

– Strong

– Satisfactory

– Higher risk

Defaulted (CG13-14)
Gross balance (FVTPL)2

Net carrying value (incl FVTPL)

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.4%

0.9%

0.4%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

21,797

19,217

2,580

–

–

21,797

75,346

0.1%

0.0%

0.1%

1.1%

1.2%

0.5%

5.4%

2.1%

2.3%

0.3%

0.2%

4.0%

5.7%

3.9%

9.7%

11.9%

9.7%

11.9%

0.1%

0.0%

0.1%

1.5%

2.4%

1.1%

5.3%

3.4%

5.8%

0.1%

0.1%

0.0%

0.4%

0.4%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

71.4% 44.2%

74.7% 40.2%

2.9%

0.8%

5.3%

1.1%

45,104

26,511

18,584

9

34

238

236

1

1

–

845

253

592

–

8

45,138

238

853

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.0%

0.0%

0.8%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

2

1

1

–

–

2

0.2%

0.1%

0.3%

1.8%

2.3%

1.0%

6.6%

7.5%

8.2%

67.6%

2.1%

46,189

27,001

19,178

10

42

46,231

153,790

107,176

28,947

14,741

10,100 314,754

(43)

(22)

(21)

(38)

(7)

(14)

(17)

–

–

–

(81)

–

0.0%

0.0%

0.1%

0.4%

0.2%

0.3%

4.8%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.1%

–

–

–

–

–

–

(14)

(8)

(6)

(16)

(3)

(8)

(5)

–

–

(206)

(236)

–

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.5%

0.3%

0.4%

2.4%

0.0%

0.0%

33.9%

0.5%

–

–

–

–

–

–

1   Loans and advances includes reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending of $1,469 million under Customers and of $1,341 million under 

Banks, held at amortised cost

2   Loans and advances includes reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending of $39,335 million under Customers and of $18,269 million under 

Banks, held at fair value through profit or loss

3   Corporate & Institutional Banking, Commercial Banking and Retail Banking Gross and ECL numbers have been restated to reflect client transfers between the 

segments. The changes are in stage 1 and stage 2 only. In the Fair value through profit or loss section, the swap is between Corporate & Institutional Banking and 
Commercial Banking 

194

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

© 2020 Friend Studio Ltd 

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  Modification Date: 1 March 2021 3:29 pm

_38Z76_44253 U SCB AR 2020 Combined Text.pdf  | Page number | 195

Loans and advances by client segment credit quality analysis

Credit grade

Regulatory 1 year  
PD range (%)

S&P external ratings 
equivalent

Gross

Credit impairment

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Total

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Corporate & Institutional Banking

2020

Strong

1A-2B

3A-4A

4B-5B

Satisfactory

6A-7B

8A-9B

10A-11C

Higher risk

0 – 0.045

AA- and above

0.046 – 0.110

A+ to A-

 58,031

 2,538

 9,748

 15,375

 295

 790

0.111 – 0.425

BBB+ to BBB-/BB+

 32,908

 1,453

 32,528

 12,326

0.426 – 1.350

BB+/BB to BB-

 22,747

1.351 – 4.000

BB-/B+ to B+/B

4.001 – 15.75

B to B-/CCC

 6,619

 3,162

12

15.751 – 99.999

CCC/C

Defaulted

13-14

Total

100

Defaulted

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

 60,569

 10,043

 16,165

 34,361

 44,854

 27,666

 10,797

 6,391

1,544

 1,544

5,506

 5,506

 (25)

–

 (2)

 (23)

 (42)

 (27)

 (11)

 (4)

 –

–

–

–

 (41)

 (4)

 (11)

 (26)

 (223)

 (65)

 (88)

 (70)

(123)

 (123)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

 –

–

Total

 (66)

 (4)

 (13)

 (49)

 (265)

 (92)

 (99)

 (74)

(123)

 (123)

 –  (3,065)

(3,065)

–  (3,065)

 (3,065)

 4,919

 4,178

 3,229

 1,544

 1,544

 –

–

–

–

–

–

 5,506

 5,506

 90,559

 16,408

 5,506  112,473

 (67)

 (387)

 (3,065)

 (3,519)

2019¹

Credit grade

Regulatory 1 year  
PD range (%)

S&P external ratings 
equivalent

Gross

Credit impairment

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Total

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Strong

1A-2B

3A-4A

4B-5B

Satisfactory

6A-7B

8A-9B

10A-11C

Higher risk

0 – 0.045

AA- and above

0.046 – 0.110

A+ to A-

 58,623

 6,638

 18,659

0.111 – 0.425

BBB+ to BBB-/BB+

 33,326

0.426 – 1.350

BB+/BB to BB-

1.351 – 4.000

BB-/B+ to B+/B

4.001 – 15.75

B to B-/CCC

12

15.751 – 99.999

CCC/C

Defaulted

13-14

Total

100

Defaulted

 2,711

 80

 912

 1,719

 9,652

 5,955

 2,633

 1,064

 1,091

 1,091

–

–

 61,334

 6,718

 19,571

 35,045

 45,255

 29,955

 10,633

 4,667

 1,091

 1,091

 4,173

 4,173

 (29)

 (2)

 (4)

 (23)

 (49)

 (26)

 (15)

 (8)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

 4,173

 4,173

 4,173

 35,603

 24,000

 8,000

 3,603

–

–

–

–

 (33)

–

 (7)

 (26)

 (51)

 (18)

 (21)

 (12)

 (59)

 (59)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

R
i
s
k
r
e
v

i

e
w
a
n
d
C
a
p
i
t
a

l

r
e
v

i

e
w

Total

 (62)

 (2)

 (11)

 (49)

 (100)

 (44)

 (36)

 (20)

 (59)

 (59)

–

–

 (2,980)

 (2,980)

 (2,980)

 (2,980)

 94,226

 13,454

 111,853

 (78)

 (143)

 (2,980)

 (3,201)

1   Stage 1 and stage 2 Gross and ECL numbers have been restated to reflect client transfers to and from Commercial Banking

© 2020 Friend Studio Ltd 

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Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

195

 
 
 
 
_38Z76_44253 U SCB AR 2020 Combined Text.pdf  | Page number | 196

Risk review Risk profile

Credit grade

Regulatory 1 year  
PD range (%)

S&P external ratings 
equivalent

Gross

Credit impairment

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Total

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Commercial Banking

2020

Strong

1A-2B

3A-4A

4B-5B

Satisfactory

6A-7B

8A-9B

10A-11C

Higher risk

0 – 0.045

AA- and above

0.046 – 0.110

A+ to A-

 6,246

 1,323

 1,378

0.111 – 0.425

BBB+ to BBB-/BB+

 3,545

 218

–

 25

 193

 14,188

 2,779

0.426 – 1.350

BB+/BB to BB-

1.351 – 4.000

BB-/B+ to B+/B

4.001 – 15.75

B to B-/CCC

 6,170

 5,657

 2,361

12

15.751 – 99.999

CCC/C

Defaulted

13-14

Total

100

Defaulted

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

 2,146

 2,146

 2,146

 6,464

 1,323

 1,403

 3,738

 16,967

 6,647

 6,714

 3,606

 599

 599

2,146

 2,146

 26,176

 477

 1,057

 1,245

 599

 599

 –

–

–

–

–

–

 (9)

–

–

 (9)

 (19)

 (4)

 (9)

 (6)

–

–

–

–

 (1)

–

–

 (1)

 (68)

 (9)

 (20)

 (39)

 (31)

 (31)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total

 (10)

–

–

 (10)

 (87)

 (13)

 (29)

 (45)

 (31)

 (31)

 –

–

 (1,545)

(1,545)

 (1,545)

 (1,545)

 20,434

 3,596

 (28)

 (100)

 (1,545)

 (1,673)

Credit grade

Regulatory 1 year  
PD range (%)

S&P external ratings 
equivalent

Strong

1A-2B

3A-4A

4B-5B

Satisfactory

6A-7B

8A-9B

10A-11C

Higher risk

0 – 0.045

AA- and above

0.046 – 0.110

A+ to A-

0.111 – 0.425

BBB+ to BBB-/BB+

0.426 – 1.350

BB+/BB to BB-

1.351 – 4.000

BB-/B+ to B+/B

4.001 – 15.75

B to B-/CCC

12

15.751 – 99.999

CCC/C

Defaulted

13-14

Total

100

Defaulted

Gross

Credit impairment

2019¹

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

 6,941

 285

 2,500

 4,156

 16,742

 7,030

 7,032

 2,680

–

–

–

–

 208

–

 10

 198

 3,493

 840

 1,355

 1,298

 284

 284

 –

–

 23,683

 3,985

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

 2,013

 2,013

 2,013

Total

 7,149

 285

 2,510

 4,354

 20,235

 7,870

 8,387

 3,978

 284

 284

2,013

 2,013

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Total

 (1)

–

–

 (1)

 (23)

 (5)

 (11)

 (7)

–

–

–

 (5)

–

–

 (5)

 (40)

 (1)

 (13)

 (26)

 (15)

 (15)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

 (6)

–

–

 (6)

 (63)

 (6)

 (24)

 (33)

 (15)

 (15)

 –

–

 (1,503)

(1,503)

 (1,503)

 (1,503)

 29,681

 (24)

 (60)

 (1,503)

 (1,587)

1   Stage 1 and stage 2 Gross and ECL numbers have been restated to reflect client transfers to and from Corporate & Institutional Banking and to Retail Banking

196

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Retail Banking

2020

Gross

Credit impairment

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Total

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

110,903

95,584

15,319

2,259

754

1,505

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,328

1,151

177

661

216

445

470

316

154

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,173

672

501

112,231

96,735

15,496

2,920

970

1,950

470

316

154

1,173

672

501

(300)

(51)

(249)

(129)

(11)

(118)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(100)

(30)

(70)

(85)

(3)

(82)

(66)

(12)

(54)

–

–

–

113,162

2,459

1,173

116,794

(429)

(251)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(569)

(256)

(313)

(569)

Gross

Credit impairment

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Total

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

2019

101,246

85,301

15,945

2,653

1,691

962

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,231

1,923

308

462

358

104

336

193

143

–

–

–

103,899

3,029

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

846

413

433

846

103,477

87,224

16,253

3,115

2,049

1,066

336

193

143

846

413

433

(182)

(11)

(171)

(107)

(1)

(106)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(88)

(12)

(76)

(45)

(3)

(42)

(40)

(3)

(37)

–

–

–

107,774

(289)

(173)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(374)

(143)

(231)

(374)

Total

(400)

(81)

(319)

(214)

(14)

(200)

(66)

(12)

(54)

(569)

(256)

(313)

(1,249)

Total

(270)

(23)

(247)

(152)

(4)

(148)

(40)

(3)

(37)

(374)

(143)

(231)

(836)

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Strong

Secured

Unsecured

Satisfactory

Secured

Unsecured

Higher risk

Secured

Unsecured

Defaulted

Secured

Unsecured

Total

Credit grade

Strong

Secured

Unsecured

Satisfactory

Secured

Unsecured

Higher risk

Secured

Unsecured

Defaulted

Secured

Unsecured

Total

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Risk review Risk profile

Credit quality by geographic region
The following table sets out the credit quality for gross loans and advances to customers and banks, held at amortised cost,  
by geographic region and stage.

Loans and advances to customers

Amortised cost

Gross (stage 1)

Provision (stage 1)

Gross (stage 2)

Provision (stage 2)
Gross (stage 3)2

Provision (stage 3)
Net loans1

Amortised cost

Gross (stage 1)

Provision (stage 1)

Gross (stage 2)

Provision (stage 2)
Gross (stage 3)2

Provision (stage 3)
Net loans1

Amortised cost

Gross (stage 1)

Provision (stage 1)

Gross (stage 2)

Provision (stage 2)

Gross (stage 3)

Provision (stage 3)
Net loans1

Amortised cost

Gross (stage 1)

Provision (stage 1)

Gross (stage 2)

Provision (stage 2)

Gross (stage 3)

Provision (stage 3)
Net loans1

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

136,107

75,561

(201)

7,609

(120)

1,016

(402)

144,009

(222)

6,162

(298)

3,774

(2,081)

82,896

2020

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

21,144

(96)

6,251

(255)

3,473

(2,313)

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

23,625

(15)

2,639

(65)

951

(545)

Total 
$million

256,437

(534)

22,661

(738)

9,214

(5,341)

28,204

26,590

281,699

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

2019

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

126,438

71,045

23,906

(165)

7,547

(115)

716

(360)

134,061

(146)

6,461

(127)

3,084

(2,087)

78,230

(79)

5,541

(117)

2,585

(1,899)

29,937

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

2020

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

17,981

13,467

5,539

(3)

33

–

–

–

(6)

74

(1)

–

–

(3)

207

(2)

–

–

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

24,760

(12)

1,210

(18)

1,013

(658)

26,295

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

7,028

(2)

35

–

–

–

Total 
$million

246,149

(402)

20,759

(377)

7,398

(5,004)

268,523

Total 
$million

44,015

(14)

349

(3)

–

–

18,011

13,534

5,741

7,061

44,347

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

2019

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

19,181

15,458

5,039

(1)

136

(2)

–

–

(2)

300

(1)

–

–

(1)

312

(1)

–

–

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

12,956

(1)

176

–

–

–

Total 
$million

52,634

(5)

924

(4)

–

–

19,314

15,755

5,349

13,131

53,549

1  

Includes reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending

2   Amounts do not include those purchased or originated credit-impaired financial assets

Loans and advances to banks

1  

Includes reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending

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Movement in gross exposures and credit impairment for 
loans and advances, debt securities, undrawn commitments 
and financial guarantees (audited)
The tables overleaf set out the movement in gross exposures 
and credit impairment by stage in respect of amortised cost 
loans to banks and customers, undrawn commitments, 
financial guarantees and debt securities classified at 
amortised cost and FVOCI. The tables are presented for the 
Group, debt securities and other eligible bills, the Corporate  
& Institutional Banking, Retail Banking and Commercial 
Banking segments.

Methodology
The movement lines within the tables are an aggregation of 
monthly movements over the year and will therefore reflect 
the accumulation of multiple trades during the year. The credit 
impairment charge in the income statement comprises the 
amounts within the boxes in the table below less recoveries of 
amounts previously written off. Discount unwind is reported  
in net interest income and related to stage 3 financial 
instruments only.

The approach for determining the key line items in the tables 
is set out below.

•  Transfers – transfers between stages are deemed to  

occur at the beginning of a month based on prior month 
closing balances

•  Net remeasurement from stage changes – the 

remeasurement of credit impairment provisions arising from 
a change in stage is reported within the stage that the 
assets are transferred to. For example, assets transferred 
into stage 2 are remeasured from a 12-month to a lifetime 
expected credit loss, with the effect of remeasurement 
reported in stage 2. For stage 3, this represents the initial 
remeasurement from specific provisions recognised on 
individual assets transferred into stage 3 in the year

•  Net changes in exposures – new business written less 

repayments in the year. Within stage 1, new business written 
will attract up to 12 months of expected credit loss charges. 
Repayments of non-amortising loans (primarily within 
Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial 
Banking) will have low amounts of expected credit loss 
provisions attributed to them, due to the release of 
provisions over the term to maturity. In stages 2 and 3, the 
amounts principally reflect repayments, although stage 2 
may include new business written where clients are on 
non-purely precautionary early alert, are credit grade 12, or 
when non-investment grade debt securities are acquired. 

•  Changes in risk parameters – for stages 1 and 2, this reflects 
changes in the probability of default (PD), loss given default 
(LGD) and exposure at default (EAD) of assets during the 
year, which includes the impact of releasing provisions over 
the term to maturity. It also includes the effect of changes  
in forecasts of macroeconomic variables during the year.  
In stage 3, this line represents additional specific provisions 
recognised on exposures held within stage 3

•  Interest due but not paid – change in contractual amount 

of interest due in stage 3 financial instruments but not paid, 
being the net of accruals, repayments and write-offs, 
together with the corresponding change in credit 
impairment

Changes to ECL models, which incorporates changes to 
model approaches and methodologies, is not reported as a 
separate line item as it has an impact over a number of lines 
and stages.

Movements during the period
Stage 1 gross exposures increased by $31 billion to $643 billion 
when compared with 31 December 2019. This was largely  
due to an increase of $14.7 billion in Retail Banking, of which 
$10 billion related to new mortgage lending and $4.7 billion to 
credit cards and personal loans (CCPL) and other unsecured 
lending. Holdings of debt securities also increased, up by  
$11 billion primarily due to sovereign exposures. These 
increases were partly offset by a reduction in Commercial 
Banking balances, down $3.4 billion, from a number of 
corporate repayments mainly in the Greater China & North 
Asia region. The transfers in Corporate & Institutional Banking 
and Commercial Banking reflect net outflows to stage 2 as  
a result of the deteriorating economic conditions and an 
increase in customers placed on non-purely precautionary 
early alert and higher risk category. 

Total stage 1 provisions increased by $149 million, primarily  
in Retail Banking, in part due to a management overlay on  
the unsecured portfolio for the impact of COVID-19 payment 
reliefs and lockdowns in the ASEAN & South Asia and Africa & 
Middle East regions and provision increases from an uptick in 
delinquencies across these markets.

Stage 2 gross exposures rose by $1 billion, primarily driven by 
net inflows into stage 2 in Corporate & Institutional Banking 
and Commercial Banking as clients were placed on non-
purely precautionary early alert where they were impacted  
by COVID-19 and flows to higher risk accounts. In Corporate  
& Institutional Banking, stage 2 exposures increased by  
$4 billion. Commercial Banking was $0.8 billion lower as net 
inflows were offset by repayments. Retail Banking loans were 
$1 billion lower from repayments and stage transfers in the 
secured mortgage portfolio. Stage 2 debt securities also  
fell $1 billion as securities transferred back to stage 1 or  
were repaid.

Stage 2 provisions rose $423 million compared with  
31 December 2019, $346 million of which was in Corporate & 
Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking as a result of 
net transfers into stage 2 as the macroeconomic environment 
deteriorated, increased non-purely precautionary balances 
and a net $188 million management overlay that was 
recognised in ‘Changes in risk parameters’ in respect of 
COVID-19 related uncertainties. Retail Banking increased by 
$78 million as a result of net transfers into stage 2 due to 
deteriorating macroeconomic conditions and a management 
overlay for the impact of COVID-19 payment-related reliefs  
in the ASEAN & South Asia and Africa & Middle East regions, 
particularly in the unsecured portfolios, which form 81 per cent 
of total Retail provisions.

Across all segments, the significant deterioration in 
macroeconomic forecasts across all markets increased 
provisions by $81 million.

There was a net $39 million release of provisions from model 
changes in the year to 31 December 2020, of which Corporate 
& Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking had a 
release of $48 million and Retail Banking had a charge of  
$9 million. Stage 3 exposures increased by $2 billion from $8.1 
billion as at 31 December 2019 to $10.1 billion as at 31 December 
2020. This was driven by an increase of $1.4 billion in Corporate 
& Institutional Banking clients from new downgrades during 
the year, which have low coverage as they are partially 
covered by credit insurance and guarantees, including export 
credit agencies. Stage 3 provisions at $5.6 billion increased by 
$338 million from 31 December 2019. Corporate & Institutional 
Banking and Commercial Banking provisions increased by $115 
million. Retail Banking provisions increased by $195 million, 
mainly from the secured portfolio in the ASEAN & South Asia 
region. Across all segments, additional provisions of $1.7 billion 
were offset by $1.9 billion of write-offs.

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

199

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Risk review Risk profile

All segments (audited)

Stage 1

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Stage 2

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Stage 3

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Total

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Amortised cost and FVOCI

As at 1 January 2019

592,481

(531) 591,950

42,324

(500) 41,824

9,382

(6,214)

3,168

644,187

(7,245) 636,942

Transfers to stage 1

28,552

(582)

27,970

(28,552)

582

(27,970)

–

Transfers to stage 2

(67,790)

157

(67,633)

67,983

(171)

67,812

(193)

–

14

–

(179)

Transfers to stage 3

(121)

–

(121)

(2,179)

314

(1,865)

2,300

(314)

1,986

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Net change in 
exposures

Net remeasurement 
from stage changes

Changes in risk 
parameters

Write-offs

Interest due  
but unpaid

Discount unwind

Exchange translation 
differences and  
other movements¹

As at 31 December 
2019²

Income statement ECL 
(charge)/release3

Recoveries of amounts 
previously written off

Total credit 
impairment (charge)/
release

60,374

(256)

60,118

(40,499)

24 (40,475)

(1,434)

307

(1,127)

18,441

75

18,516

–

–

–

–

–

196

196

434

434

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(171)

(171)

(489)

(489)

–

–

(406)

(406)

(787)

(787)

–

–

(381)

(381)

(842)

(842)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(1,795)

1,795

(365)

–

365

82

–

–

82

(1,795)

1,795

(365)

–

365

82

–

–

82

(1,092)

68

(1,024)

(290)

(47)

(337)

187

(97)

90

(1,195)

(76)

(1,271)

612,404

(514) 611,890

38,787

(458) 38,329

8,082

(5,255)

2,827

659,273

(6,227) 653,046

374

–

374

(636)

–

(636)

(886)

248

(638)

(1,148)

248

(900)

As at 1 January 2020 612,404

(514) 611,890

38,787

(458) 38,329

8,082 (5,255) 2,827

659,273 (6,227)653,046

Transfers to stage 1

46,437

(712) 45,725

(46,393)

712 (45,681)

Transfers to stage 2

(91,067)

430 (90,637)

91,176

(431) 90,745

(44)

(109)

-

1

(44)

(108)

Transfers to stage 3

(451)

1

(450)

(4,684)

266

(4,418)

5,135

(267) 4,868

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Net change in 
exposures5

Net remeasurement 
from stage changes

Changes in risk 
parameters

Write-offs

Interest due 
but unpaid

Discount unwind

Exchange translation 
differences and  
other movements¹

As at 31 December 
2020²

Income statement ECL 
(charge)/release3

Recoveries of amounts 
previously written off

Total credit 
impairment  
(charge)/release4

63,223

(119) 63,104

(39,610)

142 (39,468)

(1,544)

233

(1,311)

22,069

256 22,325

–

–

–

–

–

88

17

–

–

–

88

17

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(409)

(409)

(546)

(546)

–

–

(789)

(789)

(1,186)

(1,186)

–

–

(1,110)

(1,110)

(1,715)

(1,715)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(1,913)

1,913

231

–

(231)

85

–

–

85

(1,913)

1,913

231

–

(231)

85

–

–

85

12,414

146 12,560

511

(157)

354

262

(97)

165

13,187

(108)

13,079

642,960

(663)642,297

39,787

(881) 38,906

10,100 (5,593) 4,507 692,847

(7,137) 685,710

(14)

–

(14)

(813)

–

(813)

(1,742)

242

(2,569)

242

(1,500)

(2,327)

1  

Includes fair value adjustments and amortisation on debt securities

2   Excludes Cash and balances at central banks, Accrued income, Assets held for sale and Other assets

3   Does not include $2 million release (31 December 2019: $8 million provision) relating to Other assets

4   Statutory basis

5   Stage 3 gross includes $38 million originated credit-impaired debt securities 

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Of which – movement of debt securities, alternative tier one and other eligible bills (audited)

Stage 1

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

(27) 118,686

(38)

2,709

Gross 
balance 
$million

6,909

(2,747)

16

–

(2,343)

2,359

–

(1)

Stage 2

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

(31)

38

(16)

–

Net 
$million

6,878

(2,709)

2,343

(1)

Gross 
balance 
$million

118,713

2,747

(2,359)

–

19,314

(52)

19,262

(1,237)

(9)

(1,246)

–

–

–

–

27

27

–

–

27

27

–

–

–

–

–

–

367

(3)

364

(639)

(4)

(5)

–

–

4

(4)

(5)

–

–

Stage 3

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Total

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

498

(472)

26

126,120

(530) 125,590

–

–

1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

7

(170)

170

(247)

247

–

–

1

–

–

7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

18,077

(61)

18,016

–

–

(170)

23

29

170

(247)

247

23

29

–

–

138,782

(50) 138,732

4,644

(23)

4,621

75

(45)

30

143,501

(118) 143,383

(635)

(7)

3

(4)

(279)

4

(275)

2

–

2

(18)

–

(18)

(23)

7

–

7

(9)

–

(9)

4,621

75

(45)

30

143,501

(118) 143,383

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–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

39

4,867

(24) 4,843

–

(6)

(6)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(10)

(10)

4

–

–

4

–

–

5,298

(35)

5,263

(470)

11

(459)

39

–

–

–

–

16

15

–

–

16

15

–

–

–

–

–

–

4,655

8

4,663

(87)

(26)

(26)

(5)

(5)

–

–

–

–

7

(80)

–

(7)

(7)

4,568

8

4,576

149,316

(56) 149,260

3,506

(26)

3,480

114

(58)

56

152,936

(140) 152,796

4

–

4

(20)

–

(20)

(6)

–

(6)

(30)

–

(30)

Amortised cost and FVOCI

As at 1 January 2019

Transfers to stage 1

Transfers to stage 2

Transfers to stage 3

Net change in 
exposures

Net remeasurement 
from stage changes

Changes in risk 
parameters

Write-offs

Interest due  
but unpaid

Exchange translation 
differences and other 
movements1

As at 31 December 
2019

Income statement ECL 
(charge)/release

Recoveries of amounts 
previously written off

Total credit 
impairment  
(charge)/release

Transfers to stage 1

Transfers to stage 2

Transfers to stage 3

Net change in 
exposures2

Net remeasurement 
from stage changes

Changes in risk 
parameters

Write-offs

Interest due  
but unpaid

Exchange translation 
differences and  
other movements1

As at 31 December 
2020

Income statement ECL 
(charge)/release

Recoveries of amounts 
previously written off

Total credit 
impairment  
(charge)/release

As at 1 January 2020

138,782

(50) 138,732

4,644

(1,732)

1,732

(1,151)

–

(28)

1,704

28

(1,704)

18

–

(1,133)

1,151

(18)

1,133

–

–

–

–

1  

Includes fair value adjustments and amortisation on debt securities

2   Stage 3 gross includes $38 million originated credit-impaired debt securities 

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Risk review Risk profile

Corporate & Institutional Banking (audited)

Stage 1

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Stage 2

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Stage 3

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Total

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Amortised cost and FVOCI

As at 1 January 2019¹

269,648

(141) 269,507

18,431

(226)

18,205

5,385

(3,378) 2,007

293,464

(3,745) 289,719

Transfers to stage 1

16,555

(145)

16,410

(16,555)

145

(16,410)

–

Transfers to stage 2

(43,141)

39

(43,102)

43,326

(51) 43,275

(185)

–

12

Transfers to stage 3

–

–

–

(1,095)

122

(973)

1,095

(122)

–

(173)

973

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Net change in 
exposures

Net remeasurement 
from stage changes

Changes in risk 
parameters

Write-offs

Interest due  
but unpaid

Discount unwind

Exchange translation 
differences and  
other movements1

As at 31 December 
2019

Income statement ECL 
(charge)/release2

Recoveries of amounts 
previously written off

Total credit 
impairment  
(charge)/release

18,368

(124)

18,244

(22,387)

25 (22,362)

(840)

205

(635)

(4,859)

106

(4,753)

–

–

–

–

–

41

41

187

187

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(70)

(70)

(145)

(145)

–

–

(219)

(219)

(368)

(368)

–

–

(248)

(248)

(326)

(326)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(658)

658

(48)

–

48

38

–

–

38

(658)

658

(48)

–

48

38

–

–

38

115

23

138

764

14

778

(16)

(45)

(61)

863

(8)

855

261,545

(120) 261,425

22,484

(186) 22,298

4,733

(3,171)

1,562

288,762

(3,477) 285,285

104

–

104

(190)

–

(190)

(382)

–

(382)

(468)

–

(468)

As at 1 January 2020 261,545

(120) 261,425

22,484

(186) 22,298

4,733

(3,171)

1,562

288,762 (3,477) 285,285

Transfers to stage 1

29,811

(236) 29,575

(29,811)

236 (29,575)

Transfers to stage 2

(64,059)

161 (63,898)

64,091

(162) 63,929

–

(32)

–

1

–

(31)

Transfers to stage 3

(330)

–

(330)

(2,987)

59

(2,928)

3,317

(59)  3,258

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Net change in 
exposures

Net remeasurement 
from stage changes

Changes in risk 
parameters

Write-offs

Interest due  
but unpaid

Discount unwind

Exchange translation 
differences and  
other movements

As at 31 December 
2020

Income statement ECL 
(charge)/release2

Recoveries of amounts 
previously written off

Total credit 
impairment  
(charge)/release

31,954

(31) 31,923

(27,936)

33 (27,903)

(925)

172

(753)

3,093

174

3,267

–

–

–

–

–

13

44

–

–

–

13

44

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(146)

(146)

(234)

(234)

–

–

(559)

(559)

(540)

(540)

–

–

(692)

(692)

(730)

(730)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(907)

907

32

–

(32)

40

–

–

40

(907)

907

32

–

(32)

40

–

–

40

3,114

53

3,167

653

(82)

571

(52)

2

(50)

3,715

(27)

3,689

262,035

(116) 261,919

26,494

(482) 26,012

6,166 (3,239) 2,927

294,695 (3,837)290,858

26

–

26

(347)

–

(347)

(927)

18

(909)

(1,248)

18

(1,230)

1   Stage 1 and stage 2 Gross and ECL numbers have been restated to reflect client transfers to and from Commercial Banking

2   Does not include $2 million release (31 December 2019: $8 million provision) relating to Other assets

202

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

© 2020 Friend Studio Ltd 

  File name: 33_RiskXProfileX_XCreditXRisk_vAW - pp185-232 

  Modification Date: 1 March 2021 3:29 pm

Net change in 
exposures

Net remeasurement 
from stage changes

Changes in risk 
parameters

Write-offs

Interest due  
but unpaid

Discount unwind

Exchange translation 
differences and  
other movements1

As at 31 December 
2019

Income statement ECL 
(charge)/release

Recoveries of amounts 
previously written off

Total credit 
impairment  
(charge)/release

_38Z76_44253 U SCB AR 2020 Combined Text.pdf  | Page number | 203

Retail Banking (audited)

Stage 1

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Stage 2

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Stage 3

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Total

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Amortised cost and FVOCI

As at 1 January 2019¹

134,154

(313)

133,841

8,963

(132)

8,831

832

(394)

438

143,949

(839)

143,110

Transfers to stage 1

5,301

(355)

4,946

(5,301)

355

(4,946)

Transfers to stage 2

(8,279)

Transfers to stage 3

(117)

82

1

(8,197)

8,279

(116)

(517)

(82)

165

8,197

(352)

–

–

–

–

–

–

634

(166)

468

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

9,303

(15)

9,288

(6,020)

49

(5,971)

(290)

–

(290)

2,993

34

3,027

–

–

–

–

–

122

153

–

–

–

122

153

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(86)

(86)

(398)

(398)

–

–

(81)

(81)

(327)

(327)

–

–

(45)

(45)

(572)

(572)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(586)

586

–

–

–

28

–

–

28

(586)

586

–

–

–

28

–

–

28

(566)

26

(540)

(79)

(50)

(129)

256

(20)

236

(389)

(44)

(433)

139,796

(299) 139,497

5,325

(179)

5,146

846

(374)

472

145,967

(852)

145,115

260

–

260

(435)

–

(435)

(179)

(408)

247

(161)

(583)

247

(336)

5,146

846

(374)

472

145,967

(852) 145,115

As at 1 January 2020

139,796

(299) 139,497

5,325

Transfers to stage 1

7,421

(372)

7,049

(7,377)

372

(7,005)

Transfers to stage 2

(8,866)

206 (8,660)

8,940

(206)

8,734

(44)

(74)

–

–

(44)

(74)

Transfers to stage 3

(113)

1

(112)

(908)

184

(724)

1,021

(185)

836

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Net change in 
exposures

Net remeasurement 
from stage changes

Changes in risk 
parameters

Write-offs

Interest due  
but unpaid

Discount unwind

Exchange translation 
differences and  
other movements

As at 31 December 
2020

Income statement ECL 
(charge)/release

Recoveries of amounts 
previously written off

Total credit 
impairment  
(charge)/release

12,409

(35)

12,374

(1,738)

71

(1,667)

(277)

–

(277)

10,394

36 10,430

–

–

–

–

–

57

57

(67)

(67)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(194)

(194)

(246)

(246)

–

–

(89)

(89)

(432)

(432)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(696)

696

98

–

(98)

25

–

–

25

–

–

(226)

(226)

(745)

(745)

(696)

696

98

–

(98)

25

–

–

25

3,821

73

3,894

95

(59)

36

299

(112)

187

4,215

(98)

4,117

154,468

(436) 154,032

4,337

(257) 4,080

1,173

(569)

604

159,978 (1,262) 158,716

(45)

–

(45)

(369)

–

(369)

(521)

220

(301)

(935)

220

(715)

1   Stage 1 and stage 2 Gross and ECL numbers have been restated to reflect client transfers from Commercial Banking

© 2020 Friend Studio Ltd 

  File name: 33_RiskXProfileX_XCreditXRisk_vAW - pp185-232 

  Modification Date: 1 March 2021 3:29 pm

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

203

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Risk review Risk profile

Retail Banking – Secured (audited)

Stage 1

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

(15) 89,846
5,438
(24)
10 (5,622)
(55)

–

Gross 
balance 
$million

89,861
5,462
(5,632)
(55)

Gross 
balance 
$million

4,242
(5,429)
5,695
(396)

Stage 2

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Stage 3

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

(18) 4,224
24 (5,405)
5,685
(10)
(390)
6

413
(33)
(63)
451

(143)
–
–
(6)

Net 
$million

270
(33)
(63)
445

Gross 
balance 
$million

94,516
–
–
–

Total

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

(176) 94,340
–
–
–

–
–
–

7,993

(6)

7,987

(1,005)

1

(1,004)

(87)

-

(87)

6,901

(5)

6,896

–

–
–

–
–

1

(1)

–

–
–

1

(1)
–

–
–

–

–
–

–
–

2,243

(28)

2,215

59

(7)

(7)

–

(11)

(11)

–

(17)

(17)

(54)

–

–
–

8

(54)
–

–
(104)

–
–

82
–

(97)

104

(82)
4

(97)
–

–
(104)

(152)

104

(152)
–

–
4

82
–

(82)
4

–
4

67

11

(26)

(15)

2,313

(46)

2,267

99,872

(63) 99,809

3,166

(50)

3,116

670

(257)

413

103,708

(370) 103,338

(6)

–

(6)

Retail Banking – Unsecured (audited) 

(60)

–

(60)

Stage 2

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

(108)

50

(58)

Stage 3

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

(161)
922
348 (1,600)
3,049
(196)
(334)
178

433
(11)
(11)
570

(231)
–
–
(179)

(174)

50

(124)

Total

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

(676) 50,775
–
–
–

–
–
–

Net 
$million

202
(11)
(11)
391

Gross 
balance 
$million

51,451
–
–
–

Stage 1

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

(284) 49,651
1,611
(348)
196 (3,038)
(57)

1

Gross 
balance 
$million

49,935
1,959
(3,234)
(58)

Gross 
balance 
$million

1,083
(1,948)
3,245
(512)

4,416

(29)

4,387

(733)

70

(663)

(190)

–

(190)

3,493

41

3,534

–

–
–

–
–

56

56

(66)

–

–
–

(66)
–

–
–

–

–
–

–
–

(187)

(187)

–

(78)

(78)

–

(209)

(209)

(192)

–

–
–

(192)
–

–
(592)

(335)

592

(335)
–

–
(592)

(593)

592

(593)
–

–
–

16
–

(16)
21

–
21

16
–

(16)
21

–
21

1,578

101

1,679

36

(67)

(31)

288

(86)

202

1,092

(52)

1,850

54,596

(373)  54,223

1,171

(207)

964

503

(312)

191

56,270

(892) 55,378

(39)

–

(39)

(309)

–

(309)

(413)

170

(243)

(761)

170

(591)

Amortised cost and FVOCI

As at 1 January 2020
Transfers to stage 1
Transfers to stage 2
Transfers to stage 3
Net change in 
exposures
Net remeasurement 
from stage changes
Changes in risk 
parameters
Write-offs
Interest due  
but unpaid
Discount unwind
Exchange translation 
differences and  
other movements
As at 31 December 
2020
Income statement ECL 
(charge)/release
Recoveries of amounts 
previously written off
Total credit 
impairment  
(charge)/release

Amortised cost and FVOCI

As at 1 January 2020
Transfers to stage 1
Transfers to stage 2
Transfers to stage 3
Net change in 
exposures
Net remeasurement 
from stage changes
Changes in risk 
parameters
Write-offs
Interest due  
but unpaid
Discount unwind
Exchange translation 
differences and  
other movements
As at 31 December 
2020
Income statement ECL 
(charge)/release
Recoveries of amounts 
previously written off
Total credit 
impairment  
(charge)/release

204

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© 2020 Friend Studio Ltd 

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_38Z76_44253 U SCB AR 2020 Combined Text.pdf  | Page number | 205

Commercial Banking (audited) 

Stage 1

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Stage 2

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Stage 3

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Total

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
$million

Net 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Amortised cost and FVOCI

As at 1 January 2019¹

34,338

(39) 34,299

7,255

(109)

7,146

2,368

(1,803)

565

43,961

(1,951) 42,010

Transfers to stage 1

3,082

(42)

3,040

(3,082)

42

(3,040)

Transfers to stage 2

(11,878)

20 (11,858)

11,886

(22)

11,864

–

(8)

–

2

–

(6)

Transfers to stage 3

(4)

–

(4)

(465)

26

(439)

469

(26)

443

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Net change in 
exposures

Net remeasurement 
from stage changes

Changes in risk 
parameters

Write-offs

Interest due  
but unpaid

Discount unwind

Exchange translation 
differences and  
other movements1

As at 31 December 
2019

Income statement ECL 
(charge)/release

Recoveries of amounts 
previously written off

Total credit 
impairment  
(charge)/release

9,186

(70)

9,116

(8,864)

(38)

(8,902)

(263)

96

(167)

59

(12)

47

–

–

–

–

–

5

69

–

–

–

5

69

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(11)

(11)

58

58

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(380)

(87)

–

(107)

(107)

(124)

380

87

13

(124)

–

–

13

–

–

3

(380)

380

(87)

–

87

13

3

–

–

13

(113)

(113)

(886)

19

(867)

(689)

(13)

(702)

(37)

(35)

(72)

(1,612)

(29)

(1,641)

33,838

(38) 33,800

6,041

(67)

5,974

2,062

(1,517)

545

41,941

(1,622) 40,319

4

–

4

9

–

9

(135)

1

(134)

(122)

1

(121)

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As at 1 January 2020

33,838

(38) 33,800

6,041

(67)

5,974

2,062

(1,517)

545

41,941

(1,622) 40,319

Transfers to stage 1

7,369

(74)

7,295

(7,369)

74

(7,295)

Transfers to stage 2

(15,823)

43 (15,780)

15,826

(43)

15,783

–

(3)

–

–

–

(3)

Transfers to stage 3

(7)

–

(7)

(678)

23

(655)

685

(23)

662

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Net change in 
exposures

Net remeasurement 
from stage changes

Changes in risk 
parameters

Write-offs

Interest due  
but unpaid

Discount unwind

Exchange translation 
differences and  
other movements

As at 31 December 
2020

Income statement ECL 
(charge)/release

Recoveries of amounts 
previously written off

Total credit 
impairment  
(charge)/release

4,651

(20)

4,631

(8,427)

26

(8,401)

(276)

59

(217)

(4,052)

65

(3,987)

–

–

–

–

–

2

25

–

–

–

2

25

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(42)

(42)

(61)

(61)

–

–

(141)

(141)

(202)

(202)

–

–

(181)

(181)

(238)

(238)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(309)

309

83

–

(83)

14

–

–

14

(309)

309

83

–

(83)

14

–

–

14

390

24

414

(145)

(27)

(172)

14

20

34

259

17

276

30,418

(38) 30,380

5,248

(117)

5,131

2,256 (1,564)

692

37,922

(1,719) 36,203

7

–

7

(77)

–

(77)

(284)

4

(280)

(354)

4

(350)

1   Stage 1 and stage 2 Gross and ECL numbers have been restated to reflect client transfers to and from Corporate & Institutional Banking and to Retail Banking

© 2020 Friend Studio Ltd 

  File name: 33_RiskXProfileX_XCreditXRisk_vAW - pp185-232 

  Modification Date: 1 March 2021 3:29 pm

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

205

 
 
 
 
_38Z76_44253 U SCB AR 2020 Combined Text.pdf  | Page number | 206

Risk review Risk profile

Analysis of stage 2 balances
The table below analyses stage 2 gross exposures and associated expected credit provisions by the key significant increase in 
credit risk (SICR) driver that caused the exposures to be classified as stage 2 as at 31 December 2020. This may not be the same 
driver that caused the initial transfer into stage 2.

Where multiple drivers apply, the exposure is allocated based on the table order. For example, a loan may have breached the 
PD thresholds and could also be on non-purely precautionary early alert; in this instance, the exposure is reported under 
‘Increase in PD’. 

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking

Retail Banking

Commercial 
Banking

 2020

Private Banking

Central & Other

Total

Gross 
%

ECL 
%

Gross 
%

ECL 
%

Gross 
%

ECL 
%

Gross 
%

ECL 
%

Gross 
%

ECL 
%

Gross 
%

ECL 
%

Increase in PD

Non-purely 
precautionary  
early alert

Higher risk (CG12)

Sub-investment grade

30 days past due

Others

Total stage 2

Increase in PD

Non-purely 
precautionary  
early alert

Higher risk (CG12)

Sub-investment grade

30 days past due

Others

Total stage 2

62% 84%

87% 84%

61% 71%

21%

2%

1%

–

14%

6%

7%

1%

–

2%

–

–

–

–

–

–

8% 15%

5%

1%

26%

9%

5% 19%

1%

–

7%

0%

–

1%

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1%

4%

–

–

18%

9% 44%

–

–

–

–

3%

1%

1%

5%

8%

0%

5%

2%

99% 96%

6%

9%

13%

85% 47%

64% 80%

100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

Corporate & 
Institutional Banking

Gross 
%

49%

ECL 
%

52%

Retail Banking

Gross 
%

94%

ECL 
%

76%

Commercial 
Banking

Gross 
%

67%

ECL 
%

57%

 2019

22%

6%

1%

–

22%

12%

28%

3%

–

5%

–

–

–

4%

2%

–

–

–

22%

2%

9%

5%

4%

–

15%

8%

26%

2%

–

7%

Private Banking

Central & Other

Total

Gross 
%

ECL 
%

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

100% 100%

Gross 
%

43%

ECL 
%

31%

Gross 
%

60%

ECL 
%

62%

–

–

–

–

53%

63%

–

4%

–

6%

14%

3%

5%

1%

17%

6%

15%

4%

9%

4%

100% 100%

100% 100%

100% 100%

100% 100%

100% 100%

100% 100%

The majority of exposures and the associated expected credit 
loss provisions continue to be in stage 2 due to increases in the 
probability of default. 

Although the amount of exposures placed on non-purely 
precautionary early alert during the year increased in 
Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking,  
a number of those exposures in Corporate & Institutional 
Banking had breached the SICR PD thresholds by the end  
of 2020 and have been classified into that category. 

15 per cent of the provisions held against stage 2 Retail 
Banking exposures arise from the application of the 30 days 
past due backstop, although this represents only 8 per cent  
of exposures. The proportion of PD driven gross inflows into 
stage 2 has reduced compared with 2019, reflecting the 
impact of COVID-19 relief measures, which were in place  
for much of 2020. 

Debt securities are largely held in the Group’s Treasury 
business in Central & Others. Debt securities originated prior 
to 1 January 2018 that had a sub-investment grade rating 
were allocated into stage 2. For debt securities originated 
after 1 January 2018, SICR is assessed based on the relative 
and absolute increases in PD. Central & Others has seen a 
significant increase in the CG 12 category in 2020 primarily  
due to newly downgraded sovereign counterparties in the 
Africa & Middle East region. 

‘Others’ primarily incorporates exposures where origination 
data is incomplete and the exposures are allocated into  
stage 2. Significant increase in credit risk for Private Banking 
clients is assessed by referencing the nature and level of 
collateral against which credit is extended.

Credit impairment charge (audited) 
The underlying credit impairment charge is $2.3 billion,  
up $1.4 billion compared with 2019. Stage 3 is $823 million 
higher at $1.5 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is from 
Corporate & Institutional Banking. 

Stage 1 and stage 2 impairments have also increased by  
$565 million to $827 million (2019: $262 million), of which more 
than half of the increase is due to management overlays  
of $353 million, with the remainder due to deteriorating 
macroeconomic forecasts and stage downgrades as a result 
of COVID-19 related uncertainties. 

Corporate & Institutional Banking stage 3 impairments were 
$0.9 billion (2019: $0.4 billion), mainly from three significant  
but unrelated downgrades in the first quarter of 2020. 
Commercial Banking stage 3 impairment was slightly higher 
at $0.2 billion (2019: $ 0.1 billion) due to a few new client 
downgrades, reflecting in part the impact of the pandemic. 

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Stage 1 and stage 2 Corporate & Institutional Banking  
and Commercial Banking segments were $321 million and  
$70 million respectively (2019: Corporate & Institutional 
Banking $95 million and Commercial Banking $13 million 
release), with increases due to the deterioration in 
macroeconomic forecasts and second order impact of  
stage downgrades. A judgemental overlay of $197 million has 
also been taken, representing an estimate of the impact of 
further deterioration to the non-purely precautionary early 
alert portfolio. 

Retail stage 3 impairments are higher, particularly in the 
ASEAN & South Asia region in unsecured products as volatility 
created by the pandemic resulted in a slowdown in field 
collections in key markets. Stage 1 and 2 impairment of  

$414 million was driven by higher flows into stage 2 and 
deterioration in macroeconomic forecasts, as well as a 
judgemental overlay of $156 million to account for the 
expected increase in delinquencies following the expiry  
of government relief measures. 

Private Banking stage 3 impairment charge is $4 million, 
compared with a release in 2019 driven by an ASEAN &  
South Asia client. Stage 1 and 2 impairment saw a release  
of $2 million (2019: $1 million charge).

The Central & Others segment saw stage 1 and 2 impairment 
of $24 million (2019: $4 million) primarily due to stage 
downgrades of sovereign counterparties in the Africa & 
Middle East region. 

Stage 1 & 2 
$million

2020

Stage 3 
$million

Total 
$million

Stage 1 & 2 
$million

2019

Stage 3 
$million

Total 
$million

Ongoing business portfolio

Corporate & Institutional Banking

Retail Banking

Commercial Banking 

Private Banking

Central & Others

Credit impairment charge

Restructuring business portfolio
Others1

Credit impairment charge

Total credit impairment charge

321

414

70

(2)

24

827

–

–

827

916

301

246

4

–

1,237

715

316

2

24

1,467

2,294

31

31

31

31

1,498

2,325

95

175

(13)

1

4

262

1

1

263

380

161

135

(32)

–

644

1

1

645

1  There was a net $31 million impairment (31 December 2019: $2 million) from the Group’s discontinued businesses

475

336

122

(31)

4

906

2

2

908

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COVID-19 relief measures
COVID-19 payment-related relief measures are in place across 
most of our markets, particularly focused on Retail and 
Business Banking customers. These schemes are generally 
initiated by country regulators and governments. Measures 
include principal and/or interest moratoria and term 
extensions, and are generally available to eligible borrowers 
(those that are current or less than 30 days past due, unless 
local regulators have specified different criteria). Certain 
schemes may be restricted to those in industries significantly 
impacted by COVID-19, such as aviation or consumer services, 
but are not borrower-specific in nature. 

Relief measures are generally mandated or supported by 
regulators and governments and are available to all eligible 
customers who request it. However, in a number of countries, 
particularly in ASEAN & South Asia and Africa & Middle East, 
compulsory (regulatory approved) moratoria reliefs are 
applied to all eligible loans unless a customer has specifically 
asked to opt out.

In most major Retail Banking markets, the period of relief 
provided is between 6 and 12 months. In some smaller 
markets, reliefs are in place for 3 months.

COVID-19 related tenor extensions have also been made 
available to Corporate & Institutional Banking and 
Commercial Banking clients, primarily for periods  
between 3 to 9 months, if they are expected to return  
to normal payments within 12 months.

Assessment for expected credit losses
COVID-19 payment reliefs that are generally available to a 
market or industry as a whole and are not borrower-specific  
in nature have not, on their own, resulted in an automatic 
change in stage (that is, individual customers are not 
considered to have experienced a significant increase in  
credit risk or an improvement in credit risk) nor have they  
been considered to be forborne. 

A customer’s stage and past due status reflects their status 
immediately prior to the granting of the relief, with past due 
amounts assessed based on the new terms as set out in the 
temporary payment reliefs.

If a customer requires additional support after the expiry of 
the initial payment relief period, these will be considered at  
a borrower level, after taking into account their individual 
circumstances. Depending on the type of subsequent support 
provided, these customers may be classified within stage 2 or 
stage 3.

Where client-level government guarantees are in place,  
these do not affect staging but are taken into account when 
determining the level of credit impairment. 

Impact from temporary changes to loan contractual terms
$3.6 billion of outstanding loan balances are subject to 
payment relief measures at 31 December 2020. This represents 
1 per cent of the Group’s gross loans and advances to banks 
and customers.

The granting of COVID-19 payment-related relief measures 
may cause a time value of money loss for the Group where 
interest is not permitted to be compounded (that is, interest 
charged on interest) or where interest is not permitted to be 
charged or accrued during the relief period. As set out above, 
such reliefs do not impact a customer’s stage and are not 
considered to be forborne even though a time value of money 
loss arises. As the relief periods are relatively short-term in 
nature, and a small percentage of the total loans outstanding, 
this has not resulted in a material impact for the Group.

The table below sets out the extent to which payment reliefs 
are in place across the Group’s loan portfolio based on the 
amount outstanding at 31 December 2020. 

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Risk review Risk profile

The total exposure of the Retail Banking portfolio under 
moratoria is $2.4 billion, of which $1.8 billion (74 per cent)  
is from residential mortgages, which is secured against 
properties with an average loan-to-value of less than  
40 per cent. A large part of moratoria has ended and thus  
the portfolio under moratoria reduced from $8.9 billion at  
its peak in the first half of the year (a significant portion of 
which was applied to all eligible loans and generally 
mandated or supported by regulators) to $2.4 billion mainly 

concentrated in Singapore and Hong Kong, which are largely 
secured. 16 per cent of the total amounts approved are to 
Business Banking customers, concentrated in industries that 
have been materially disrupted, of which over 45 per cent is 
collateralised by commercial immovable property. 

In Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking, 
around 54 per cent of the amounts outstanding have a 
remaining tenor of 90 days or less, and around 19 per cent of 
the amounts outstanding are to clients in vulnerable sectors. 

COVID-19 relief measures

Segment

Credit card &  
Personal loans

Residential mortgages 

Business banking

Total Retail Banking

Corporate &  
Institutional Banking

Commercial Banking

Total at  
31 December 2020

Greater China &  
North Asia

ASEAN & South Asia

Africa & Middle East

Europe & Americas

Outstanding 
$million

% of 
portfolio1

Outstanding 
$million

% of 
portfolio1

Outstanding 
$million

% of 
portfolio1

Outstanding 
$million

% of 
portfolio1

Outstanding 
$million

% of 
portfolio1

2%

2%

3%

2%

 241 

 1,758 

 373 

 2,372 

 727 

 468 

 3,567 

1%

0%

1%

2%

1%

 23 

 526 

 103 

 652 

 51 

 262 

 965 

0%

7%

4%

5%

 90 

 1,202 

 262 

 1,554 

 320 

 113 

 1,987 

7%

1%

1%

3%

 128 

 30 

 8 

 166 

 336 

 93 

 595 

 20 

 – 

 20 

1  Percentage of portfolio represents the outstanding amount at 31 December 2020 as a percentage of the gross loans and advances to banks and customers by 

product and segment and total loans and advances to banks and customers at 31 December 2020

Problem credit management and provisioning 
(audited) 

Forborne and other modified loans by client segment 

A forborne loan arises when a concession has been made to 
the contractual terms of a loan in response to a customer’s 
financial difficulties.

Net forborne loans increased by $876 million compared  
with 2019, primarily in Corporate & Institutional Banking and 
Private Banking within the Africa & Middle East and Europe  
& Americas regions. $573 million of the increase relates to 
performing forborne loans and is primarily due to COVID-19 
related modifications for a small percentage of clients. 

The table below presents loans with forbearance measures by segment.

2020

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

Retail  
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

2,138

(2)

(829)

1,307

650

650

–

(2)

(2)

–

648

307

1,488

1,373

115

(829)

(750)

(79)

659

223

376

–

(179)

197

41

41

–

–

–

–

41

23

335

335

–

(179)

(179)

–

156

38

752

(1)

(551)

200

48

46

2

(1)

(1)

–

47

22

704

649

55

(551)

(498)

(53)

153

66

327

(1)

(2)

324

310

310

–

(1)

(1)

–

309

–

17

17

–

(2)

(2)

–

15

9

Total 
$million

3,593

(4)

(1,561)

2,028

1,049

1,047

2

(4)

(4)

–

1,045

352

2,544

2,374

170

(1,561)

(1,429)

(132)

983

336

Amortised cost

All loans with forbearance measures

Credit impairment (stage 1 and 2)

Credit impairment (stage 3)

Net carrying value

Included within the above table

Gross performing forborne loans

Modification of terms and conditions¹
Refinancing2

Impairment provisions

Modification of terms and conditions1
Refinancing2

Net performing forborne loans

Collateral

Gross non-performing forborne loans

Modification of terms and conditions¹

Refinancing²

Impairment provisions

Modification of terms and conditions¹

Refinancing²

Net non-performing forborne loans

Collateral

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Amortised cost

All loans with forbearance measures

Credit impairment (stage 1 and 2)

Credit impairment (stage 3)

Net carrying value

Included within the above table

Gross performing forborne loans

Modification of terms and conditions¹

Refinancing²

Impairment provisions

Modification of terms and conditions1
Refinancing2

Net performing forborne loans

Collateral

Gross non-performing forborne loans

Modification of terms and conditions¹

Refinancing²

Impairment provisions

Modification of terms and conditions¹

Refinancing²

Net non-performing forborne loans

Collateral

2019

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

Retail  
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

1,533

(13)

(748)

772

421

421

–

(13)

(13)

–

408

62

1,112

1,071

41

(748)

(717)

(31)

364

190

344

–

(169)

175

19

19

–

–

–

–

19

19

325

325

–

(169)

(169)

–

156

156

767

(4)

(558)

205

49

44

5

(4)

(4)

–

45

22

718

696

22

(558)

(544)

(14)

160

99

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1   Modification of terms is any contractual change apart from refinancing, as a result of credit stress of the counterparty, i.e. interest reductions, loan  

covenant waivers

2   Refinancing is a new contract to a lender in credit stress, such that they are refinanced and can pay other debt contracts that they were unable to honour

Forborne and other modified loans by region

Amortised cost

Performing forborne loans

Stage 3 forborne loans

Net forborne loans

Amortised cost

Performing forborne loans

Stage 3 forborne loans

Net forborne loans

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

38

238

276

97

401

498

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

100

177

277

251

173

424

2020

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

585

164

749

2019

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

110

148

258

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

325

180

505

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

11

182

193

Total 
$million

2,644

(17)

(1,475)

1,152

489

484

5

(17)

(17)

–

472

103

2,155

2,092

63

(1,475)

(1,430)

(45)

680

445

Total 
$million

1,045

983

2,028

Total 
$million

472

680

1,152

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Risk review Risk profile

Credit-impaired (stage 3) loans and advances by client 
segment (audited)
Gross stage 3 loans for the Group have increased to $9.2 billion 
(2019: $7.4 billion), driven by inflows of $3.6 billion from new 
downgrades particularly in the Corporate & Institutional 
Banking and Commercial Banking segments which were 
offset by repayments and write-offs during the year.  
Inflows in 2020 were mainly in the ASEAN & South Asia and 
Africa & Middle East regions, driven by significant clients 
across unrelated sectors downgraded in Corporate & 
Institutional Banking.

Stage 3 loans in the Retail Banking portfolio increased by  
$0.3 billion driven by the impact of COVID-19 on the portfolio, 
but remains at 1 per cent of total Retail loans. 

Gross stage 3 loans in Private Banking remained stable at 
$0.4 billion.

Stage 3 cover ratio (audited)
The stage 3 cover ratio measures the proportion of stage 3 
impairment provisions to gross stage 3 loans, and is a metric 
commonly used in considering impairment trends. This metric 
does not allow for variations in the composition of stage 3 
loans and should be used in conjunction with other Credit Risk 
information provided, including the level of collateral cover.

The balance of stage 3 loans not covered by stage 3 
impairment provisions represents the adjusted value of 
collateral held and the net outcome of any workout or 
recovery strategies.

Collateral provides risk mitigation to some degree in all client 
segments and supports the credit quality and cover ratio 
assessments post impairment provisions. Further information 
on collateral is provided in the Credit Risk mitigation section.

The Corporate & Institutional Banking cover ratio decreased 
by 15 percentage points to 56 per cent as a result of write-offs, 
debt sales and new downgrades that have low levels of 
coverage as they benefit from collateral. The tangible 
collateral cover ratio is 14 per cent lower than 2019 at  
69 per cent, as new downgrades are partially covered by 
credit insurance and guarantees, including export credit 
agencies which are not included in collateral cover. 

The Commercial Banking cover ratio reduced to 72 per cent 
from 75 per cent mainly due to write-offs of heavily impaired 
exposures. 

The Retail Banking cover ratio increased to 49 per cent from 
44 per cent. 

The Private Banking cover ratio increased to 42 per cent. 
Private Banking clients remain highly collateralised and  
the cover ratio after collateral remained broadly stable  
at 99 per cent.

Amortised cost

Gross credit-impaired 
Credit impairment provisions 
Net credit-impaired
Cover ratio
Collateral ($ million)
Cover ratio (after collateral)

Amortised cost

Gross credit-impaired
Credit impairment provisions
Net credit-impaired
Cover ratio
Collateral ($ million)
Cover ratio (after collateral)

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

5,506
(3,065)
2,441
56%
737
69%

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

4,173
(2,980)
1,193
71%
497
83%

2020

Retail  
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

1,173
(569)
604
49%
419
84%

2,146
(1,545)
601
72%
326
87%

2019

Retail  
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

846
(374)
472
44%
286
78%

2,013
(1,503)
510
75%
263
88%

389
(162)
227
42%
224
99%

Private  
Banking 
$million

366
(147)
219
40%
211
98%

Total 
$million

9,214
(5,341)
3,873
58%
1,706
76%

Total 
$million

7,398
(5,004)
2,394
68%
1,257
85%

Credit-impaired (stage 3) loans and advances by geographic region
Stage 3 gross loans increased by $1.8 billion or 25 per cent compared with 31 December 2019. The increase was primarily driven 
by a few clients in ASEAN & South Asia and Africa & Middle East. 

Amortised cost

Gross credit-impaired 
Credit impairment provisions 
Net credit-impaired
Cover ratio

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN & 
 South Asia 
$million

1,016
(402)
614
40%

3,774
(2,081)
1,693
55%

2020

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

3,473
(2,313)
1,160
67%

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

951
(545)
406
57%

Total 
$million

9,214
(5,341)
3,873
58%

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Amortised cost

Gross credit-impaired
Credit impairment provisions
Net credit-impaired
Cover ratio

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

716
(360)
356
50%

3,084
(2,087)
997
68%

2019

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

2,585
(1,899)
686
73%

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

1,013
(658)
355
65%

Total 
$million

7,398
(5,004)
2,394
68%

Movement of credit-impaired (stage 3) loans and advances provisions by client segment (audited)
Credit impairment provisions as at 31 December 2020 was $5.3 billion, compared with $5.0 billion as at 31 December 2019, with 
more than half of the increase from Retail Banking due to the impact of COVID-19 and in Corporate & Institutional Banking due 
to new inflows offset by write-offs.

The following table shows the movement of credit-impaired (stage 3) provisions for each client segment.

Amortised cost

Gross credit-impaired loans at 31 December

Credit impairment allowances at 1 January 

Net transfers into and out of stage 3
New provisions charge/(release)1
Changes due to risk parameters1
Net change in exposures1
Amounts written off3

Interest due but unpaid

Discount unwind

Exchange translation difference

Credit impairment allowances at 31 December

Net credit impairment

Income statement charge/(release)1

Recoveries of amounts previously written off

Total income statement charge

Amortised cost

Gross credit-impaired loans at 31 December

Credit impairment allowances at 1 January

Net transfers into and out of stage 3
New provisions charge/(release)1
Changes due to risk parameters1 
Net change in exposures1
Amounts written off3

Interest due but unpaid

Discount unwind

Exchange translation difference

Credit impairment allowances at 31 December

Net credit impairment

Income statement charge/(release)1

Recoveries of amounts previously written off

Total income statement charge

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

2020

Retail  
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

5,506

2,980

58

548

480

(119)

(884)

32

(40)

10

3,065

2,441

909

(18)

891

1,173

374

185

89

433

(696)

98

(25)

111

569

604

522

(221)

301

2,146

1,503

23

140

196

(56)

(309)

83

(14)

(21)

1,545

601

280

(5)

275

Private  
Banking 
$million

389

147

–

1

5

(2)

(1)

17

(7)

2

162

227

4

–

4

2019

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

Retail  
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

4,173

3,238

111

177

335

(170)

(658)

(48)

(38)

33

2,980

1,193

342

–

342

846

396

166

81

327

(585)

(28)

17

374

472

408

(247)

161

2,013

1,789

24

107

122

(96)

(380)

(87)

(13)

37

1,503

510

133

(1)

132

366

163

–

–

(26)

(6)

(2)

17

(4)

5

147

219

(32)

–

(32)

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$million

9,214

5,004

266

778

1,114

(177)

(1,890)

230

(86)

102

5,341

3,873

1,715

(244)

1,471

Total2
$million

7,398

5,586

301

365

758

(272)

(1,625)

(118)

(83)

92

5,004

2,394

851

(248)

603

1   Components of the income statement charge/(release)

2   Excludes credit impairment relating to loan commitments and financial guarantees 

3 

In Retail Banking $589 million (2019: $492 million) of the amounts written off remains subject to enforcement activity

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Risk review Risk profile

Credit Risk mitigation
Potential credit losses from any given account, customer  
or portfolio are mitigated using a range of tools, such as 
collateral, netting arrangements, credit insurance and  
credit derivatives, taking into account expected volatility  
and guarantees.

The reliance that can be placed on these mitigants is  
carefully assessed in light of issues such as legal certainty  
and enforceability, market valuation correlation and 
counterparty risk of the guarantor.

Collateral (audited)
The requirement for collateral is not a substitute for the  
ability to repay, which is the primary consideration for any 
lending decisions.

The unadjusted market value of collateral across all asset 
types, in respect of Corporate & Institutional Banking  
and Commercial Banking, without adjusting for over-
collateralisation, was $313 billion in 2020 (2019: $280 billion).

The collateral values in the table below (which covers loans 
and advances to banks and customers, excluding those  
held at fair value through profit or loss) are adjusted where 
appropriate in accordance with our risk mitigation policy  
and for the effect of over-collateralisation. The extent of 
over-collateralisation has been determined with reference to 
both the drawn and undrawn components of exposure as  
this best reflects the effect of collateral and other credit 
enhancements on the amounts arising from expected credit 
losses. The value of collateral reflects management’s best 
estimate and is backtested against our prior experience.  
On average, across all types of non-cash collateral, the value 
ascribed is approximately half of its current market value. In 
the Retail Banking and Private Banking segments, a secured 
loan is one where the borrower pledges an asset as collateral 
of which the Group is able to take possession in the event  
that the borrower defaults. Total collateral for Retail Banking 
has increased by $9 billion to $91 billion due to an increase  
in mortgages.

Private Banking collateral is $9 billion, a slight decrease driven 
by reductions in the secured wealth portfolio. 

Total collateral for Central & other items increased by 
$1.3 billion compared with 2019 due to an increase in lending 
under reverse repurchase agreements.

Collateral held on loans and advances
The table below details collateral held against exposures, separately disclosing stage 2 and stage 3 exposure and 
corresponding collateral.

Net amount outstanding

Stage 2 
financial 
assets 
$million

Credit-
impaired 
financial 
assets  
$million

16,367

2,208

3,496

198

–

2,441

604

601

227

–

Total 
$million

153,301

115,545

24,503

13,548

19,149

Total2
$million

22,847

91,158

6,155

9,234

2,053

2020

Collateral

Net exposure

Stage 2 
financial 
assets 
$million

Credit-
impaired 
financial 
assets  
$million

Stage 2 
financial 
assets 
$million

Credit-
impaired 
financial 
assets  
$million

Total 
$million

6,058

1,556

1,315

121

–

737

419

326

224

–

130,454

10,309

1,704

24,387

18,348

4,314

17,096

652

2,181

77

–

185

275

3

–

Amortised cost

Corporate & Institutional 
Banking1

Retail Banking

Commercial Banking

Private Banking

Central & other items

Total 

326,046

22,269

3,873

131,447

9,050

1,706

194,599

13,219

2,167

Net amount outstanding

Stage 2 
financial 
assets 
$million

Credit-
impaired 
financial 
assets  
$million

14,231

2,856

3,925

283

7

1,193

472

510

219

–

Total 
$million

162,201

106,938

28,094

14,741

10,098

2019³

Collateral

Stage 2 
financial 
assets 
$million

Credit-
impaired 
financial 
assets 
$million

2,724

2,355

1,801

188

497

286

263

211

–

Total2
$million

23,652

81,700

6,996

10,306

802

Net exposure

Stage 2 
financial 
assets 
$million

Credit-
impaired 
financial 
assets  
$million

11,507

501

2,124

95

7

696

186

247

8

–

Total 
$million

138,549

25,238

21,098

4,435

9,296

Amortised cost

Corporate & Institutional 
Banking1

Retail Banking

Commercial Banking

Private Banking

Central & other items

Total 

322,072

21,302

2,394

123,456

7,068

1,257

198,616

14,234

1,137

1  

Includes loans and advances to banks

2   Adjusted for over-collateralisation based on the drawn and undrawn components of exposures

3   Corporate & Institutional Banking, Retail Banking and Commercial Banking net amount outstanding, collateral and net exposure numbers have been restated to 

reflect client transfers between the three segments 

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Collateral – Corporate & Institutional Banking and 
Commercial Banking (audited)
Collateral held against Corporate & Institutional Banking and 
Commercial Banking exposures amounted to $29 billion. 

Collateral taken for longer-term and sub-investment grade 
corporate loans remains high at 46 per cent. Our underwriting 
standards encourage taking specific charges on assets and 
we consistently seek high-quality, investment grade collateral. 

82 per cent of tangible collateral held comprises physical 
assets or is property based, with the remainder largely in cash 
and investment securities.

Non-tangible collateral, such as guarantees and standby 
letters of credit, is also held against corporate exposures, 
although the financial effect of this type of collateral is less 
significant in terms of recoveries. However, this is considered 
when determining the probability of default and other 
credit-related factors. Collateral is also held against off-
balance sheet exposures, including undrawn commitments 
and trade-related instruments.

The following table provides an analysis of the types of 
collateral held against Corporate & Institutional Banking  
and Commercial Banking loan exposures.

Corporate & Institutional Banking

Amortised cost

Maximum exposure

Property

Plant, machinery and other stock

Cash

Reverse repos

A- to AA+

BBB- to BBB+

Unrated

Financial guarantees and insurance

Commodities

Ships and aircraft
Total value of collateral1

Net exposure

Commercial Banking

Amortised cost

Maximum exposure

Property

Plant, machinery and other stock

Cash

Reverse repos

A- to AA+

BBB- to BBB+

Unrated

Financial guarantees and insurance

Commodities

Ships and aircraft
Total value of collateral1

Net exposure

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$million

153,301

8,871

655

1,480

2,165

438

740

987

5,042

222

4,412

2019²
$million

162,201

7,218

947

2,931

2,000

756

439

805

7,374

141

3,041

22,847

130,454

23,652

138,549

2020 
$million

24,503

4,001

930

586

7

–

2

5

428

–

203

6,155

18,348

2019²
$million

28,094

4,225

1,281

654

8

–

1

7

573

21

234

6,996

21,098

1   Adjusted for over-collateralisation based on the drawn and undrawn components of exposures

2   Maximum exposure, collateral and net exposure balances have been restated to reflect client transfers between Corporate & Institutional Banking and 

Commercial Banking

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Risk review Risk profile

Collateral – Retail Banking and Private Banking (audited)
In Retail Banking and Private Banking, 86 per cent of the portfolio is fully secured as compared with 85 per cent in 2019, due to 
new mortgage lending during the year. The proportion of unsecured loans decreased to 13 per cent (2019: 14 per cent) and the 
remaining 1 per cent is partially secured.

The following table presents an analysis of loans to individuals by product; split between fully secured, partially secured and 
unsecured.

Amortised cost

Maximum exposure

Loans to individuals

Mortgages

CCPL

Auto

Secured wealth products

Other
Total collateral1
Net exposure2

2020

2019³

Fully  
secured 
$million

111,112

85,597

171

536

19,886

4,922

Partially 
secured 
$million

Unsecured 
$million

Total 
$million

760

17,221

129,093

–

–

–

–

–

16,921

–

–

760

300

85,597

17,092

536

19,886

5,982

100,392

28,701

Fully  
secured 
$million

103,182

78,560

123

562

20,275

3,662

Partially 
secured 
$million

Unsecured 
$million

Total 
$million

1,257

17,240

121,679

109

8

–

127

1,013

5

17,092

10

–

133

78,674

17,223

572

20,402

4,808

92,006

29,673

Percentage of total loans

86%

1%

13%

85%

1%

14%

1   Collateral values are adjusted where appropriate in accordance with our risk mitigation policy and for the effect of over-collateralisation 

2   Amounts net of ECL

3   Maximum exposure, collateral and net exposure balances have been restated to reflect client transfers from Commercial Banking to Retail Banking

Mortgage loan-to-value ratios by geography (audited)
Loan-to-value (LTV) ratios measure the ratio of the current mortgage outstanding to the current fair value of the properties on 
which they are secured.

In mortgages, the value of property held as security significantly exceeds the value of mortgage loans. The average LTV of  
the overall mortgage portfolio is low at 45 per cent. Hong Kong, which represents 33 per cent of the Retail Banking mortgage 
portfolio has an average LTV of 43.9 per cent. All of our other key markets continue to have low portfolio LTVs, (Korea, Singapore 
and Taiwan at 39.5 per cent, 54.5 per cent and 51.0 per cent respectively).

An analysis of LTV ratios by geography for the mortgage portfolio is presented in the table below.

Amortised cost

Less than 50 per cent

50 per cent to 59 per cent

60 per cent to 69 per cent

70 per cent to 79 per cent

80 per cent to 89 per cent

90 per cent to 99 per cent

100 per cent and greater

Average portfolio loan-to-value

Loans to individuals – mortgages ($million)

Amortised cost

Less than 50 per cent

50 per cent to 59 per cent

60 per cent to 69 per cent

70 per cent to 79 per cent

80 per cent to 89 per cent

90 per cent to 99 per cent

100 per cent and greater

Average portfolio loan-to-value
Loans to individuals – mortgages ($million)1

Greater China & 
North Asia 
% 
Gross

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
% 
Gross

2020

Africa &  
Middle East 
% 
Gross

Europe & 
Americas  
% 
Gross

67.8

14.1

7.8

6.6

2.7

1.0

–

42.0

62,683

41.5

18.1

21.0

16.3

2.2

0.5

0.4

52.2

18,887

22.1

15.0

19.6

20.7

7.4

6.0

9.2

64.7

1,871

16.4

28.0

29.0

21.7

3.7

0.6

0.6

60.4

2,156

Greater China & 
North Asia 
% 
Gross

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
% 
Gross

2019

Africa &  
Middle East 
% 
Gross

Europe & 
Americas  
% 
Gross

67.8

14.4

9.2

6.7

1.6

0.2

0.1

42.1

56,067

43.4

19.4

22.5

12.5

1.7

0.3

0.2

50.7

18,301

21.6

14.2

21.0

19.1

11.5

6.5

6.2

66.6

2,047

10.8

26.3

29.4

28.0

4.5

0.4

0.6

62.2

2,259

Total 
% 
Gross

59.7

15.4

11.5

9.4

2.7

1.0

0.3

44.7

85,597

Total 
% 
Gross

59.3

15.9

13.2

9.0

2.0

0.4

0.3

44.9

78,674

1   Greater China & North Asia number has been restated to reflect client transfers from Commercial Banking to Retail Banking

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Collateral and other credit enhancements possessed or 
called upon (audited)
The Group obtains assets by taking possession of collateral or 
calling upon other credit enhancements (such as guarantees). 
Repossessed properties are sold in an orderly fashion. Where 
the proceeds are in excess of the outstanding loan balance 
the excess is returned to the borrower.

Certain equity securities acquired may be held by the Group 
for investment purposes and are classified as fair value 
through profit or loss, and the related loan written off. The 
carrying value of collateral possessed and held by the Group 
as at 31 December 2020 is $23.2 million (2019: $37.0 million). 

Property, plant and equipment

Guarantees

Cash

Other

Total

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

18.2

4.8

–

0.2

23.2

29.0

5.2

2.7

0.1

37.0

Other Credit Risk mitigation (audited)
Other forms of Credit Risk mitigation are set out below.

Credit default swaps
The Group has entered into credit default swaps for portfolio 
management purposes, referencing loan assets with a 
notional value of $10.5 billion (2019: $14.5 billion). These credit 
default swaps are accounted for as financial guarantees as 
per IFRS 9 as they will only reimburse the holder for an incurred 
loss on an underlying debt instrument. The Group continues to 
hold the underlying assets referenced in the credit default 
swaps and it continues to be exposed to related Credit and 
Foreign Exchange Risk on these assets.

Credit linked notes
The Group has issued credit linked notes for portfolio 
management purposes, referencing loan assets with a 
notional value of $8.0 billion (2019: $4.5 billion). The Group 
continues to hold the underlying assets for which the credit 
linked notes provide mitigation.

Derivative financial instruments
The Group enters into master netting agreements, which in 
the event of default result in a single amount owed by or to 
the counterparty through netting the sum of the positive and 
negative mark-to-market values of applicable derivative 
transactions. These are set out in more detail under Derivative 
financial instruments Credit Risk mitigation (page 237). 

Off-balance sheet exposures
For certain types of exposures, such as letters of credit and 
guarantees, the Group obtains collateral such as cash 
depending on internal Credit Risk assessments, as well as in 
the case of letters of credit holding legal title to the underlying 
assets should a default take place.

Other portfolio analysis
This section provides maturity analysis by business segment, 
credit quality by industry, and industry and retail products 
analysis by region.

Maturity analysis of loans and advances by client segment 
Loans and advances to the Corporate & Institutional Banking 
and Commercial Banking segments remain predominantly 
short-term, with 61 per cent (2019: 62 per cent) maturing in less 
than one year. 94 per cent (2019: 97 per cent) of loans to banks 
mature in less than one year, a decrease compared with 2019 
as net exposures reduced by $9 billion. Shorter maturities give 
us the flexibility to respond promptly to events and rebalance 
or reduce our exposure to clients or sectors that are facing 
increased pressure or uncertainty.

The Private Banking loan book is mostly short-term with 
around 93 per cent of lending maturing in one year or less, 
which is typical for loans that are secured on wealth 
management assets. 

The Retail Banking loan book continues to be longer-term  
in nature with 69 per cent (2019: 69 per cent) of the loans 
maturing over five years, as mortgages constitute the majority 
of this portfolio.

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Risk review Risk profile

Amortised cost

Corporate & Institutional Banking

Retail Banking

Commercial Banking

Private Banking

Central & other items

Gross loans and advances to customers

Impairment provisions

Net loans and advances to customers

Net loans and advances to banks

Amortised cost

Corporate & Institutional Banking1
Retail Banking1
Commercial Banking1

Private Banking

Central & other items

Gross loans and advances to customers

Impairment provisions

Net loans and advances to customers

Net loans and advances to banks

One year or less 
$million

One to five years 
$million

Over five years 
$million

2020

65,075

20,265

19,479

12,772

18,704

136,295

(5,722)

130,573

41,524

35,833

15,580

5,300

422

443

57,578

(743)

56,835

2,821

2019

11,565

80,949

1,397

525

3

94,439

(148)

94,291

2

One year or less 
$million

One to five years 
$million

Over five years 
$million

64,439

18,196

22,846

13,893

10,098

129,472

(4,887)

124,585

51,871

36,400

15,419

5,439

507

–

57,765

(439)

57,326

1,678

11,014

74,159

1,396

499

1

87,069

(457)

86,612

–

Total 
$million

112,473

116,794

26,176

13,719

19,150

288,312

(6,613)

281,699

44,347

Total 
$million

111,853

107,774

29,681

14,899

10,099

274,306

(5,783)

268,523

53,549

1   Gross numbers have been restated to reflect client transfers between Corporate & Institutional Banking, Commercial Banking and to Retail Banking

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Credit quality by industry
Loans and advances 
This section provides an analysis of the Group’s amortised cost portfolio by industry on a gross, total credit impairment and  
net basis.

From an industry perspective, loans and advances increased by $14 billion compared with 31 December 2019, of which $6 billion 
is in Corporates and the Central & Others segment, and $8 billion in Retail and Private Banking lending. 

The increase in the corporate book is largely a $9 billion increase in lending to Governments, mostly in the ASEAN & South Asia 
and Greater China & North Asia regions, offset by a $2.8 billion decrease in the Energy sector. In Retail Banking, the increase is 
primarily from stage 1 mortgage originations in the Greater China & North Asia region.

Total wholesale stage 2 loans increased by $2 billion largely due to an increase in loans placed on non-purely precautionary 
early alert, which particularly impacted the Transport, Telecom and Utilities sector. This was partly offset by reductions of  
$0.7 billion in Retail Banking mainly due to repayments and few transfers to stage 3 in mortgages. 

Stage 1

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Stage 2

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Stage 3

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Total

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

2020

10,047

20,164

(25) 10,022

(13)

20,151

1,889

2,763

(87)

(65)

1,802

2,698

1,036

(777)

1,554 (1,042)

259

512

12,972

(889)

12,083

24,481

(1,120) 23,361

23,416

(8) 23,408

834

(7)

827

310

(209)

101

24,560

(224) 24,336

11,771

(12)

11,759

5,071

(124)

4,947

1,041

(473)

568

17,883

(609)

17,274

8,625

(7)

8,618

752

(24)

728

529

(346)

183

9,906

(377)

9,529

15,847

(13)

15,834

3,068

(34)

3,034

4,723

4,689

2,571

877

23,099

4,314

(6)

4,717

(3) 4,686

(3)

2,568

(1)

876

(1) 23,098

(4)

4,310

887

967

849

314

1,064

1,546

(19)

(36)

(28)

868

931

821

(7)

(3)

307

1,061

(53)

1,493

408

286

601

(186)

(182)

(413)

1,067

(527)

284

220

316

(237)

(11)

(207)

222

104

188

540

47

209

109

19,323

(233) 19,090

5,896

6,257

(207)

5,689

(452)

5,805

4,487

(558)

3,929

1,475

(245)

1,230

24,383

(15) 24,368

6,176

(264)

5,912

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Amortised cost

Industry:

Energy

Manufacturing

Financing, insurance 
and non-banking 

Transport, telecom 
and utilities

Food and household 
products

Commercial  
real estate

Mining and quarrying

Consumer durables

Construction

Trading companies & 
distributors

Government

Other

Retail Products:

Mortgage

83,760

(18) 83,742

1,507

(36)

1,471

593

(209)

384

85,860

(263) 85,597

CCPL and other 
unsecured lending

Auto

Secured wealth 
products

Other

Total value 
(customers)¹

16,708

(363)

16,345

785

(205)

580

450

(283)

531

(1)

530

19,375

5,920

(52)

19,323

(4)

5,916

5

319

41

–

(9)

(1)

5

310

40

1

–

466

52

(213)

(26)

167

1

253

26

17,943

(851)

17,092

537

(1)

536

20,160

(274)

19,886

6,013

(31)

5,982

256,437

(534) 255,903

22,661

(738) 21,923

9,214 (5,341) 3,873

288,312 (6,613) 281,699

1  

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Risk review Risk profile

Stage 1

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

2019²

Stage 2

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Stage 3

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Total

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

13,223

20,070

(17)

13,206

(15) 20,055

1,562

3,498

(22)

(29)

1,540

3,469

894

970

(758)

(695)

136

275

15,679

(797)

14,882

24,538

(739) 23,799

20,972

(8) 20,964

1,193

(17)

1,176

292

(183)

109

22,457

(208) 22,249

14,874

(10)

14,864

1,873

(35)

1,838

841

(599)

242

17,588

(644)

16,944

8,321

(8)

8,313

1,551

(18)

1,533

585

(429)

156

10,457

(455)

10,002

14,244

(18)

14,226

6,134

6,366

3,082

1,202

14,698

4,815

(8)

(5)

(5)

(1)

(1)

(8)

6,126

6,361

3,077

1,201

14,697

4,807

2,092

1,067

1,094

332

1,928

702

554

(33)

2,059

(12)

(15)

(8)

(1)

(3)

(10)

1,055

1,079

324

1,927

699

544

293

320

651

774

307

–

261

(102)

(232)

(443)

(607)

191

88

208

167

16,629

(153)

16,476

7,521

8,111

4,188

(252)

(463)

(620)

7,269

7,648

3,568

(218)

89

3,437

(220)

3,217

–

15,400

(4)

15,396

(218)

43

5,630

(236)

5,394

76,123

(10)

76,113

2,290

(12)

2,278

406

(123)

283

78,819

(145)

78,674

16,834

(268)

16,566

620

(158)

570

(1)

569

19,895

4,726

(19)

19,876

4,726

2

336

65

–

(3)

(1)

462

2

333

64

404

(209)

1

–

354

45

(161)

(27)

195

1

193

18

17,858

(635)

17,223

573

(1)

572

20,585

(183) 20,402

4,836

(28)

4,808

246,149

(402) 245,747

20,759

(377) 20,382

7,398 (5,004)

2,394

274,306

(5,783) 268,523

Amortised cost

Industry:

Energy

Manufacturing

Financing, insurance 
and non-banking 

Transport, telecom 
and utilities

Food and household 
products

Commercial  
real estate

Mining and quarrying

Consumer durables

Construction

Trading companies & 
distributors

Government

Other

Retail Products:

Mortgage

CCPL and other 
unsecured lending

Auto

Secured wealth 
products

Other

Total value 
(customers)¹

1  

Includes reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending held at amortised cost of $1,469 million

2   Stage 1 and stage 2 Gross and ECL balances have been restated to reflect client transfers from Commercial Banking to Retail Banking 

The Group provides loans to commercial real estate 
counterparties of $19 billion, which represent 7 per cent of total 
customer loans and advances. In total, $8.8 billion of this 
lending is to counterparties where the source of repayment is 
substantially derived from rental or sale of real estate and is 
secured by real estate collateral. The remaining commercial 
real estate loans comprise working capital loans to real  
estate corporates, loans with non-property collateral, 
unsecured loans and loans to real estate entities of diversified 
conglomerates. The average LTV ratio of the commercial  
real estate portfolio has increased to 51 per cent, compared 
with 46 per cent in 2019. The proportion of loans with an LTV 
greater than 80 per cent has increased to 4 per cent in 2020, 
compared with 1 per cent in 2019.

The mortgages portfolio continues to be the largest portion of 
the Retail Products portfolio, at 66 per cent (2019: 65 per cent). 
CCPL and other unsecured lending has reduced to 13 per cent 
of total Retail Products loans and advances (2019: 14 per cent). 

Industry and Retail Products analysis of loans and 
advances by geographic region
This section provides an analysis of the Group’s amortised cost 
loan portfolio, net of provisions, by industry and region.

In the Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial 
Banking segments, our largest industry exposures are to 
Financing, insurance and non-banking, Government, and 
Manufacturing, with each constituting at least 15 per cent of 
Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking 
loans and advances to customers. 

Financing, insurance and non-banking industry clients  
are mostly investment grade institutions and this lending 
forms part of the liquidity management of the Group.  
The manufacturing sector group is spread across a diverse 
range of industries, including automobiles and components, 
capital goods, pharmaceuticals, biotech and life sciences, 
technology hardware and equipment, chemicals, paper 
products and packaging, with lending spread over  
4,100 clients.

Loans and advances to the energy sector reduced to  
8 per cent (2019: 10 per cent) of total loans and advances to 
Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking. 
The Energy sector lending is spread across five sub-sectors 
and over 230 clients.

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Amortised cost

Industry:

Energy

Manufacturing

Financing, insurance and non-banking 

Transport, telecom and utilities

Food and household products

Commercial real estate

Mining and quarrying

Consumer durables

Construction

Trading companies & distributors

Government

Other

Retail Products:

Mortgages

CCPL and other unsecured lending

Auto

Secured wealth products

Other

Net loans and advances to customers

Net loans and advances to banks

Amortised cost

Industry:

Energy

Manufacturing

Financing, insurance and non-banking 

Transport, telecom and utilities

Food and household products

Commercial real estate

Mining and quarrying

Consumer durables

Construction

Trading companies & distributors

Government

Other

Retail Products:

Mortgages

CCPL and other unsecured lending

Auto

Secured wealth products

Other

Net loans and advances to customers

Net loans and advances to banks

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

2020

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

946

12,526

11,072

6,442

2,726

11,374

2,228

3,452

1,320

578

2,791

2,021

62,683

11,184

–

7,336

5,330

144,009

18,011

3,933

5,373

4,206

3,935

3,196

4,571

1,852

1,797

1,288

330

16,625

1,749

18,887

3,793

481

10,784

96

82,896

13,534

2,717

2,202

1,018

5,218

2,418

1,755

717

335

940

192

4,880

928

1,871

2,019

55

383

556

28,204

5,741

4,487

3,260

8,040

1,679

1,189

1,390

892

221

381

130

72

1,214

2,156

96

–

1,383

–

26,590

7,061

Greater China & 
North Asia1
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

2019

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

2,573

11,320

9,365

6,268

2,777

9,377

2,142

4,497

1,088

2,602

1,490

1,722

56,067

10,633

–

8,159

3,981

134,061

19,313

3,770

6,127

4,314

4,014

3,651

4,954

2,469

2,019

1,220

296

9,907

1,870

18,301

4,239

485

10,473

121

78,230

15,756

2,943

3,211

988

5,349

2,478

1,783

965

699

1,126

198

3,926

836

2,047

2,258

87

338

705

29,937

5,350

5,596

3,141

7,582

1,313

1,096

362

1,693

433

134

121

73

966

2,259

93

–

1,432

1

26,295

13,130

Total 
$million

12,083

23,361

24,336

17,274

9,529

19,090

5,689

5,805

3,929

1,230

24,368

5,912

85,597

17,092

536

19,886

5,982

281,699

44,347

Total 
$million

14,882

23,799

22,249

16,944

10,002

16,476

7,269

7,648

3,568

3,217

15,396

5,394

78,674

17,223

572

20,402

4,808

268,523

53,549

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Risk review Risk profile

Vulnerable sector tables
Vulnerable sectors are those that the Group considers to be most at risk from COVID-19 and lower oil prices, and we continue to 
monitor exposures to these sectors particularly carefully.

Total net exposure to vulnerable sectors reduced by $6 billion compared with 31 December 2019 and represents 27 per cent 
(2019: 30 per cent) of the total net exposure in Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking. The reductions  
were largely due to increased levels of collateral and reduced undrawn commitments, particularly in the Commodity traders, 
Metals & mining, and Commercial real estate sectors. 

Stage 2 loans increased to 18 per cent (2019: 13 per cent) of loans to vulnerable sectors. This was primarily driven by an  
increase in loans placed on non-purely precautionary early alert in the Aviation and Commercial real estate sectors, offset  
by Commodity traders sector clients, some of which were transferred to stage 3. 

Stage 3 loans increased by $0.6 billion compared with 31 December 2019 primarily due to downgrades from stage 2 exposures  
in the Commodity traders and Aviation sectors due to COVID-19 related volatility.

Maximum exposure

Amortised cost

Industry:
Aviation1

Commodity traders

Metals & mining

Commercial real estate

Hotels & tourism

Oil & gas

Total

2020

Maximum  
on-balance 
sheet 
exposure  
(net of credit 
impairment) 
$million

Net 
on-balance 
sheet 
exposure 
$million

Undrawn 
commitments 
(net of credit 
impairment) 
$million

Financial 
guarantees 
(net of credit 
impairment) 
$million

Net 
off-balance 
sheet 
exposure 
$million

Total on & 
off-balance 
sheet net 
exposure 
$million

Collateral 
$million

3,839

8,664

3,882

2,106

318

513

1,733

8,346

3,369

19,090

8,004

11,086

2,557

7,199

1,110

1,032

1,447

6,167

45,231

13,083

32,148

1,321

2,189

2,850

5,283

1,185

8,332

21,160

531

4,459

886

313

110

5,587

11,886

1,852

6,648

3,736

5,596

1,295

3,585

14,994

7,105

16,682

2,742

13,919

20,086

33,046

65,194

Total Corporate & Institutional Banking and 
Commercial Banking

Total Retail Banking, Private Banking and  
other segments

133,457

27,561

105,896

92,001

46,725

138,726

244,622

192,589

103,886

88,703

61,285

6,857

68,142

156,845

Total Group

326,046

131,447

194,599

153,286

53,582

206,868

401,467

Amortised cost

Industry:
Aviation1

Commodity traders

Metals & mining

Commercial real estate

Hotels & tourism

Oil & gas

Total

Total Corporate & Institutional Banking and 
Commercial Banking

Total Retail Banking, Private Banking and  
other segments

Total Group

2019

Maximum  
on-balance 
sheet 
exposure  
(net of credit 
impairment) 
$million

Net 
on-balance 
sheet 
exposure 
$million

Undrawn 
commitments 
(net of credit 
impairment) 
$million

Financial 
guarantees 
(net of credit 
impairment) 
$million

Net 
off-balance 
sheet 
exposure 
$million

Total on & 
off-balance 
sheet net 
exposure 
$million

Collateral 
$million

3,659

10,386

5,436

16,476

2,397

8,041

46,395

1,186

326

381

5,892

800

1,241

9,826

2,473

10,060

5,055

10,584

1,597

6,800

36,569

1,131

2,736

2,774

6,771

1,634

8,118

23,164

556

4,075

602

390

146

5,943

11,712

1,687

6,811

3,376

7,161

1,780

14,061

34,876

4,160

16,871

8,431

17,745

3,377

20,861

71,445

136,746

27,065

109,681

86,058

40,873

126,931

236,612

185,326

96,391

322,072

123,456

88,935

198,616

55,055

141,113

5,605

60,660

149,595

46,478

187,591

386,207

1 

In addition to the aviation sector loan exposures, the Group owns $3.9 billion (31 December 2019: $3.4 billion) of aircraft under operating leases. Refer to page 371 –  
Operating lease assets

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2020

Stage 1

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Stage 2

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Stage 3

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Total

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

1,613

473

677

3,068

1,168

1,548

8,547

(26)

(12)

(18)

(34)

(18)

(69)

1,587

461

659

3,034

1,150

1,479

258

799

210

408

138

276

(78)

(660)

(112)

(186)

(47)

(199)

180

139

98

3,944

9,339

4,015

(105)

3,839

(675) 8,664

(133)

3,882

222

19,323

(233) 19,090

91

77

2,624

7,474

(67)

2,557

(275)

7,199

(177)

8,370

2,089 (1,282)

807

46,719 (1,488) 45,231

Gross 
balance 
$million

2,073

8,067

3,128

(1)

2,072

(3) 8,064

(3)

3,125

15,847

(13)

15,834

1,318

5,650

(2)

(7)

1,316

5,643

36,083

(29) 36,054

110,993

(95) 110,898

20,004

(487)

19,517

7,652 (4,610) 3,042

138,649 (5,192) 133,457

189,459

(453) 189,006

3,006

(254)

2,752

1,562

(731)

831

194,027 (1,438) 192,589

Total Group

300,452

(548) 299,904

23,010

(741) 22,269

9,214 (5,341) 3,873

332,676 (6,630)326,046

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2019

Stage 1

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Stage 2

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

(1)

(10)

(5)

3,425

8,683

4,417

(18)

14,226

(4)

2,008

(10)

6,844

(48) 39,603

236

1,663

875

2,092

384

1,031

6,281

(8)

(6)

(10)

228

1,657

865

(33)

2,059

(2)

(15)

(74)

382

1,016

6,207

6

401

292

293

35

441

1,468

Gross 
balance 
$million

3,426

8,693

4,422

14,244

2,012

6,854

39,651

Stage 3

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

–

(355)

(138)

(102)

(28)

(260)

(883)

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

Gross 
balance 
$million

Total

Total 
credit 
impair-
ment 
$million

Net 
carrying 
amount 
$million

6

46

154

191

7

181

585

3,668

10,757

5,589

(9)

3,659

(371)

10,386

(153)

5,436

16,629

(153)

16,476

2,431

8,326

(34)

(285)

2,397

8,041

47,400 (1,005) 46,395

117,909

(102)

117,807

17,439

(203)

17,236

6,186 (4,483)

1,703

141,534 (4,788) 136,746

Total Group

298,783

(407) 298,376

180,874

(305) 180,569

4,244

21,683

(178)

4,066

1,212

(521)

691

186,330 (1,004) 185,326

(381)

21,302

7,398 (5,004)

2,394

327,864 (5,792) 322,072

Loans and advances by stage

Amortised cost

Industry:

Aviation

Commodity traders

Metals & mining

Commercial  
real estate

Hotels & tourism

Oil & gas

Total

Total Corporate & 
Institutional Banking 
and Commercial 
Banking

Total Retail Banking, 
Private Banking and 
other segments

Amortised cost

Industry:

Aviation

Commodity traders

Metals & mining

Commercial  
real estate

Hotels & tourism

Oil & gas

Total

Total Corporate & 
Institutional Banking 
and Commercial 
Banking

Total Retail Banking, 
Private Banking and 
other segments

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Risk review Risk profile

Loans and advances by region (net of credit impairment)

Amortised cost

Industry:

Aviation

Commodity traders

Metals & mining

Commercial real estate

Hotel & tourism

Oil & gas

Total

Amortised cost

Industry:

Aviation

Commodity traders

Metals & mining

Commercial real estate

Hotel & tourism

Oil & gas

Total

Credit quality – loans and advances

Amortised cost 

Credit Grade

Strong

Satisfactory

Higher risk

Defaulted

Total gross balance

Strong

Satisfactory

Higher risk

Defaulted

Total credit impairment

Strong

Satisfactory

Higher risk

Defaulted

Cover ratio

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

2020

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

1,447

1,870

1,427

11,374

640

713

17,471

348

2,747

1,398

4,571

1,052

2,621

12,737

1,492

780

597

1,755

512

2,036

7,172

552

3,267

460

1,390

353

1,829

7,851

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

2019

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

1,392

2,082

1,366

9,377

543

1,123

224

3,513

1,950

4,954

1,092

2,130

15,883

13,863

1,373

1,276

837

1,783

547

2,022

7,838

670

3,515

1,283

362

215

2,766

8,811

2020

Aviation 
$million

Commodity 
traders 
$million

Metals & 
mining 
$million

Commercial 
real estate 
$million

Hotel & 
tourism 
$million

Oil & gas 
$million

1,406

2,124

156

258

4,968

3,554

18

799

1,055

2,423

327

210

7,795

11,110

10

408

696

1,672

118

138

3,177

3,745

276

276

3,944

9,339

4,015

19,323

2,624

7,474

(7)

(7)

(13)

(78)

(105)

0.5%

0.3%

8.3%

(1)

(12)

(2)

(660)

(675)

0.0%

0.3%

11.1%

30.2%

82.6%

2.7%

7.2%

(1)

(16)

(4)

(112)

(133)

0.1%

0.7%

1.2%

53.3%

3.3%

(9)

(37)

(1)

(186)

(233)

0.1%

0.3%

10.0%

45.6%

1.2%

–

(19)

(1)

(47)

(67)

0.0%

1.1%

0.8%

34.1%

2.6%

(6)

(53)

(17)

(199)

(275)

0.2%

1.4%

6.2%

72.1%

3.7%

Total 
$million

3,839

8,664

3,882

19,090

2,557

7,199

45,231

Total 
$million

3,659

10,386

5,436

16,476

2,397

8,041

46,395

Total 
$million

19,097

24,628

905

2,089

46,719

(24)

(144)

(38)

(1,282)

(1,488)

0.1%

0.6%

4.2%

61.4%

3.2%

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Amortised cost 

Credit Grade

Strong

Satisfactory

Higher risk

Defaulted

2019

Aviation 
$million

2,635

967

60

6

Commodity 
traders 
$million

Metals & 
mining 
$million

Commercial 
real estate 
$million

Hotel & 
tourism 
$million

5,104

5,217

35

401

1,270

3,853

174

292

8,338

7,929

121

241

983

1,411

2

35

Oil & gas 
$million

3,706

4,040

139

441

Total 
$million

22,036

23,417

531

1,416

Total gross balance

3,668

10,757

5,589

16,629

2,431

8,326

47,400

Strong

Satisfactory

Higher risk

Defaulted

Total credit impairment

Strong

Satisfactory

Higher risk

Defaulted

Cover ratio

–

(3)

(6)

–

(9)

0.0%

0.3%

10.0%

0.0%

0.2%

(6)

(10)

–

(355)

(371)

0.1%

0.2%

0.0%

88.5%

3.4%

(8)

(7)

(138)

(153)

0.0%

0.2%

4.0%

47.3%

2.7%

(47)

(23)

(16)

(67)

(153)

0.6%

0.3%

13.2%

27.8%

0.9%

(1)

(5)

–

(28)

(34)

0.1%

0.4%

0.0%

80.0%

1.4%

(2)

(22)

(1)

(260)

(285)

0.1%

0.5%

0.7%

59.0%

3.4%

(56)

(71)

(30)

(848)

(1,005)

0.3%

0.3%

5.6%

59.9%

2.1%

Debt securities and other eligible bills (audited)
This section provides further detail on gross debt securities and treasury bills.

Amortised cost and FVOCI

12-month expected credit losses (stage 1)

AAA

AA- to AA+

A- to A+

BBB- to BBB+

Lower than BBB-

Unrated

Lifetime expected credit losses (stage 2)

AAA

AA- to AA+

A- to A+

BBB- to BBB+

Lower than BBB-

Unrated

Credit-impaired financial assets (stage 3)1

Lower than BBB-

Unrated

Gross balance

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Debt securities 
and other 
eligible bills 
$million

2019 
Debt securities 
and other  
eligible bills 
$million

149,316

64,209

40,377

26,551

12,588

398

5,193

3,506

24

–

50

2,693

415

324

114

–

114

138,782

63,799

36,840

19,625

9,466

973

8,079

4,644

248

41

–

3,909

241

205

75

–

75

152,936

143,501

1   Stage 3 includes $38 million originated credit-impaired debt securities

The standard credit ratings used by the Group are those used by Standard & Poor’s or its equivalent. Debt securities held that 
have a short-term rating are reported against the long-term rating of the issuer. For securities that are unrated, the Group 
applies an internal credit rating, as described under the credit rating and measurement section (page 255).

Total debt securities and other eligible bills increased by $9.4 billion as part of the Group’s liquidity management to meet 
regulatory requirement and to support the Group’s strategy to provide more credit solutions to customers. 

As the total balance sheet increased, excess funding from customers was deployed in highly rated securities to boost holdings 
of high-quality liquid assets. This can be observed in the increase of stage 1 securities rated A- and above of $10.9 billion. 
Investment in stage 1 unrated securities decreased by $2.9 billion as matured securities were not rolled over and funding 
channelled to investment in rated securities. Stage 2 securities decreased by $1.1 billion mainly due to balances transferred  
to stage 1 as a result of improved credit quality. 

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Risk review Risk profile

IFRS 9 methodology (audited)

Approach for determining expected credit losses
Credit loss terminology

Component

Definition

Probability of default (PD) 

Loss given default (LGD) 

Exposure at default (EAD)

The probability that a counterparty will default, over the next 12 months from the reporting  
date (stage 1) or over the lifetime of the product (stage 2), incorporating the impact of forward-
looking economic assumptions that have an effect on Credit Risk, such as interest rates, 
unemployment rates and GDP forecasts.
The PD estimates will fluctuate in line with the economic cycle. The lifetime (or term structure) 
PDs are based on statistical models, calibrated using historical data and adjusted to incorporate 
forward-looking economic assumptions.

The loss that is expected to arise on default, incorporating the impact of forward-looking 
economic assumptions where relevant, which represents the difference between the 
contractual cashflows due and those that the bank expects to receive.
The Group estimates LGD based on the history of recovery rates and considers the recovery  
of any collateral that is integral to the financial asset, taking into account forward-looking 
economic assumptions where relevant.

The expected balance sheet exposure at the time of default, taking into account expected 
changes over the lifetime of the exposure. This incorporates the impact of drawdowns of 
facilities with limits, repayments of principal and interest, amortisation and prepayments.

To determine the expected credit loss, these components  
are multiplied together: PD for the reference period (up to  
12 months or lifetime) x LGD x EAD and discounted to the 
balance sheet date using the effective interest rate as the 
discount rate.

IFRS 9 expected credit loss models have been developed  
for the Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial 
Banking businesses on a global basis, in line with their 
respective portfolios. However, for some of the key countries, 
country-specific models have also been developed. 

The calibration of forward-looking information is assessed  
at a country or region level to take into account local 
macroeconomic conditions. 

Retail Banking expected credit loss models are country  
and product specific given the local nature of the Retail 
Banking business. 

For less material Retail Banking portfolios, the Group has 
adopted less sophisticated approaches based on historical 
roll rates or loss rates:

•  For medium-sized Retail Banking portfolios, a roll rate model 
is applied, which uses a matrix that gives the average loan 
migration rate between delinquency states from period  
to period. A matrix multiplication is then performed to 
generate the final PDs by delinquency bucket over different 
time horizons.

•  For smaller Retail Banking portfolios, loss rate models are 
applied. These use an adjusted gross charge-off rate, 
developed using monthly write-off and recoveries over the 
preceding 12 months and total outstanding balances.

•  While these models do not incorporate forward-looking 

information, to the extent that there are significant changes 
in the macroeconomic forecasts an assessment will be 
completed on whether an adjustment to the modelled 
output is required.

For a limited number of exposures, proxy parameters or 
approaches are used where the data is not available to 
calculate the origination PDs for the purpose of applying the 
SICR criteria; or for some retail portfolios where a full history  
of LGD data is not available, estimates based on the loss 
experience from similar portfolios are used. The use of proxies 
is monitored and will reduce over time.

The following processes are in place to assess the ongoing 
performance of the models:

•  Quarterly model monitoring that uses recent data to 
compare the differences between model predictions  
and actual outcomes against approved thresholds.

•  Annual independent validations of the performance of 
material models by Group Model Validation (GMV); an 
abridged validation is completed for non-material models.

Application of lifetime
Expected credit loss is estimated based on the period over 
which the Group is exposed to Credit Risk. For the majority of 
exposures this equates to the maximum contractual period. 
For Retail Banking credit cards and Corporate & Institutional 
Banking overdraft facilities however, the Group does not 
typically enforce the contractual period, which can be as  
short as one day. As a result, the period over which the Group 
is exposed to Credit Risk for these instruments reflects their 
behavioural life, which incorporates expectations of customer 
behaviour and the extent to which Credit Risk management 
actions curtail the period of that exposure. The average 
behavioural life for Retail Banking credit cards is between  
3 and 6 years across our footprint markets.

In 2020, the behavioural life for corporate overdraft facilities 
was re-estimated using recent data, and a lifetime of 24 
months is now being applied (2019: 32 months). The change  
in approach does not have a material impact on the income 
statement.

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Post model adjustments
Where a model’s performance breaches the monitoring 
thresholds or validation standards, an assessment is 
completed to determine whether an ECL Post Model 
Adjustment (PMA) is required to correct for the identified 
model issue. PMAs will be removed when the models are 
updated to correct for the identified model issue or the 
estimates return to being within the monitoring thresholds.

The unprecedented volatility in the quarterly macroeconomic 
forecasts seen over 2020 has meant that a number of the 
Group’s IFRS 9 ECL models are now operating outside the 
boundaries to which they were calibrated. Over the COVID-19 
period we have commonly seen GDP decreases over a single 
quarter of around 10 to 20 per cent while a country is in lock 
down, followed by a recovery of 10 to 20 per cent the following 
quarter when the lock down is assumed to end. This can lead 
to the models in some instances either seeing a very large 
economic deterioration or a very optimistic GDP increase 
(i.e. if the model only uses the period in the scenario with the 
recovery). In these cases, this causes a sudden PD increase or 

decrease, which will then return to more normal levels once 
the volatility in the quarterly forecasts returns to historical 
norms. As a result, at 31 December 2020 the Group has made 
adjustments to the modelled output to remove this volatility 
to ensure that the resulting ECL remains unbiased and 
appropriately reflects the Group’s credit risks in the current 
environment. The adjustments are based on a combination of 
portfolio-level Credit Risk analysis (retail) and an evaluation of 
ECL coverage at an exposure level (wholesale). These 
adjustments will be removed once the quarterly 
macroeconomic forecasts and associated model estimates 
become less volatile in line with historical norms.

As at 31 December 2020, PMAs have been applied for  
13 models out of the total of 186. In aggregate, the PMAs 
decrease the Group’s impairment provisions by $158 million  
(9 per cent of modelled provisions) compared with a  
$13 million decrease at 31 December 2019. As set out on page 
228, a separate management overlay that covers risk not 
captured by the models has been applied after taking into 
account these PMAs.

Volatility-related PMAs

Corporate & Institutional Banking, Commercial Banking and Central & Others

Retail Banking

Model performance PMAs

Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking

Retail Banking

Total PMAs

2020  
$m

(49)

(12)

(61)

(73)

(24)

(97)

(158)

2019  
$m

–

–

–

–

(13)

(13)

(13)

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Key assumptions and judgements in determining expected 
credit loss
Incorporation of forward-looking information 
The evolving economic environment is a key determinant  
of the ability of a bank’s clients to meet their obligations as 
they fall due. It is a fundamental principle of IFRS 9 that the 
provisions banks hold against potential future Credit Risk 
losses should depend not just on the health of the economy 
today but should also take into account potential changes  
to the economic environment. For example, if a bank were to 
anticipate a sharp slowdown in the world economy over the 
coming year, it should hold more provisions today to absorb 
the credit losses likely to occur in the near future.

To capture the effect of changes to the economic 
environment, the PDs and LGDs used to calculate ECL 
incorporate forward-looking information in the form of 
forecasts of the values of economic variables and asset prices 
that are likely to have an effect on the repayment ability of 
the Group’s clients.

The ‘Base Forecast’ of the economic variables and asset prices 
is based on management’s view on the five-year outlook, 
supported by projections from the Group’s in-house research 
team and outputs from a third-party model that project 
specific economic variables and asset prices. The research 
team takes consensus views into consideration and senior 
management review projections for some core country 
variables against consensus when forming their view of the 
outlook. For the period beyond five years, management 
utilises the in-house research view and third-party model 
outputs, which allow for a reversion to long-term growth rates 
or norms. All projections are updated on a quarterly basis.

Forecast of key macroeconomic variables underlying  
the expected credit loss calculation and the impact on 
non-linearity
The Base Forecast – management’s view of the most likely 
outcome – is that the prospects for a path out of the COVID-19 
crisis have improved with progress on vaccines and virus 
treatments. Early into the new year, this has raised confidence 
over the economic outlook and is expected to support the 
recovery of economic activity over the next two years. Global 
GDP is expected to grow by around 5 per cent in 2021, well 
above the average of 3.7 per cent for the ten years between 
2010 to 2019. However, this follows a contraction of almost  
4 per cent in 2020, the worst performance since the Great 
Depression of 1929-31. 

Key to the outlook is the assumption that vaccines will be 
rolled out early in 2021 in major markets, and reach the 
majority of the population by the third quarter of the year.  
In addition, renewed virus outbreaks in many countries are 
expected to be contained. The global economic recovery will 
strengthen in the second half of 2021 as investment picks up 
around the world.

With the global recovery under way, many countries are 
expected to be close to their forward-looking long-term –  
or future potential – growth levels by the end of the next two 
years. However, the outlook remains highly uncertain. A faster 
distribution of vaccines will likely support stronger growth, 
while delays and disruptions will hold it back. The current (and 
any future) resurgence of the virus in many countries could 
also force governments to tighten restrictions on economic 
activity for longer than anticipated. 

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Risk review Risk profile

While the quarterly base forecasts inform the Group’s 
strategic plan, one key requirement of IFRS 9 is that the 
assessment of provisions should consider multiple future 
economic environments. For example, the global economy 
may grow more quickly or more slowly than the Base Forecast, 
and these variations would have different implications for the 
provisions that the Group should hold today. As the negative 
impact of an economic downturn on credit losses tends to  
be greater than the positive impact of an economic upturn,  
if the Group sets provisions only on the ECL under the Base 
Forecast it might maintain a level of provisions that does not 
appropriately capture the range of potential outcomes.  
To address this property of skewness (or non-linearity),  
IFRS 9 requires reported ECL to be a probability-weighted  
ECL calculated over a range of possible outcomes.

To assess the range of possible outcomes, the Group simulates 
a set of 50 scenarios around the Base Forecast, calculates  
the ECL under each of them and assigns an equal weight of  
2 per cent to each scenario outcome. These scenarios are 
generated by a Monte Carlo simulation, which addresses the 
challenges of crafting many realistic alternative scenarios in 
the many countries in which the Group operates by means of 
a model, which produces these alternative scenarios while 
considering the degree of historical uncertainty (or volatility) 
observed over 1Q’90 to 3Q’20 around economic outcomes 
and how these outcomes have tended to move in relation to 
one another (or correlation). This naturally means that each  
of the 50 scenarios do not have a specific narrative, although 
collectively they explore a range of hypothetical alternative 
outcomes for the global economy, including scenarios that 
turn out better than expected and scenarios that amplify 
anticipated stresses.

The table on page 227 provides a summary of the Group’s 
Base Forecast for key footprint markets, alongside the 
corresponding range seen across the multiple scenarios.  
The peak/trough amounts in the table show the highest and 
lowest points within the Base Forecast, and the GDP graphs 
below illustrate the shape of the Base Forecast in relation to 
prior periods’ actuals and the long-term growth rates.

The global economic recovery in the near term is expected to 
be uneven. While the US and Europe are likely to recover this 
year, Asia – particularly China and India – is expected to lead 
the global economic rebound. China is likely to continue its 
strong recovery and is expected to grow by 8 per cent in 2021, 
having already exceeded end-2019 GDP levels in 2020.  
Among Asian economies, India has faced the sharpest 
negative shock, with an expected GDP contraction of around 
8 per cent in FY21 (year ending in March 2021). The expected 
pick-up in FY22 is around 10 per cent. Open economies that 
are reliant on trade such as Singapore will be lifted by the 
global economic recovery. Its GDP is expected to grow by 
around 5 per cent after a 6 per cent contraction in 2020. 
Similarly, Hong Kong’s economy is expected to expand by  
4 per cent this year from a 6 per cent contraction previously. 
Korea was one of the first countries to be affected by the 
pandemic, but the effective strategies employed by the 
government helped contain the spread of the virus and 
limited the economic fallout compared with other advanced 
economies. Korea’s GDP is expected to grow by 3.3 per cent  
in 2021 after contracting by less than 1 per cent in 2020.

Gains in commodity prices are also likely to be uneven.  
Metal prices such as copper are expected to benefit from  
the improved outlook for Asia, particularly China. However, 
global oil demand is not expected to recover all of its 2020 
losses this year and this will limit any price gains. Oil prices are 
expected to average $44 in 2021, showing only a marginal 
gain from the $41 average in 2020. However, there are upside 
risks to oil prices should the economic recovery be stronger 
than expected.

China GDP YoY%

Hong Kong GDP YoY%

Korea GDP YoY%

Actual

Forecast

Long-term growth

20

16

12

8

4

0

-4

-8
15 Q1 16 Q1

8

6

4

2

0

-2

-4

-6

-8

-10

Actual

Forecast

Long-term growth

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

Actual

Forecast

Long-term growth

17 Q1

18 Q1

19 Q1 20 Q1 21 Q1 22 Q1 23 Q1

24 Q1

25 Q1

15 Q1 16 Q1

17 Q1

18 Q1

19 Q1 20 Q1 21 Q1 22 Q1 23 Q1

24 Q1

25 Q1

-4
15 Q1 16 Q1

17 Q1

18 Q1

19 Q1 20 Q1 21 Q1 22 Q1 23 Q1

24 Q1

25 Q1

Singapore GDP YoY%

India GDP YoY%

20

15

10

5

0

-5

-10

-15

Actual

Forecast

Long-term growth

40

30

20

10

0

-10

-20

-30

Actual

Forecast

Long-term growth

15 Q1 16 Q1

17 Q1

18 Q1

19 Q1 20 Q1 21 Q1 22 Q1 23 Q1

24 Q1

25 Q1

15 Q1 16 Q1

17 Q1

18 Q1

19 Q1 20 Q1 21 Q1 22 Q1 23 Q1

24 Q1

25 Q1

Long-term growth = forward-looking future GDP growth potential

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GDP growth (YoY%)

Unemployment (%)

3-month interest rates (%) 

House prices (YoY%)

China

Hong Kong

Korea

Singapore

India1

2020

2021

2022

2020

2021

2022

2020

2021

2022

2020

2021

2022

2020

2021

2022

2.1

3.8

2.0

5.3

 8.0

 3.5

 2.2

 4.8

5.6

3.4

2.3

5.8

–5.8

5.4

 4.0

 5.9

1.0  0.8

–2.2

 1.1

2.5

4.3

0.7

6.2

–0.8

3.3 

3.8

0.8

3.1

 3.7

 0.5

 1.6

2.4

3.5

0.8

1.4

–6.0  5.0

2.6

–8.0  10.0

4.5

4.1

0.6

1.1

 4.0

 0.5

 2.7

3.6 N/A N/A N/A

0.6

4.2

3.3

4.5

 3.4

 5.8

3.7

6.8

1  

India GDP follows the fiscal year beginning in Q2. All other variables are on a calendar year basis

20205

GDP growth 
(YoY%)

Unemployment 
(%)

3-month interest 
rates (%)

House prices 
(YoY%)

2019

GDP growth 
(YoY%)

Unemployment 
(%)

3-month interest 
rates (%)

House prices 
(YoY%)

5-year 
average 
base 
forecast

 China

Base 
forecast 
peak/ 
trough

Hong Kong

5-year 
average 
base 
forecast

Base 
forecast 
peak/ 
trough

Low2 High3

5-year 
average 
base 
forecast

Korea

Base 
forecast 
peak/ 
trough

5-year 
average 
base 
forecast

Low2 High3

Low2 High3

6.0 19.4/3.2

1.9 20.4

2.8

5.5/2.5

(1.9) 7.3

2.8

5.3/1.4

(1.4)

7.9

2.8

Singapore

Base 
forecast 
peak/ 
trough

13.7/
(2.3)

5-year 
average 
base 
forecast

Low2 High3

(5.4) 17.5

6.4

India

Base 
forecast 
peak/ 
trough

32.6/ 
0.0

Low2 High3

(2.1) 34.9

3.4

3.7/3.4

3.3

3.7

3.9

6.3/3.1

2.3

7.2

3.3

3.7/3.0 2.6

4.5

3.5

4.3/3.1

2.0 5.5

N/A1

N/A N/A N/A

2.3

2.4/2.2 0.9

4.5

0.9

1.3/0.7 (0.3) 3.2

1.2

2.3/0.5

(0.1) 3.5

0.7

1.2/0.5 0.0

2.2

4.3

5.4/3.3

2.0

6.9

5.8

6.2/4.7

1.2

8.7

3.7 7.5/(4.3) (12.8) 23.0

2.3

3.2/0.4 (2.3) 7.6

4.0

4.3/1.5 (4.4) 16.9

6.7

7.2/4.8

(4.1) 21.8

5-year 
average 
base 
forecast

 China

Base 
forecast 
peak/ 
trough

Low2 High3

Hong Kong

5-year 
average 
base 
forecast

Base 
forecast 
peak/ 
trough

Low2 High3

5-year 
average 
base 
forecast

Korea

Base 
forecast 
peak/ 
trough

Low2 High3

5-year 
average 
base 
forecast

Singapore

Base 
forecast 
peak/ 
trough

Low2 High3

5-year 
average 
base 
forecast

India

Base 
forecast 
peak/ 
trough

Low2 High3

5.8

6.3/5.5

4.4

7.4

1.6 2.5/(4.8) (2.7)4 4.4

2.6

2.9/2.1 0.6

4.8

2.1

2.5/0.9

(1.4) 5.9

6.9

7.2/6.1

5.0 9.0

3.6

3.6/3.6

3.6

3.7

3.5

3.6/3.1

2.7

4.3

3.6

4.0/3.2

3.0 4.2

3.0 3.2/3.0

2.3

3.8

N/A1

N/A N/A N/A

2.6

2.8/2.3

1.8

3.6

2.4

3.5/1.2 0.9

4.3

1.7

2.5/1.2 0.8

2.9

2.0

2.9/1.3

1.1

3.1

5.2

5.6/4.8

4.3

6.1

6.3

7.6/4.2

4.2

8.3

3.6 5.7/(5.1)

(6.5) 14.6

2.6

2.8/0.7 0.5

4.8

3.4 4.4/0.4 (2.7) 9.7

7.8

8.1/6.9

2.4 13.2

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20205

2019

5-year  
average 
base 
forecast

Base 
forecast 
peak/
trough

54

61/39

Low2

22

High3

116

5-year  
average 
base 
forecast

Base 
forecast 
peak/ 
trough

71

76/66

Low2

42

High3

102

Crude price Brent, $ pb

1   N/A – Not available

2   Represents the 10th percentile in the range of economic scenarios used to determine non-linearity

3   Represents the 90th percentile in the range of economic scenarios used to determine non-linearity

4   This value is higher than the trough in the base case forecast because it is measured over the 5-year range; if the 10th percentile had been read off the first half of 

2020, it would have been -5.7

5   Base forecasts are evaluated from 1Q’21 to 4Q’25. The forward-looking simulation starts from 1Q’21

The final probability-weighted ECL reported by the Group is a simple average of the ECL for each of the 50 scenarios, together 
with the ECL from the base forecast. The impact of these scenarios and the management overlay (together referred to as 
non-linearity) is set out in the table below.

Total expected credit loss at 31 December 20201
Total expected credit loss at 31 December 20191

Including 
non-linearity  
$million

1,731

1,108

Base  
forecast  
$million

1,380

1,079

Difference  
%

25.4

2.7

1   Total modelled ECL comprises stage 1 and stage 2 balances of $1,549 million (31 December 2019: $975 million) and $182 million (31 December 2019: $133 million) of 

modelled ECL on stage 3 loans

The average expected credit loss under multiple scenarios (which incorporates the management overlay below) is 25.4 per cent 
higher than the expected credit loss calculated using only the most likely scenario (the Base Forecast). Portfolios that are more 
sensitive to non-linearity include those with greater leverage and/or a longer tenor, such as Project and Shipping Finance and 
credit card portfolios. Other portfolios display minimal non-linearity owing to limited responsiveness to macroeconomic impacts 
for structural reasons such as significant collateralisation as with the Retail Banking mortgage portfolios. 

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Stage 3 
Credit-impaired assets managed by Group Special Assets 
Management (GSAM) incorporate forward-looking economic 
assumptions in respect of the recovery outcomes identified, 
and are assigned individual probability weightings. These 
assumptions are not based on a Monte Carlo simulation but 
are informed by the Base Forecast.

Sensitivity of expected credit loss calculation to 
macroeconomic variables
The ECL calculation relies on multiple variables and is 
inherently non-linear and portfolio-dependent, which implies 
that no single analysis can fully demonstrate the sensitivity  
of the ECL to changes in the macroeconomic variables.  
The Group has conducted a series of analyses with the aim  
of identifying the macroeconomic variables that might have 
the greatest impact on overall ECL. These encompassed 
single variable and multi-variable exercises, using simple up/
down variation and extracts from actual calculation data,  
as well as bespoke scenario design and assessments. 
The primary conclusion of these exercises is that no individual 
macroeconomic variable is materially influential. The Group 
believes this is plausible as the number of variables used  
in the ECL calculation is large. This does not mean that 
macroeconomic variables are uninfluential; rather, that the 
Group believes that consideration of macroeconomics should 
involve whole scenarios, as this aligns with the multi-variable 
nature of the calculation.

The Group faces downside risks in the operating environment 
related to the uncertainties surrounding the effect of 
COVID-19 on the macroeconomic outlook. To explore this,  
a sensitivity analysis of ECL was undertaken to explore the 
effect of slower economic recoveries across the Group’s 
footprint markets. Two downside scenarios were considered, 
with both assuming a second wave of COVID-19 early in 2021 
across all Standard Chartered markets. The shock is assumed 
to be 50 per cent as severe as the first wave as governments 
have learnt lessons on how to tackle the spread of the virus 
from the prior years’ experience. In the moderate scenario,  
a reasonable recovery takes hold in the second half of 2021.  
In the severe scenario measures to contain the spread of 
COVID-19 and stimulate activity prove insufficient and the 
economies are stuck in a prolonged slowdown with a recovery 
not materialising until 2022. 

Risk review Risk profile

Management overlay – COVID-19
As at 31 December 2020, the Group held a $359 million 
management overlay relating to uncertainties as a result of 
the COVID-19 pandemic that are not captured by the models, 
$197 million of which relates to Corporate & Institutional 
Banking and Commercial Banking and $162 million to Retail 
Banking. The overlay has been determined after taking 
account of the PMAs reported on page 225 and is re-assessed 
quarterly. It is reviewed and approved by the IFRS9 Impairment 
Committee.

Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking The 
amount of loans placed on non-purely precautionary early 
alert increased significantly over 2020 as the impact of 
COVID-19 was evaluated on the Group’s portfolio. However, 
the impact of the rapid deterioration in the economic 
environment in 2020 has not yet been fully observed in 
customers’ financial performance. In part this has been due  
to ongoing government support measures across the Group’s 
markets and we have not yet seen a significant increase in the 
level of stage 3 loans relating to COVID-19 as at 31 December 
2020. To take account of the heightened Credit Risk and the 
continuing uncertainties in the pace and timing of economic 
recovery, a judgemental overlay has been taken by estimating 
the impact of further deterioration to the non-purely 
precautionary early alert portfolio. The overlay is held in  
stage 2. The basis of determining the overlay remained 
unchanged during 2020. The overlay increased to $227 million 
at 30 September 2020 compared with $198 million at 30 June 
2020, and reduced to $197 million at 31 December 2020 as the 
level of non-purely precautionary early alerts reduced relative 
to previous quarters.

Retail Banking A number of components contribute to the 
judgemental overlay for Retail Banking. Within Business 
Banking, the Group has evaluated those sectors that have 
been adversely impacted by COVID-19, both through internal 
credit processes as well as through a ‘Voice of Customer’ 
survey to understand how customers have been affected.  
The Group has also considered the extent to which lockdowns 
have impacted collections and recoveries, and the extent  
to which payment reliefs may mask underlying credit risks, 
particularly in those markets in ASEAN & South Asia where 
compulsory moratoria schemes were in place. For those 
markets, the Group has estimated the impact of increased 
delinquencies and flows to defaults when the moratoria are 
lifted as well as the extent to which customers in stage 1 may 
have experienced a significant increase in credit risk if not  
for the moratoria. The Group assessment also considered 
employee banking relationships with high-impact sectors, 
such as airlines, and the impact on mortgages in Africa & 
Middle East which generally have high LTVs. $78 million of the 
overlay is held in stage 1, $78 million in stage 2 and $6 million  
in stage 3. The basis of determining the overlay remained 
unchanged during 2020. The overlay increased to $166 million 
at 30 September compared with $118m at 30 June 2020 and 
reduced to $162 million at 31 December 2020, as general 
moratoria schemes ended in a number of markets and  
the increased delinquency flows were captured by the  
ECL models.

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China GDP

China unemployment

China property prices

Hong Kong GDP

Hong Kong unemployment

Hong Kong property prices

US GDP

Singapore GDP

India GDP

World GDP

Crude Oil 

Baseline

Moderate scenario

Severe scenario

5-year average

Peak/Trough

5-year average

Peak/Trough

5-year average

Peak/Trough

6.0

3.4

5.8

2.8

3.9

3.7

2.1

2.8

6.4

3.8

19.4/3.2

3.7/3.4

6.2/4.7

5.5/2.5

6.3/3.1

7.5/(4.3)

8.1/(4.7)

13.7/(2.3)

32.6/0.0

9.1/3.3

5.3

3.7

5.0

2.1

5.2

2.2

0.8

2.3

5.2

2.9

53.8

60.9/39.0

48.6

13.0/(1.3)

5.1/3.4

6.0/(0.9)

3.4/(0.8)

7.5/3.1

5.6/(6.6)

6.2/(9.2)

10.0/(3.1)

17.0/(0.6)

7.7/(2.1)

60.9/19.3

4.7

4.2

4.2

1.7

5.8

(0.6)

(0.3)

0.7

3.8

1.7

44.4

13.0/(4.0)

5.8/3.4

6.2/(4.2)

2.5/(2.8)

8.1/3.1

4.8/(13.2)

2.5/(11.5)

4.3/(7.0)

17.0/(11.8)

3.7/(6.5)

60.9/19.3

The modelled ECL provisions would be approximately  
$242 million higher under the moderate scenario and  
$1.3 billion higher under the severe scenario than the baseline 
ECL provisions (which excluded the impact of multiple 
economic scenarios and management overlays which  
may already capture some of the risks in these scenarios).  
The proportion of stage 2 assets would increase from  
5.7 per cent to 13.5 per cent under the severe downside 
scenario. This includes the impact of exposures transferring  
to stage 2 from stage 1 but does not consider an increase in 
stage 3 defaults. There was no material change in modelled 
stage 3 provisions as these primarily relate to unsecured  
Retail Banking exposures, for which the LGD is not sensitive  

to changes in the macroeconomic forecasts. Under the severe 
scenario, the majority of the increase was in Corporate & 
Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking with the main 
corporate portfolios in the UK, Singapore and UAE impacted. 
Around 13 per cent of the increase was in Retail Banking,  
with the main portfolios impacted being the Group’s credit 
card portfolios in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.  
Note that these scenarios are not incorporated into the 
Group’s determination of ECL provisions and the actual 
outcome of any scenario may be materially different due to, 
amongst other factors, the effect of management actions  
to mitigate potential increases in risk and changes in the 
underlying portfolio.

Modelled provisions

Corporate & Institutional Banking

Retail Banking

Commercial Banking

Private Banking

Central & other items

Total

Proportion of assets in stage 21

Corporate & Institutional Banking

Retail Banking

Commercial Banking

Private Banking

Central & other items

Total

1   Excludes Cash and balances at central banks, Accrued income, Assets held for sale and Other assets

Moderate 
downside 
increase  
$m

Severe  
downside 
increase  
$m

75

79

50

1

37

242

890

175

237

1

45

1,348

Base  
Forecast  
scenario  
%

Moderate 
downside 
scenario  
%

Severe  
downside 
scenario  
%

10.9%

2.1%

17.2%

7.2%

0.6%

5.7%

11.6%

2.5%

23.4% 

7.2%

0.9%

6.5%

25.9%

2.9% 

45.5%

7.2%

2.7%

13.5%

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Risk review Risk profile

Significant increase in credit risk (SICR)
Quantitative criteria
SICR is assessed by comparing the risk of default at the 
reporting date to the risk of default at origination. Whether a 
change in the risk of default is significant or not is assessed 
using quantitative and qualitative criteria. These quantitative 
significant deterioration thresholds have been separately 
defined for each business and where meaningful are 
consistently applied across business lines.

Assets are considered to have experienced SICR if they have 
breached both relative and absolute thresholds for the 
change in the average annualised lifetime probability of 
default over the residual term of the exposure.

The absolute measure of increase in credit risk is used to 
capture instances where the PDs on exposures are relatively 
low at initial recognition as these may increase by several 
multiples without representing a significant increase in credit 
risk. Where PDs are relatively high at initial recognition, a 
relative measure is more appropriate in assessing whether 
there is a significant increase in credit risk, as the PDs increase 
more quickly.

The SICR thresholds have been calibrated based on the 
following principles:

•  Stability – The thresholds are set to achieve a stable stage 2 

population at a portfolio level, trying to minimise the 
number of accounts moving back and forth between  
stage 1 and stage 2 in a short period of time

•  Accuracy – The thresholds are set such that there is a 
materially higher propensity for stage 2 exposures to 
eventually default than is the case for stage 1 exposures

•  Dependency from backstops – The thresholds are  

Qualitative criteria
Qualitative factors that indicate there has been a significant 
increase in credit risk include processes linked to current  
risk management, such as placing loans on non-purely 
precautionary early alert. 

Backstop
Across all portfolios, accounts that are 30 or more days past 
due (DPD) on contractual payments of principal and/or 
interest that have not been captured by the criteria above  
are considered to have experienced a significant increase in 
credit risk.

Expert credit judgement may be applied in assessing 
significant increase in credit risk to the extent that certain risks 
may not have been captured by the models or through the 
above criteria. Such instances are expected to be rare, for 
example due to events and material uncertainties arising 
close to the reporting date.

Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial  
Banking clients
Quantitative criteria 
Exposures are assessed based on both the absolute and the 
relative movement in the PD from origination to the reporting 
date as described above.

To account for the fact that the mapping between internal 
credit grades (used in the origination process) and PDs is 
non-linear (e.g. a one-notch downgrade in the investment 
grade universe results in a much smaller PD increase than in 
the sub-investment grade universe), the absolute thresholds 
have been differentiated by credit quality at origination, as 
measured by internal credit grades being investment grade  
or sub-investment grade.

stringent enough such that a high proportion of accounts 
transfer to stage 2 due to movements in forward-looking  
PD rather than relying on backward-looking backstops  
such as arrears

Qualitative criteria 
All assets of clients that have been placed on early alert  
(for non-purely precautionary reasons) are deemed to have 
experienced a significant increase in credit risk.

•  Relationship with business and product risk profiles –  

The thresholds reflect the relative risk differences between 
different products, and are aligned to business processes

For Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial 
Banking clients, the relative threshold is a 100 per cent 
increase in PD and the absolute change in PD is between  
50 and 100 bps. 

For Retail Banking clients, the relative threshold is a  
100 per cent increase in PD and the absolute change in PD  
is between 100 and 350 bps depending on the product. 
Certain countries have a higher absolute threshold reflecting 
the lower default rate within their personal loan portfolios 
compared with the Group’s other personal loan portfolios. 

Private Banking clients are assessed qualitatively, based  
on a delinquency measure relating to collateral top-ups  
or sell-downs.

Debt securities originated before 1 January 2018, with an 
internal credit rating mapped to an investment grade 
equivalent, are allocated to stage 1 and all other debt 
securities to stage 2. Debt securities originated after  
1 January 2018 apply the same approach and thresholds  
as for Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial 
Banking clients.

An account is placed on non-purely precautionary early  
alert if it exhibits risk or potential weaknesses of a material 
nature requiring closer monitoring, supervision or attention  
by management. Weaknesses in such a borrower’s account,  
if left uncorrected, could result in deterioration of repayment 
prospects and the likelihood of being downgraded. Indicators 
could include a rapid erosion of position within the industry, 
concerns over management’s ability to manage operations, 
weak/deteriorating operating results, liquidity strain and 
overdue balances, among other factors.

All client assets that have been assigned a CG12 rating, 
equivalent to ‘Higher risk’, are deemed to have experienced  
a significant increase in credit risk. Accounts rated CG12 are 
managed by the GSAM unit. All Corporate & Institutional 
Banking and Commercial Banking clients are placed on CG12 
when they are 30 DPD unless they are granted a waiver 
through a strict governance process.

Retail Banking clients
Quantitative criteria 
Material portfolios (defined as a combination of country  
and product, for example Hong Kong mortgages, Taiwan 
credit cards) for which a statistical model has been built, are 
assessed based on both the absolute and relative movement 
in the PD from origination to the reporting date as described 
above. For these portfolios, the original lifetime PD term 
structure is determined based on the original application 
score or risk segment of the client.

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Qualitative criteria 
Accounts that are 30 DPD that have not been captured by  
the quantitative criteria are considered to have experienced  
a significant increase in credit risk. For less material portfolios, 
which are modelled based on a roll-rate or loss-rate approach, 
SICR is primarily assessed through the 30 DPD trigger.

Private Banking clients
For Private Banking clients, SICR is assessed by referencing  
the nature and the level of collateral against which credit is 
extended (known as ‘Classes of Risk’). 

Qualitative criteria 
For all Private Banking classes, in line with risk management 
practice, an increase in credit risk is deemed to have occurred 
where margining or loan-to-value covenants have been 
breached. 

For Class I assets (lending against diversified liquid collateral), 
if these margining requirements have not been met within  
30 days of a trigger, a significant increase in credit risk is 
assumed to have occurred. 

For Class I and Class III assets (real-estate lending), a 
significant increase in credit risk is assumed to have occurred 
where the bank is unable to ‘sell down’ the applicable assets 
to meet revised collateral requirements within five days of  
a trigger.

Class II assets are typically unsecured or partially secured, or 
secured against illiquid collateral such as shares in private 
companies. Significant credit deterioration of these assets is 
deemed to have occurred when any early alert trigger has 
been breached.

Debt securities
Quantitative criteria
For debt securities originated before 1 January 2018, the bank 
is utilising the low Credit Risk simplified approach, where  
debt securities with an internal credit rating mapped to an 
investment grade equivalent are allocated to stage 1 and all 
other debt securities are allocated to stage 2. Debt securities 
originated after 1 January 2018 are assessed based on the 
absolute and relative movements in PD from origination to 
the reporting date.

Qualitative criteria
Debt securities utilise the same qualitative criteria as the 
Corporate & Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking 
client segments, including being placed on early alert or being 
classified as CG12.

Assessment of credit-impaired financial assets
Retail Banking clients 
The core components in determining credit-impaired 
expected credit loss provisions are the value of gross charge-
off and recoveries. Gross charge-off and/or loss provisions are 
recognised when it is established that the account is unlikely 
to pay through the normal process. Recovery of unsecured 
debt post credit impairment is recognised based on actual 
cash collected, either directly from clients or through the sale 
of defaulted loans to third-party institutions. Release of credit 
impairment provisions for secured loans is recognised if the 
loan outstanding is paid in full (release of full provision), or the 
provision is higher than the loan outstanding (release of the 
excess provision). 

Corporate & Institutional Banking, Commercial Banking and 
Private Banking clients
Credit-impaired accounts are managed by the Group’s 
specialist recovery unit, Group Special Assets Management 
(GSAM), which is independent from its main businesses. 
Where any amount is considered irrecoverable, a stage 3 
credit impairment provision is raised. This stage 3 provision  
is the difference between the loan-carrying amount and  
the probability-weighted present value of estimated future 
cashflows, reflecting a range of scenarios (typically the  
best, worst and most likely recovery outcomes). Where the 
cashflows include realisable collateral, the values used  
will incorporate the impact of forward-looking economic 
information.

The individual circumstances of each client are considered 
when GSAM estimates future cashflows and the timing of 
future recoveries which involves significant judgement. All 
available sources, such as cashflow arising from operations, 
selling assets or subsidiaries, realising collateral or payments 
under guarantees are considered. In any decision relating  
to the raising of provisions, the Group attempts to balance 
economic conditions, local knowledge and experience, and 
the results of independent asset reviews. 

Write-offs
Where it is considered that there is no realistic prospect  
of recovering a portion of an exposure against which an 
impairment provision has been raised, that amount will be 
written off.

Governance and application of expert credit judgement in 
respect of expected credit losses
The Group’s Credit Policy and Standards framework details 
the requirements for continuous monitoring to identify any 
changes in credit quality and resultant ratings, as well as 
ensuring a consistent approach to monitoring, managing  
and mitigating credit risks. The framework aligns with the 
governance of ECL estimation through the early recognition of 
significant deteriorations in ratings which drive stage 2 and 3 
ECL.

The models used in determining expected credit losses  
are reviewed and approved by the Group Credit Model 
Assessment Committee (CMAC) which is appointed by the 
Model Risk Committee. CMAC has the responsibility to assess 
and approve the use of models and to review all IFRS 9 
interpretations related to models. CMAC also provides 
oversight on operational matters related to model 
development, performance monitoring and model validation 
activities including standards, regulatory and Group Internal 
Audit matters. 

Prior to submission to CMAC for approval, the models are 
validated by Group Model Validation (GMV), a function which 
is independent of the business and the model developers. 
GMV’s analysis comprises review of model documentation, 
model design and methodology, data validation, review of 
the model development and calibration process, out-of-
sample performance testing, and assessment of compliance 
review against IFRS 9 rules and internal standards. 

A quarterly model monitoring process is in place that uses 
recent data to compare the differences between model 
predictions and actual outcomes against approved 
thresholds. Where a model’s performance breaches the 
monitoring thresholds, an assessment of whether a PMA is 
required to correct for the identified model issue is completed. 

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Risk review Risk profile

Key inputs into the calculation and resulting expected credit 
loss provisions are subject to review and approval by the IFRS 9 
Impairment Committee (IIC), which is appointed by the Group 
Risk Committee. The IIC consists of senior representatives from 
Risk, Finance, and Group Economic Research. It meets at least 
twice every quarter, once before the models are run to 
approve key inputs into the calculation, and once after the 
models are run to approve the expected credit loss provisions 
and any judgemental overrides that may be necessary. 

The IFRS 9 Impairment Committee:

•  Oversees the appropriateness of all Business Model 

Assessment and Solely Payments of Principal and Interest 
(SPPI) tests

•  Reviews and approves expected credit loss for financial 
assets classified as stages 1, 2 and 3 for each financial 
reporting period

•  Reviews and approves stage allocation rules and thresholds 

•  Approves material adjustments in relation to expected 
credit loss for fair value through other comprehensive 
income (FVOCI) and amortised cost financial assets

•  Reviews, challenges and approves base macroeconomic 
forecasts and the multiple macroeconomic scenarios 
approach that are utilised in the forward-looking expected 
credit loss calculations 

The IFRS 9 Impairment Committee is supported by an  
Expert Panel which also reviews and challenges the base  
case projections and multiple macroeconomic scenarios.  
The Expert Panel consists of members of Enterprise Risk 
Management (which includes the Scenario Design team), 
Finance, Group Economic Research and country 
representatives of major jurisdictions.

PMAs may be applied to account for identified weaknesses  
in model estimates. The processes for identifying the need for, 
calculating the level of, and approving PMAs are prescribed  
in the Credit Risk IFRS 9 ECL Model Family Standards which  
are approved by the Global Head, Model Risk Management. 
PMA calculation methodologies are reviewed by GMV and 
submitted to CMAC as the model approver or the IIC. All PMAs 
have a remediation plan to fix the identified model weakness, 
and these plans are reported to and tracked at CMAC. 

In addition, Risk Event Overlays account for events that are 
sudden and therefore not captured in the Base Case forecast 
or the resulting ECL calculated by the models. All Risk Event 
Overlays must be approved by the IIC having considered the 
nature of the event, why the risk is not captured in the model, 
and the basis on which the quantum of the overlay has been 
calculated. Risk Event Overlays are subject to quarterly review 
and re-approval by the IIC.

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Country Risk
The Group monitors Gross Country Risk (GCR), which is an 
aggregate of two distinct risk types: 

•  Transfer and Convertibility Risk (TCR), which is the potential 
for losses on cross-border or foreign currency obligations 
arising from the possibility that a government is unable or 
unwilling to make foreign currency available for remittance 
out of the country; and

•  Local Currency Risk (LCR), which is the potential for losses  
on local currency obligations arising from operating in a 
volatile domestic, economic and political environment.

The profile of the Group’s largest Gross Country Risk exposures 
as at 31 December 2020 is consistent with its strategic focus  
on core franchise countries. Changes in the pace of economic 
activity and portfolio management activity had an impact on 
the growth of Country Risk exposure for certain markets. 

There has been an increase in exposure to the United States, 
driven by increased nostros balances kept with the Federal 
Reserve and growth in domestic short-term lending, 
particularly to non-financial corporations.

There has been a slight increase in exposure to Hong Kong, 
primarily due to increased nostros balances kept with the 
Hong Kong Monetary Authority. This was partially offset by 
reduced domestic treasury market activities. 

Exposure to South Korea increased due to growth in the  
retail portfolio combined with increased domestic treasury 
market activity. 

Exposure to China increased due to growth in cross-border 
treasury market volumes and higher nostros balances.  
This was partially offset by a reduction in cross-border trade 
finance activity. 

The increase in exposure to Singapore is due to higher nostros 
balances kept with the Monetary Authority of Singapore and 
increased cross-border lending to financial institutions. 

United Kingdom exposure increased due to higher nostros 
balances kept with the Bank of England. This was partially 
offset by reduced cross-border trade finance activity. 

Exposure to India increased slightly, with increased domestic 
treasury market activities offsetting the reductions in the retail 
and private banking portfolios. 

The increase in exposure to Taiwan is driven by higher nostros 
balances and increased cross-border lending, particularly to 
non-financial corporations. 

Exposure to Germany increased due to increased term loans 
and higher nostros balances. This was partially offset by a 
reduction in government bond holdings. 

Exposure to the UAE decreased due to lower domestic 
treasury market activity and a reduction in the retail portfolio. 

The table below, which is based on the Group’s internal 
Country Risk reporting requirements shows the 10 largest 
country/market exposures across the Group. 

Country/Market

United States

Hong Kong

South Korea

China

Singapore

United Kingdom

India

Taiwan

Germany

United Arab Emirates

2020

2019

TCR  
$million

 32,677 

 19,113 

 15,526 

 42,661 

 20,113 

 20,887 

 13,713 

 6,732 

 14,323 

 15,807 

LCR  
$million

 63,355 

 67,655 

 59,089 

 21,838 

 39,145 

 26,207 

 21,388 

 17,292 

 7,910 

 5,714 

GCR  
$million

 96,032 

 86,768 

 74,615 

 64,499 

 59,258 

 47,094 

 35,101 

 24,024 

 22,233 

 21,521 

TCR  
$million

 25,966 

 21,361 

 17,809 

 36,469 

 18,304 

 27,563 

 14,008 

 2,733 

 11,890 

 16,461 

LCR  
$million

 58,930 

 63,214 

 49,351 

 20,977 

 34,046 

 16,782 

 20,305 

 14,827 

 4,546 

 6,145 

GCR  
$million

 84,896 

 84,575 

 67,160 

 57,446 

 52,350 

 44,345 

 34,313 

 17,560 

 16,436 

 22,606 

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•  Non-trading book:

–  The Treasury Markets desk is required to hold a liquid 
assets buffer, much of which is held in high-quality 
marketable debt securities

–  The Group has capital invested and related income 

streams denominated in currencies other than US dollars. 
To the extent that these are not hedged, the Group is 
subject to Structural Foreign Exchange Risk which is 
reflected in reserves 

A summary of our current policies and practices regarding 
Market Risk management is provided in the Principal Risks 
section (page 257).

Traded Risk 
Traded Risk is the potential for loss resulting from activities 
undertaken by the Group in financial markets. Under the 
Enterprise Risk Management Framework, the Traded Risk 
Framework brings together Market Risk, Counterparty Credit 
Risk, Issuer Risk, XVA, Algorithmic Trading and Pension Risk. 
Traded Risk Management is the core risk management 
function supporting market-facing businesses, predominantly 
Financial Markets and Treasury Markets.

Market Risk (audited)
Market Risk is the potential for loss of economic value  
due to adverse changes in financial market rates or prices.  
The Group’s exposure to Market Risk arises predominantly 
from the following sources:

•  Trading book: 

–  The Group provides clients access to financial markets, 
facilitation of which entails the Group taking moderate 
Market Risk positions. All trading teams support client 
activity. There are no proprietary trading teams. Hence, 
income earned from Market Risk-related activities is 
primarily driven by the volume of client activity rather 
than risk-taking

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Risk review Risk profile

The primary categories of Market Risk for the Group are:

•  Interest Rate Risk: arising from changes in yield curves, credit spreads and implied volatilities on interest rate options

•  Foreign Exchange Rate Risk: arising from changes in currency exchange rates and implied volatilities on foreign exchange 

options 

•  Commodity Risk: arising from changes in commodity prices and implied volatilities on commodity options; covering energy, 

precious metals, base metals and agriculture as well as commodity baskets

•  Equity Risk: arising from changes in the prices of equities, equity indices, equity baskets and implied volatilities on related 

options

Market Risk changes (audited)
The average level of total trading and non-trading value at risk (VaR) in 2020 was $108.0 million, 258 per cent higher than in 
2019 ($30.2 million). The actual level of total trading and non-trading VaR as at the end of 2020 was $137.6 million, 300 per cent 
higher than in 2019 ($34.4 million). The increase in total average VaR was driven by the extreme market volatility in interest rates 
and credit spreads following the outbreak of COVID-19 and the collapse in oil prices, with the largest increase observed in the 
non-trading book from high-quality marketable securities held in the Treasury Markets liquid assets buffer. The credit bonds 
that are included in the buffer are almost exclusively of investment grade. The historical scenarios driving the total VaR are all 
from March 2020, hence VaR is expected to remain elevated until at least March 2021. 

For the trading book, the average level of VaR in 2020 was $17.0 million, 55 per cent higher than in 2019 ($11.0 million).  
Trading activities have remained relatively unchanged and client-driven.

Daily value at risk (VaR at 97.5%, one day) (audited)

Trading and non-trading
Interest Rate Risk3

Foreign Exchange Risk

Commodity Risk

Equity Risk
Total4

Trading5
Interest Rate Risk3

Foreign Exchange Risk

Commodity Risk

Equity Risk
Total4

Non-trading
Interest Rate Risk3
Equity Risk6
Total4

Low1
$million

Actual2
$million

Average 
$million

Average 
$million

93.9

6.4

2.5

2.6

2020

High1
$million

121.6

15.1

5.5

5.4

29.0

115.7

3.0

0.7

1.5

15.1

4.9

1.5

108.0

158.0

28.8

137.6

2020

2019

High1
$million

35.2

8.5

2.2

4.6

37.1

2019

Low1
$million

24.1

2.3

0.8

2.5

24.1

Actual2
$million

34.2

5.1

1.4

2.5

34.4

28.9 

4.3

1.3

3.5

30.2

Average 
$million

High1
$million

Low1
$million

Actual2
$million

Average 
$million

High1
$million

Low1
$million

Actual2
$million

10.6

6.4

2.5

0.0

17.0

15.4

15.1

5.5

0.0

26.3

2020

6.5

3.0

0.7

0.0

8.3

9.9

15.1

4.9

0.0

24.6

8.0

4.3

1.3

–

11.0

6.3

2.3

0.8

–

8.8

7.0

5.1

1.4

–

10.0

11.8

8.5

2.2

0.1

14.0

2019

Average 
$million

High1
$million

Low1
$million

Actual2
$million

Average 
$million

High1
$million

Low1
$million  

Actual2
$million

83.0

2.6

84.8

110.2

5.4

113.7

27.3

1.4

27.7

103.5

1.5

104.7

26.2

3.5

26.7

33.3

4.6

33.4

21.2

2.5

20.6

33.3

2.5

32.0

1   Highest and lowest VaR for each risk factor are independent and usually occur on different days

2   Actual one-day VaR at year-end date

3   Interest Rate Risk VaR includes Credit Spread Risk arising from securities accounted for as fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL) or fair value through other 

comprehensive income (FVOCI)

4   The total VaR shown in the tables above is not equal to the sum of the component risks due to offsets between them

5  Trading book for Market Risk is defined in accordance with the EU Capital Requirements Regulation (CRD/CRR) Part 3 Title I Chapter 3, which restricts the positions 

permitted in the trading book

6  Non-trading Equity Risk VaR includes only listed equities

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The following table sets out how trading and non-trading VaR is distributed across the Group’s products:

Trading and non-trading 
Trading4

Rates

Global Foreign Exchange

Credit Trading & Capital Markets

Commodities

Equities

XVA
Total3

Non-trading

Treasury Markets

Listed private equity
Total3

2020

Average 
$million

High1
$million

Low1
$million

Actual2
$million

108.0

158.0

28.8

137.6

Average 
$million

30.2

7.6

6.4

7.8

2.5

–

9.0

17.0

83.0

2.6

84.8

11.1

15.1

14.6

5.5

–

13.7

26.3

110.2

5.4

113.7

4.5

3.0

3.3

0.7

–

2.7

8.3

27.3

1.4

27.7

8.5

15.1

8.4

4.9

–

11.2

24.6

103.5

1.5

104.7

5.4

4.3

4.2

1.3

–

4.0

11.0

26.2

3.5

26.7

2019

High1
$million

37.1

7.6

8.5

7.9

2.2

0.1

6.8

14.0

33.3

4.6

33.4

Low1
$million

24.1

Actual2
$million

34.4

4.0

2.3

1.9

0.8

–

1.8

8.8

21.2

2.5

20.6

5.1

5.1

4.6

1.4

–

2.8

10.0

33.3

2.5

32.0

1   Highest and lowest VaR for each risk factor are independent and usually occur on different days

2   Actual one-day VaR at year end date

3   The total VaR shown in the tables above is not a sum of the component risks due to offsets between them

4   Trading book for Market Risk is defined in accordance with the EU Capital Requirements Regulation (CRD/CRR) Part 3 Title I Chapter 3, which restricts the positions 

permitted in the trading book

Risks not in VaR 
In 2020, the main Market Risk not reflected in VaR was the potential depeg risk from currencies currently pegged or managed. 
The historical one-year VaR observation period does not reflect the future possibility of a change in the currency regime such as 
sudden depegging. The other material Market Risk not reflected in VaR was associated with basis risks where historical market 
price data for VaR is sometimes more limited and therefore proxied, generating a potential basis risk. Additional capital is set 
aside to cover such ‘risks not in VaR’. For further details on Market Risk capital, see the Market Risk section in the Standard 
Chartered PLC Pillar 3 Disclosures for 31 December 2020.

Backtesting 
In 2020, there were three regulatory backtesting negative exceptions at Group level (in 2019, there were five regulatory 
backtesting negative exceptions at Group level). These exceptions occurred on:

•  10 March: When markets rallied following the announcement of measures to stimulate the US economy

•  13 March: When markets rallied as the Federal Reserve provided details of US Treasury purchases, and cut interest rates

•  24 March: When markets rallied as US Congress finalised a $2 trillion package to stimulate the economy, also impacting  

gold prices

In total, there have been three Group exceptions in the previous 250 business days which is within the ‘amber zone’ applied 
internationally to internal models by bank supervisors (Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, Supervisory framework for  
the use of backtesting in conjunction with the internal models approach to market risk capital requirements, January 1996).

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Risk review Risk profile

The graph below illustrates the performance of the VaR model used in capital calculations. It compares the 99 percentile loss 
confidence level given by the VaR model with the hypothetical profit and loss of each day given the actual market movement 
without taking into account any intra-day trading activity.

2020 Backtesting chart
Internal model approach regulatory trading book at Group level
Hypothetical profit and loss (P&L) versus VaR (99 per cent, one day)

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

-10

-20

-30

-40

-50

-60

-70

Hypothetical P&L

Positive VaR at 99%

Negative VaR at 99%

Positive exceptions

Negative exceptions

Jan 2020

Feb 2020

Mar 2020

Apr 2020

May 2020

Jun 2020

Jul 2020

Aug 2020

Sep 2020

Oct 2020

Nov 2020

Dec 2020

Financial Markets loss days 

Number of loss days reported for Financial Markets trading book total product income1

1  Reflects total product income for Financial Markets:

– 

Including credit valuation adjustment (CVA) and funding valuation adjustment (FVA)

2020

15

2019

1

–  Excluding Treasury Markets business (non-trading) and periodic valuation changes for Capital Markets, expected loss provisions and overnight indexed swap 

(OIS) discounting

Average daily income earned from Market Risk-related activities1
The average level of total trading daily income in 2020 was $11.1 million, 28 per cent higher than in 2019 ($8.7 million), driven by 
extreme market volatility following the outbreak of COVID-19 and the resulting increase in trading activity and wider spreads.

Trading

Interest Rate Risk

Foreign Exchange Risk

Commodity Risk

Equity Risk

Total

Non-trading

Interest Rate Risk

Equity Risk

Total

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

5.1

5.1

0.9

–

11.1

1.7

–

1.7

3.6

4.5

0.6

– 

8.7

1.7

0.3

2.0

1  Reflects total product income which is the sum of client income and own account income. Includes elements of trading income, interest income and other income 

which are generated from Market Risk-related activities. XVA income is included under Interest Rate Risk

236

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Structural foreign exchange exposures 
The table below sets out the principal structural foreign exchange exposures (net of investment hedges) of the Group.

Hong Kong dollar 

Indian rupee

Renminbi 

Singapore dollar

Korean won

Taiwanese dollar

UAE dirham

Malaysian ringgit 

Thai baht

Indonesian rupiah

Pakistani rupee 

Other

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

8,739

4.222

4,071

2,543

2,856

1,556

1,863

1,575

892

332

471

4,422

33,542

8,432

3,930

3,344

2,531

2,393

1,418

1,994

1,557

929

1,139

441

4,558

32,666

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As at 31 December 2020, the Group had taken net investment 
hedges using derivative financial investments of $1,984 million 
(31 December 2019: $1,997 million) to partly cover its exposure 
to the Korean won, $834 million (31 December 2019: $789 
million) to partly cover its exposure to the Taiwanese dollar, 
$1,527 million (31 December 2019: $1,565 million) to partly cover 
its exposure to the renminbi and $652 million (31 December 
2019: $713 million) to partly cover its exposure to the Indian 
rupee. An analysis has been performed on these exposures to 
assess the impact of a 1 per cent fall in the US dollar exchange 
rates, adjusted to incorporate the impacts of correlations of 
these currencies to the US dollar. The impact on the positions 
above would be an increase of $381 million (31 December 2019: 
$358 million). Changes in the valuation of these positions are 
taken to reserves. For analysis of the Group’s capital position 
and requirements, refer to the Capital Review (page 277). 

Counterparty Credit Risk 
Counterparty Credit Risk is the potential for loss in the event  
of the default of a derivative counterparty, after taking into 
account the value of eligible collaterals and risk mitigation 
techniques. The Group’s counterparty credit exposures are 
included in the Credit Risk section.

Derivative financial instruments Credit Risk mitigation 
The Group enters into master netting agreements, which in 
the event of default result in a single amount owed by or to 
the counterparty through netting the sum of the positive  
and negative mark-to-market values of applicable derivative 
transactions. The value of exposure under master netting 
agreements is $47,097 million (2019: $28,659 million). 

In addition, the Group enters into credit support annexes 
(CSAs) with counterparties where collateral is deemed a 
necessary or desirable mitigant to the exposure. Cash 
collateral includes collateral called under a variation margin 
process from counterparties if total uncollateralised mark-to-
market exposure exceeds the threshold and minimum transfer 
amount specified in the CSA. With certain counterparties, the 
CSA is reciprocal and requires us to post collateral if the overall 
mark-to-market values of positions are in the counterparty’s 
favour and exceed an agreed threshold.

Liquidity and Funding Risk
Liquidity and Funding Risk is the risk that we may not have 
sufficient stable or diverse sources of funding to meet our 
obligations as they fall due.

The Group’s Liquidity and Funding Risk framework requires 
each country to ensure that it operates within predefined 
liquidity limits and remains in compliance with Group  
liquidity policies and practices, as well as local regulatory 
requirements.

The Group achieves this through a combination of setting  
Risk Appetite and associated limits, policy formation, risk 
measurement and monitoring, prudential and internal stress 
testing, governance and review. 

Primary sources of funding (audited)
The Group’s funding strategy is largely driven by its policy to 
maintain adequate liquidity at all times, in all geographic 
locations and for all currencies, and hence to be in a position 
to meet all obligations as they fall due. The Group’s funding 
profile is therefore well diversified across different sources, 
maturities and currencies.

A substantial portion of our assets are funded by customer 
deposits aligned with our policy to fund customer assets 
predominantly using customer deposits. Wholesale funding  
is diversified by type and maturity and represents a stable 
source of funds for the Group.

We maintain access to wholesale funding markets in all major 
financial centres in which we operate. This seeks to ensure 
that we have market intelligence, maintain stable funding 
lines and can obtain optimal pricing when performing our 
Interest Rate Risk management activities.

In 2020, the Group issued approximately $6.8 billion of senior 
debt securities, $2.4 billion of subordinated debt securities  
and $1 billion of Additional Tier 1 securities from its holding 
company (HoldCo) Standard Chartered PLC. (2019: $6.1 billion 
of term senior debt, $1 billion of subordinated securities and 
$0.5 billion of Additional Tier 1). 

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Risk review Risk profile

Debt refinancing levels are low. In the next 12 months approximately $6.1 billion of the Group’s senior debt and subordinated 
debt securities in total are falling due for repayment either contractually or callable by the Group.

Group’s composition of liabilities 31 December 2020

a n ks

D eriv a tiv e fi n a n cial 

e n ts

m

in stru

D e p o sits b y b

D e b t s e c uritie s in iss u e

er a c c o u n ts

m

C u st o

O th er lia

bilitie s

bilitie s 
e d fu n d s
S u b ordin a te d lia
a n d o th er b orro

E q uity

w

4.8

9.1

7.8

62.4

7.4 2.1

6.4

100%

Geographic distribution of customer accounts 31 December 2020

46.9

20.7

6.5

25.9

100%

G re a ter C hin a a n d
orth A sia

  N

N  &

S o uth A sia
A S E A

A fric a &
dle E a st
M id

eric a s

m

E uro p e & A

Liquidity and Funding Risk metrics
We monitor key liquidity metrics regularly, both on a country 
basis and in aggregate across the Group.

The following liquidity and funding Board Risk Appetite 
metrics define the maximum amount and type of risk that the 
Group is willing to assume in pursuit of its strategy: liquidity 
coverage ratio (LCR), liquidity stress survival horizons, external 
wholesale borrowing, and advances-to-deposits ratio.

Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) 
The LCR is a regulatory requirement set to ensure that the 
Group has sufficient unencumbered high-quality liquid assets 
to meet its liquidity needs in a 30-calendar-day liquidity  
stress scenario.

The Group monitors and reports its liquidity position under 
European Commission Delegated Regulation 2015/61 and  
has maintained its liquidity position above the prudential 
requirement. The Group maintained strong liquidity ratios 
despite the impacts of the COVID-19 stress. For further detail 
see the Liquidity section in the Standard Chartered PLC Pillar 3 
Disclosures for FY 2020. 

At the reporting date, the Group LCR was 143 per cent (2019: 
144 per cent) with a prudent surplus to both Board-approved 
Risk Appetite and regulatory requirements. Both the liquidity 
buffer and cash outflows grew during the year in line with the 
overall balance sheet growth. 

We also held adequate liquidity across our footprint to meet 
all local prudential LCR requirements where applicable. 

Liquidity buffer

Total net cash outflows

Liquidity coverage ratio

2020  
$million

175,948

122,664

143%

2019  
$million

158,415

110,269

144%

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Stressed coverage 
The Group intends to maintain a prudent and sustainable 
funding and liquidity position, in all countries and currencies, 
such that it can withstand a severe but plausible liquidity 
stress.

Our approach to managing liquidity and funding is reflected 
in the following Board-level Risk Appetite Statement:

“The Group should hold an adequate buffer of high-quality 
liquid assets to survive extreme but plausible liquidity stress 
scenarios for at least 60 days without recourse to 
extraordinary central bank support.”

The Group’s internal liquidity stress testing framework covers 
the following stress scenarios:

•  Standard Chartered-specific – This scenario captures the 
liquidity impact from an idiosyncratic event affecting 
Standard Chartered only i.e. the rest of the market is 
assumed to operate normally.

•  Market wide – This scenario captures the liquidity impact 
from a market-wide crisis affecting all participants in a 
country, region or globally.

•  Combined – This scenario assumes both Standard 

Chartered-specific and Market-wide events affecting  
the Group simultaneously and hence is the most severe 
scenario.

All scenarios include, but are not limited to, modelled outflows 
for retail and wholesale funding, Off-Balance Sheet Funding 
Risk, Cross Currency Funding Risk, Intraday Risk, Franchise  
Risk and risks associated with a deterioration of a firm’s  
credit rating.

Stress testing results show that a positive surplus was 
maintained under all scenarios at 31 December 2020, i.e. 
respective countries are able to survive for a period of time  
as defined under each scenario. The combined scenario at  
31 December 2020 showed the Group maintained liquidity 
resources to survive greater than 60 days, as per our Board 
Risk Appetite. The results take into account currency 
convertibility and portability constraints across all major 
presence countries.

Total loans and advances to customers1,2
Total customer accounts3

Advances-to-deposits ratio

Standard Chartered Bank’s credit ratings as at 31 December 
2020 were A+ with negative outlook (Fitch), A with stable 
outlook (S&P) and A1 with stable outlook (Moody’s). A 
downgrade in the Group’s long-term credit ratings would 
increase derivative collateral requirements and outflows due 
to rating-linked liabilities. At 31 December 2020, the estimated 
contractual outflow of a three -notch long-term ratings 
downgrade is $1.4 billion. 

External wholesale borrowing 
The Board sets a risk limit to prevent excessive reliance on 
wholesale borrowing. External Wholesale Borrowing includes 
Certificates of Deposit, Commercial Paper, Deposits from 
Banks and Medium Term Notes. Limits are applied to all 
branches and operating subsidiaries in the Group and as  
at the reporting date the Group remained within Board  
Risk Appetite.

Advances-to-deposits ratio 
This is defined as the ratio of total loans and advances to 
customers relative to total customer accounts. An advances-
to-deposits ratio of below 100 per cent demonstrates that 
customer deposits exceed customer loans as a result of the 
emphasis placed on generating a high level of funding  
from customers.

The advances-to-deposits ratio has declined by 3.1 per cent to 
61.1 per cent as customer deposit growth of 9 per cent 
outpaced customer loan growth of 3 per cent. Strong 
customer deposit growth was driven by TB CASA and Retail 
CASA partly offset by a reduction in Corporate and Retail 
term deposits, resulting in an overall improvement in the 
quality of the Group’s customer deposit base. Customer loan 
growth was mainly in Retail mortgages in Hong Kong and 
Korea partly offset by lower volumes in corporate lending and 
transaction banking due to lower activity levels and demand, 
in part due to the impacts of COVID-19.

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2020 
$million

273,861

448,236

61.1%

2019 
$million

264,841

412,303

64.2%

1   Excludes reverse repurchase agreement and other similar secured lending of $2,919 million and includes loans and advances to customers held at fair value 

through profit and loss of $9,377 million

2   Loans and advances to customers for the purpose of the advances-to-deposits ratio excludes $14,296 million of approved balances held with central banks, 

confirmed as repayable at the point of stress (31 December 2019: $9,109 million)

3   Includes customer accounts held at fair value through profit or loss of $8,897 million (31 December 2019: $6,947 million)

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Risk review Risk profile

Net stable funding ratio (NSFR) 
On 23 November 2016, the European Commission, as part of  
a package of risk-reducing measures, proposed a regulatory 
requirement for stable funding (net stable funding ratio 
(NSFR)) at European Union level. The proposal aims to 
implement the European Banking Authority’s interpretation  
of the Basel standard on NSFR (BCBS295). The NSFR is due  
to become a regulatory requirement in January 2022 with a 
minimum of 100 per cent. Pending implementation of the final 
rules, the Group continues to monitor NSFR in line with the 
BCBS’ final recommendation (BCBS295).

The NSFR is a balance sheet metric which requires institutions 
to maintain a stable funding profile in relation to the 
characteristics of their assets and off-balance sheet activities 
over a one-year horizon. It is the ratio between the amount of 
available stable funding (ASF) and the amount of required 

stable funding (RSF). ASF factors are applied to balance sheet 
liabilities and capital, based on their perceived stability and 
the amount of stable funding they provide. Likewise, RSF 
factors are applied to assets and off-balance sheet exposures 
according to the amount of stable funding they require.  
At the last reporting date, the Group NSFR remained above 
100 per cent.

Liquidity pool 
The liquidity value of the Group’s LCR eligible liquidity pool  
at the reporting date was $176 billion. The figures in the  
below table account for haircuts, currency convertibility  
and portability constraints, and therefore are not directly 
comparable with the consolidated balance sheet. The pool  
is held to offset stress outflows as defined in European 
Commission Delegated Regulation 2015/61. 

Level 1 securities

Cash and balances at central banks

Central banks, governments /public sector entities

Multilateral development banks and international 
organisations

Other

Total Level 1 securities

Level 2A securities

Level 2B securities

Total LCR eligible assets

Level 1 securities

Cash and balances at central banks

Central banks, governments /public sector entities

Multilateral development banks and international 
organisations

Other

Total Level 1 securities

Level 2A securities

Level 2B securities

Total LCR eligible assets

Greater China & 
North East Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

2020

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

10,104

32,580

4,919

–

47,603

9,637

–

57,240

16,622

8,434

453

–

25,509

1,878

207

27,594

1,421

1,569

236

14

3,240

79

–

3,319

Greater China & 
North East Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

2019

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

15,109

31,735

2,761

–

49,605

4,824

–

54,429

11,535

7,952

1,183

–

20,670

1,928

343

22,941

1,265

2,201

160

14

3,640

63

–

3,703

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

42,502

33,652

6,818

1,645

84,617

2,891

287

87,795

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

24,326

39,136

7,448

1,104

72,014

3,217

2,111

77,342

Total 
$million

70,649

76,235

12,426

1,659

160,969

14,485

494

175,948

Total 
$million

52,235

81,024

11,552

1,118

145,929

10,032

2,454

158,415

Encumbrance 
Encumbered assets
Encumbered assets represent on-balance sheet assets 
pledged or subject to any form of arrangement to secure, 
collateralise or credit enhance a transaction from which it 
cannot be freely withdrawn. Cash collateral pledged against 
derivatives and Hong Kong government certificates of 
indebtedness, which secure the equivalent amount of  
Hong Kong currency notes in circulation, are included within 
Other assets.

Unencumbered – readily available for encumbrance 
Unencumbered assets that are considered by the Group  
to be readily available in the normal course of business to 
secure funding, meet collateral needs, or be sold to reduce 
potential future funding requirements and are not subject  
to any restrictions on their use for these purposes.

Unencumbered – other assets capable of being encumbered 
Unencumbered assets that, in their current form, are not 
considered by the Group to be readily realisable in the normal 
course of business to secure funding, meet collateral needs,  
or be sold to reduce potential future funding requirements 
and are not subject to any restrictions on their use for these 
purposes. Included within this category are loans and 
advances which would be suitable for use in secured funding 
structures such as securitisations.

Unencumbered – cannot be encumbered 
Unencumbered assets that have not been pledged and 
cannot be used to secure funding, meet collateral needs,  
or be sold to reduce potential future funding requirements,  
as assessed by the Group.

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Derivatives, reverse repurchase assets and stock lending
These assets are shown separately as these on-balance sheet amounts cannot be pledged. However, these assets can give rise 
to off-balance sheet collateral which can be used to raise secured funding or meet additional funding requirements.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the Group’s encumbered assets to total assets.

2020

Assets encumbered as a result of 
transactions with counterparties  
other than central banks

Assets 
$million

As a result of 
securitisations 
$million

Other 
$million

Total 
$million

Other assets (comprising assets encumbered at the central bank  
and unencumbered assets)

Assets 
positioned at 
the central 
bank  
(ie pre-
positioned 
plus 
encumbered) 
$million

Assets not positioned at the central bank

Readily 
available for 
encumbrance 
$million

Other assets 
that are 
capable  
of being 
encumbered 
$million

Derivatives 
and reverse 
repo/stock 
lending 
$million

Cannot be 
encumbered 
$million

Total 
$million

Cash and balances 
at central banks

Derivative financial 
instruments

Loans and 
advances to banks1

66,712

69,467

66,429

Loans and 
advances to 
customers1

Investment 
securities2

Other assets

336,276

183,443

48,688

Current tax assets

808

Prepayments and 
accrued income

Interests in 
associates and  
joint ventures

Goodwill and 
intangible assets

Property, plant  
and equipment

Deferred tax assets

Assets classified  
as held for sale

Total

2,122

2,162

5,063

6,515

919

446

789,050

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,826

3,826

11,282

11,282

19,054

19,054

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

7,341

59,371

–

–

–

69,467

–

–

66,712

69,467

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

38,023

8,091

19,452

863

66,429

–

268,930

48,118

15,402 332,450

131,304

36,097

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

18,741

–

980

–

–

448

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

4,760

172,161

10,893

29,634

808

808

1,142

2,122

2,162

2,162

5,063

5,063

6,067

919

6,515

919

446

446

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34,162

7,341

228,698

333,287

137,037

48,525 754,888

1  

Includes held at fair value through profit or loss and amortised cost balances

2   Includes held at fair value through profit or loss, fair value through other comprehensive income and amortised cost balances

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Risk review Risk profile

Assets encumbered as a result of 
transactions with counterparties  
other than central banks

Assets 
$million

As a result of 
securitisations 
$million

Other 
$million

Total 
$million

52,728

47,212

–

–

–

–

–

–

75,346

326

73

399

314,754

298

1,082

1,380

2019

Other assets (comprising assets encumbered at the central bank  
and unencumbered assets)

Assets 
positioned at 
the central 
bank  
(ie pre-
positioned 
plus 
encumbered) 
$million

Assets not positioned at the central bank

Readily 
available for 
encumbrance 
$million

Other assets 
that are 
capable  
of being 
encumbered 
$million

Derivatives 
and reverse 
repo/stock 
lending 
$million

Cannot be 
encumbered 
$million

9,843

42,885

–

–

–

47,212

–

–

–

Total 
$million

52,728

47,212

–

–

–

40,600

13,341

19,610

1,396

74,947

–

259,061

40,804

13,509

313,374

168,521

42,022

539

2,700

1,908

5,290

6,220

1,105

2,053

720,398

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

7,919

7,919

1,284

108,209

16,080

16,080

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

47,399

14,516

–

1,530

–

–

444

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,710 160,602

11,426

25,942

539

539

1,170

2,700

1,908

1,908

5,290

5,290

5,776

1,105

6,220

1,105

2,053

2,053

624

25,154

25,778

11,127

191,694

336,291

107,626

47,882 694,620

Cash and balances 
at central banks

Derivative financial 
instruments

Loans and 
advances to banks1

Loans and 
advances to 
customers1

Investment 
securities2

Other assets

Current tax assets

Prepayments and 
accrued income

Interests in 
associates and  
joint ventures

Goodwill and 
intangible assets

Property, plant and 
equipment

Deferred tax assets

Assets classified  
as held for sale

Total

1  

Includes held at fair value through profit or loss and amortised cost balances

2   Includes held at fair value through profit or loss, fair value through other comprehensive income and amortised cost balances

The Group received $99,238 million (31 December 2019: $85,415 million) as collateral under reverse repurchase agreements that 
was eligible for repledging; of this the Group sold or repledged $46,209 million (31 December 2019: $44,530 million) under 
repurchase agreements.

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Liquidity analysis of the Group’s balance sheet (audited)
Contractual maturity of assets and liabilities
The following table presents assets and liabilities by maturity 
groupings based on the remaining period to the contractual 
maturity date as at the balance sheet date on a discounted 
basis. Contractual maturities do not necessarily reflect actual 
repayments or cashflows.

Within the tables below, cash and balances with central 
banks, interbank placements and investment securities that 
are fair value through other comprehensive income are used 
by the Group principally for liquidity management purposes. 

As at the reporting date, assets remain predominantly 
short-dated, with 59 per cent maturing in under one year.  
Our less than three-month cumulative net funding gap 
increased from the previous year, largely due to an increase  
in customer accounts as the Group focused on improving  
the quality of its deposit base. In practice, these deposits  
are recognised as stable and have behavioural profiles that 
extend beyond their contractual maturities.

Between 
one month 
and three 
months 
$million

Between 
three 
months and 
six months 
$million

Between  
six months 
and nine 
months 
$million

Between 
nine months 
and one 
year 
$million

Between 
one year 
and two 
years 
$million

Between 
two years 
and five 
years 
$million

More than 
five years 
and 
undated 
$million

One month 
or less 
$million

Total 
$million

2020

Assets

Cash and balances at  
central banks 

Derivative financial 
instruments

Loans and advances  
to banks1,2

Loans and advances  
to customers1,2

Investment securities

Other assets

Total assets

Liabilities 
Deposits by banks1,3
Customer accounts1,4

Derivative financial 
instruments

59,371

–

–

–

–

–

–

7,341

66,712

14,091

13,952

9,630

6,210

3,840

5,555

9,492

6,697

69,467

29,325

17,120

8,375

4,455

2,876

1,091

2,910

277

66,429

84,657

48,152

26,205

11,191

20,426

22,440

18,753

11,960

1,314

11,740

13,260

191

11,635

13,792

120

21,454

30,783

43

38,009

94,424

336,276

45,718

36,313

183,443

37

23,825

66,723

221,075

118,403

57,484

35,856

32,263

58,926

96,166

168,877

789,050

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1,288

2,563

389,896

52,604

20,345

15,247

13,633

10,449

Senior debt
Other debt securities in issue1

Other liabilities

Subordinated liabilities and 
other borrowed funds

Total liabilities

Net liquidity gap

1,215

1,275

2,138

7,619

18,795

19,958

–

459,510

(238,435)

17

97,257

21,146

2,181

10,441

3,089

–

49,068

8,416

216

9,126

6,739

515

2,863

669

–

20,128

15,728

545

11,364

4,221

168

2,424

914

–

19,636

12,627

221

5,313

5,976

3,253

61

485

1,956

17,265

41,661

194

1,647

11,223

13,090

1,132

314

42

38,151

1,859

492,154

4,045

12,482

504

71,533

35,042

26,319

14,244

58,468

3,766

10,915

16,654

31,366

44,091

738,321

64,800

124,786

50,729

1   Loans and advances, investment securities, deposits by banks, customer accounts and debt securities in issue include financial instruments held at fair value 

through profit or loss, see Note 13 Financial instruments pages 327 to 352

2   Loans and advances include reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending of $67.6 billion

3   Deposits by banks include repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing of $6.6 billion

4   Customer accounts include repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing of $43.9 billion

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Risk review Risk profile

Assets

Cash and balances at  
central banks 

Derivative financial 
instruments

Loans and advances  
to banks1,2

Loans and advances  
to customers1,2

Investment securities

Other assets

Total assets

Liabilities 
Deposits by banks1,3
Customer accounts1,4

Derivative financial 
instruments

Senior debt
Other debt securities in issue1

Other liabilities

Subordinated liabilities and 
other borrowed funds

Total liabilities

Net liquidity gap

Between 
one month 
and three 
months 
$million

Between 
three 
months and 
six months 
$million

Between  
six months 
and nine 
months 
$million

Between 
nine months 
and one  
year 
$million

Between 
one year  
and two 
years 
$million

Between 
two years 
and five 
years 
$million

More than 
five years  
and  
undated 
$million

One month 
or less 
$million

Total 
$million

2019

42,885

–

–

–

–

–

–

9,843

52,728

6,643

5,751

3,835

2,714

1,860

3,955

9,439

13,015

47,212

33,133

19,030

11,069

5,150

3,464

1,701

1,366

433

75,346

86,927

11,968

20,689

202,245

37,322

11,837

18,223

92,163

20,849

17,180

1,433

10,088

11,789

105

12,640

7,070

75

21,517

34,859

264

38,624

44,488

133

86,787

29,330

20,915

314,754

168,521

61,837

54,366

29,846

25,109

62,296

94,050

160,323

720,398

31,873

2,931

349,992

50,546

1,079

25,552

361

10,270

7,086

325

5,612

17,701

5,922

1,373

12,234

17,206

4,249

2,870

8,766

3,039

–

17

754

412,589

90,229

46,309

(210,344)

1,934

8,057

2,990

607

895

600

–

15,723

14,123

528

9,545

2,031

495

1,449

908

–

14,956

10,153

174

2,622

5,007

3,083

280

1,866

–

13,032

49,264

486

1,553

–

37,432

2,653

452,733

10,069

11,248

56

835

5,523

29,770

64,280

11,130

11,318

924

11,191

9,913

47,129

113,194

48,484

31,319

30,216

53,346

16,207

669,737

50,661

1  Loans and advances, investment securities, deposits by banks, customer accounts and debt securities in issue include financial instruments held at fair value 

through profit or loss, see Note 13 Financial instruments pages 327 to 352

2  Loans and advances include reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending of $60.4 billion

3  Deposits by banks include repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing of $7.8 billion

4  Customer accounts include repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing of $40.4 billion

Behavioural maturity of financial assets and liabilities
The cashflows presented in the previous section reflect the 
cashflows that will be contractually payable over the residual 
maturity of the instruments. However, contractual maturities 
do not necessarily reflect the timing of actual repayments or 
cashflow. In practice, certain assets and liabilities behave 
differently from their contractual terms, especially for short-
term customer accounts, credit card balances and overdrafts, 
which extend to a longer period than their contractual 
maturity. On the other hand, mortgage balances tend to  
have a shorter repayment period than their contractual 
maturity date. Expected customer behaviour is assessed  
and managed on a country basis using qualitative and 
quantitative techniques, including analysis of observed 
customer behaviour over time.

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Maturity of financial liabilities on an undiscounted basis
The following table analyses the contractual cashflows 
payable for the Group’s financial liabilities by remaining 
contractual maturities on an undiscounted basis. The financial 
liability balances in the table below will not agree to the 
balances reported in the consolidated balance sheet as  
the table incorporates all contractual cashflows, on an 
undiscounted basis, relating to both principal and interest 
payments. Derivatives not treated as hedging derivatives  
are included in the ‘On demand’ time bucket and not by 
contractual maturity.

Within the ‘More than five years and undated’ maturity band 
are undated financial liabilities, the majority of which relate  
to subordinated debt, on which interest payments are not 
included as this information would not be meaningful, given 
the instruments are undated. Interest payments on these 
instruments are included within the relevant maturities up  
to five years.

Between 
one month 
and three 
months 
$million

Between 
three 
months and 
six months 
$million

Between  
six months 
and nine 
months 
$million

Between 
nine months 
and one 
year 
$million

Between 
one year 
and two 
years 
$million

Between 
two years 
and five 
years 
$million

More than 
five years 
and 
undated 
$million

One month 
or less 
$million

Total 
$million

2020

Deposits by banks 

Customer accounts 

Derivative financial 
instruments1

Debt securities in issue 

Subordinated liabilities and 
other borrowed funds 

Other liabilities

Total liabilities

33,107

1,297

2,574

390,203

52,749

20,446

70,216

2,494

48

219

9,596

12,924

–

–

17,002

19,754

513,022

83,444

251

2,996

39,410

227

9,188

160

3,401

–

657

576

11,507

60

2,921

371

904

225

5,362

199

3,945

2,591

483

195

1,679

54

38,255

2,144

493,278

510

121

15,556

14,456

5,202

15,466

317

9,914

71,533

65,293

23,881

52,027

13,633

16,339

12,805

23,459

42,155

744,267

Between 
one month 
and three 
months 
$million

Between 
three 
months and 
six months 
$million

Between  
six months 
and nine 
months 
$million

Between 
nine months 
and one  
year 
$million

Between 
one year  
and two 
years 
$million

Between 
two years 
and five 
years 
$million

More than 
five years 
and  
undated 
$million

One month 
or less 
$million

2019

Deposits by banks 

Customer accounts 

Derivative financial 
instruments1

Debt securities in issue 

Subordinated liabilities and 
other borrowed funds 

Other liabilities

Total liabilities

33,034

2,977

1,112

350,679

50,908

26,552

47,000

5,951

5

18

13,615

11,886

–

15,341

452,005

–

16,870

84,375

1,009

3,046

43,623

381

10,415

170

1,559

26

601

588

9,839

314

2,210

395

865

13,152

14,211

189

2,694

355

3,882

641

1,876

9,637

1  Derivatives are on a discounted basis

Total 
$million

38,783

–

3,127

455,839

110

13,557

15,124

12,376

48,484

65,091

24,335

51,860

502

1,625

512

12,431

7,140

885

23,095

44,294

684,392

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Risk review Risk profile

Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book
The following table provides the estimated impact to a 
hypothetical base case projection of the Group’s earnings 
under the following scenarios:

•  A 50 basis point parallel interest rate shock (up and down) 

to the current market-implied path of rates, across all  
yield curves. 

•  A 100 basis point parallel interest rate shock (up) to the 

current market-implied path of rates, across all yield curves. 

These interest rate shock scenarios assume all other economic 
variables remain constant. The sensitivities shown represent 
the estimated change to a hypothetical base case projected 
net interest income (NII), plus the change in interest rate 
implied income and expense from FX swaps used to manage 
banking book currency positions, under the different interest 
rate shock scenarios.

The interest rate sensitivities are indicative and based on 
simplified scenarios, estimating the aggregate impact of an 
instantaneous parallel shock across all yield curves over a 
one-year horizon, including the time taken to implement 

changes to pricing before becoming effective. The 
assessment assumes that non-interest rate sensitive aspects 
of the size and mix of the balance sheet remain constant and 
that there are no specific management actions in response  
to the change in rates. Furthermore, revenue associated  
with trading book income positions is recognised in trading 
book income and is therefore excluded from the reported 
sensitivities. No assumptions are made in relation to the 
impact on credit spreads in a changing rate environment. 

Significant modelling and behavioural assumptions are  
made regarding scenario simplification, market competition, 
pass-through rates, asset and liability re-pricing tenors, and 
price flooring. In particular, the assumption that interest rates 
of all currencies and maturities shift by the same amount 
concurrently, and that no actions are taken to mitigate the 
impacts arising from this are considered unlikely. Reported 
sensitivities will vary over time due to a number of factors 
including changes in balance sheet composition, market 
conditions, customer behaviour and risk management 
strategy and should therefore not be considered an income  
or profit forecast.

Estimated one-year impact to earnings from a parallel shift  
in yield curves at the beginning of the period of:

+ 50 basis points

- 50 basis points

+ 100 basis points

2020

HKD, SGD & 
KRW bloc 
$million

Other currency 
bloc 
$million

USD bloc 
$million

60

(140)

170

(150)

70

(90)

140

120

220

2019

Estimated one-year impact to earnings from a parallel shift  
in yield curves at the beginning of the period of:

+ 50 basis points

- 50 basis points

+ 100 basis points

USD bloc 
$million

HKD, SGD &  
KRW bloc 
$million

Other currency 
bloc 
$million

(10)

10

(20)

60

(40)

120

90

(90)

170

Total 
$million

300

(380)

480

Total 
$million

140

(120)

270

As at 31 December 2020, the Group estimates the one-year 
impact of an instantaneous, parallel increase across all  
yield curves of 50 basis points to increase projected NII by 
$300 million. The equivalent impact from a parallel decrease 
of 50 basis points would result in a reduction in projected NII  
of $380 million. The Group estimates the one-year impact of 
an instantaneous, parallel increase across all yield curves of 
100 basis points to increase projected NII by $480 million.

The asymmetry between the up and down 50 basis point 
shock has widened primarily due to the low level of interest 
rates, which may constrain the Group’s ability to reprice 
liabilities should rates fall by a further 50 basis points, as well 
as differing behavioural assumptions, which are scenario 
specific. The decision to pass on changes in interest rates  
is highly speculative and depends on a range of factors 
including market environment and competitor behaviour.

The benefit from rising interest rates is primarily from 
reinvesting at higher yields and from assets re-pricing faster 
and to a greater extent than deposits. Overall NII sensitivity in 
all scenarios has increased versus 31 December 2019, driven by 
Treasury Markets risk management activity as rates fell during 
March 2020, and changes in the composition of the balance 
sheet and modelling assumptions.

The US dollar sensitivity is dampened further by the exclusion 
of trading book revenue. The reported sensitivities include the 
cost of banking book liabilities used to fund the trading book, 
however the income associated with the corresponding 
trading book assets is excluded and recognised in trading 
book income. Further information on the impact of changes  
in interest rates on trading book is set out in the Market Risk 
section (pages 233 to 237). 

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Operational Risk events and losses
Operational losses are one indicator of the effectiveness  
and robustness of the non-financial risk control environment. 
As at 31 December 2020, recorded operational losses for 2020 
are lower than 2019 (excluding monetary penalties to the  
US authorities and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)  
for legacy conduct and control issues). The largest loss 
recorded for 2020 relates to Execution Delivery and Process 
Management for $25 million under the Corporate Items  
Basel business line; while the largest loss recorded for 2019  
as at 31 December 2020 relates to Execution Delivery and 
Process Management for $31 million under Corporate Items.

The Group’s profile of operational loss events in 2020 and 2019 
is summarised in the table below. It shows the percentage 
distribution of gross operational losses by Basel business line.

Operational Risk 
Operational Risk is defined as the “Potential for loss from 
inadequate or failed internal processes, technology, human 
error, or from the impact of external events (including legal 
risks)” and it is inherent in the Group carrying out business.

Operational Risk profile
In 2020, the Group has implemented a refreshed Framework 
to continue to enhance the management of Operational Risk, 
ensuring risk is managed within Risk Appetite and we continue 
to deliver services to our clients.

The Group has continued to provide a stable level of service  
to clients during the period of COVID-19 and adapted swiftly 
to changes in operations brought by the pandemic. As a  
result of the changes in internal and external operating 
environment due to COVID-19, the following risk areas are 
heightened – Fraud, Information & Cyber Security, Privacy, 
Conduct and Resilience.

Distribution of operational losses by Basel business line 

Agency Services

Asset Management

Commercial Banking

Corporate Finance

Corporate Items

Payment and Settlements 

Retail Banking 

Retail Brokerage

Trading and Sales

1   Losses in 2019 include incremental events that were recognised in 2020 and exclude monetary penalties to the US authorities and the FCA

The Group’s profile of operational loss events in 2020 and 2019 is also summarised by Basel event type in the table below.  
It shows the percentage distribution of gross operational losses by Basel event type.

Distribution of operational losses by Basel event type

Business disruption and system failures

Clients products and business practices

Damage to physical assets

Employment practices and workplace safety

Execution delivery and process management

External fraud

Internal fraud

% Loss

2020

3.3%

5.0%

0.1%

0.6%

66.0%

23.2%

1.8%

1   Losses in 2019 include incremental events that were recognised in 2020 and exclude monetary penalties to the US authorities and the FCA

Other principal risks 
Losses arising from operational failures for other principal risks (for example: Compliance, Conduct, Reputational, Information 
and Cyber Security, Financial Crime, and Model Risk) are reported as operational losses. Operational losses do not include 
Operational Risk-related credit impairments.

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Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

247

% Loss

2020

1.4%

–

21.6%

–

27.5%

2.4%

33.2%

0.3%

13.6%

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0.2%

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6.6%

21.6%

35.8%

2.6%

27.7%

0.1%

5.6%

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3.2%

0.0%

0.1%

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Risk review Risk management approach

Enterprise Risk Management Framework

Effective risk management is essential in delivering consistent and 
sustainable performance for all of our stakeholders and is a central part  
of the financial and operational management of the Group. The Group 
adds value to clients and the communities in which they operate by 
taking and managing appropriate levels of risk, which in turn generates 
returns for shareholders.

The Enterprise Risk Management Framework (ERMF) enables 
the Group to manage enterprise-wide risks, with the objective 
of maximising risk-adjusted returns while remaining within our 
Risk Appetite. The ERMF has been designed with the explicit 
goal of improving the Group’s risk management, and since  
its launch in January 2018, it has been embedded across the 
Group and rolled out to its branches and subsidiaries.

In 2020, we completed a comprehensive review of the ERMF, 
and the following changes were approved by the Board: 

•  Given its overarching nature, Conduct Risk management 
has been incorporated as an integral component of the 
overall ERMF rather than viewed as a standalone risk.  
This change allows the Group to view Conduct Risk through 
the lens of delivering positive outcomes for our clients, 
markets, and internal and external stakeholders

•  Given the Group’s diverse footprint, Country Risk 

management has also been incorporated as an integral 
component of the overall ERMF, as part of Group strategy 
and strategic risk management 

•  Reputational Risk has been expanded to include 

Sustainability Risk. There is increasing focus on issues 
relating to environment, social and governance risk,  
from both regulators and investors, and the Group’s 
commitments to be a leader in sustainable and responsible 
banking make this is a core tenet of our franchise

•  Technology Risk has been made more prominent within  
the Operational Risk Principal Risk Type, in order to meet  
the needs of the digital agenda of the Group and further 
strengthen Technology Risk management capabilities

The revised ERMF was approved on 10 December 2020 and 
became effective on 1 January 2021.

Risk culture
The Group’s risk culture provides guiding principles for the 
behaviours expected from our people when managing risk. 
The Board has approved a risk culture statement that 
encourages the following behaviours and outcomes:

•  An enterprise-level ability to identify and assess current and 
future risks, openly discuss these and take prompt actions

•  The highest level of integrity by being transparent and 
proactive in disclosing and managing all types of risks 

•  A constructive and collaborative approach in providing 

oversight and challenge, and taking decisions in a  
timely manner 

•  Everyone to be accountable for their decisions and feel safe 

in using their judgement to make considered decisions

248

Standard Chartered — Annual Report 2020

We acknowledge that banking inherently involves risk-taking, 
and undesired outcomes will occur from time to time; however, 
we will take the opportunity to learn from our experience and 
formalise improvements. We expect managers to 
demonstrate a high awareness of risk 
and control by self-identifying issues and 
managing them in a manner that will 
deliver lasting change.

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Strategic risk management 
The Group approaches strategic risk 
management as follows:

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Stress testing

•  By conducting an impact analysis on the risk profile from 
growth plans, strategic initiatives and business model 
vulnerabilities, with the aim of proactively identifying  
and managing new risks or existing risks that need to  
be reprioritised as part of the strategy review process

•  By confirming that growth plans and strategic initiatives 

can be delivered within the approved Risk Appetite and/or 
proposing additional Risk Appetite for Board consideration 
as part of the strategy review process

•  By validating the Corporate Plan against the approved or 

proposed Risk Appetite Statement to the Board. The Board 
approves the strategy review and the five-year Corporate 
Plan with a confirmation from the Group Chief Risk Officer 
that it is aligned with the ERMF and the Group Risk Appetite 
Statement where projections allow

•  Country Risk management approach and Country Risk 

reviews are used to ensure the country limits and exposures 
are reasonable and in line with Group strategy, country 
strategy, and the operating environment, considering the 
identified risks.

Roles and responsibilities 

Senior Managers Regime 
Roles and responsibilities under the ERMF are aligned to the 
objectives of the Senior Managers Regime. The Group Chief 
Risk Officer is responsible for the overall development and 
maintenance of the Group’s ERMF and for identifying  
material risk types to which the Group may be potentially 
exposed. The Group Chief Risk Officer delegates effective 
implementation of the Risk Type Frameworks (RTFs) to Risk 
Framework Owners who provide second line of defence 
oversight for the Principal Risk Types (PRTs). In addition,  
the Group Chief Risk Officer has been formally identified as 
the relevant senior manager responsible for Climate Risk 
management as it relates to financial and non-financial  
risks to the Group arising from climate change. This does  
not include elements of corporate social responsibility, the 
Group’s contribution to climate change and the Sustainable 
Finance strategy supporting a low-carbon transition, which 
are the responsibility of other relevant senior managers.

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The Risk function 
The Risk function is responsible for the sustainability of our 
business through good management of risk across the Group 
by providing oversight and challenge, thereby ensuring that 
business is conducted in line with regulatory expectations. 

The Group Chief Risk Officer directly manages the Risk 
function, which is separate and independent from the 
origination, trading and sales functions of the businesses.  
The Risk function is responsible for: 

•  Maintaining the ERMF, ensuring that it remains relevant  
and appropriate to the Group’s business activities, and  
is effectively communicated and implemented across  
the Group, and administering related governance and 
reporting processes 

•  Upholding the overall integrity of the Group’s risk and  

return decisions to ensure that risks are properly assessed, 
that these decisions are made transparently on the basis  
of proper assessments and that risks are controlled in 
accordance with the Group’s standards and Risk Appetite 

•  Overseeing and challenging the management of Principal 

Risk Types under the ERMF

The independence of the Risk function ensures that the 
necessary balance in making risk and return decisions is not 
compromised by short-term pressures to generate revenues. 

In addition, the Risk function is a centre of excellence that 
provides specialist capabilities of relevance to risk 
management processes in the broader organisation.

The Risk function supports the Group’s commitment to be 
‘Here for good’ by building a sustainable framework that 
places regulatory and compliance standards and a culture of 
appropriate conduct at the forefront of the Group’s agenda,  
in a manner proportionate to the nature, scale and complexity 
of the Group’s business. 

Conduct, Financial Crime and Compliance (CFCC), under the 
Management Team leadership of the Group Head, Corporate 
Affairs, Brand & Marketing and CFCC, works alongside the 
Risk function within the framework of the ERMF to deliver a 
unified second line of defence.

Three lines of defence model 
Roles and responsibilities for risk management are defined 
under a three lines of defence model. Each line of defence  
has a specific set of responsibilities for risk management and 
control as shown in the table below. 

Lines of defence 

Definition 

Key responsibilities include

1st

The businesses and functions engaged 
in or supporting revenue-generating 
activities that own and manage the risks

2nd 

The control functions independent of 
the first line that provide oversight and 
challenge of risk management to provide 
confidence to the Group Chief Risk Officer, 
senior management and the Board

3rd

The Internal Audit function provides 
independent assurance on the effectiveness 
of controls that support the first line’s risk 
management of business activities, and the 
processes maintained by the second line

•  Propose the risks required to undertake revenue-generating 

• 

activities 
Identify, assess, monitor and escalate risks and issues to the 
second line and senior management1 and promote a healthy 
risk culture and good conduct

•  Validate and self-assess compliance to RTFs and policies, 

confirm the quality of validation, and provide evidence-based 
affirmation to the second line

•  Manage risks within Risk Appetite, set and execute 

remediation plans and ensure laws and regulations are being 
complied with

•  Ensure systems meet risk data aggregation, risk reporting and 

data quality requirements set by the second line

• 

Identify, monitor and escalate risks and issues to the Group 
Chief Risk Officer, senior management and the Board and 
promote a healthy risk culture and good conduct 

•  Oversee and challenge first-line risk-taking activities and 

review first-line risk proposals

•  Propose Risk Appetite to the Board, monitor and report 

adherence to Risk Appetite and intervene to curtail business  
if it is not in line with existing or adjusted Risk Appetite, there  
is material non-compliance with policy requirements or when 
operational controls do not effectively manage risk

•  Set risk data aggregation, risk reporting and data quality 

requirements

•  Ensure that there are appropriate controls to comply with 
applicable laws and regulations, and escalate significant 
non-compliance matters to senior management and the 
appropriate committees

• 

• 

Independently assess whether management has identified 
the key risks in the businesses and whether these are reported 
and governed in line with the established risk management 
processes 
Independently assess the adequacy of the design of controls 
and their operating effectiveness

1   Senior management in this table refers to individuals designated as senior management functions under the FCA and PRA Senior Managers Regime (SMR)

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Risk review Risk management approach

Risk Appetite and profile 
We recognise the following constraints which determine the 
risks that we are willing to take in pursuit of our strategy and 
the development of a sustainable business: 

•  Risk capacity is the maximum level of risk the Group can 

assume, given its current capabilities and resources, before 
breaching constraints determined by capital and liquidity 
requirements and internal operational capability (including 
but not limited to technical infrastructure, risk management 
capabilities, expertise), or otherwise failing to meet the 
expectations of regulators and law enforcement agencies 

•  Risk Appetite is defined by the Group and approved by the 
Board. It is the maximum amount and type of risk the Group 
is willing to assume in pursuit of its strategy. Risk Appetite 
cannot exceed risk capacity

The Board has approved a Risk Appetite Statement, which  
is underpinned by a set of financial and operational control 
parameters known as Risk Appetite metrics and their 
associated thresholds. These directly constrain the aggregate 
risk exposures that can be taken across the Group. 

The Group Risk Appetite is reviewed at least on an annual 
basis to ensure that it is fit for purpose and aligned with 
strategy, and focus is given to emerging or new risks. The Risk 
Appetite Statement is supplemented by an overarching 
statement outlining the Group’s Risk Appetite principles.

Risk Appetite principles
The Group Risk Appetite is defined in accordance with risk 
management principles that inform our overall approach to 
risk management and our risk culture. We follow the highest 
ethical standards and ensure a fair outcome for our clients, as 
well as facilitating the effective operation of financial markets, 
while at the same time meeting expectations of regulators 
and law enforcement agencies. We set our Risk Appetite  
to enable us to grow sustainably and to avoid shocks to 
earnings or our general financial health, as well as manage 
our Reputational Risk in a way that does not materially 
undermine the confidence of our investors and all internal  
and external stakeholders.

Risk Appetite Statement 
The Group will not compromise adherence to its Risk Appetite 
in order to pursue revenue growth or higher returns. The Group 
Risk Appetite is supplemented by risk control tools such as 
granular level limits, policies, standards and other operational 
control parameters that are used to keep the Group’s risk 
profile within Risk Appetite. The Group’s risk profile is its overall 
exposure to risk at a given point in time, covering all applicable 
risk types. Status against Risk Appetite is reported to the 
Board, Board Risk Committee and the Group Risk Committee, 
including the status of breaches and remediation plans where 
applicable. To keep the Group’s risk profile within Risk Appetite 
(and therefore also risk capacity), we have cascaded critical 
Group Risk Appetite metrics across our Principal Risk Types to 
our footprint markets with significant business operations. 

Country Risk Appetite is managed at a country or local level 
with Group and regional oversight. In addition to Risk Appetite 
Statements for the Principal Risk Types, the Group also has a 
Risk Appetite Statement for Climate Risk which is a material 
cross-cutting risk that can manifest through other risk types. 
The Group Risk Committee, the Group Financial Crime Risk 
Committee, the Group Non-Financial Risk Committee and  
the Group Asset and Liability Committee are responsible for 
ensuring that our risk profile is managed in compliance with 
the Risk Appetite set by the Board. The Board Risk Committee 
and the Board Financial Crime Risk Committee (for Financial 
Crime Compliance) advise the Board on the Risk Appetite 
Statement and monitor the Group’s compliance with it.

The individual Principal Risk Types’ Risk Appetite Statements approved 
by the Board are set out in the Principal risks section (pages 254 to 269)

Risk identification and assessment 
Identification and assessment of potentially adverse risk 
events is an essential first step in managing the risks of any 
business or activity. To ensure consistency in communication 
we use Principal Risk Types to classify our risk exposures. 
Nevertheless, we also recognise the need to maintain an 
overall perspective since a single transaction or activity may 
give rise to multiple types of risk exposure, risk concentrations 
may arise from multiple exposures that are closely correlated, 
and a given risk exposure may change its form from one risk 
type to another. There are also sources of risk that arise 
beyond our own operations such as the Group’s dependency 
on suppliers for the provision of services and technology.  
As the Group remains accountable for risks arising from the 
actions of such third parties, failure to adequately monitor 
and manage these relationships could materially impact the 
Group’s ability to operate and could have an impact on our 
ability to continue to provide services that are material to  
the Group. 

To facilitate risk identification and assessment, the Group 
maintains a dynamic risk-scanning process with inputs  
from the internal and external risk environment, as well as 
potential threats and opportunities from the business and 
client perspectives. The Group maintains an inventory of the 
Principal Risk Types and risk sub-types that are inherent to the 
strategy and business model; and emerging risks that include 
near-term as well as longer-term uncertainties. Near-term  
risks are those that are on the horizon and can be measured 
and mitigated to some extent, while uncertainties are 
longer-term matters that should be on the radar but are  
not yet fully measurable. 

The Group Chief Risk Officer and the Group Risk Committee 
review regular reports on the risk profile for the Principal Risk 
Types, adherence to the approved Risk Appetite and the 
Group risk inventory including emerging risks. They use this 
information to escalate material developments in each risk 
event and make recommendations to the Board annually on 
any potential changes to our Corporate Plan.

250

Standard Chartered — Annual Report 2020

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Stress testing 
The objective of stress testing is to support the Group in 
assessing that it: 

•  Does not have a portfolio with excessive risk concentration 
that could produce unacceptably high losses under severe 
but plausible scenarios 

•  Has sufficient financial resources to withstand severe but 

plausible scenarios 

•  Has the financial flexibility to respond to extreme but 

plausible scenarios 

•  Understands the key business model risks and considers 
what kind of event might crystallise those risks – even if 
extreme with a low likelihood of occurring – and identifies  
as required, actions to mitigate the likelihood or impact  
as required 

Enterprise stress tests include Capital and Liquidity Adequacy 
Stress Tests, including in the context of capital adequacy, 
recovery and resolution, and stress tests that assess scenarios 
where our business model becomes challenged, such as the 
BoE Biennial Exploratory Scenario, or unviable, such as reverse 
stress tests. 

In addition to these, our stress tests also focus on the potential 
impact of macroeconomic, geopolitical and physical events 
on relevant regions, client segments and risk types. 

The Board delegates approval of stress test submissions to the 
Bank of England to the Board Risk Committee, which reviews 
the recommendations from the Group Risk Committee. 

Based on the stress test results, the Group Chief Financial 
Officer and Group Chief Risk Officer can recommend  
strategic actions to the Board to ensure that the Group 
strategy remains within the Board-approved Risk Appetite.

Principal Risk Types
Principal Risk Types are risks that are inherent in our strategy 
and business model and have been formally defined in the 
Group’s ERMF. These risks are managed through distinct  
RTFs which are approved by the Group Chief Risk Officer.  
The Principal Risk Types and associated Risk Appetite 
Statements are approved by the Board.

The Group currently recognises Climate Risk as a material 
cross-cutting risk. Climate Risk is defined as the potential  
for financial loss and non-financial detriments arising from 
climate change and society’s response to it.

Stress tests are performed at Group, country, business and 
portfolio level. Bespoke scenarios are applied to our traded 
and liquidity positions as described in the sections on Traded 
Risk (page 257), and Capital and Liquidity Risk (page 259).  

In future reviews, we will continue to consider if existing 
Principal Risk Types or incremental risks should be treated  
as cross-cutting risks. The table below shows the Group’s 
current Principal Risk Types.

Principal Risk Types

Credit Risk

Definition

•  Potential for loss due to the failure of a counterparty to meet its agreed obligations to pay 

the Group

Traded Risk

•  Potential for loss resulting from activities undertaken by the Group in financial markets

Capital and Liquidity Risk

•  Capital: potential for insufficient level, composition or distribution of capital to support our 

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normal activities

•  Liquidity: risk that we may not have sufficient stable or diverse sources of funding to meet 

our obligations as they fall due

Operational and Technology Risk

•  Potential for loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, technology events, 

Information and Cyber Security Risk

human error, or from the impact of external events (including legal risks)

•  Risk to the Group’s assets, operations and individuals due to the potential for unauthorised 
access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction of information assets and/or 
information systems

Compliance Risk

•  Potential for penalties or loss to the Group or for an adverse impact to our clients, 

stakeholders or to the integrity of the markets we operate in through a failure on our  
part to comply with laws or regulations

Financial Crime Risk

•  Potential for legal or regulatory penalties, material financial loss or reputational damage 

Model Risk

resulting from the failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations relating to 
international sanctions, anti-money laundering, anti-bribery and corruption, and fraud

•  Potential loss that may occur as a consequence of decisions or the risk of mis-estimation  

that could be principally based on the output of models, due to errors in the development, 
implementation or use of such models

Reputational and Sustainability Risk •  Potential for damage to the franchise (such as loss of trust, earnings or market 

capitalisation), because of stakeholders taking a negative view of the Group through actual 
or perceived actions or inactions, including a failure to uphold responsible business conduct 
or lapses in our commitment to do no significant environmental and social harm through our 
client, third-party relationships, or our own operations

Further details of our principal risks and how these are being managed are set out in the Principal risks section (pages 254 to 269)

ERMF effectiveness reviews
The Group Chief Risk Officer is responsible for annually 
affirming the effectiveness of the ERMF to the Board Risk 
Committee. To facilitate this, an ERMF effectiveness review 
was established in 2018, which follows the principle of 
evidence-based self-assessments for all the Risk Type 
Frameworks and relevant policies.

The annual ERMF effectiveness review, first introduced in 2018, 
was conducted in 2019 and 2020, and enables measurement 
of progress against the 2018 baseline. The 2020 effectiveness 
review has shown that:

•  Since the launch of the ERMF in 2018, the focus in 2020 has 
been on effective embedding of the framework across  
the organisation and we continue to make progress on 
overall effectiveness

Standard Chartered — Annual Report 2020

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Risk review Risk management approach

•  In 2020, effectiveness has improved year-on-year, with a 
substantial focus on development of non-financial risk 
management practices. Financial risks continue to be 
managed more effectively on a relative basis as compared 
with the non-financial risks. This reflects the maturity of 
these Risk Type Frameworks and the underlying risk 
management practices.

•  Self-assessments performed in our footprint markets reflect 

the use of the ERMF and PRTs, with reinforced first-line 
ownership of risks. Country and regional risk committees 
continue to play an active role in managing and  
overseeing material issues arising in countries. Automation 
opportunities for manual risk oversight processes and 
effective change management will continue to be explored 
in 2021. Ongoing structured ERMF effectiveness reviews 
enable us to identify improvement opportunities and 
proactively build plans to address them. Over the course  
of 2021, the Group aims to further strengthen its risk 
management practices and target improvements in  
the management of non-financial risk types.

Executive and Board Risk oversight

Overview 
The Board has ultimate responsibility for risk management 
and is supported by six Board-level committees. The Board 
approves the ERMF based on the recommendation from  
the Board Risk Committee, which also recommends the  
Group Risk Appetite Statement for all Principal Risk Types 
other than Financial Crime Risk. Financial Crime Risk Appetite 
is reviewed and recommended to the Board by the Board 
Financial Crime Risk Committee. In addition, the Brand  
Values and Conduct Committee oversees the brand, valued 
behaviours, reputation and conduct of the Group, and 
manages Reputational Risk in line with the Reputational  
and Sustainability Risk Type Framework.

Board and executive level risk committee governance structure 

The Committee governance structure below presents the view as of 2020. Our business and regional committees have been amended to reflect 
the new organisational structure, with changes effective 1 January 2021. Two new risk committees have been appointed by the Group Risk 
Committee. The Asia Risk Committee oversees the effective management of risk across the ASEAN & South Asia (ASA) and Greater China & 
North Asia (GCNA) regions, and replaces the ASA risk committee and GCNA risk committee. The Consumer, Private and Business Banking 
(CPBB) risk committee ensures the effective management of risk throughout CPBB, in support of the Group’s strategy. The revised structure will 
be provided in the 2021 Annual Report.

Board of Directors

Board level committees

Board Risk 
Committee

Board 
Financial 
Crime Risk 
Committee

Brand Values 
and Conduct 
Committee

Remuneration 
Committee

Governance 
and 
Nomination 
Committee

Audit 
Committee

Executive level committees

Group Risk Committee

Group Asset and Liability Committee

Group Financial Crime Risk Committee

Operational Balance Sheet Committee

Group Responsibility and Reputational Risk Committee

Global Capital & Liquidity Optimisation Committee

IFRS 9 Impairment Committee

Model Risk Committee

Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking Risk Committee

Private Banking Process Governance and Risk Committee

ASEAN & South Asia Risk Committee

Africa and Middle East Risk Committee 

Investment Committee for Transportation Assets

Investment Committee

Standard Chartered Ventures Committee

The committee governance structure ensures that 
risk-taking authority and risk management policies are 
cascaded down from the Board to the appropriate 
functional, client segment and country-level senior 
management and committees. Information regarding 
material risk issues and compliance with policies and 
standards is communicated to the appropriate country, 
client segment, functional and Group-level senior 
management and committees.

The Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking Risk Committee provides governance oversight over key matters in Europe &  Americas. Greater China 
North Asia Regional Committee derives authority from the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Board but also escalates matters to the Group Risk Committee

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The Investment Committee for Transportation Assets, chaired 
by the Chief Risk Officer, Business, ensures the optimisation of 
the Group’s investment in aviation and shipping operating 
lease assets, with the aim of delivering better returns through 
the cycle. 

The Investment Committee ensures the optimised wind- 
down of the Group’s existing direct investment activities in 
equities, quasi-equities (excluding mezzanine), funds and 
other alternative investments (excluding debt/debt-like 
instruments). The Committee is chaired by a representative of 
the Risk function (which includes the Group Chief Risk Officer, 
Global Head, Enterprise Risk Management and Chief Risk 
Officer, Business).

The Standard Chartered Ventures (SCV) Committee, chaired 
by the Chief Risk Officer, SCV, receives authority directly  
from the Group Chief Risk Officer and ensures the effective 
management of risk throughout SCV and individual entities 
operating under SCV. 

Group Asset and Liability Committee 
The Group Asset and Liability Committee is chaired by  
the Group Chief Financial Officer. Its members are drawn 
principally from the Management Team. The Committee is 
responsible for determining the Group’s approach to balance 
sheet strategy and recovery planning. The Committee is  
also responsible for ensuring that, in executing the Group’s 
strategy, the Group operates within internally approved Risk 
Appetite and external requirements relating to capital, 
loss-absorbing capacity, liquidity, leverage, Interest Rate Risk 
in the Banking Book, Banking Book Basis Risk and Structural 
Foreign Exchange Risk, and meets internal and external 
recovery planning requirements.

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Group Risk Committee
The Group Risk Committee, which derives its authority from 
the Group Chief Risk Officer, is responsible for ensuring the 
effective management of risk throughout the Group in 
support of the Group’s strategy. The Group Chief Risk Officer 
chairs the Group Risk Committee, whose members are drawn 
from the Group’s Management Team. The Committee 
determines the ERMF and oversees its effective 
implementation across the Group, including the delegation  
of any part of its authorities to appropriate individuals or 
properly constituted sub-committees.

Group Risk Committee sub-committees 
The Group Non-Financial Risk Committee, chaired by the 
Global Head of Risk, Functions and Operational Risk,  
governs the non-financial risks across clients, businesses, 
products and functions. The non-financial risk types in scope 
are Operational and Technology Risk, Compliance Risk, 
Information and Cyber Security Risk, Fraud and Reputational 
Risk that is consequential in nature arising from potential 
failures of Principal Risk Types. The Committee also reviews 
the adequacy of the internal control systems across all 
Principal Risk Types.

The Group Financial Crime Risk Committee, chaired by the 
Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing and CFCC, 
as the Compliance and Money Laundering Reporting Officer, 
governs the Financial Crime Risk Type Framework across the 
Group. The Committee ensures that the Financial Crime risk 
profile is managed within approved Risk Appetite and policies. 
The Committee is also responsible for recommending the 
Financial Crime Risk Appetite Statement and Risk Appetite 
metrics to the Board Financial Crime Risk Committee.

The Group Responsibility and Reputational Risk Committee, 
chaired by the Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand & 
Marketing and CFCC, ensures the effective management  
of Reputational Risk across the Group. This includes  
providing oversight of matters arising from clients, products, 
transactions and strategic coverage- related decisions and 
matters escalated by the respective Risk Framework Owners. 

The IFRS 9 Impairment Committee, chaired by the Global 
Head, Enterprise Risk Management, ensures the effective 
management of expected credit loss computations as  
well as stage allocation of financial assets for quarterly 
financial reporting within the authorities set by the Group  
Risk Committee. 

The Model Risk Committee, chaired by the Global Head, 
Enterprise Risk Management, ensures the effective 
measurement and management of Model Risk in line  
with internal policies and Model Risk Appetite. 

The Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking Risk 
Committee, chaired by the Chief Risk Officer, Business, ensures 
the effective management of risk throughout Corporate & 
Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking, in support  
of the Group’s strategy. The Committee also provides 
governance oversight over key matters in Europe & Americas. 

The two regional risk committees are chaired by the Chief  
Risk Officer for the respective region. These ensure the 
effective management of risk in the regions in support of  
the Group’s strategy.

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Risk review Risk management approach

Principal risks

Credit Risk

We manage and control our Principal Risk Types 
through distinct Risk Type Frameworks, policies 
and Board-approved Risk Appetite.

The Group defines Credit Risk as the potential for loss 
due to the failure of a counterparty to meet its agreed 
obligations to pay the Group

Risk Appetite Statement
The Group manages its credit exposures following 
the principle of diversification across products, 
geographies, client segments and industry sectors

Roles and responsibilities
The Credit Risk Type Frameworks for the Group are set and 
owned by the Chief Risk Officers for the business segments. 
The Credit Risk function is the second line control function 
responsible for independent challenge, monitoring and 
oversight of the Credit Risk management practices of the 
business and functions engaged in or supporting revenue-
generating activities which constitute the first line of defence. 
In addition, they ensure that credit risks are properly assessed 
and transparent; and that credit decisions are controlled in 
accordance with the Group’s Risk Appetite, credit policies  
and standards. 

Mitigation
Segment-specific policies are in place for the management of 
Credit Risk.

The Credit Policy for Corporate, Commercial and Institutional 
Banking Client Coverage sets the principles that must be 
followed for the end-to-end credit process including credit 
initiation, credit grading, credit assessment, product 
structuring, Credit Risk mitigation, monitoring and control,  
and documentation.

The Retail Credit Risk Management Policy sets the principles 
for the management of retail and business banking lending, 
account and portfolio monitoring, collections management 
and forbearance programmes. In addition, there are other 
Group-wide policies integral to Credit Risk management such 
as those relating to Risk Appetite, Model Risk, stress testing, 
and impairment provisioning. 

The Group also set out standards for the eligibility, 
enforceability and effectiveness of Credit Risk mitigation 
arrangements. Potential credit losses from a given account, 
client or portfolio are mitigated using a range of tools such  
as collateral, netting agreements, credit insurance, credit 
derivatives and guarantees.

Risk mitigants are also carefully assessed for their market 
value, legal enforceability, correlation and counterparty risk  
of the protection provider.

Collateral must be valued prior to drawdown and regularly 
thereafter as required to reflect current market conditions,  
the probability of recovery and the period of time to realise 
the collateral in the event of liquidation. The Group also  
seeks to diversify its collateral holdings across asset classes 
and markets.

Where guarantees, credit insurance, standby letters of credit 
or credit derivatives are used as Credit Risk mitigation, the 
creditworthiness of the protection provider is assessed and 
monitored using the same credit approval process applied  
to the obligor.

Governance committee oversight
At the Board level, the Board Risk Committee oversees the 
effective management of Credit Risk.

At the executive level, the Group Risk Committee (GRC) 
oversees and appoints sub-committees for the management 
of Credit Risk – in particular the Corporate, Commercial and 
Institutional Banking Risk Committee (CCIBRC), the Private 
Banking Process Governance and Risk Committee, and the 
regional risk committees for ASEAN & South Asia, and Africa & 
Middle East. The GRC also receives reports from other key 
Group Committees such as the Greater China & North Asia 
Executive Risk Committee and SC Bank Risk Committee.  
These committees are responsible for overseeing the Credit 
Risk profile of the Group within the respective business areas 
and regions. Meetings are held regularly, and the committees 
monitor all material Credit Risk exposures, as well as key 
internal developments and external trends, and ensure that 
appropriate action is taken.

Decision-making authorities and delegation
The Credit Risk Type Frameworks are the formal mechanism 
which delegate Credit Risk authorities cascading from the 
Group Chief Risk Officer, as the Senior Manager of the Credit 
Risk Type, to individuals such as the business segments’  
Chief Risk Officers. Named individuals further delegate  
credit authorities to individual credit officers by applying 
delegated credit authority matrices, which determine the 
maximum limits based on risk-adjusted scales by customer 
type or portfolio.

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Credit rating and measurement
All credit proposals are subject to a robust Credit Risk 
assessment. It includes a comprehensive evaluation of the 
client’s credit quality, including willingness, ability and 
capacity to repay. The primary lending consideration is based 
on the client’s credit quality and the repayment capacity from 
operating cashflows for counterparties; and personal income 
or wealth for individual borrowers. The risk assessment gives 
due consideration to the client’s liquidity and leverage 
position. Where applicable, the assessment includes a 
detailed analysis of the Credit Risk mitigation arrangements 
to determine the level of reliance on such arrangements  
as the secondary source of repayment in the event of a 
significant deterioration in a client’s credit quality leading  
to default.

Risk measurement plays a central role, along with judgement 
and experience, in informing risk-taking and portfolio 
management decisions. Since 1 January 2008, we have used 
the advanced internal ratings-based approach under the 
Basel regulatory framework to calculate Credit Risk capital 
requirements. The Group has also established a global 
programme to undertake a comprehensive assessment of 
capital requirements necessary to be implemented to meet 
the latest revised Basel III finalisation (Basel IV) regulations.

A standard alphanumeric Credit Risk grade system is used  
for Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking Client 
Coverage. The numeric grades run from 1 to 14 and some of 
the grades are further sub-classified. Lower numeric credit 
grades are indicative of a lower likelihood of default. Credit 
grades 1 to 12 are assigned to performing customers, while 
credit grades 13 and 14 are assigned to non-performing or 
defaulted customers.

Retail Banking internal ratings-based portfolios use 
application and behavioural credit scores that are calibrated 
to generate a probability of default and then mapped to the 
standard alphanumeric Credit Risk grade system. We refer  
to external ratings from credit bureaus (where these are 
available); however, we do not rely solely on these to 
determine Retail Banking credit grades.

Advanced internal ratings-based models cover a substantial 
majority of our exposures and are used in assessing risks at a 
customer and portfolio level, setting strategy and optimising 
our risk-return decisions. Material internal ratings-based  
risk measurement models are approved by the Model Risk 
Committee. Prior to review and approval, all internal ratings-
based models are validated in detail by a model validation 
team, which is separate from the teams that develop and 
maintain the models. Models undergo annual validation  
by the model validation team. Reviews are also triggered if  
the performance of a model deteriorates materially against 
predetermined thresholds during the ongoing model 
performance monitoring process which takes place between 
the annual validations.

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Credit Risk authorities are reviewed at least annually to ensure 
that they remain appropriate. In Corporate, Commercial and 
Institutional Banking Client Coverage and Private Banking,  
the individuals delegating the Credit Risk authorities perform 
oversight by reviewing a sample of the limit applications 
approved by the delegated credit officers on a monthly basis. 
In Retail Banking, credit decision systems and tools (e.g. 
application scorecards) are used for credit decisioning.  
Where manual credit decisions are applied, these are subject 
to periodic quality control assessment and assurance checks.

Monitoring
We regularly monitor credit exposures, portfolio performance, 
and external trends that may impact risk management 
outcomes. Internal risk management reports that are 
presented to risk committees contain information on key 
political and economic trends across major portfolios and 
countries, portfolio delinquency and loan impairment 
performance.

The Industry Portfolio Mandate, developed jointly by the 
Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking Client 
Coverage business and the Risk function, provides a forward-
looking assessment of risk using a platform from which 
business strategy, risk considerations and client planning are 
performed with one consensus view of the external industry 
outlook, portfolio overviews, Risk Appetite, underwriting 
principles and stress test insights.

In Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking Client 
Coverage, clients and portfolios are subjected to additional 
review when they display signs of actual or potential 
weakness; for example, where there is a decline in the client’s 
position within the industry, financial deterioration, a breach 
of covenants, or non-performance of an obligation within the 
stipulated period. Such accounts are subjected to a dedicated 
process overseen by the Credit Issues Committees in the 
relevant countries where client account strategies and credit 
grades are re-evaluated. In addition, remedial actions, 
including exposure reduction, security enhancement or exiting 
the account, could be undertaken, and certain accounts could 
also be transferred into the control of Group Special Assets 
Management (GSAM), which is our specialist recovery unit  
for Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking Client 
Coverage and Private Banking that operates independently 
from our main business.

For Retail Banking exposures, portfolio delinquency trends  
are monitored on an ongoing basis. Account monitoring is 
based on behavioural scores and bureau performance  
(where available). Accounts that are past due (or perceived  
as high risk but not yet past due) are subject to a collections  
or recovery process managed by a specialist function 
independent from the origination function. In some countries, 
aspects of collections and recovery activities are outsourced. 

In addition, an independent Credit Risk Review team as part  
of Enterprise Risk Management, performs judgment-based 
assessments of the Credit Risk profiles at various portfolio 
levels, with focus on selected countries and segments through 
deep dives, comparative analysis, and review and challenge 
of the basis of credit approvals. The review ensures that the 
evolving Credit Risk profiles of Corporate, Commercial and 
Institutional Banking and Retail Banking are well managed 
within our Risk Appetite and policies through prompt and 
forward-looking mitigating actions.

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In Retail Banking, a loan is considered credit-impaired as  
soon as payment of interest or principal is 90 days overdue  
or meets other objective evidence of impairment such as 
bankruptcy, debt restructuring, fraud or death. Financial 
assets are written off when there is no realistic prospect of 
recovery and the amount of loss has been determined. For 
Retail Banking assets, a financial asset is written off when it 
meets certain threshold conditions which are set at the point 
where empirical evidence suggests that the client is unlikely  
to meet their contractual obligations, or a loss of principal  
is expected.

Estimating the amount and timing of future recoveries 
involves significant judgement and considers the assessment 
of matters such as future economic conditions and the value 
of collateral, for which there may not be a readily accessible 
market. The total amount of the Group’s impairment provision 
is inherently uncertain, being sensitive to changes in economic 
and credit conditions across the regions in which the Group 
operates. For further details on sensitivity analysis of expected 
credit losses under IFRS 9, please refer to page 224.

Stress testing
Stress testing is a forward-looking risk management tool that 
constitutes a key input into the identification, monitoring  
and mitigation of Credit Risk, as well as contributing to Risk 
Appetite calibration. Periodic stress tests are performed on 
credit portfolios/segments to anticipate vulnerabilities from 
stressed conditions and initiate timely right-sizing and 
mitigation plans. Additionally, multiple enterprise-wide and 
country-level stress tests are mandated by regulators to 
assess the ability of the Group and its subsidiaries to continue 
to meet their capital requirements during a plausible, adverse 
shock to the business. These regulatory stress tests are 
conducted in line with the principles stated in the Enterprise 
Stress Testing Policy. Stress tests for key portfolios are reviewed 
by the Credit Risk Type Framework Owners (or delegates) as 
part of portfolio oversight; and matters considered material to 
the Group are escalated to the Group Chief Risk Officer and 
respective regional risk committee.

Risk review Risk management approach

Credit Concentration Risk
Credit Concentration Risk may arise from a single large 
exposure to a counterparty or a group of connected 
counterparties, or from multiple exposures across the portfolio 
that are closely correlated. Large exposure Concentration  
Risk is managed through concentration limits set for a 
counterparty or a group of connected counterparties based 
on control and economic dependence criteria. Risk Appetite 
metrics are set at portfolio level and monitored to control 
concentrations, where appropriate, by industry, specific 
products, tenor, collateralisation level, top clients and 
exposure to holding companies. Single name credit 
concentration thresholds are set by client group depending  
on credit grade, and by customer segment. For concentrations 
that are material at a Group level, breaches and potential 
breaches are monitored by the respective governance 
committees and reported to the Group Risk and Board  
Risk Committees.

Credit impairment
Expected credit losses (ECL) are determined for all financial 
assets that are classified as amortised cost or fair value 
through other comprehensive income. ECL is computed as  
an unbiased, probability-weighted provision determined by 
evaluating a range of plausible outcomes, the time value of 
money, and forward-looking information such as critical 
global or country-specific macroeconomic variables. For more 
detailed information on macroeconomic data feeding into 
IFRS 9 ECL calculations, please refer to page 224.

At the time of origination or purchase of a non-credit-
impaired financial asset (stage 1), ECL represent cash 
shortfalls arising from possible default events up to 12 months 
into the future from the balance sheet date. ECL continue to 
be determined on this basis until there is a significant increase 
in the Credit Risk of the asset (stage 2), in which case an ECL is 
recognised for default events that may occur over the lifetime 
of the asset. If there is observed objective evidence of credit 
impairment or default (stage 3), ECL continue to be measured 
on a lifetime basis. To provide the Board with oversight and 
assurance that the quality of assets originated are aligned to 
the Group’s strategy, there is a Risk Appetite metric to monitor 
the stage 1 and stage 2 expected credit losses from assets 
originated in the last 12 months.

 In Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking Client 
Coverage and Private Banking, a loan is considered credit-
impaired where analysis and review indicate that full 
payment of either interest or principal, including the timeliness 
of such payment, is questionable, or as soon as payment of 
interest or principal is 90 days overdue. These credit-impaired 
accounts are managed by our specialist recovery unit (GSAM). 
Where appropriate, non-material credit-impaired accounts 
are co-managed with the business under the supervision  
of GSAM.

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Traded Risk

The Group defines Traded Risk as the potential for loss 
resulting from activities undertaken by the Group in 
financial markets

Risk Appetite Statement
The Group should control its trading portfolio  
and activities to ensure that Traded Risk losses 
(financial or reputational) do not cause material 
damage to the Group’s franchise

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The Traded Risk Type Framework (TRTF) brings together all 
risk sub-types exhibiting risk features common to Traded Risk. 
These risk sub-types include Market Risk, Counterparty Credit 
Risk, Issuer Risk, XVA, Algorithmic Trading and Pension Risk. 
Traded Risk Management (TRM) is the core risk management 
function supporting market-facing businesses, specifically 
Financial Markets and Treasury.

Roles and responsibilities
The TRTF, which sets the roles and responsibilities in respect  
of Traded Risk for the Group, is owned by the Global Head, 
Traded Risk Management. The business, acting as first line of 
defence, is responsible for the effective management of risks 
within the scope of its direct organisational responsibilities  
set by the Board. The TRM function is the second line control 
function that performs independent challenge, monitoring 
and oversight of the Traded Risk management practices of 
the first line of defence. The first and second lines of defence 
are supported by the organisation structure, job descriptions 
and authorities delegated by Traded Risk control owners. 

Mitigation
The Group controls its trading portfolio and activities within 
Risk Appetite by assessing the various Traded Risk factors. 
These are captured and analysed using proprietary analytical 
tools, in addition to risk managers’ specialist market and 
product knowledge.

The Group’s Traded Risk exposure is aligned with its Risk 
Appetite for Traded Risk, and assessment of potential losses 
that might be incurred by the Group as a consequence of 
extreme but plausible events.

All businesses incurring Traded Risk must be in compliance 
with the TRTF. The TRTF requires that Traded Risk limits are 
defined at a level appropriate to ensure that the Group 
remains within Traded Risk Appetite. 

The TRTF, and underlying policies and standards ensure that 
these Traded Risk limits are implemented. All Traded Risk 
exposures throughout the Group aggregate up to TRM’s 
Group-level reporting. This aggregation approach ensures 
that the limits structure across the Group is consistent with  
the Group’s Risk Appetite.

The TRTF and Enterprise Stress Testing Policy ensure that 
adherence to stress-related Risk Appetite metrics is achieved. 
Stress testing aims at supplementing other risk metrics used 
within the Group by providing a forward-looking view of 
positions and an assessment of their resilience to stressed 
market conditions. Stress testing is performed on all Group 
businesses with Traded Risk exposures, either where the risk is 
actively traded or where material risk remains. This additional 
information is used to inform the management of the Traded 
Risk taken within the Group. The outcome of stress tests is 
discussed across the various business lines and management 
levels so that existing and potential risks can be reviewed,  
and related management actions can be decided upon 
where appropriate.

Policies are reviewed and approved by the Global Head,  
TRM annually to ensure their ongoing effectiveness.

Governance committee oversight
At the Board level, the Board Risk Committee oversees the 
effective management of Traded Risk. At the executive level, 
the Group Risk Committee delegates responsibilities to the 
CCIBRC to act as the primary risk governance for Traded Risk. 
Where Traded Risk limits are set at a country level, committee 
governance is:

•  Subsidiary authority for setting Traded Risk limits, where 
applicable, is delegated from the local board to the local 
risk committee, Country Chief Risk Officer and Traded  
Risk managers.

•  Branch authority for setting Traded Risk limits remains  

with TRM which retains responsibility for monitoring and 
reporting excesses.

Decision-making authorities and delegation
The Group’s Risk Appetite Statement, along with the key 
associated Risk Appetite metrics, is approved by the  
Board with responsibility for Traded Risk limits, then  
tiered accordingly.

Subject to the Group’s Risk Appetite for Traded Risk, the  
Group Risk Committee sets Group-level Traded Risk limits,  
via delegation to the Group Chief Risk Officer. The Group  
Chief Risk Officer delegates authority for all Traded Risk limits 
to the TRTF Owner (Global Head, TRM) who in turn delegates 
approval authorities to individual Traded Risk managers.

Additional limits are placed on specific instruments, positions, 
and portfolio concentrations where appropriate. Authorities 
are reviewed at least annually to ensure that they remain 
appropriate and to assess the quality of decisions taken by 
the authorised person. Key risk-taking decisions are made  
only by certain individuals with the skills, judgement and 
perspective to ensure that the Group’s control standards  
and risk-return objectives are met. Authority delegators are 
responsible for monitoring the quality of the risk decisions 
taken by their delegates and the ongoing suitability of  
their authorities.

Market Risk
The Group uses a Value at Risk (VaR) model to measure the 
risk of losses arising from future potential adverse movements 
in market rates, prices and volatilities. VaR is a quantitative 
measure of Market Risk that applies recent historical market 
conditions to estimate the potential future loss in market 
value that will not be exceeded in a set time period at a set 
statistical confidence level. VaR provides a consistent measure 
that can be applied across trading businesses and products 
over time and can be set against actual daily trading profit 
and loss outcomes. 

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Risk review Risk management approach

For day-to-day risk management, VaR is calculated as at the 
close of business, generally at UK time for expected market 
movements over one business day and to a confidence level 
of 97.5 per cent. Intra-day risk levels may vary from those 
reported at the end of the day.

The Group applies two VaR methodologies:

•  Historical simulation: this involves the revaluation of all 
existing positions to reflect the effect of historically 
observed changes in Market Risk factors on the valuation  
of the current portfolio. This approach is applied for general 
Market Risk factors and the majority of specific (credit 
spread) risk VaRs

•  Monte Carlo simulation: this methodology is similar to 

historical simulation but with considerably more input risk 
factor observations. These are generated by random 
sampling techniques, but the results retain the essential 
variability and correlations of historically observed risk 
factor changes. This approach is applied for some of the 
specific (credit spread) risk VaRs in relation to idiosyncratic 
exposures in credit markets

A one-year historical observation period is applied in  
both methods.

As an input to regulatory capital, trading book VaR is 
calculated for expected movements over 10 business days 
and to a confidence level of 99 per cent. Some types of Market 
Risk are not captured in the regulatory VaR measure, and 
these Risks-not-in-VaR (RNIVs) are subject to capital add-ons. 

An analysis of VaR and backtesting results in 2020 is available 
in the Risk profile section (pages 185 to 247).

Counterparty Credit Risk
The Counterparty Credit Risk arising from activities in financial 
markets is in scope of the Risk Appetite set by the Group for 
Traded Risk.

The Group uses a Potential Future Exposure (PFE) model to 
measure the credit exposure arising from the positive mark to 
market of traded products and future potential movements  
in market rates, prices and volatilities. PFE is a quantitative 
measure of Counterparty Credit Risk that applies recent 
historical market conditions to estimate the potential future 
credit exposure that will not be exceeded in a set time period 
at confidence level of  97.5 per cent. 

PFE is calculated for expected market movements over 
different time horizons, based on the tenor of the transactions.

The Group applies two PFE methodologies, predominantly 
simulation-based, as well as by way of add-ons. 

Underwriting
The underwriting of securities and loans is in scope of the Risk 
Appetite set by the Group for Traded Risk. Additional limits 
approved by the Group Chief Risk Officer are set on the 
underwriting portfolio stress loss, and the maximum holding 
period. The Underwriting Committee, under the authority of 
the Group Chief Risk Officer, approves individual proposals to 
underwrite new security issues and loans for our clients.

Monitoring
TRM monitors the overall portfolio risk and ensures that it is 
within specified limits and therefore Risk Appetite. Limits are 
typically reviewed twice a year. 

Most of the Traded Risk exposures are monitored daily against 
approved limits. Traded Risk limits apply at all times, unless 
separate intra-day limits have been set. Limit excess approval 
decisions are based on an assessment of the circumstances 
driving the excess and of the proposed remediation plan. 
Limits and excesses can only be approved by a Traded Risk 
manager with the appropriate delegated authority.

TRM reports and monitors limits applied to stressed 
exposures. Stress scenario analysis is performed on all Traded 
Risk exposures in financial markets and in portfolios outside 
financial markets such as syndicated loans and principal 
finance. Stress loss excesses are discussed with the business 
and approved where appropriate, based on delegated 
authority levels.

Stress testing
The VaR and PFE measurements are complemented by 
weekly stress testing of Market Risk and Counterparty Credit 
Risk to highlight the potential risk that may arise from severe 
but plausible market events.

Stress testing is an integral part of the Traded Risk 
management framework and considers both historical 
market events and forward-looking scenarios. A consistent 
stress testing methodology is applied to trading and non-
trading books. The stress testing methodology assumes that 
scope for management action would be limited during a 
stress event, reflecting the decrease in market liquidity that 
often occurs.

Regular stress test scenarios are applied to interest rates, 
credit spreads, exchange rates, commodity prices and equity 
prices. This covers all asset classes in the Financial Markets 
and Treasury books. Ad hoc scenarios are also prepared, 
reflecting specific market conditions and for particular 
concentrations of risk that arise within the business.

Stress scenarios are regularly updated to reflect changes in 
risk profile and economic events. The TRM function reviews 
stress testing results and, where necessary, enforces 
reductions in overall Traded Risk exposures. The Group Risk 
Committee considers the results of stress tests as part of its 
supervision of Risk Appetite.

Where required, Group and business-wide stress testing will 
be supplemented by entity stress testing at a country level. 
This stress testing is coordinated at the country level and 
subject to the relevant local governance. 

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Capital and Liquidity Risk

The Group defines Capital Risk as the potential for 
insufficient level, composition or distribution of capital 
to support our normal activities, and Liquidity Risk as 
the risk that we may not have sufficient stable or 
diverse sources of funding to meet our obligations  
as they fall due

Risk Appetite Statement
The Group should maintain a strong capital 
position including the maintenance of 
management buffers sufficient to support its 
strategic aims and hold an adequate buffer of 
high-quality liquid assets to survive extreme but 
plausible liquidity stress scenarios for at least 60 
days without recourse to extraordinary central 
bank support

Roles and responsibilities
The Treasurer is responsible for the Risk Type Framework for 
Capital and Liquidity Risk and for complying with regulatory 
requirements at a Group level. The Treasury and Finance 
functions, as the second line of defence, provide independent 
challenge and oversight of the first-line risk management 
activities relating to Capital and Liquidity Risk. In country, the 
Treasurer is supported by Treasury and Finance in 
implementing the Capital and Liquidity Risk Type Framework.

Mitigation
The Group develops policies to address material Capital and 
Liquidity risks and aims to maintain its risk profile within Risk 
Appetite. In order to do this, metrics are set against Capital 
Risk, Liquidity and Funding Risk and Interest Rate Risk in the 
Banking Book. Where appropriate, Risk Appetite metrics are 
cascaded down to regions and countries in the form of limits 
and management action triggers.

Capital Risk
In order to manage Capital Risk, strategic business and capital 
plans are drawn up covering a five-year horizon and are 
approved by the Board annually. The capital plan ensures that 
adequate levels of capital, including loss- absorbing capacity, 
and an efficient mix of the different components of capital 
are maintained to support our strategy and business plans. 
Treasury is responsible for the ongoing assessment of the 
demand for capital and the updating of the Group’s capital 
plan.

Capital planning takes the following into account:

•  Current regulatory capital requirements and our 

assessment of future standards and how these might 
change

•  Demand for capital due to the business and loan 

impairment outlook and potential market shocks or stresses

•  Available supply of capital and capital raising options, 
including ongoing capital accretion from the business

Additionally, Risk Appetite metrics including capital, leverage, 
minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liability 
(MREL) and double leverage are assessed within the 
Corporate Plan to ensure that our business plan can be 
achieved within risk tolerances. 

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Structural FX Risk
The Group’s structural position results from the Group’s non- 
US dollar investment in the share capital and reserves of 
subsidiaries and branches. The FX translation gains or losses 
are recorded in the Group’s translation reserves with a direct 
impact on the Group’s Common Equity Tier 1 ratio.

The Group contracts hedges to manage its structural FX 
position in accordance with the Board-approved Risk 
Appetite, and as a result the Group has taken net investment 
hedges to partially cover its exposure to the Korean won, 
Chinese renminbi, Taiwanese dollar and Indian rupee to 
mitigate the FX impact of such positions on its capital ratios

Liquidity Risk
At Group, region and country level we implement various 
business-as-usual and stress risk metrics and monitor these 
against limits and management action triggers. This ensures 
that the Group maintains an adequate and well-diversified 
liquidity buffer, as well as a stable funding base, and that it 
meets its liquidity and funding regulatory requirements. The 
approach to managing risks and the Board Risk Appetite are 
assessed annually through the Internal Liquidity Adequacy 
Assessment Process. A funding plan is also developed for 
efficient liquidity projections to ensure that the Group is 
adequately funded in the required currencies, to meet its 
obligations and client funding needs. 

Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book
The Group defines Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book 
(IRRBB) as the potential for a reduction in future earnings or 
economic value due to changes in interest rates. This risk 
arises from differences in the repricing profile, interest rate 
basis, and optionality of banking book assets, liabilities  
and off-balance sheet items. IRRBB represents an economic 
and commercial risk to the Group and its capital adequacy. 
The Group monitors IRRBB against a Board-approved  
Risk Appetite.

Recovery and Resolution Planning
In line with PRA requirements, the Group maintains a Recovery 
Plan which is a live document to be used by management in 
the event of stress in order to restore the Group to a stable 
and sustainable position. The Recovery Plan includes a set of 
Recovery Indicators, an escalation framework and a set of 
management actions capable of being implemented in a 
stress. A Recovery Plan is also maintained within each major 
entity, and all recovery plans are subject to periodic fire- 
drill testing.

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Risk review Risk management approach

As the UK resolution authority, the Bank of England (BoE) is 
required to set a preferred resolution strategy for the Group. 
The BoE’s preferred resolution strategy is whole Group single 
point of entry bail-in at the ultimate holding company level 
(Standard Chartered PLC) and would be led by the BoE as the 
Group’s home resolution authority. In support of this strategy, 
the Group has been developing a set of capabilities, 
arrangements and resources to achieve the following three 
outcomes, as per the BoE’s approach to assessing resolvability, 
published in 2019: 

•  Adequate financial resources in the context of resolution 

•  Being able to continue to do business through resolution 

and restructuring

•  Being able to coordinate and communicate effectively 

within the Group and with authorities and markets so that 
resolution and subsequent restructuring are orderly 

The Group expects to disclose a summary of its preparations 
in 2022, alongside a public statement from the BoE on the 
resolvability of each in-scope firm.

Governance committee oversight
At the Board level, the Board Risk Committee oversees the 
effective management of Capital and Liquidity Risk. At the 
executive level, the Group Asset and Liability Committee 
ensures the effective management of risk throughout the 
Group in support of the Group’s strategy, guides the Group’s 
strategy on balance sheet optimisation and ensures that the 
Group operates within the internally approved Risk Appetite 
and other internal and external capital and liquidity 
requirements.

The Group Asset and Liability Committee delegates part of 
this responsibility to the Operational Balance Sheet 
Committee to ensure alignment with business objectives.

Regional and country oversight under the capital and  
liquidity framework resides with regional and country  
Asset and Liability Committees. Regions and countries  
must ensure that they remain in compliance with Group 
capital and liquidity policies and practices, as well as local 
regulatory requirements.

Decision-making authorities and delegation
The Group Chief Financial Officer has responsibility for capital, 
funding and liquidity under the Senior Managers Regime. The 
Group Chief Risk Officer has delegated the Risk Framework 
Owner responsibilities associated with Capital and Liquidity 
Risk to the Treasurer. The Treasurer delegates second-line 
oversight and challenge responsibilities to relevant and 
suitably qualified Treasury and Finance individuals. 

Monitoring
On a day-to-day basis, the management of Capital and 
Liquidity Risk at the country level is performed by the Country 
Chief Executive Officer and Treasury Markets respectively. The 
Group regularly reports and monitors Capital and Liquidity 
Risk inherent in its business activities and those that arise from 
internal and external events. The management of capital  
and liquidity is monitored by Treasury and Finance with 
appropriate escalation processes in place.

Internal risk management reports covering the balance  
sheet and the capital and liquidity position of the Group are 
presented to the Operational Balance Sheet Committee and 
the Group Asset and Liability Committee. The reports contain 
key information on balance sheet trends, exposures against 
Risk Appetite and supporting risk measures which enable 
members to make informed decisions around the overall 
management of the Group’s balance sheet. Oversight at 
regional and country level is provided by the regional and 
country Asset and Liability Committee, with a focus on the 
local capital and liquidity risks, local prudential requirements 
and risks that arise from local internal and external events.

In addition, an independent Liquidity Risk Review team as part 
of Enterprise Risk Management reviews the prudency and 
effectiveness of Liquidity and Interest Rate Risk management. 
The team focuses on balance sheet structure and strategy, 
policy development and implementation, risk identification, 
monitoring and control. 

Stress testing
Stress testing and scenario analysis are an integral part of  
the capital and liquidity framework and are used to ensure 
that the Group’s internal assessment of capital and liquidity 
considers the impact of extreme but plausible scenarios on  
its risk profile. A number of stress scenarios, some designed 
internally, some required by regulators, are run periodically. 
They provide an insight into the potential impact of significant 
adverse events on the Group’s capital and liquidity position 
and how this could be mitigated through appropriate 
management actions to ensure that the Group remains  
within the approved Risk Appetite and regulatory limits.  
Daily liquidity stress scenarios are also run to ensure that the 
Group holds sufficient high-quality liquid assets to withstand 
extreme liquidity events.

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Operational and Technology Risk

The Group defines Operational and Technology Risk  
as the potential for loss resulting from inadequate or 
failed internal processes, technology events, human 
error or from the impact of external events (including 
legal risks)

Risk Appetite Statement
The Group aims to control operational risks to 
ensure that operational losses (financial or 
reputational), including any related to conduct of 
business matters, do not cause material damage 
to the Group’s franchise

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Roles and responsibilities
The Operational Risk Type Framework (ORTF) sets the roles 
and responsibilities in respect of Operational Risk for the 
Group, and is owned by the Global Head of Risk, Functions 
and Operational Risk (GHRFOR). This Framework collectively 
defines the Group’s operational risk sub-types which have  
not been classified as Principal Risk Types (PRTs) and sets 
standards for the identification, control, monitoring and 
treatment of risks. These standards are applicable across all 
PRTs and risk sub-types in the ORTF. These risk sub-types 
relate to execution capability, governance, reporting and 
obligations, legal enforceability, and operational resilience 
(including client service, third party vendor services, change 
management, people management, safety and security,  
and system availability).

The ORTF reinforces clear accountability for managing risk 
throughout the Group and delegates second line of defence 
responsibilities to identified subject matter experts. For each 
risk sub-type, the expert sets policies and standards for the 
organisation to comply with, and provides guidance, oversight 
and challenge over the activities of the Group. They ensure 
that key risk decisions are only taken by individuals with the 
requisite skills, judgement, and perspective to ensure that the 
Group’s risk-return objectives are met.

Mitigation
The ORTF sets out the Group’s overall approach to the 
management of Operational Risk in line with the Group’s 
Operational Risk Appetite. This is supported by Risk and 
Control Self-Assessment (RCSA) which defines roles and 
responsibilities for the identification, control and monitoring  
of risks (applicable to all PRTs and risk sub-types).

The RCSA is used to determine the design strength and 
reliability of each process, and requires:

•  The recording of processes run by client segments, products, 

and functions into a process universe

•  The identification of potential breakdowns to these 
processes and the related risks of such breakdowns

•  An assessment of the impact of the identified risks based on 

a consistent scale

•  The design and monitoring of controls to mitigate 

prioritised risks

Assessments of residual risk and timely actions for elevated 
risks. Risks that exceed the Group’s Operational Risk Appetite 
require treatment plans to address underlying causes.

Governance committee oversight
At the Board level, the Board Risk Committee oversees the 
effective management of Operational Risk. At the executive 
level, the Group Risk Committee is responsible for the 
governance and oversight of Operational Risk for the Group, 

monitors the Group’s Operational Risk Appetite and relies  
on other key Group committees for the management of 
Operational Risk in particular the Group Non-Financial Risk 
Committee (GNFRC). 

Regional business segments and functional committees also 
provide enterprise oversight of their respective processes and 
related operational risks. In addition, Country Non-Financial 
Risk Committees (CNFRCs) oversee the management of 
Operational Risk at the country (or entity) level. In smaller 
countries, the responsibilities of the CNFRC may be exercised 
directly by the Country Risk Committee (for branches) or 
Executive Risk Committee (for subsidiaries).

Decision-making authorities and delegation 
The ORTF is the formal mechanism through which the 
delegation of Operational Risk authorities is made. The 
GHRFOR delegates second-line authorities to designated 
subject matter experts (SMEs) responsible for the risk sub-
types through this framework. The SMEs may further delegate 
their second-line responsibilities to designated individuals at a 
global business, product and function level, as well as regional 
or country level.

Monitoring
To deliver services to clients and to participate in the financial 
services sector, the Group runs processes which are exposed 
to operational risks. The Group prioritises and manages  
risks which are significant to clients and to the financial 
services sectors. Control indicators are regularly monitored  
to determine the residual risk the Group is exposed to.  
The residual risk assessments and reporting of events form  
the Group’s Operational Risk profile. The completeness of the 
Operational Risk profile ensures appropriate prioritisation and 
timeliness of risk decisions, including risk acceptances with 
treatment plans for risks that exceed acceptable thresholds.

The Board is informed on adherence to Operational  
Risk Appetite through metrics reported for selected risks. 
These metrics are monitored, and escalation thresholds are 
devised based on the materiality and significance of the risk. 
These Operational Risk Appetite metrics are consolidated on 
a regular basis and reported at relevant Group committees. 
This provides senior management with the relevant 
information to inform their risk decisions.

Stress testing
Stress testing and scenario analysis are used to assess capital 
requirements for operational risks. This approach considers 
the impact of extreme but plausible scenarios on the Group’s 
Operational Risk profile. A number of scenarios have been 
identified to test the robustness of the Group’s processes and 
assess the potential impact on the Group. These scenarios 
include anti-money laundering, sanctions, as well as 
information and cyber security.

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Risk review Risk management approach

Information and Cyber Security Risk

The Group defines Information and Cyber Security  
Risk as the risk to the Group’s assets, operations and 
individuals due to the potential for unauthorised 
access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification,  
or destruction of information assets and/or  
information systems

Risk Appetite Statement
The Group seeks to avoid risk and uncertainty for 
our critical information assets and systems and  
has a low appetite for material incidents affecting 
these or the wider operations and reputation of  
the Group

Roles and responsibilities
The Group’s Information and Cyber Security Risk Type 
Framework (ICS RTF) defines the roles and responsibilities  
of the first and second lines of defence in managing and 
governing ICS Risk respectively across the Group with 
emphasis on business ownership and individual 
accountability. 

The Group Chief Operating Officer has overall first line of 
defence responsibility for ICS Risk and holds accountability for 
the Group’s ICS strategy. The Group Chief Information Security 
Officer (CISO) leads the development and execution of the  
ICS strategy.

The Group Chief Information Security Risk Officer (CISRO) 
function within Group Risk, led by the Group CISRO, operates 
as the second line of defence and sets the strategy and 
methodology for assessing, scoring and prioritising ICS risks 
across the Group. This function has overall responsibility for 
governance, oversight and independent challenge of ICS Risk.

Mitigation
ICS Risk is managed through a structured ICS Risk framework 
comprising a risk assessment methodology and supporting 
policy, standards and methodologies which are aligned to 
industry best practice models.

In 2020, to ensure ICS Risk management principles prioritise 
the adverse impact of cyber threat and vulnerability 
information on confidentiality, integrity and availability  
of information assets and systems across the Group, the  
ICS RTF was uplifted to include a threat led risk assessment 
methodology. 

The Group CISRO function monitors compliance to the ICS 
framework through the review of the ICS risk assessments 
conducted by Group CISO. All key ICS risks, breaches and 
weaknesses are reviewed and approved by Group CISRO  
prior to the execution of mitigating actions. 

The Group CISO function performs ICS Risk assessment  
to determine the ICS Risk posture across the Group with 
reporting to key Group governance committees. Key ICS risks, 
breaches or weaknesses identified are documented, reviewed 
and approved by Group CISRO with mitigation activities 
monitored for completion with statuses reported to the 
relevant Group governance committees.

Governance committee oversight
ICS Risk within the Group is governed via the Board Risk 
Committee (BRC) which has responsibility for approving the 
definition of ICS Risk and the Group Risk Appetite. In addition, 
the Group Risk Committee (GRC) has delegated authority to 
the Group Non-Financial Risk Committee (GNFRC) to ensure 
effective implementation of the ICS RTF. The GRC and GNFRC 
are responsible for oversight of ICS Risk posture and Risk 
Appetite breaches rated very high and high. Sub-committees 
of the GNFRC have oversight of ICS Risk management arising 
from business, country and functional areas.

At a management level, the Group has also created the Cyber 
Security Advisory Forum, chaired by the Group Chief Executive 
Officer, as a way of ensuring the Management Team, the 
Chairman and several non-executive directors are well 
informed on ICS Risk, and to increase business understanding 
and awareness so that business priorities drive the security 
and cyber resilience agenda.

Decision-making authorities and delegation
The ICS RTF is the formal mechanism through which the 
delegation of ICS Risk authorities is made. The Group Chief 
Risk Officer (GCRO) has delegated the ICS Risk Framework 
Owner authority to the Group CISRO. The Group CISRO has, 
where appropriate, delegated second-line authority to 
Information Security Risk Officers (ISRO) to assume the 
responsibilities for approval for business, functions,  
and countries.

Group CISO, supported by the Heads of ICS, presents the 
proposed ICS Risk ratings to Group CISRO for review and 
sign-off. 

Information Asset Owners, Information System Owners and 
process owners are responsible for the identification, creation 
and implementation of processes as required to comply with 
the ICS RTF.

Approval of ICS Risk ratings follows an approval matrix 
defined by the ICS RTF where the GCRO and Group CISRO  
sign off very high and high risks respectively.

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Monitoring
The ICS Risk assessment is in transition in 2020 to a threat-
focused risk assessment. The risk assessment is performed  
by Group CISO to identify key ICS risks, breaches and 
weaknesses, and to ascertain the severity of the risk posture. 
The risk postures of all businesses, functions and countries are 
consolidated to present a holistic Group-level ICS Risk posture 
for ongoing ICS Risk monitoring.

During these reviews, the status of each risk is assessed to 
identify any changes to materiality, impact and likelihood, 
which in turn affects the overall ICS Risk score and rating.  
Risks which exceed defined thresholds are reviewed with 
Group CISRO for approval, and escalated to appropriate 
Group governance committees. 

Monitoring and reporting on the ICS Risk Appetite profile 
ensures that performance which falls outside the approved 
Risk Appetite is highlighted and reviewed at the appropriate 
governance committee or authority levels and ensures that 
adequate remediation actions are in place where necessary.

Stress testing
Group CISRO determines ICS Risk controls to be subjected to 
scenario-based stress testing (i.e. cyber resilience red team 
testing) and sensitivity analysis, which is aimed to either 
ensure robustness of control and the ability to respond  
should a control fail. The Group’s cyber resilience testing 
approach entails:

•  Group CISRO oversees all ICS Risk-related stress testing  
the Group carries out to meet regulatory requirements, 
including covert testing

•  Incident scenarios affecting information assets and systems 
are periodically tested to assess the incident management 
capability in the Group

•  Purple team, penetration testing and vulnerability scanning 
are performed by Group CISO against the Group’s internet-
facing services and critical information assets/systems

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Risk review Risk management approach

Compliance Risk

The Group defines Compliance Risk as the potential  
for penalties or loss to the Group, or for an adverse 
impact to our clients, stakeholders or to the integrity  
of the markets in which we operate through a failure 
on our part to comply with laws or regulations

Risk Appetite Statement
The Group has no appetite for breaches in laws 
and regulations; recognising that regulatory 
non-compliance cannot be entirely avoided,  
the Group strives to reduce this to an absolute 
minimum

Roles and responsibilities
The Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing and 
Conduct, Financial Crime and Compliance (Group Head, 
CABM & CFCC) as Risk Framework Owner for Compliance Risk 
provides support to senior management on regulatory and 
compliance matters by:

•  Providing interpretation and advice on CFCC regulatory 

requirements and their impact on the Group

•  Setting enterprise-wide standards for management of 

compliance risks through the establishment and 
maintenance of the Compliance Risk Type Framework 
(Compliance RTF)

•  Setting a programme for monitoring Compliance Risk

The Compliance RTF sets out the Group’s overall approach  
to the management of Compliance Risk and the roles and 
responsibilities in respect of Compliance Risk for the Group.  
All activities that the Group engages in must be designed  
to comply with the applicable laws and regulations in the 
countries in which we operate. The CFCC function is the 
second line that provides oversight and challenge of  
the first-line risk management activities that relate to 
Compliance Risk.

Where Compliance Risk arises, or could arise, from failure  
to manage another principal risk type or sub-type, the 
Compliance RTF outlines that the responsibility rests with  
the respective Risk Framework Owner or control function to 
ensure that effective oversight and challenge of the first line 
can be provided by the appropriate second-line function.

Each of the assigned second-line functions has responsibilities 
including monitoring relevant regulatory developments from 
Non-Financial Services regulators at both Group and country 
levels, policy development, implementation, and validation  
as well as oversight and challenge of first-line processes  
and controls.

In addition, the Compliance RTF has been enhanced in 2020 
via Risk Appetite metrics that enable greater oversight of 
implementation of country-level regulatory requirements,  
and by bringing together all data management risks, 
including transition of Data Quality from the Operational  
Risk Type Framework. 

Mitigation
The CFCC function develops and deploys relevant policies  
and standards setting out requirements and controls for 
adherence by the Group to ensure continued compliance with 
applicable laws and regulations. Through a combination of 
risk assessment, control standard setting, control monitoring 
and assurance activities, the Compliance Risk Framework 
Owner seeks to ensure that all policies are operating as 
expected to mitigate the risk that they cover. The installation 
of appropriate processes and controls is the primary tool for 

the mitigation of Compliance Risk. In this, the requirements of 
the Operational Risk Type Framework are followed to ensure  
a consistent approach to the management of processes and 
controls. Deployment of technological solutions to improve 
efficiencies and simplify processes has continued in 2020. 
These include further expansion of digital chatbots and  
a tool to track non-financial regulatory reporting. 

Governance committee oversight
Compliance Risk and the risk of non-compliance with laws 
and regulations resulting from failed processes and controls 
are overseen by Business, Product and Function Non-Financial 
Risk Committees.

The Compliance Risk Framework Owner has also established 
a CFCC Oversight Group to provide oversight of CFCC risks 
including the effective implementation of the Compliance 
RTF. The Conduct, Financial Crime and Compliance Non-
Financial Risk Committee has a consolidated view of these 
risks and helps to ensure that appropriate governance is in 
place for these. In addition, the Committee helps to ensure 
that elevated levels of Compliance Risk are reported to the 
Group Non-Financial Risk Committee, Group Risk Committee 
and Audit Committee. Within each country, oversight of 
Compliance Risk is delegated through the Country Non-
Financial Risk Committee.

Decision-making authorities and delegation
The Compliance Risk Type Framework is the formal 
mechanism through which the delegation of Compliance Risk 
authorities is made. The Group Head, CABM & CFCC has the 
authority to delegate second-line responsibilities within the 
CFCC function to relevant and suitably qualified individuals.

Monitoring
The monitoring of controls designed to mitigate the risk of 
regulatory non-compliance in processes are governed in line 
with the Operational Risk Type Framework. The Group has a 
monitoring and reporting process in place for Compliance 
Risk, which includes escalation and reporting to Conduct  
and Compliance Non-Financial Risk Committee, Group Risk 
Committee and Audit Committee, as appropriate.

Stress testing
Stress testing and scenario analysis are used to assess capital 
requirements for Compliance Risk and form part of the overall 
scenario analysis portfolio managed under the Operational 
Risk Type Framework. Specific scenarios are developed 
annually with collaboration between the business, which 
owns and manages the risk, and the CFCC function, which is 
second line to incorporate significant Compliance Risk tail 
events. This approach considers the impact of extreme but 
plausible scenarios on the Group’s Compliance Risk profile.

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Financial Crime Risk

The Group defines Financial Crime Risk as the potential 
for legal or regulatory penalties, material financial loss 
or reputational damage resulting from the failure to 
comply with applicable laws and regulations relating 
to international sanctions, anti-money laundering, 
anti-bribery and corruption, and fraud

Risk Appetite Statement
The Group has no appetite for breaches in laws 
and regulations related to financial crime, 
recognising that while incidents are unwanted, 
they cannot be entirely avoided

Roles and responsibilities
The Group Head, CABM & CFCC has overall responsibility for 
Financial Crime Risk and is responsible for the establishment 
and maintenance of effective systems and controls to meet 
legal and regulatory obligations in respect of Financial  
Crime Risk. The Group Head, CABM & CFCC is the Group’s 
Compliance and Money-Laundering Reporting Officer and 
performs the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) controlled 
function and senior management function in accordance with 
the requirements set out by the FCA, including those set out  
in their handbook on systems and controls. As the first line,  
the business unit process owners have responsibility for the 
application of policy controls and the identification and 
measurement of risks relating to financial crime. Business units 
must communicate risks and any policy non-compliance to 
the second line for review and approval following the model 
for delegation of authority.

Mitigation
There are four Group policies in support of the Financial Crime 
Risk Type Framework. 

•  Group Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy

•  Group Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist 

Financing Policy

•  Group Sanctions Policy

•  Group Fraud Risk Management Policy

The Group operates risk-based assessments and controls in 
support of its Financial Crime Risk programme, including (but 
not limited to):

•  Group Risk Assessment - the Group monitors enterprise-

wide Financial Crime Risks through the CFCC Risk 
Assessment process consisting of Financial Crime Risk and 
Compliance Risk assessments. The Financial Crime Risk 
assessment is a Group-wide risk assessment undertaken 
annually to assess the inherent Financial Crime Risk 
exposures, the associated processes and controls by  
which these exposures are mitigated. 

•  Financial Crime Surveillance – risk-based systems and 

processes to prevent and detect financial crime

The strength of controls is tested and assessed through the 
Group’s ORTF, in addition to oversight by CFCC Assurance and 
Group Internal Audit.

Governance committee oversight
Financial Crime Risk within the Group is governed by the 
Group Financial Crime Risk Committee; and the Group 
Non-Financial Risk Committee for Fraud Risk which is 
appointed by and reports into the Group Risk Committee. 

Both committees are responsible for ensuring the effective 
management of Operational Risk relating to Financial Crime 
Risk and Fraud Risk compliance throughout the Group. The 
Board appoints the Board Financial Crime Risk Committee to 
provide oversight on anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money 
laundering (and terrorist financing) and sanctions; and the 
Board Risk Committee for oversight on Fraud Risk. The 
Committees provide oversight of the effectiveness of the 
Group’s policies, procedures, systems, controls and assurance 
mechanisms designed to identify, assess, manage, monitor, 
detect or prevent money laundering, non-compliance with 
sanctions, bribery, corruption, internal/ external fraud and tax 
crime by third parties.

Decision-making authorities and delegation
The Financial Crime Risk Type Framework is the formal 
mechanism through which the delegation of Financial Crime 
Risk authorities is made. The Group Head, CABM & CFCC is  
the Risk Framework Owner for Financial Crime Risk under the 
Group’s Enterprise Risk Management Framework and has 
delegated authorities to effectively implement the Financial 
Crime Risk Type Framework, to the Co-Heads, Financial Crime 
Compliance. Certain aspects of Financial Crime Compliance, 
second-line oversight and challenge, are further delegated 
within the CFCC function. Approval frameworks are in place to 
allow for risk-based decisions on client on-boarding, potential 
breaches of sanctions regulation or policy, and situations of 
potential money laundering (and terrorist financing), bribery 
and corruption or internal and external fraud.

Monitoring
The Group monitors Financial Crime Risk compliance against 
a set of Risk Appetite metrics that are approved by the Board. 
These metrics are reviewed periodically and reported 
regularly to the Group Financial Crime Risk Committee, Group 
Non-Financial Risk Committee, Board Risk Committee and 
Board Financial Crime Risk Committee.

Stress testing
The assessment of Financial Crime vulnerabilities under 
stressed conditions or extreme events with a low likelihood  
of occurring is carried out through enterprise stress testing 
where scenario analysis is used to assess capital requirements 
for Financial Crime as part of the overall scenario analysis 
portfolio managed under the Operational Risk Type 
Framework. Specific scenarios are developed annually  
with collaboration between the business, which owns and 
manages the risk, and the CFCC function, which is second  
line to incorporate significant Financial Crime risk events.  
This approach considers the impact of extreme but plausible 
scenarios on the Group’s Financial Crime Risk profile. 

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Risk review Risk management approach

Model Risk

The Group defines Model Risk as potential loss that 
may occur as a consequence of decisions or the risk of 
mis-estimation that could be principally based on the 
output of models due to errors in the development, 
implementation, or use of such models

Risk Appetite Statement
The Group has no appetite for material adverse 
implications arising from misuse of models or errors 
in the development or implementation of models, 
whilst accepting model uncertainty

Decision-making authorities and delegation
The Model Risk Type Framework is the formal mechanism 
through which the delegation of Model Risk authorities  
is made. 

The Global Head, Enterprise Risk Management delegates 
authorities to designated individuals or Policy Owners  
through the RTF. The second-line ownership for Model Risk  
at country level is delegated to Country Chief Risk Officers at 
the applicable branches and subsidiaries.

The Model Risk Committee is responsible for approving 
models for use. Model approval authority is also delegated to 
the Credit Model Assessment Committee, Traded Risk Model 
Assessment Committee and individual model approvers for 
less material models.

Monitoring
The Group monitors Model Risk via a set of Risk Appetite 
metrics that are approved by the Board. Adherence to  
Model Risk Appetite and any threshold breaches are  
reported regularly to the Board Risk Committee and  
Model Risk Committee. 

Models undergo regular monitoring based on their level of 
perceived Model Risk, with monitoring results and breaches 
presented to Model Risk Management and delegated  
model approvers. 

Model Risk Management produces Model Risk reports 
covering the model landscape, which include performance 
metrics, identified issues and remediation plans. These are 
presented for discussion at the Model Risk governance 
committees on a regular basis. 

Stress testing
Models play an integral role in the Group’s stress testing and 
are rigorously validated to ensure that they are fit-for-purpose 
for use under stressed market conditions. Compliance with 
Model Risk management requirements and regulatory 
guidelines are also assessed as part of each stress test, with 
any identified gaps mitigated through model overlays and 
defined remediation plans. 

Roles and responsibilities
The Global Head, Enterprise Risk Management is the Risk 
Framework Owner for Model Risk under the Group’s Enterprise 
Risk Management Framework. Responsibility for the oversight 
and implementation of the Model Risk Type Framework is 
delegated to the Global Head, Model Risk Management. 

The Model Risk Type Framework sets out clear accountability 
and roles for Model Risk management through the three lines 
of defence. First-line ownership of Model Risk resides with 
Model Sponsors, who are the business or function heads  
and assign a Model Owner for each model. Model Owners 
represent model users and are responsible for end-to-end 
model development, ensuring model performance through 
regular model monitoring and communicating model 
limitations, assumptions and risks. Model Owners also 
coordinate the submission of models for validation and 
approval and ensure appropriate model implementation  
and use. Second-line oversight is provided by Model Risk 
Management, which is comprised of Group Model Validation 
and Model Risk Policy and Governance. 

Group Model Validation independently review and grade 
models, in line with design objectives, business uses and 
compliance requirements, and highlight identified model risks. 
Model Risk Policy and Governance team provide oversight of 
Model Risk, performing regular Model Risk Assessment and 
risk profile reporting to senior management.

Mitigation
The Model Risk policy and standards define requirements for 
model development and validation activities, including 
regular model performance monitoring. Any model issues or 
deficiencies identified through the validation process are 
mitigated through the application of model overlays and/or  
a model redevelopment plan, which undergo robust review, 
challenge and approval. Operational controls govern all 
Model Risk-related processes, with regular risk assessments 
performed to assess appropriateness and effectiveness  
of those controls, in line with the Operational Risk Type 
Framework, with remediation plans implemented  
where necessary.

Governance committee oversight 
At the Board level, the Board Risk Committee exercises 
oversight of Model Risk within the Group. At the executive 
level, the Group Risk Committee has appointed the Model  
Risk Committee to ensure effective measurement and 
management of Model Risk. Sub-committees such as the 
Credit Model Assessment Committee and Traded Risk Model 
Assessment Committee oversee their respective in-scope 
models and escalate material model risks to the Model Risk 
Committee. In parallel, business and function-level risk 
committees provide governance oversight of the models  
used in their respective processes. 

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Reputational and Sustainability Risk 

The Group defines Reputational and Sustainability  
Risk as the potential for damage to the franchise,  
(such as loss of trust, earnings or market capitalisation) 
because of stakeholders taking a negative view of  
the Group through actual or perceived actions or 
inactions – including a failure to uphold responsible 
business conduct or lapses in our commitment to  
do no significant environmental and social harm 
through our client and third-party relationships or  
our own operations.

Risk Appetite Statement
The Group aims to protect the franchise from 
material damage to its reputation by ensuring  
that any business activity is satisfactorily assessed 
and managed by the appropriate level of 
management and governance oversight

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Over the past 20 years, sustainability has grown in importance 
from a corporate social responsibility to become embedded 
within the Group’s business model and as such, the 
sustainability-related risks of environmental, social and 
governance (ESG) have been elevated within the Group’s 
Reputational and Sustainability Risk Type Framework. We 
recognise that there are many facets to Sustainability Risk; 
however, the primary focus of the Group’s approach will be on 
environmental and social risk management to ensure that we 
uphold the principles of Responsible Business Conduct and 
continue to do the right thing for our stakeholders, the 
environment and affected communities. 

Roles and responsibilities
The Global Head, Enterprise Risk Management is the Risk 
Framework Owner for Reputational and Sustainability Risk 
under the Group’s Enterprise Risk Management Framework. 

The responsibility for Reputational and Sustainability Risk 
management is delegated to Reputational Risk Leads in ERM 
as well as Chief Risk Officers at region, country and client-
business levels. They constitute the second line of defence, 
overseeing and challenging the first line of defence, which 
resides with the Chief Executive Officers, Business Heads, 
Product Heads and Function Heads in respect of risk 
management activities of reputational and sustainability-
related risks respectively. The Environmental and Social  
Risk Management team (ESRM), which is in the first line  
of defence, also provides dedicated support on the 
management of environmental and social risks and impacts 
arising from the Group’s client relationships and transactions. 

Mitigation
In line with the principles of Responsible Business Conduct and 
Do No Significant Harm, the Group deems Reputational and 
Sustainability Risk to be driven by: 

•  Negative shifts in stakeholder perceptions due to decisions 
related to clients, products, transactions, third parties and 
strategic coverage

•  Potential material harm or degradation to the natural 

environment (environmental) through actions/inactions  
of the Group

•  Potential material harm to individuals or communities 
(social) risks through actions/inactions of the Group

The Group’s Reputational Risk policy sets out the principal 
sources of Reputational Risk driven by negative shifts in 
stakeholder perceptions as well as responsibilities, control and 
oversight standards for identifying, assessing, escalating and 
effectively managing Reputational Risk. The Group takes a 
structured approach to the assessment of risks associated 
with how individual client, transaction, product and  
strategic coverage decisions may affect perceptions of the 
organisation and its activities, based on explicit principles 
including, but not limited to gambling, defence and dual  
use goods. Whenever potential for stakeholder concerns  
is identified, issues are subject to prior approval by a 
management authority commensurate with the materiality  
of matters being considered. Such authorities may accept  
or decline the risk or impose conditions upon proposals,  
to protect the Group’s reputation. 

The Group’s Sustainability Risk policy sets out the requirements 
and responsibilities for managing environmental and social 
risks for the Group’s operations, clients and third parties, as 
guided by various industry standards such as the OECD’s  
Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct, 
Equator Principles, UN Sustainable Development Goals and 
the Paris Agreement. 

Through our operations, the Group seeks to minimise its 
impact on the environment and have targets to reduce 
energy, water and waste. Clients are expected to adhere to 
minimum regulatory and compliance requirements, including 
criteria from the Group’s Position Statements. Suppliers must 
comply with the Group’s Supplier Charter which sets out the 
Group’s expectations on ethics, anti-bribery and corruption, 
human rights, environmental, health and safety standards, 
labour and protection of the environment. 

Governance committee oversight
The Brand, Values and Conduct Committee retains Board-
level oversight responsibility for Reputational Risk. Oversight 
from an operational perspective falls under the remit of the 
Group Risk Committee (GRC) and the Board Risk Committee. 
The Group Responsibility and Reputational Risk Committee 
(GRRRC), appointed by the GRC ensures the effective 
management of Reputational and Sustainability Risk across 
the Group.

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Monitoring
Reputational and Sustainability Risk policies and standards 
are applicable to all Group entities. However, local regulators 
in some markets may impose additional requirements on how 
banks manage and track Reputational and Sustainability Risk. 
In such cases, these are complied with in addition to Group 
policies and standards. 

Exposure to stakeholder perception risks arising from 
transactions, clients, products and strategic coverage are 
monitored through established triggers outlined in risk 
materiality matrices to prompt the right levels of risk-based 
consideration by the first line and escalations to the second 
line where necessary. Risk acceptance decisions and thematic 
trends are also being reviewed on a periodic basis. 

Exposure to Sustainability Risk is monitored through triggers 
embedded within the first-line processes where environmental 
and social risks are considered for clients and transactions  
via the Environmental and Social Risk Assessments; and 
considered for vendors in our supply chain through the 
Modern Slavery questionnaires. 

Stress testing
Reputational Risk outcomes are taken into account in 
enterprise stress tests, and incorporated into the Group’s  
stress testing scenarios. For example, the Group might 
consider what impact a hypothetical event leading to loss of 
confidence among liquidity providers in a particular market 
might have, or what the implications might be for supporting 
part of the organisation in order to protect the brand.

Risk review Risk management approach

The GRRRC’s remit is to:

•  Challenge, constrain and, if required, stop business activities 
where risks are not aligned with the Group’s Risk Appetite

•  Make decisions on Reputational Risk matters assessed as 

high or very high based on the Group’s primary Reputational 
Risk materiality assessment matrix, and matters escalated 
from the regions or client businesses

•  Provide oversight of material Reputational Risk and/or 

thematic issues arising from the potential failure of other 
risk types

•  Oversee Sustainability Risk management of the Group

The Sustainable Finance Governance Committee, appointed 
by the GRRRC provides leadership, governance and oversight 
for delivering the Group’s sustainable finance offering. This 
includes: 

•  The endorsement of the Group’s Green and Sustainable 

Product Framework and control framework for the review 
and approval of products and transactions which carry the 
sustainable finance label

•  Decision-making authority on the eligibility of a sustainable 

asset for any risk-weighted assets (RWA) relief

The Group Non-Financial Risk Committee has oversight of  
the control environment and effective management of 
Reputational Risk incurred when there are negative shifts in 
stakeholder perceptions of the Group due to failure of other 
PRTs. The regional and client-business risk committees provide 
oversight on the Reputational and Sustainability Risk profile 
within their remit. The Country Non-Financial Risk Committee 
(CNFRC) provides oversight of the Reputational and 
Sustainability Risk profile at a country level. 

Decision-making authorities and delegation
The Reputational and Sustainability RTF is the formal 
mechanism through which the delegation of Reputational 
and Sustainability Risk authorities is made. The Global Head, 
Enterprise Risk Management delegates risk acceptance 
authorities for stakeholder perception risks to designated 
individuals in the first line and second line or to Committees 
such as the GRRRC via risk authority matrices. 

These risk authority matrices are tiered at country, regional, 
business segment or Group levels and are established for  
risks incurred in strategic coverage, clients, products or 
transactions. For environmental and social Risks, the ESRM 
must review and support the risk assessments for clients and 
transactions and escalate to the Reputational Risk leads as 
required. Risk authorities will be enhanced through 2021 as 
Sustainability Risk is embedded throughout the Group. 

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Climate Risk – Material cross-cutting risk

The Group currently recognises Climate Risk as a 
material cross-cutting risk. Climate Risk is defined as 
the potential for financial loss and non-financial 
detriments arising from climate change and society’s 
response to it.

Risk Appetite Statement
The Group aims to measure and manage financial 
and non-financial risks from climate change, and 
reduce emissions related to our own activities  
and those related to the financing of clients in 
alignment with the Paris Agreement

Climate Risk has been recognised as an emerging risk since 
2017 and was elevated to a material cross-cutting risk in 2019. 
We are in the process of integrating Climate Risk into 
mainstream risk management in alignment with the Bank of 
England’s Supervisory Statement 3/19 requirements. We have 
a Climate Risk workplan with defined milestones for 2021  
and are making good progress. However, it is still a relatively 
nascent risk area which will mature and stabilise over the 
years to come. 

Roles and responsibilities
The three lines of defence model as per the Enterprise Risk 
Management Framework applies to Climate Risk. The Group 
Chief Risk Officer (GCRO) has the ultimate second line and 
senior management responsibility for Climate Risk. The GCRO 
is supported by the Global Head, Enterprise Risk Management 
who has day-to-day oversight and central responsibility  
for second-line Climate Risk activities. As Climate Risk is 
integrated into the relevant Principal Risk Types (PRTs), 
second-line responsibilities between the Risk Framework 
Owner (at Group, regional and country level) and the central 
Climate Risk team will be shared. 

Mitigation
As a material cross-cutting risk manifests through other PRTs, 
risk mitigation activities are specific to individual PRTs. 
Centrally, a cross-cutting standard is being put in place to 
capture practices across various PRTs. Within each individual 
PRT, relevant framework, policy and standards are being 
updated as per the Climate Risk workplan. As an example, for 
Operational Risk in our own operations, the checklist for new 
property acquisition has been updated to include a physical 
risk rating. 

Governance committee oversight 
Board-level oversight is exercised through the Board Risk 
Committee (BRC), and regular  Climate Risk updates are 
provided to the Board and BRC. At the executive level, the 
Group Risk Committee oversees implementation of the 
Climate Risk workplan. The GCRO has also appointed a 
Climate Risk Management Forum consisting of senior 
representatives from the business, risk, strategy and other 
functions such as sustainability and legal. The Climate Risk 
Management Forum meets quarterly to discuss development 
and implementation of the Climate Risk workplan, and to 
provide structured governance around engagement with  
the relevant PRTs impacted by Climate Risk. 

Tools and methodologies 
Applying existing risk management tools to quantify Climate 
Risk is challenging given inherent data and methodology 
challenges, including the need to be forward-looking over 
long time horizons. To leverage expertise from various areas, 
we have invested in a number of tools and partnerships:

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1.  Munich Re – we are using Munich Re’s physical risk 

assessment tool, which is built on extensive re-insurance 
experience

2. Baringa Partners – we are using Baringa’s flagship climate 

models to understand climate scenarios, compute transition 
risk and temperature alignment 

3. Standard and Poor – we are leveraging S&P and Trucost’s 
wealth of climate data covering asset locations, energy 
mixes and emissions

4. Imperial College – we are leveraging Imperial’s academic 

expertise to advance our understanding of climate science, 
upskill our staff and senior management, and progress the 
state of independent research on climate risks with an 
acute focus on emerging markets

Decision-making authorities and delegation
The Global Head, Enterprise Risk Management is supported 
by a centralised Climate Risk team within the ERM function. 
The Global Head, Risk Governance and Enterprise Risks and 
the Head of Climate Risk are responsible for ensuring and 
executing the delivery of the Climate Risk workplan which will 
define decision-making authorities and delegations across 
the Group.

Monitoring
The Climate Risk Appetite Statement is approved and 
reviewed annually by the Board. In 2020, we began initial 
management reporting on prioritised Climate Risk metrics 
and this will be further strengthened over 2021 with the 
development of risk categories and an authority matrix. 
Strategic Risk Appetite reporting will begin in 2022. 

Stress testing
Climate Risk intensifies over time, and future global 
temperature rises depend on today’s transition pathway. 
Considering different transition scenarios is crucial to 
assessing Climate Risk over the next 10, 20 and 50 years.  
Stress testing and scenario analysis are used to assess capital 
requirements for Climate Risk and in 2020 physical and 
transition risks were included in the Group Internal Capital 
Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP). In 2021, we will 
undertake a number of Climate Risk stress tests, including by 
the Bank of England and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. 
This will help us develop our understanding and management 
of Climate Risk.

Details on the Group’s Taskforce on Climate-related Financial 
Disclosures can be found on sc.com/tcfd

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Risk review Risk management approach

Emerging risks 

In addition to our Principal Risk Types that we 
manage through Risk Type Frameworks, policies 
and Risk Appetite, we also maintain an inventory 
of emerging risks. Emerging risks refer to 
unpredictable and uncontrollable events which 
may have the potential to materially impact  
our business. These include near-term risks that 
are on the horizon and can be measured or 
mitigated to some extent, as well as longer-term 
uncertainties that are on the radar but not yet 
fully measurable.

In 2020, we undertook a thorough review of our emerging  
risks, using the approach described in the Enterprise Risk 
Management Framework (ERMF) section (pages 248 to 253). 
The key results of the review are detailed below.

Key changes to our emerging risks:
The following items have been removed as emerging risks:

•  ‘Hong Kong Social Unrest’ – This has been incorporated  

into ‘US-China trade tensions driven by geopolitics  
and trade imbalance’

•  ‘China slowdown and impact on regional economies with 
close ties to China’ - This has been removed as China is on 
target to be the first large market to rebound from the 
COVID-19 slowdown and is on track for recovery

•  ‘Climate related transition and physical risks’ – This has been 

removed as it is now formally classified in the ERMF as a 
material cross-cutting risk. The emerging risks section of the 
Half Year report 2020 stated that, in addition to principal 
risks, the Group also recognises Climate Risk as a cross-
cutting risk that manifests through other principal risks

•  ‘Negotiating the future EU-UK relationship’ – This has been 

removed as it has been resolved with the signing of an 
agreement. The outcome and impact of the future 
relationship will need to be monitored and assessed

•  ‘Regulatory changes and regulatory reviews and 

investigations, legal proceedings’ – These have been 
removed as they are considered intrinsic risks for being in 
the financial services industry. Any Group-specific risks 
would be disclosed as appropriate

•  ‘Japan Korea diplomatic dispute’ – This has been removed 

due to the manageable immediate impact to the  
Group’s portfolio

The following items have been amended or added as new 
emerging risks:

•  ‘Rise of populism and nationalism driven by unemployment 

and a shift in global supply chains’ – Populism is on the  
rise globally. Policies such as income redistribution, public 
spending increases, a rise in trade barriers and tariffs, tax 
cuts, restrictions on immigration, and pro-nationalist or 
anti-global rhetoric pose a risk to long-term economic 
progression

•  ‘Social unrest driven by economic downturns, water crises, 

medical provision and food security’ – 2019 and 2020 saw a 
surge in protests globally and the risk is these will increase 
with greater severity and frequency as economic growth  
is challenging, while health systems and food shortages  
are becoming more significant factors. Energy, food 
transportation and nature all depend on a limited reserve 
of clean, flowing water, the availability of which is becoming 
an increasing concern

•  ‘Rising sovereign default risk and private sector creditor 

participation in the Common Framework Agreement (CFA), 
– The combination of economic downturns, capital flight, 
commodity price collapses, political instability resulting 
from the social consequences of COVID-19, and increased 
debt obligations for extending financial support may make 
it difficult for some countries to refinance their debts. The 
CFA for the world’s poorest nations could impact market 
access and medium-term lending to some sovereigns. 

•  ‘Unintended consequences of accommodative monetary 

policy and the risk of asset bubbles and inflation’ – 
Developed market central banks have seen record balance 
sheet expansion in response to the economic downturn  
and there is a risk this may result in asset bubbles and/or 
inflation in the longer term. Refinance risk may become an 
increasing concern

•  ‘Third party dependency’ – The global pandemic, it’s 
economic fallout and increased cyber threats have 
impacted companies globally, resulting in significant 
pressure on the financial health and security of suppliers, 
vendors and other third parties that the Group relies upon.

•  ‘Increase in long-term remote working providing new 

challenges’ – This risk has increased as malicious actors are 
increasing their capability and maturity by adapting to 
varying trends and new technologies to personalise attacks 
on organisations e.g. ransomware. This risk is exacerbated 
by remote working with reduced monitoring capabilities

Our list of emerging risks, based on our current knowledge and 
assumptions, is set out below, with our subjective assessment 
of their impact, likelihood and velocity of change. This reflects 
the latest internal assessment of material risks that the Group 
faces as identified by senior management. This list is not 
designed to be exhaustive and there may be additional  
risks which could materialise or have an adverse effect on  
the Group. 

Our mitigation approach for these risks may not be successful 
in completely eliminating them, but rather shows the Group’s 
attempt to reduce or manage the risk. As certain risks develop 
and materialise over time, management will take appropriate 
incremental steps based on the materiality of the impact of 
the risk to the operations of the Group. 

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Geopolitical considerations (Risk ranked according to severity)

Emerging Risk

US-China trade 
tensions driven 
by geopolitics 
and trade 
imbalance

Potential impact:  
High

Likelihood:  
High

Velocity of change: 
Fast

Middle East 
geopolitical 
tensions

Potential impact:  
High

Likelihood:  
Medium

Velocity of change: 
Moderate

Risk trend 
since 2019 Context

How these are mitigated/next steps

•  Since the beginning of 2020, US-China tensions have 

•  A sharp slowdown in US-China and, 

evolved into broad-based differences between China, 
US and its allies as well as some other Asian countries. 
Areas of tensions include:

–  Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, 
Australia and the US rejection of China’s maritime 
claims in the South China Sea. Taiwan’s status 
continues to remain a point of contention. Increasingly 
frequent military exercises in the disputed waters 
have resulted in escalating tensions

–  China’s military border clash with India resulted in the 
rise of nationalism in India. The Government of India 
has banned Chinese apps in India including TikTok 
and WeChat

–  After the implementation of the National Security 
Law in Hong Kong, the US revoked Hong Kong’s 
Special Status in US laws and imposed sanctions on 
individual officials. The UK and Australia relaxed 
immigration rules for Hong Kong residents while the 
US and Canada started granting refugee status to 
eligible Hong Kong residents

–  The US is increasing restrictions on Chinese 

technology companies with various US sanctions lists 
and Executive Orders restricting US entities’ dealing 
with specific Chinese entities. China’s retaliatory 
measure of its own “unreliable entity list” raises 
uncertainty for foreign businesses

more broadly, world trade and global 
growth is a feature of the Group stress 
scenarios. These stress tests provide 
visibility to key vulnerabilities so that 
management can implement timely 
interventions

•  Detailed portfolio reviews are 

conducted on an ongoing basis and 
action is taken where necessary

•  We monitor and assess geopolitical 
events and act as appropriate to 
ensure that we minimise the  
impact to the Group and our clients. 
Scenario planning is conducted 
regularly to assess the possible  
impact of developments and  
enable management to prepare 
contingency plans where appropriate

•  There is continuous monitoring at a 
country, regional and Group level to 
identify emerging risks and evaluate 
their management

• 

Increased scrutiny is applied when 
onboarding clients in sensitive 
industries and in ensuring compliance 
with sanctions requirements

•  China is a key network income generator for the Group. 
Opportunities from China’s opening-up remain pivotal 
to the Group strategy

•  The emergence of COVID-19 in 2020 may have 

contributed to reduced security incidents in the Middle 
East relative to 2019 as governments focused on 
safeguarding their populations and mitigating the 
impact of COVID-19 on their economies

•  Nevertheless, the underlying destabilising factors 
remain. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) 
region faces multiple challenges including :

•  The Group monitors developments at 
regional and country level to detect 
adverse horizon risks

•  The direct impact on our MENA 

portfolio to date has been limited but 
the unstable backdrop and uncertain 
outlook inevitably impact confidence 
and economic prospects for the region

–  Young populations with high unemployment and 

•  The Group’s Risk Appetite and 

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Underwriting Standards across  
the region have been amended 
considering the economic downturn

widespread religious and sectarian tension

–  Low oil prices. The collapse of oil prices in March 2020 
hit the MENA region hard with a significant negative 
impact to fiscal and current account balances. The 
various currency pegs to the US dollar do not appear 
under threat as yet but this risk could rise if low oil 
prices persist and the economic downturn becomes 
protracted

•  The US remains an important factor in MENA as 

evidenced by the recently announced normalisation of 
relations between Israel, UAE and Bahrain. US foreign 
policy changes following the November 2020 elections 
could impact the balance of power in the region. 
Potentially, the US’s approach to issues such as the Joint 
Comprehensive Plan of Action in relation to Iran could 
change significantly. In addition, the growing economic 
linkages between MENA and China could impact the 
nature of the US support to the region in light of the 
current trade disputes between the US and China

•  Fundamental tensions remain between Iran and Saudi 
Arabia/UAE with little prospect for short to medium-
term resolution

•  The tensions related to the boycott of Qatar by the Arab 
quartet (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt) have 
dissipated to some extent but are still to be completely 
resolved and represent an ongoing hindrance to the 
unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Group has a 
material presence across the region

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Risk review Risk management approach

Emerging Risk

Rise of populism 
and nationalism 
driven by 
unemployment 
and a shift in 
global supply 
chains

Potential impact:  
Low

Likelihood:  
Low

Velocity of change: 
Steady

Risk trend 
since 2019 Context

How these are mitigated/next steps

•  The rising gap between winners and losers of 

globalisation is the main driver for the rise of populism 
and nationalism, especially apparent in the aftermath 
of the global financial crisis

•  We monitor and assess geopolitical 
events and act as appropriate to 
ensure that we minimise the impact  
to the Group and our clients

•  COVID-19 provides an opportunity for populist leaders  

•  There is continuous monitoring of 

emerging risks at a country, regional 
and Group level

to utilise extended state powers in ways that may 
undermine the rule of law and democracy and result  
in more autocratic behaviour

•  Populist and nationalist parties have created conflict 

and instability, leading to increases in ethnic, ideological, 
religious and increasingly military conflict

•  There is no clear trend that would suggest a rise of 

populism and nationalism on a global scale, but instead 
pockets in certain countries and regions. For example, 
Jair Bolsonaro has been in office since January 2019 and 
Benjamin Netanyahu was re-elected in Israel in 2019.  
In defeat, Donald Trump received the second-highest 
number of votes in US history during the November 2020 
presidential elections

•  The approach taken by the new administration in the  
US to addressing unemployment and socio-economic 
challenges will be a significant factor

Macroeconomic considerations (Risk ranked according to severity)

Emerging Risk
The COVID-19 
outbreak and 
the emergence 
of new diseases

Potential impact:  
High

Likelihood:  
High

Velocity of change:  
Moderate

Risk trend 
since 2019 Context

How these are mitigated/next steps

•  Governments around the world have taken financial 

•  The Group’s priority remains the  

measures to offset the damaging economic impacts of 
the virus and physical measures to contain its spread, 
including $11 trillion in fiscal support and international 
and domestic travel restrictions. Nonetheless, the 
impact of the pandemic has been severe, leading to 
increased volatility in financial markets and commodity 
prices and major economic downturns in many 
countries. The financial market volatility and economic 
downturn is greater than that experienced in the global 
financial crisis

•  With multiple waves of COVID-19 undermining efforts  
to return to normal, business, consumer and investor 
confidence has been affected and most countries’  
gross domestic product is well below pre-pandemic 
levels. At the same time, the International Monetary 
Fund has estimated that global public debt will reach  
a record high of approximately 100 per cent of Gross 
Domestic Product before the end of 2020, as the global 
economy struggles to bounce back from the COVID-19 
crisis, leaving little scope for additional monetary  
policy stimulus

•  Although global output is expected to recover to 

pre-COVID-19 levels by the end of 2021, the previous 
growth path will not be achieved for many years and 
there is a risk of further disruption, economic downturn 
and financial market volatility in the interim

•  COVID-19 has resulted in more than a health crisis. It has 
become a human, economic and social crisis, which may 
result in increased uncertainty and new risks

•  There has been significant recent progress with regard 
to treatment and potential vaccinations for COVID-19.  
A number of pharmaceutical companies have 
announced the delivery of various vaccines candidates 
with more expected. The uneven vaccine rollout could 
cause recoveries in emerging markets to lag

•  Greater China, North Asia and South East Asian 

economies remain key strategic regions for the Group 
and Hong Kong remains the largest profit contributor

•  There is a risk other diseases may emerge

health and safety of our clients and 
employees and the continuation of 
normal operations by leveraging our 
robust Business Continuity Plans which 
include enabling the vast majority  
of our staff to work remotely where 
possible

•  To support our clients the Group has 
enacted comprehensive support 
schemes for retail and corporate 
customers, including loan and interest 
repayment holidays, covenant relief, 
fee waivers or cancellations, loan 
extensions and new facilities

•  The Group made $1 billion of financing 
available for companies to provide 
ventilators, face masks and other 
goods and services to help fight the 
pandemic. The Group also launched  
a $50 million global fund to provide 
assistance to aid those affected

•  As part of our stress tests, a severe 

stress in the global economy 
associated with a sharp slowdown  
was assessed in addition to the Internal 
Capital Adequacy Assessment Process 
stress tests

•  Exposures that could result in material 

credit impairment charges and 
risk-weighted assets inflation under 
stress tests are regularly reviewed and 
actively managed

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Emerging Risk

Risk trend 
since 2019 Context

Unintended 
consequences of 
accommodative 
monetary policy 
and the risk of 
asset bubbles 
and inflation

Potential impact:  
Medium 

Likelihood:  
High

Velocity of change: 
Steady

Rising sovereign 
default risk and 
private sector 
creditor 
participation in 
the Common 
Framework 
Agreement 
(CFA) 

Potential impact:  
High

Likelihood:  
Medium

Velocity of change:  
Moderate

How these are mitigated/next steps

•  There is regular and continuous 

portfolio monitoring at a country, 
regional and Group level to identify 
and assess emerging risks

•  Client exposures and risk-weighted 
assets identified as being at risk of 
impairment are monitored and 
reviewed on a regular basis and 
actively managed

• 

In response to the economic outcome of the COVID-19 
outbreak, central banks have significantly expanded 
their balance sheets to record levels

•  There is a risk that long-term low or negative interest 

rates may drive searches for improved yield which could 
result in a rapid escalation in asset values not aligned to 
fundamentals

•  Another key concern is that accommodative policies 

may result in persistent inflation risks. In the short term, 
this risk is mitigated by weak demand and high 
unemployment. The current challenge and focus for 
most fiscal and monetary authorities are to restore 
demand

•  Beyond the near term, there are concerns about the 
permanent loss of spare capacity, especially in more 
developed markets. This could mean that potential 
output in many economies is lower, and competition is 
weaker. A small amount of recovery in demand would 
mean that inflation is a more material risk. It is not clear 
that central banks will have the tools to remove policy 
accommodation without causing other risks

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•  COVID-19 has exacerbated already deteriorating 

market conditions causing liquidity and potentially 
solvency issues for a number of the world’s poorest 
countries. This may make it difficult for some countries  
to service their debts in the coming 12 to 18 months, 
including increased debt that has been taken on to limit 
the economic damage from the global pandemic

•  There have been six sovereign defaults in 2020 including 

two countries in which the Group operates

•  Exposures that may result in material 
credit impairment and increased 
risk-weighted assets are closely 
monitored and actively managed

•  We conduct stress tests and portfolio 

reviews at a Group, country and 
business level to assess the impact of 
extreme but plausible events and 
manage the portfolio accordingly

•  The original Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) 

•  We actively utilise Credit Risk 

mitigation techniques including credit 
insurance and collateral

•  We actively track the participation of 
our footprint countries in the CFA and 
the associated exposure

called upon private sector creditors to participate and 
this has been re-emphasised in the CFA beyond the 
DSSI. The G20 agreed to allow 73 of the world’s poorest 
countries to postpone this year’s official bilateral debt 
repayments until June 2021 with subsequent payments 
spread over 6 years.  In 2020, 46 countries have applied 
for debt suspensions through the initiative, to delay 
about $5 billion of payments this year – less than half  
of the $11.5 billion available, according to the World 
Bank. The suspensions apply only to bilateral lending 
arrangements; none of the countries has requested 
comparable relief from bondholders out of concern  
that such a move would have an impact on their ability 
to access international capital markets in the future

•  Ghana has criticised western nations for neglecting the 
mounting crisis in Africa while finding trillions of dollars 
to stimulate their own economies and the UN is 
co-ordinating an appeal by African finance ministers  
for $100 billion a year for the next three years to support 
COVID-afflicted economies on the continent

•  Unless progress is made, many developing economies 

will struggle to service or refinance their existing debt in 
the coming 12 to 18 months

Risk heightened in 2020   

Risk reduced in 2020   

   Risk remained consistent with 2019 levels

Potential impact
Refers to the extent to which a risk event might  
affect the Group

Likelihood
Refers to the possibility that a given event will occur

Velocity of change
Refers to when the risk event might materialise

High (significant financial or non-financial risk)

High (almost certain)

Medium (some financial or non-financial risk)

Medium (likely or possible)

Fast (risk of sudden developments with limited time to 
respond)

Moderate (moderate pace of developments for which we 
expect there will be time to respond)

Low (marginal financial or non-financial risk)

Low (unlikely or rare)

Steady (gradual or orderly developments)

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Risk review Risk management approach

Environmental and social considerations

Emerging Risk
Social unrest 
driven by 
economic 
downturns, 
water crises, 
medical 
provision and 
food security

Potential impact:  
High

Likelihood:  
Medium

Velocity of change: 
Moderate

Risk trend 
since 2019 Context

•  2019 and 2020 saw a surge in protests globally and the 

risk is that these will increase in 2021, with greater 
severity and frequency, as economic performance, 
constrained health systems and food shortages become 
more significant factors

•  Societies and economies are deeply dependent on 

water. Energy, food, transportation and nature all rely  
on a limited supply of clean water. Climate change, 
unsustainable agricultural practices, poorly planned 
infrastructure and pollution all threaten the availability 
of this resource which is increasing the risk of social 
unrest as a result

•  Global food prices jumped in 2008 and again in 

2011–2012 leading to street and food riots in more than 
50 countries, contributing to the overthrow of 
governments in Haiti and Madagascar, for example, 
and igniting the Arab spring

•  Recurring COVID-19 outbreaks are disrupting economies, 
food systems and supply chains, including medical and 
goods supply globally. New normal measures have 
imposed a change in consumption habits

Legal considerations 

How these are mitigated/next steps

•  There is continuous monitoring at a 
country, regional and Group level to 
identify emerging and horizon risks  
and evaluate their management

•  Detailed reviews are conducted on an 
ongoing basis of exposures that may 
result in significant credit impairment

Emerging Risk
Interbank 
Offered Rate 
(IBOR) 
discontinuation 
and transition 

Potential impact:  
High

Likelihood:  
High

Velocity of change:  
Moderate

Risk trend 
since 2019 Context

How these are mitigated/next steps

• 

In 2017, the UK Financial Conduct Authority announced 
that it had reached an agreement with LIBOR panel 
banks to contribute to LIBOR until the end of 2021, after 
which there would be a transition from IBORs to risk free 
rates (RFRs)

•  The Group has a well-established 

global IBOR Transition Programme to 
consider all aspects of the transition 
and how risks from the transition can 
be mitigated

•  A significant amount of work has been 
undertaken in raising awareness and 
understanding of the transition, both 
internally and with clients, with around 
6,500 staff and over 1,900 clients 
trained globally 

•  From an industry and regulatory 
perspective, the Group is actively 
participating in and contributing to 
different RFR Working Groups, industry 
associations and business forums 
focusing on different aspects of the 
LIBOR (and other IBORs, as applicable) 
to RFR transition 

•  The Group monitors the developments 

at these IBOR-related forums and 
reflects and aligns significant industry 
decisions into the Group’s transition 
plans, as required

•  Transition from LIBOR to RFRs presents several risks:  

(i) there are fundamental differences between LIBOR 
and RFRs and value transfer may arise in transitioning 
contracts from one to the other; (ii) the market will 
transition at different paces in different regions and 
across different products, presenting various sources  
of basis risk and posing major challenges to hedging 
strategies; (iii) clients may not be treated fairly 
throughout the transition, or may not be aware of the 
options available to them and the implications of 
decisions taken, which may result in unfair financial 
detriment; (iv) Legal Risk in relation to the fall-back  
risks associated with the transition; (v) changes in 
processes, systems and vendor arrangements 
associated with the transition may not be within 
appropriate tolerance levels; and (vi) Accounting  
and Financial Reporting Risk in that the changes in 
underlying rates, such as on cashflows and valuations, 
may not be incorporated correctly 

•  The lack of liquidity in some of the RFR markets, 

particularly the Secured Overnight Financing Rate,  
may present challenges to the transition until resolved, 
as will the different transition timelines for the five  
LIBOR currencies

•  Complexity in managing the IBOR transition is also 

increasing as a result of growing interest from a number 
of local regulators, and the work required where there 
are local IBORs requiring transition as well

•  While the Group does not submit to LIBOR, LIBOR is 

heavily relied upon by the Group as a reference rate for 
many financial instruments

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Technological considerations (Risk ranked according to severity)

Emerging Risk
Third party 
dependency

Potential impact:  
High

Likelihood:  
High

Velocity of change:  
Moderate

New 
technologies 
and digitisation 
(including 
business 
disruption risk, 
responsible use 
of Artificial 
Intelligence)

Potential impact:  
High

Likelihood:  
High

Velocity of change:  
Fast

Risk trend 
since 2019 Context

•  COVID-19 has impacted businesses globally, and placed 

significant pressure on the financial health of our 
suppliers, vendors and other third parties. While current 
operational performance remains at expected levels 
with no significant impact, the Group needs to continue 
focusing on and monitoring critical suppliers, in 
particular as the risk of impact in the near term remains 
heightened 

•  This is particularly relevant from a cyber-security 

perspective where the effect of a cyber event can 
quickly multiply and extend to other intersecting areas 

•  There is increasing usage of partnerships and alliances 
by banks to respond to a rapidly changing banking 
landscape and disruption, particularly in new 
technologies, from existing players and new entrants. 
This is making partnerships and alliances an integral 
part of banks’ emerging business model and value 
proposition to the clients

• 

• 

• 

Innovation in the financial services industry is happening 
at a relentless pace, for example artificial intelligence 
(AI) and blockchain have continued to gather speed 
with a growing number of use cases that address 
evolving customer expectations. The Group must adapt 
its operating model or risk competitive disadvantage 

In Retail Banking, we continue to observe significant 
shifts in customer value propositions as markets deepen. 
Fintechs are delivering digital only banking offerings 
with differentiated user experience, value propositions 
and product pricing. There is growing usage of AI and 
machine learning (ML) to deliver highly personalised 
services such as virtual chatbots to provide digital 
financial advice and predictive analytics to cross-sell 
products 

In Corporate & Institutional Banking, we continue to 
observe an increasing focus on digitalisation to 
streamline processes and provide scalable and 
personalised solutions for corporate clients. There are 
growing use cases for blockchain technologies, e.g. 
streamline cross-border payments and automate key 
documentation. AI and ML are also increasingly used in 
predictive risk modelling

•  Rapid adoption of new technologies requires that we 
also determine how the Group’s security standards, 
capabilities and processes need to be applied and, 
 in some cases, how we need to adapt in light of new 
technology 

•  As these new technologies grow in sophistication and 
become further embedded across the banking and 
financial services industry, banks may become more 
susceptible to technology-related risks. For example,  
the growing usage of big data and cloud computing 
solutions has heightened cyber security risks in banks 

•  Regulators are increasing emphasis on the importance 

of resilient technology infrastructure in terms of 
elimination of cyber risk and improving reliability

•  Crypto-assets are diversifying rapidly, in line with the 
ongoing structural transformation in technology, 
preferences and usages amongst investors and 
consumers. They may increasingly pose a risk to 
monetary policy and the smooth functioning of  
market infrastructures and payments

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How these are mitigated/next steps

•  An assessment of Third Party Risk was 
undertaken in 4Q’20. We continue to 
enhance our overall Third-Party Risk 
management in response to a 
changing environment 

•  The 2021 Risk Appetite metrics for 

Vendor Service Risk focus on 
heightened monitoring of high-risk 
arrangements and contingency plans

•  Third Party Risk management policies, 
procedures and governance are being 
reviewed to ensure adequate coverage 
of all third-party types in addition to 
inclusion and consideration across all 
Group activities

•  The Group continues to undertake  
a rigorous approach in monitoring 
emerging trends and new 
developments, opportunities and  
risks in the technology space, which 
may have implications on the  
banking sector 

• 

In 2017, the Group set up the SC 
Ventures unit to spearhead Group-
wide digital advancement. The unit 
continues to promote innovation, invest 
in disruptive technologies and deliver 
client digital solutions. SC Ventures’ 
eXellerator innovation labs in China, 
Singapore, Hong Kong, London, San 
Francisco and Kenya are designed to 
drive innovation, invest in promising 
fintech and implement new business 
models in banking. Several ventures 
going live in 2021 are driving the Group 
into new services and technologies, 
including those associated with crypto 
currencies.

•  The Group is developing an AI 

modelling framework which includes 
the validation of AI models

•  The Group has an integrated strategy 
to leverage technology to manage 
cyber risk and combat cyber-enabled 
financial crime. Rapid adoption of new 
technologies requires that we also 
determine how the Group’s security 
standards, capabilities and processes 
need to be applied and, in some cases, 
how we need to adapt security aspects 

•  The Group continues to apply our 
existing governance and control 
frameworks for the deployment of new 
technology services. We maintain our 
vigilant watch on legal and regulatory 
trends in relation to the usage of new 
technologies and related data risks. 
We are also developing a crypto  
risk framework to better manage  
these risks.

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Risk review Risk management approach

Emerging Risk

Increased data 
privacy and 
security risks 
from strategic 
and wider use 
of data

Potential impact:  
High

Likelihood:  
High

Velocity of change:  
Moderate

Increase in 
long-term 
remote working 
providing new 
challenges 

Potential impact:  
High

Likelihood:  
High

Velocity of change:  
Moderate

Risk trend 
since 2019 Context

•  As digital technologies grow in sophistication and 

become further embedded across the banking and 
financial services industry, the potential impact profile 
with regards to data risk is changing. The growing use  
of big data for analysis purposes and cloud computing 
solutions are examples of this

• 

In addition, these risks represent an emerging and 
topical theme both from regulatory and compliance 
perspectives

•  With the outbreak of COVID-19 across the world, many 
governments have imposed a full or partial lockdown  
in countries where the Group operates. These actions 
have restricted the movement of staff and meant that  
a large percentage are required to work remotely for a 
prolonged period 

•  There is an increase in information and cyber security 

(ICS) and privacy risks given the increase in the number 
of staff in certain roles who have access to confidential 
customer and client information working outside the 
secure office or branch environment 

•  Traditional threat vectors (i.e. phishing and malware) 
combined with new threats due to digitisation and 
technology advancements at the endpoints (i.e. mobile 
devices and websites) adds another layer of potential 
cyber risk that could lead to disrupted services 

•  Malicious actors are increasing their capability and 
maturity by adapting to varying trends and new 
technologies to personalise attacks on organisations  
(i.e. ransomware)

•  There is increased risk that staff become detached. 

While some people have work-conducive environments 
at home, many do not. The impact of this takes many 
forms and may result in feelings of isolation, increased 
stress and challenges around work-life balance 

•  Without the supervision that being in an office allows, 

there is a risk that issues such as those relating to 
wellbeing, performance and misconduct go unseen. 
Staff skills and capabilities may also  be affected by 
extended remote working

How these are mitigated/next steps

•  The Group has existing governance 
and control frameworks for the 
deployment of new technologies, 
products and services

•  The Group is enhancing the existing risk 
framework around data management 
to streamline and strengthen our 
oversight of these risks across the  
data lifecycle

•  To manage the risks posed by rapidly 
evolving cyber security threats and 
technology adoption, the Group has 
designed and is implementing a 
programme focused on delivering  
an improved security framework 

•  The Group maintains a vigilant watch 
on legal and regulatory developments 
in relation to data privacy and security 
risks to identify any potential impact  
to the business and implement 
appropriate mechanisms to control 
these related risks

•  The Group recognises the importance 
of ensuring that its ICS focus does not 
shift as it manages the financial and 
operational challenges posed by 
COVID-19 

•  The Group has sought to raise ICS 
awareness among customers and 
clients through messages posted on 
websites, applications and through 
fraud alerts on the online banking 
landing pages. Internally, the Group 
has increased ICS awareness amongst 
staff to remind them to stay vigilant  
to the new types of, and increased 
frequency of, cyber threats

•  The Group employs a range of 

technical measures across its laptops, 
IT systems and network to minimise the 
risk of data leakage. The Group’s Cyber 
Defence Centre and Cyber Threat 
Intelligence teams have improved 
proactive security monitoring of 
COVID-19 themed phishing campaigns, 
malicious activities and threats

•  The Group has moved to large-scale 
adoption of technology to master a 
variety of critical aspects of the 
COVID-19 crisis and sustain productivity 
levels, such as implementing required 
infrastructure and security controls to 
enable work from home arrangements, 
use of collaboration tools (including 
Skype, BlueJeans, and MURAL), 
accelerated cloud-based service 
offerings and many others

•  The Group has also assessed the risk, 
impact and robustness of continuity 
plans for pandemic critical vendor 
services supporting critical banking 
operations 

•  The Group has prioritised supporting 

people in working virtually through the 
pandemic. This has included a learning 
pathway to help colleagues and 
people leaders continue developing 
skills and work virtually, providing 
information and resources, including 
toolkits and webinars covering working 
from home related topics such as 
safety and wellbeing and productivity

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Capital review

The Capital review provides an analysis of the Group’s capital and leverage position  
and requirements. 

Capital summary
The Group’s capital and leverage position is managed within the Board-approved risk appetite. The Group is well capitalised 
with low leverage and high levels of loss-absorbing capacity. 

CET1 capital

Tier 1 capital

Total capital

UK leverage

MREL

2020

14.4%

16.5%

21.2%

5.2%

30.9%

2019

13.8%

16.5%

21.2%

5.2%

28.6%

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Risk-weighted assets (RWA) $million

268,834

264,090

The Group’s CET1 capital and Tier 1 leverage position are well 
above current requirements. For further detail see the Capital 
section in the Standard Chartered PLC Pillar 3 Disclosures for 
FY 2020. 

The Group’s CET1 ratio increased 60 basis points to 14.4 per 
cent as profits, the sale of its interest in Permata, favourable 
regulatory changes and other movements more than offset 
higher RWA (mainly due to COVID-19 related credit migration) 
and the impact of the part completed share buy-back. 

In the period, the PRA set the Group’s current Pillar 2A 
requirement as a nominal value instead of a percentage of 
RWA. At the full year this equated to 3.2 per cent of RWA,  
of which at least 1.8 per cent must be held in CET1. This 
requirement will vary over time with movements in RWA and 
as Pillar 2A remains subject to regular PRA review. The Group’s 
countercyclical buffer reduced by 21 basis points to 14 basis 
points mainly due to reductions in countercyclical buffer rates 
in Hong Kong and the UK in response to the COVID-19 
pandemic. As a result of these changes to Pillar 2A and 
countercyclical buffer rates the Group’s minimum CET1 
requirement reduced by 28bps to 10.0 per cent. 

On 30 June, the PRA published a statement on various 
amendments to the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR) 
including revisions to certain IFRS 9 transitional arrangements 
and the treatment of software assets in CET1 with the 
intention of part offsetting COVID impacts on CET1 ratios 
(CRR Quick Fix). As at 31 December 2020 the CRR Quick Fix 
changes provided a CET1 benefit of around 29 basis points of 
which the change in treatment of software assets contributed 
22 basis points. However, the PRA is consulting on maintaining 
the earlier position whereby all software assets are fully 
deducted from CET1. 

The Group’s fully phased minimum requirement for own funds 
and eligible liabilities (MREL) will be 22.5 per cent of RWA from 
1 January 2022 based on RWA and leverage exposure at 
FY’201. The Group’s combined buffer (comprising the capital 
conservation buffer, the GSII buffer and the countercyclical 
buffer) is additive to the minimum MREL, resulting in a total 
MREL of 26.1 per cent of FY’20 RWA from 1 January 2022.  
The Group’s MREL position was 30.9 per cent of RWA and  
9.9 per cent of leverage exposure at 31 December 2020. 

Despite challenging market conditions, the Group successfully 
raised around $10.1 billion of MREL eligible debt from its 
holding company in the period. Issuance was across the 
capital structure including $1.0 billion of Additional Tier 1,  
$2.4 billion of Tier 2 and around $6.8 billion of callable  
senior debt.

In response to a request from the PRA and as a consequence 
of the unprecedented challenges from the COVID-19 
pandemic, the Board decided to cancel the 2019 final dividend 
of 20 cents per ordinary share and to suspend the $0.5 billion 
share buy-back programme announced in February 2020. 
Additionally, no interim dividend on ordinary shares was 
accrued, recommended or paid in 2020. Following recent PRA 
guidance, the Board has recommended a final dividend for 
2020 of $284 million or 9 cents a share and, in addition, has 
decided to carry out a share buy-back for up to a maximum 
consideration of $254 million. The impact of this buy-back will 
be reflected in the Group’s CET1 position in the first quarter  
of 2021.

The Group is a G-SII, with a 1.0 per cent G-SII CET1 buffer.  
The Standard Chartered PLC G-SII disclosure is published at: 
sc.com/fullyearresults 

1   Potential future offset to Pillar 2A requirements from changes to the 

countercyclical buffer in PS 15/20 are not considered here. MREL end state 
requirements are based on FY’20 RWA, leverage exposure and Pillar 2A 
requirements.

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Capital review

Capital ratios 

CET1

Tier 1 capital

Total capital

CRD Capital base1 (audited)

CET1 instruments and reserves

Capital instruments and the related share premium accounts

Of which: share premium accounts
Retained earnings2

Accumulated other comprehensive income (and other reserves)

Non-controlling interests (amount allowed in consolidated CET1)

Independently reviewed interim and year-end profits

Foreseeable dividends 

CET1 capital before regulatory adjustments

CET1 regulatory adjustments

Additional value adjustments (prudential valuation adjustments)
Intangible assets (net of related tax liability)3

Deferred tax assets that rely on future profitability (excludes those arising from temporary differences)

Fair value reserves related to net losses on cash flow hedges

Deduction of amounts resulting from the calculation of excess expected loss

Net gains on liabilities at fair value resulting from changes in own credit risk

Defined-benefit pension fund assets

Fair value gains arising from the institution’s own credit risk related to derivative liabilities

Exposure amounts which could qualify for risk weighting of 1250%

Total regulatory adjustments to CET1

CET1 capital

Additional Tier 1 capital (AT1) instruments

AT1 regulatory adjustments

Tier 1 capital

Tier 2 capital instruments

Tier 2 regulatory adjustments

Tier 2 capital

Total capital

2020

14.4%

16.5%

21.2%

2019

13.8%

16.5%

21.2%

2020 
$million

2019  
$million

5,564

3,989

25,723

12,688

180

718

(481)

44,392

(490)

(4,274)

(138)

52

(701)

52

(40)

(48)

(26)

(5,613)

38,779

5,632

(20)

44,391

12,687

(30)

12,657

57,048

5,584

3,989

24,044

11,685

723

2,301

(871)

43,466

(615)

(5,318)

(129)

59

(822)

(2)

(26)

(38)

(62)

(6,953)

36,513

7,184

(20)

43,677

12,318

(30)

12,288

55,965

Total risk-weighted assets (unaudited)

268,834

264,090

1   CRD capital is prepared on the regulatory scope of consolidation

2   Retained earnings includes IFRS9 capital relief (transitional) of $394 million, including dynamic relief of $97 million

3   Deduction for intangible assets includes software deduction relief of $677 million as the CRR ‘Quick Fix’ measures

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Movement in total capital (audited)

CET1 at 1 January

Ordinary shares issued in the period and share premium

Share buy-back

Profit for the period

Foreseeable dividends deducted from CET1

Difference between dividends paid and foreseeable dividends

Movement in goodwill and other intangible assets

Foreign currency translation differences

Non-controlling interests

Movement in eligible other comprehensive income

Deferred tax assets that rely on future profitability

Decrease/(increase) in excess expected loss

Additional value adjustments (prudential valuation adjustment)

IFRS 9 transitional impact on regulatory reserves including day one

Exposure amounts which could qualify for risk weighting

Fair value gains arising from the institution’s own Credit Risk related to derivative liabilities

Other

CET1 at 31 December

AT1 at 1 January

Net issuances (redemptions)

Foreign currency translation difference

Excess on AT1 grandfathered limit (ineligible)

AT1 at 31 December

Tier 2 capital at 1 January

Regulatory amortisation

Net issuances (redemptions)

Foreign currency translation difference

Tier 2 ineligible minority interest

Recognition of ineligible AT1

Other

Tier 2 capital at 31 December

Total capital at 31 December

2020 
$million

36,513

–

(242)

718

(481)

476

1,044

700

(543)

324

(9)

121

125

35

36

(10)

(28)

2019 
$million

36,717

25

(1,006)

2,301

(871)

(641)

(172)

(180)

37

284

(14)

53

(51)

(43)

61

–

13

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38,779

36,513

7,164

(995)

8

(565)

5,612

12,288

(463)

(69)

257

82

565

(3)

12,657

57,048

6,684

552

9

(81)

7,164

12,295

(1,111)

1,000

(12)

31

81

4

12,288

55,965

The main movements in capital in the period were:

•  CET1 increased by $2.3 billion as retained profits of $0.7 billion, a $0.7 billion lower deduction for software resulting from 

adoption of CRR II Quick fix measures, favourable foreign currency translation impacts of $0.7 billion and other comprehensive 
income movements of $0.3 billion were only part offset by the part completed share buy-back of $0.2 billion and the  
$0.5 billion decrease in non-controlling interests mainly due to the sale of Permata. 

•  AT1 decreased to $5.6 billion as the call of $2 billion of existing 6.5 per cent AT1 securities and the ongoing de-recognition of 
legacy Tier 1 was partly offset by the issuance of $1 billion of new 6.0 per cent AT1 securities, increasing the efficiency of the 
Group’s AT1 stock.

•  Tier 2 capital increased by $0.4 billion as issuances of $2.4 billion of new Tier 2 instruments and the recognition of ineligible AT1 

were partly offset by regulatory amortisation and the redemption of $2.7 billion of Tier 2 during the year. 

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Capital review

Risk-weighted assets by business

Corporate & Institutional Banking

Retail Banking

Commercial Banking

Private Banking 

Central & other items

Total risk-weighted assets

Corporate & Institutional Banking

Retail Banking

Commercial Banking

Private Banking 

Central & other items

Total risk-weighted assets

Risk-weighted assets by geographic region 

Greater China & North Asia

ASEAN & South Asia

Africa & Middle East

Europe & Americas

Central & other items

Total risk-weighted assets

2020

Credit risk 
$million

Operational risk 
$million

102,004

39,595

25,659

5,160

48,023

13,153

7,575

2,810

763

2,499

220,441

26,800

2019

Credit risk 
$million

Operational risk 
$million

95,261

37,194

28,350

5,681

49,178

215,664

13,261

7,314

2,626

728

3,691

27,620

Market risk 
$million

21,465

–

–

–

128

21,593

Market risk 
$million

20,562

–

–

–

244

20,806

2020 
$million

92,860

81,423

51,149

45,758

(2,356)

Total risk 
$million

136,622

47,170

28,469

5,923

50,650

268,834

Total risk 
$million

129,084

44,508

30,976

6,409

53,113

264,090

2019 
$million

85,695

88,942

49,244

43,945

(3,736)

268,834

264,090

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Movement in risk-weighted assets 

Credit risk

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

Retail 
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private 
Banking  
$million

Central & 
other items  
$million

Total 
$million

Operational 
risk 
$million

Market risk 
$million

Total risk 
$million

At 1 January 2019

Assets growth mix

Asset quality

Risk-weighted assets 
efficiencies

Model, methodology and 
policy changes

Disposals

Foreign currency translation

Other non-credit risk 
movements

At 31 December 2019

At 1 January 2020¹

Assets growth mix

Asset quality

Risk-weighted assets 
efficiencies

Model, methodology and 
policy changes

Disposals

Foreign currency translation

Other non-credit risk 
movements

96,954

35,545

1,303

2,565

1,020

832

27,711

(557)

(642)

(1,112)

(33)

(403)

(904)

(397)

(182)

–

98,227

95,261

(6,684)

11,685

(7)

–

(219)

–

37,138

37,194

1,122

325

(150)

–

586

–

1,306

–

134

–

820

–

–

(441)

(228)

–

25,440

28,350

(3,059)

505

79

(339)

–

123

–

5,103

528

8

–

–

–

42

–

5,681

5,681

(602)

(2)

–

–

–

83

–

211,138

28,050

19,109

258,297

45,825

4,093

607

6,387

3,370

(2,404)

(3,952)

1,400

–

(343)

489

(838)

(930)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

500

–

–

6,387

3,370

(3,952)

989

(838)

(930)

–

–

(430)

1,197

767

49,178

215,664

49,178

215,664

27,620

27,620

20,806

264,090

20,806

264,090

3,711

2,409

(5,512)

14,922

–

(71)

661

1,042

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(5,512)

14,922

(71)

(1,500)

(458)

(7,859)

(7,859)

(1,003)

(159)

(9,021)

(77)

2,255

–

–

2,255

–

–

183

2,446

2,629

At 31 December 2020

102,004

39,595

25,659

5,160

48,023

220,441

26,800

21,593

268,834

1   Following a reorganisation of certain clients, there has been a reclassification of balances across client segments. 1 January 2020 balances have been restated

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Capital review

Movements in risk-weighted assets
RWA increased by $4.7 billion, or 1.8 per cent from 31 December 
2019 to $268.8 billion. This was mainly due to increases in 
Credit Risk RWA of $4.8 billion, Market Risk RWA $0.8 billion, 
partly offset by a decrease of $0.8 billion in Operational  
Risk RWA.

Private Banking
Credit risk RWA decreased by $0.5 billion to $5.2 billion 
principally due to asset balance decline in Wealth 
Management and Retail products primarily in ASEAN &  
South Asia. 

Corporate & Institutional Banking
Credit risk RWA increased by $6.7 billion to $102.0 billion 
mainly due to:

•  $11.7 billion increase due to deterioration in asset quality 
from client downgrades across all regions and several 
industries following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

•  $1.3 billion increase from foreign currency translation mainly 
due to appreciation of currencies in China, Europe, and the 
UK against the US dollar

•  $0.6 billion increase due to model, methodology and policy 
changes mainly from Revised Securitisation Framework

Central & other items
Central and other items RWA mainly relate to the Treasury 
Markets liquidity portfolio, equity investments and deferred/
current tax assets.

Credit risk RWA decreased by $1.2 billion to $48.0 billion mainly 
due to: 

•  $7.9 billion decrease principally due to the sale of the Group’s 

principal joint venture investment, PT Bank Permata Tbk

•  $0.1 billion decrease from foreign currency translation 

mainly due to depreciation of currencies in Nigeria and 
Zimbabwe against the US dollar

•  $3.7 billion increase from asset balance growth primarily in 

•  $6.7 billion decrease due to asset balance decline in 

Africa & Middle East.

Corporate Finance and Transaction Banking across all 
regions, offset by asset growth in Financial Markets 
primarily from Europe & Americas 

•  $0.2 billion decrease due to business initiatives in certain 

Transaction Banking and Lending facilities.

•  $2.4 billion increase due to deterioration in asset quality 

primarily due to sovereign downgrades in Africa &  
Middle East 

•  $0.7 billion increase due to methodology change relating to 
intangibles with a corresponding lower deduction to CET1.

Retail Banking
Credit risk RWA increased by $2.4 billion to $39.6 billion mainly 
due to:

•  $1.1 billion asset balance growth in Greater China & North 

Asia and ASEAN & South Asia, partly offset by asset decline 
in Africa & Middle East 

•  $0.8 billion increase from foreign currency translation mainly 
due to appreciation of currencies in Korea, Taiwan & China 
against the US dollar.

Market risk 
Total market risk RWA increased by $0.8 billion, or 4 per cent 
from 31 December 2019 to $21.6 billion. The increase was in  
the internal models approach (IMA) RWA due to increased 
market volatility and increased charges for IMA Risks not in 
VaR. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in the 
IMA RWA multiplier as back-testing exceptions rolled out of 
the 250-day window and reduced positions in both the IMA 
and standardised approach.

•  $0.3 billion increase due to deterioration in asset quality 
across retail portfolios primarily in ASEAN & South Asia

•  $0.1 billion increase due to model, methodology and policy 

changes across retail portfolios primarily in ASEAN &  
South Asia 

Operational risk 
Operational risk RWA reduced by $0.8 billion, or 3 per cent 
from 31 December 2019 to $26.8 billion. This was mainly due  
to the sale of our shareholding in the Group’s principal joint 
venture investment, PT Bank Permata Tbk.

Commercial Banking
Credit Risk RWA decreased by $2.7 billion to $25.7 billion 
mainly due to:

•  $3.1 billion decrease due to asset balance decline in 

Transaction Banking and Lending primarily in Africa & 
Middle East, ASEAN & South Asia and Greater China & 
North Asia

•  $0.3 billion decrease primarily due to methodology change 

relating to CRR II treatment for SME exposures

•  $0.5 billion increase due to deterioration in asset quality 

across several industry sectors primarily in Africa & Middle 
East and ASEAN & South Asia 

•  $0.1 billion increase from foreign currency translation mainly 

due to appreciation of currencies in China and Korea 
against the US dollar

•  $0.1 billion increase due to business initiatives in certain 

Transaction Banking facilities. 

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UK leverage ratio 
The Group’s UK leverage ratio, which excludes qualifying claims on central banks in accordance with a PRA waiver, was  
5.2 per cent, which is above the current minimum requirement of 3.6 per cent. The UK leverage ratio was flat in the period 
following a $1.3 billion increase in end point Tier 1 mainly due to higher CET1 of $2.3 billion, the issue of $1 billion of new  
6.0 per cent AT1 securities partly offset by the call of $2 billion of 6.5 per cent AT1 securities. The exposure measure increased  
by $34 billion due to growth in on-balance sheet assets, particularly investment in debt-securities, loans and advances to 
customers, derivatives and SFTs, part offset by a higher benefit from regulatory consolidation adjustments mainly due to  
the increased balances with central banks eligible for netting and the Permata disposal.

UK leverage ratio 

Tier 1 capital (transitional)

Additional Tier 1 capital subject to phase out
Tier 1 capital (end point)1

Derivative financial instruments

Derivative cash collateral

Securities financing transactions (SFTs)

Loans and advances and other assets

Total on-balance sheet assets
Regulatory consolidation adjustments2

Derivatives adjustments

Derivatives netting

Adjustments to cash collateral

Net written credit protection

Potential future exposure on derivatives

Total derivatives adjustments

Counterparty risk leverage exposure measure for SFTs

Off-balance sheet items

Regulatory deductions from Tier 1 capital

UK leverage exposure (end point)

UK leverage ratio (end point)

UK leverage exposure quarterly average

UK leverage ratio quarterly average

Countercyclical leverage ratio buffer

G-SII additional leverage ratio buffer

1   Tier 1 Capital (end point) is adjusted only for Grandfathered Additional Tier 1 instruments

2   Includes adjustment for qualifying central bank claims

2020 
$million

44,391

(1,114)

43,277

69,467

11,759

67,570

640,254

789,050

(60,059)

(44,257)

(21,278)

1,284

42,410

(21,841)

4,969

128,167

(5,521)

834,765

5.2%

837,147

5.2%

0.0%

0.4%

2019 
$million

43,677

(1,671)

42,006

47,212

9,169

60,414

603,603

720,398

(31,485)

(32,852)

(11,853)

1,650

32,961

(10,094)

7,005

122,341

(6,913)

801,252

5.2%

816,244

5.1%

0.1%

0.4%

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ªOur $50 million 
COVID-19 Global 
Charitable Fundº

To help the world battle COVID-19, we launched a  
$50 million Global Charitable Fund to provide 
emergency support for the communities most impacted 
by the pandemic. In Nepal, our donation to the  
Pasang Lhamu Foundation provided immediate relief 
and recovery for Nepalese mountain communities that 
rely heavily on tourism for their livelihoods.

Read more online at sc.com/covid19relief

284

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Financial statements 

286  Independent auditor’s report

296  Consolidated income statement

297   Consolidated statement of  
comprehensive income

298  Consolidated balance sheet

299   Consolidated statement of  

changes in equity

300  Cash flow statement

301  Company balance sheet 

302   Company statement of  
changes in equity

303  Notes to the financial statements

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Financial statements

Independent auditor’s report

Independent Auditor’s Report  
to the members of Standard Chartered PLC

Opinion
In our opinion:

•  the financial statements of Standard Chartered PLC  

(the ‘Parent Company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘Group’) 
give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and  
of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 31 December 2020 
and of the Group’s profit for the year then ended;

•  the Group financial statements have been properly 

prepared in accordance with International Accounting 
Standards in conformity with the requirements of the 
Companies Act 2006 and International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC)  
No. 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union (EU);

•  the Parent Company financial statements have been 
properly prepared in accordance with International 
Accounting Standards in conformity with the requirements 
of the Companies Act 2006 as applied in accordance with 
section 408 of the Companies Act 2006; and

•  the financial statements have been prepared in accordance 

with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

We have audited the financial statements of the Group  
and Parent Company for the year ended 31 December 2020  
which comprise:

Group

Parent Company

Consolidated balance sheet  
as at 31 December 2020;

Balance sheet as at 31 December 
2020;

Consolidated income 
statement for the year  
then ended;

Statement of changes in equity 
for the year then ended;

Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income for the 
year then ended;

Parent Company cash flow 
statement for the year then 
ended; and

Consolidated statement of 
changes in equity for the year 
then ended;

Related note 1 to 40, where 
relevant to the financial 
statements including a  
summary of significant 
accounting policies.

Group cash flow statement for 
the year then ended;

Related note 1 to 40  to the 
financial statements, including 
a summary of significant 
accounting policies;

Risk and capital disclosures 
marked as ‘audited’ from  
page 186 to 279; and

Information marked as 
‘audited’ within the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report from 
page 133 to 156.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied  
in their preparation is applicable law and International 
Accounting Standards in conformity with the requirements of 
the Companies Act 2006 and as regards the Group financial 
statements, IFRSs adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC)  
No. 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union and as 
regards the Parent Company financial statements, as applied 
in accordance with section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.

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Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

Basis for opinion 
We conducted our audit in accordance with International 
Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. 
Our responsibilities under those standards are further 
described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of  
the financial statements section of our report. We are 
independent of the Group in accordance with the ethical 
requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial 
statements in the UK, including the Financial Reporting 
Council’s (FRC) Ethical Standard as applied to listed public 
interest entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical 
responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is 
sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern 
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that 
the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in 
the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 
Our evaluation of the directors’ assessment of the Group and 
Parent Company’s ability to continue to adopt the going 
concern basis of accounting included: 

•  Understanding management’s going concern assessment 
process, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 
(COVID-19);

•  Review of the Corporate Plan, including assessing  
the reasonableness of assumptions and historical 
forecasting accuracy;

•  Assessing the results of management’s stress testing, 

including consideration of principal and emerging risks  
on funding, liquidity and regulatory capital;

•  Reviewing correspondence with prudential regulators  
and authorities for matters that may impact the going 
concern assessment; and

•  Evaluating the appropriateness of the going concern 

disclosure included in note 1 to the financial statements.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified 
any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions 
that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt  
on the Group and Parent Company’s ability to continue as a 
going concern for a period of at least twelve months from 
when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

In relation to the Group and Parent Company’s reporting on 
how they have applied the UK Corporate Governance Code, 
we have nothing material to add or draw attention to in 
relation to the directors’ statement in the financial statements 
about whether the directors considered it appropriate to 
adopt the going concern basis of accounting.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors 
with respect to going concern are described in the relevant 
sections of this report. However, because not all future  
events or conditions can be predicted, this statement is  
not a guarantee as to the Group’s ability to continue as a 
going concern.

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Overview of our audit approach

Audit scope

•  We performed an audit of the complete 

Key audit 
matters

financial information of 28 components across 
17 countries and audit procedures on specific 
balances for a further 5 components across  
3 countries.

•  The components where we performed full or 
specific audit procedures accounted for 86%  
of adjusted absolute profit before tax (PBT), 
89% of absolute operating income and 97%  
of total assets.

1.  Credit impairment 
2.  User access management
3.   Valuation of financial instruments held at fair 

value with higher risk characteristics

4.   Impairment of non-financial assets (Aircraft, 

Goodwill and Investment in subsidiary 
undertakings)

5.   Accounting and impairment of investment 

in associate

Materiality

•  Overall Group materiality of $144m which 

represents 5% of adjusted PBT

Initial audit considerations
In preparation for our first-year audit of the Group and Parent 
Company, we performed a number of transitional procedures. 
This involved considering previous commercial relationships 
and personal financial arrangements and confirming that  
all staff who work on the audit are independent of the  
Group. Following our selection, we held discussions with  
the predecessor auditor and reviewed their 2019 financial 
statement audit work papers. We gained an understanding of 
the Group’s processes, including the risk assessment and key 
judgements made by the predecessor auditors. At the outset 
of our audit we gained an understanding of the business issues 
and met with executive and key management of the Group 
and Parent Company. We used this understanding in the 
formulation of our audit strategy for the 2020 Group audit.  
Our procedures are in line with the requirements of ISA 510 – 
initial audit engagements to gain comfort over the opening 
balances as at 1 January 2020.

An overview of the scope of the Parent Company 
and Group audits 

Tailoring the scope
Our assessment of audit risk, our evaluation of materiality  
and our allocation of performance materiality determine our 
audit scope for each entity within the Group. Taken together, 
this enables us to form an opinion on the consolidated 
financial statements. We took into account the size, risk 
profile, the organisation of the Group and effectiveness of 
group-wide controls, changes in the business environment 
and other factors such as material issues or misstatements 
noted in prior periods by the predecessor auditor when 
assessing the level of work to be performed at each entity.

In assessing the risk of material misstatement to the Group 
financial statements, and to ensure we had adequate 
quantitative coverage of significant accounts in the financial 
statements, of the 365 reporting components of the Group, 
we selected 33 components across 20 countries covering 
entities within Bangladesh, Germany, Hong Kong, India, 
Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Mainland 
China, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, 
Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, 
and the United States of America which represent the 
principal business units within the Group. The definition of  
a component is aligned with the structure of the Group’s 
consolidation system, typically these are either a branch, 
group of branches or a subsidiary. 

We took a centralised approach to auditing certain processes 
and controls, as well as the substantive testing of specific 
balances. This included audit work over Global Business 
Services, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Institutional 
Banking, Credit Impairment and Technology.

Of the 33 components selected representing 20 countries,  
we performed an audit of the complete financial information 
of 28 components representing 17 countries (‘full scope 
components’) which were selected based on their size or risk 
characteristics. For the remaining 5 components representing 
3 countries (‘specific scope components’), we performed audit 
procedures on specific accounts within those components 
that we considered had the potential for the greatest impact 
on the significant accounts in the financial statements either 
because of the size of these accounts or their risk profile. 

The reporting components where we performed audit 
procedures accounted for 86% (2019: KPMG 89%) of the 
Group’s adjusted PBT, 89% of the Group’s absolute operating 
income and 97% (2019: KPMG 96%) of the Group’s total assets. 
For the current year, the full scope components contributed 
82% (2019: KPMG 88%) of the Group’s adjusted PBT, 82% of 
the Group’s absolute operating income and 90% (2019:  
KPMG 87%) of the Group’s total assets. The specific scope 
components contributed 4% of the Group’s adjusted PBT,  
7% of the Group’s absolute operating income and 7% (2019: 
KPMG 9%) of the Group’s total assets. The audit scope of 
these components may not have included testing of all 
significant accounts of the component but will have 
contributed to the coverage of significant accounts tested  
for the Group. 

Of the remaining 332 components that together represent 
14% of the Group’s adjusted PBT, none are individually greater 
than 1.7% of the Group’s adjusted PBT. For these components, 
we performed other procedures which included, but were not 
limited to, performing analytical reviews at a Group financial 
statement line item level, testing entity level controls, 
performing audit procedures on the centralised shared service 
centres, testing of consolidation journals and intercompany 
eliminations, inquiring with local component teams and 
assessing the outcome of prior year local statutory audits.

The charts below illustrate the coverage obtained from the 
work performed by our audit teams.

Adjusted absolute profit before tax

82% Full scope components

4% Specific scope components

14% Other procedures

86%

Absolute operating income

82% Full scope components

7% Specific scope components

11% Other procedures

90% Full scope components

7% Specific scope components

3% Other procedures

89%

Total assets

97%

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Financial statements

Independent auditor’s report

Involvement with component teams 
In establishing our overall approach to the Group audit, we 
determined the type of work that needed to be undertaken  
at each of the components by the Group audit engagement 
team, or by component auditors from other EY global network 
firms and another firm operating under our instruction. Of the 
28 full scope components, audit procedures were performed 
on 2 of these directly by the primary audit team, EY London 
(including audit of the parent Company). In addition, the 
Group has centralised processes and controls over key areas  
in its shared service centres. Members of the Group audit 
engagement team provide direct oversight, review and 
coordination of our shared service centres audit teams.

Our programme of planned visits to components and  
shared service centres in several locations were impacted  
by the current travel restrictions and other imposed 
government measures as a result of COVID-19. As part of  
our alternative procedures during the current year’s audit 
cycle, we undertook virtual site visits. These virtual site visits 
involved discussing the audit approach with the component 
and shared service centres team and any issues arising from 
their work, meeting with local management, attending 
interim and closing meetings and performing remote  
reviews of key audit workpapers. 

As a result of COVID-19, we extended our involvement and 
oversight of the component teams. This includes the Group 
audit engagement partners and senior members of the 
primary audit team increasing their involvement and 

oversight, increased regular interactions through calls and 
video conferences during various stages of the audit process, 
increasing our written communications to and reporting  
from the component teams and inviting component teams  
to our virtual planning event and subsequent dedicated 
virtual events. 

For all significant and fraud risk areas, substantial elements  
of the audit work were led centrally, either within the Group 
audit engagement team, or within other teams performing 
centralised procedures.

These, together with the additional procedures performed  
at Group level, gave us sufficient and appropriate evidence  
for our opinion on the Group and Parent Company financial 
statements.

Key audit matters 
Key audit matters (KAMs) are those matters that, in our 
professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit 
of the financial statements of the current period and include 
the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement 
(whether or not due to fraud) that we identified. These 
matters included those which had the greatest effect on the 
overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the audit; 
and directing the efforts of the Group audit engagement 
team. These matters were addressed in the context of our 
audit of the financial statements, and in our opinion thereon, 
and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

Key observations communicated  
to the Audit Committee 

Our testing of models, model 
assumptions and the Group’s 
Monte Carlo Simulation identified 
some instances of over and under 
estimation. We aggregated these 
differences and were satisfied  
that the overall estimate recorded 
was reasonable.
The COVID-19 adjustment on  
the ECL as at year end was 
reasonable.
Overall modelled ECL levels, 
staging and individually assessed 
provisions were reasonable.
We concluded that the Group’s 
ECL provisions was reasonable 
and recognised in accordance 
with IFRS 9.

Risk

Our response to the risk

1. Credit Impairment 
Refer to the Audit Committee Report (page 109); 
Accounting policies (page 316); Note 8 of the 
financial statements; and relevant credit risk 
disclosures (including pages 188 and 190)
At 31 December 2020 the Group reported  
total credit impairment of $7,145 million (2019: 
$6,391 million). 
Management’s judgements and estimates 
which are especially subjective to audit due to 
significant uncertainty associated with the 
assumptions used in the estimation in respect  
of the timing and measurement of expected 
credit losses (ECL) include: 
•  Allocation of assets to stage 1, 2, or 3 on a 

timely basis using criteria in accordance with 
IFRS 9 considering the impact of COVID-19  
and related government support measures, 
such as payment deferrals, on customer 
behaviours;

•  Accounting interpretations, modelling 

assumptions and data used to build and  
run the models that calculate the ECL 
considering the impact of COVID-19 on  
model performance and any additional data 
to be considered in the ECL calculation;
•  There are significant judgements involved 

with the determination of parameters used in 
Monte Carlo Simulation and the evaluation  
of the appropriateness of using Monte Carlo 
Simulation in the context of COVID-19 with 
regards to whether the simulation can 
sufficiently capture the non-linearity of 
expected credit losses and appropriately 
generate a wide range of possible outcomes. 

We evaluated the design and operating 
effectiveness of controls relevant to the Group’s 
processes over material ECL balances, including 
the judgements and estimates noted, involving 
EY specialists to assist us in performing our 
procedures to the extent it was appropriate. 
These included:
•  controls over the allocation of assets into 

stages such as management’s monitoring  
of stage effectiveness;

•  the governance and review of post model 

adjustments;

•  risk event overlays;
•  completeness and accuracy of data;
•  multiple economic scenarios;
•  credit monitoring; and
• 
individual provisions.
We obtained papers and minutes of the 
executive forums that evaluate credit models 
and ECL provisions for evidence of executive 
review and challenge. 
We performed an overall assessment of the  
ECL provision levels by stage to determine  
if they were reasonable by considering the 
overall credit quality of the Group’s portfolios, 
risk profile, impact of COVID-19 including 
geographic considerations and high risk 
industries. We also assessed the effect of 
government support measures in key locations 
(e.g., payment deferrals), which may delay and 
mask stage migrations. Our assessment also 
included the evaluation of the macroeconomic 
environment by considering trends in the 
economies and industries to which the Group  
is exposed. 
We evaluated the criteria used to allocate 
financial assets to stage 1, 2 or 3 in accordance 
with IFRS 9. We reperformed the staging 
distribution for a sample of assets and assessed 
the reasonableness of staging downgrades 
applied by management.

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Risk

Our response to the risk

Key observations communicated  
to the Audit Committee 

1. Credit Impairment continued
•  Appropriateness, completeness and valuation 

of post model adjustments and COVID-19 
specific risk event overlays given the increased 
uncertainty and less reliance on modelled 
outputs increasing the risk of management 
override; and

•  Measurement of individual provisions 

including the assessment of probability 
weighted scenarios and the impact COVID-19 
had on exit strategies, collateral valuations 
and time to collect.

We performed a risk assessment on models 
involved in the ECL calculation to select a 
sample of models to test. 
Our modelling specialists evaluated a sample  
of ECL models by assessing the reasonableness 
of underpinning assumptions, inputs and 
formulae used. This included a combination  
of assessing the appropriateness of model 
design and formulae used, alternative 
modelling techniques and recalculating the 
Probability of Default, Loss Given Default and 
Exposure at Default.
We also assessed the material post-model 
adjustments which were applied as a response 
to model ineffectiveness and risk event  
overlays as a result of COVID-19. With our 
modelling specialists, we also considered the 
completeness and appropriateness of these 
adjustments by considering the judgments, 
methodology and governance applied. 
In response to new models implemented this 
year which addressed known weaknesses,  
we performed more extensive substantive 
procedures in testing the modelled ECL.
To test credit monitoring, we challenged the  
risk ratings for a sample of performing loans 
and focused our testing on high risk industries 
impacted by COVID-19. 
To evaluate data quality, we agreed a sample 
of ECL calculation data points to source 
systems, including balance sheet data used to 
run the models. We also tested a sample of the 
ECL data points from the calculation engine 
through to the general ledger and disclosures. 
We included COVID-19 specific data points in 
this testing. 
We involved economic specialists to assist us  
in evaluating the reasonableness of the base 
forecast and the range of economic scenarios 
produced by the Monte Carlo Simulation. 
Procedures performed included benchmarking 
a sample of core macro-economic variables to 
a variety of external sources.
For material models, in collaboration with  
our economists and modelling specialists,  
we also challenged the completeness and 
appropriateness of the macroeconomic 
variables used as inputs to these models. 
When recalculating a sample of individually 
assessed provisions, our procedures included 
challenging management’s forward-looking 
economic assumptions of the recovery 
outcomes identified and assigning individual 
probability weightings.
We also engaged our valuation specialists  
to test the value of the collateral used in 
management’s calculations. Our sample  
was based on quantitative thresholds and 
qualitative factors including vulnerable sectors. 
We considered the impact COVID-19 had on 
collateral valuations and time to collect.  
We also considered whether planned exit 
strategies remained viable under COVID-19. 
We tested the data flows used to populate  
the disclosures and assessed the adequacy of 
disclosures for compliance with the accounting 
standards and regulatory considerations 
including expectations of COVID-19 specific 
disclosures. 

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Key observations communicated  
to the Audit Committee 

We communicated weaknesses  
in internal control to the Audit 
Committee, in respect of the 
effectiveness of IT user-access 
management.
We explained the additional 
procedures performed, including 
IT substantive testing, testing of  
IT and business compensating 
controls, and where required, 
additional substantive testing  
over impacted account balances.
As a result of the procedures 
performed, we have reduced  
the risk that our audit has not 
identified a material error in the 
Group and Parent Company 
financial statements, related  
to user access management,  
to an appropriate level.

We concluded that assumptions 
used by management to estimate 
the fair value of financial 
instruments with higher risk 
characteristics and the recognition 
of related income was reasonable. 
We highlighted the following 
matters to the Audit Committee:
•  Complex model-dependent 
valuations were appropriate 
based on the output of our 
independent revaluations; 

•  Fair values of derivative 

transactions, unlisted equity 
investments, loans, debt and 
other financial instruments 
valued using pricing information 
with limited observability were 
not materially misstated as at  
31 December 2020, based on  
the output of our independent 
calculations; and

•  Valuation adjustments in 

respect of credit, funding and 
other risks applied to derivative 
portfolios and debt securities 
issued were appropriate, based 
on our analysis of market  
data and benchmarking of 
pricing information.

Financial statements

Independent auditor’s report

Risk

Our response to the risk

We reviewed the results of management’s 
remediation programmes and risk  
assessments for applications within the scope 
of our audit and assessed the impact on  
the financial statements for the year ended  
31 December 2020.
We tested IT compensating controls, and  
where these compensating controls were  
not effective, we performed additional IT 
substantive procedures to confirm whether  
the risks associated with the reported 
deficiencies materialised during the year.
Where required, we tested business 
compensating controls and performed 
additional business substantive procedures.

We evaluated the design and operating 
effectiveness of controls relating to the 
valuation of financial instruments, including 
independent price verification, model review 
and approval, collateral management, and 
income statement analysis and reporting. 
We engaged valuation specialists to assist  
the audit team in performing the following 
procedures: 
•  Tested complex model-dependent valuations 

by independently revaluing Level 3 and 
certain complex Level 2 derivatives that had 
been valued using less liquid pricing inputs,  
in order to assess the appropriateness of 
models and the adequacy of assumptions 
and inputs used by the Group; 

•  Tested valuations of other financial 
instruments with higher estimation 
uncertainty, such as unlisted equity 
investments, loans at fair value, debt and 
other financial instruments. We compared 
management’s valuation to our own 
independently developed range, where 
appropriate;

•  Assessed the appropriateness of pricing 
inputs as part of the Independent Price 
Verification process; and

•  Compared the methodology used for  

fair value adjustments to current market 
practice. We revalued a sample of valuation 
adjustments, compared funding spreads to 
third party data and challenged the basis  
for determining illiquid credit spreads. 

Where differences between our independent 
valuation and management’s valuation were 
outside our thresholds, we performed additional 
testing over each variance to assess the impact 
on the valuation of financial instruments with 
higher risk characteristics, including related 
income from trading activities.

2. User Access Management 
Refer to the Audit Committee Report (page 110)
IT general controls (ITGCs) support continuous 
operation of the automated controls within  
the business processes related to financial 
reporting. Effective ITGCs are needed to ensure 
that IT applications process business data as 
expected and that changes are made in an 
appropriate manner.
During 2018 and 2019, the Group Internal Audit 
and the predecessor auditor identified a number 
of significant privileged ID management control 
deficiencies. These control deficiencies are still  
in the process of being fully remediated. In 
addition, we identified new control findings in 
the current year audit, as well as observations 
relating to the effectiveness of management’s 
remediation activities.
The possibility of users gaining access privileges 
beyond those necessary to perform their 
assigned duties may result in breaches in 
segregation of duties, including inappropriate 
manual intervention and unauthorised changes 
to systems or programmes.
3. Valuation of financial instruments 
held at fair value with higher risk 
characteristics
Refer to the Audit Committee Report (page 110); 
Accounting policies (page 327); and Note 13 of 
the financial statements
At 31 December 2020, the Group reported 
financial assets measured at fair value of 
$310,089 million, and financial liabilities at fair 
value of $139,906 million, of which financial 
assets of $2,948 million and financial liabilities  
of $446 million are classified as Level 3 in the  
fair value hierarchy.
The fair value of financial instruments with 
higher risk characteristics is determined through 
the application of valuation techniques, which 
involve the use of management judgement in 
the selection of valuation models, assumptions 
and pricing inputs, and present the risk of 
inappropriate revenue recognition through 
incorrect pricing.
A higher level of estimation uncertainty is 
involved for financial instruments valued using 
complex models, pricing inputs that have limited 
observability, and fair value adjustments, 
including the Debit Valuation Adjustment, 
Funding Valuation Adjustment and Credit 
Valuation Adjustment in relation to derivative 
transactions with counterparties where credit 
spreads are less readily able to be determined.
Management’s estimates that required 
significant auditor judgement included: 
•  Level 3 derivative financial instruments and 

certain Level 2 derivative financial instruments 
valued using complex models; and 

•  Unlisted equity investments, loans at fair 

value, debt and other financial instruments 
classified in Level 3 with unobservable  
pricing inputs. 

Significant judgement is required due to the 
absence of verifiable third-party information  
to determine the key inputs and assumptions  
in the valuation models. 

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Key observations communicated  
to the Audit Committee 

Impairment of aircraft
We concluded that 
management’s methodology, 
judgements and assumptions 
related to the impairment 
assessment for aircraft were 
reasonable and in accordance 
with IFRS. We highlighted the 
following matters to the  
Audit Committee:
•  Current market values and 

residual values were 
appropriate based on 
benchmarking to independently 
sourced market data; and 
•  The discount rate was within  
our independent expectation  
of a reasonable range, with  
due regard to the risks facing 
the aviation industry and the 
characteristics of the Group’s 
portfolio of aircraft.
Impairment of Goodwill 
We concluded that the goodwill 
balance as at 31 December 2020 
was not materially misstated.  
We concluded that the disclosures 
in the annual report appropriately 
reflect the sensitivity of the 
carrying value of goodwill to 
reasonably possible changes in 
key assumptions, and that these 
downside sensitivities could 
require an adjustment to the 
carrying amount of goodwill  
in future. 
Impairment of investment in 
subsidiary undertakings 
We concluded that the investment 
in subsidiaries balance is not 
materially misstated as at  
31 December 2020.

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Risk

Our response to the risk

4. Impairment of non-
financial assets
Refer to the Audit Committee Report  
(pages 109 to 110);
a)  Impairment of aircraft: Accounting policies 
(page 369); and Note 18 of the financial 
statements

b)  Impairment of investment in subsidiary 

undertakings: Accounting policies (page 366); 
and Note 17 of the financial statements

c)  Impairment of Goodwill: Accounting policies 

(page 366); and Note 17 of the financial 
statements

COVID-19 and government measures taken in 
response to the pandemic have had, and are 
expected to continue to have, a significant 
economic impact globally. As a result, the Group 
recorded impairment charges in respect of 
various non-financial assets during 2020, the 
most significant of which are set out below. 
The Group owns a portfolio of aircraft, which  
are leased to airlines. The aircraft are measured 
at cost less accumulated depreciation and 
impairment. As at 31 December 2020, the Group 
has reported a $132 million impairment charge  
in respect of aircraft. Each aircraft was tested  
for impairment.
Impairment of aircraft is determined by 
comparing the carrying value to the higher  
of the current market value, provided by third 
party appraisers, and the value in use (VIU).  
The judgemental inputs into the VIU calculation 
are the discount rate and residual values. 
In addition, as at 31 December 2020, the  
Group impaired goodwill by $489 million  
(2019: $27 million) and, in the Parent Company 
accounts, impaired investments in subsidiary 
undertakings by $349m (2019: $259m). 
Impairment of goodwill and investments in 
subsidiary undertakings is determined by 
comparing the carrying value to VIU. The VIU  
is based on future profitability forecasts, which 
are inherently uncertain, require significant 
judgement and are subject to the risk of 
management bias. 
Aside from profit forecasts, other significant 
judgements included in the VIU are discount 
rates and macroeconomic assumptions such  
as long-term growth rates. 
Consequently, there is a risk that if the 
judgements and assumptions underpinning  
the impairment assessments are inappropriate, 
then the aircraft, goodwill and investments in 
subsidiaries balances may be misstated. 

We obtained an understanding of 
management’s processes for impairment 
assessment and evaluated the design  
of controls.
Impairment of aircraft
We assessed the appropriateness of the 
Group’s VIU methodology for testing the 
impairment of aircraft. 
We tested the mathematical accuracy of the 
VIU model and engaged valuation specialists 
to support the audit team in calculating an 
independent range for assumptions underlying 
the VIU calculations, such as discount rates  
and residual values. Where appraisal values 
were used to support the carrying value or as  
an input into the VIU, we benchmarked those 
values to external market data.
We evaluated management’s sensitivity 
analysis to assumptions in VIU calculations  
and performed stress testing for reasonably 
possible changes to the discount rate and 
market values.
Impairment of goodwill and investment in 
subsidiary undertakings
We assessed the appropriateness of the 
Group’s VIU methodology for testing the 
impairment of goodwill and investments  
in subsidiaries.
We tested the mathematical accuracy of the 
VIU model and engaged valuation specialists 
to support the audit team in calculating an 
independent range for assumptions underlying 
the VIU calculations, such as the discount rate 
and long-term growth rates for each cash 
generating unit. 
We reconciled the future profitability forecasts 
to the Group’s approved Corporate Plan.  
We performed audit procedures to assess  
the reasonableness of the forecasts by 
reviewing the Group Strategy and Corporate 
Plan and conducted benchmarking analysis by 
reviewing institutional forecasts and assessing 
the reasonableness of assumptions and testing 
historical forecasting accuracy. In addition, we 
performed a stand back test to assess whether 
the forecasts and assumptions utilised by the 
Group were consistent across the key estimates.
We evaluated management’s sensitivity 
analysis and performed independent stress 
tests to identify the cash generating units that 
were most sensitive to potential change in 
assumptions, including the long-term growth 
rate, discount rates and profitability forecasts.
We assessed the appropriateness of  
goodwill disclosures in relation to the impact  
of reasonably possible changes in key 
assumptions on the carrying values of  
non-financial assets.

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Key observations communicated  
to the Audit Committee 

We concluded that the Group 
continues to maintain significant 
influence over Bohai as at 
31 December 2020. 
We concluded that the investment 
in associate balance as at 
31 December 2020 was not 
materially misstated. We 
concluded that the disclosures in 
the annual report appropriately 
reflect the sensitivity of the 
carrying value to reasonably 
possible changes in key 
assumptions.

Financial statements

Independent auditor’s report

Risk

Our response to the risk

We evaluated the facts and circumstances  
that the Group presented to demonstrate its 
ability to maintain significant influence over  
the management, and financial and operating 
policies of Bohai, through Board representation 
and the provision of technical skills to Bohai.
In addition, we assessed the appropriateness  
in the change in basis of inclusion of Bohai’s 
results from a one-month lag to a three-month 
lag. We assessed the appropriateness of the 
Group’s VIU methodology for testing the 
impairment of the investment in Bohai.
We tested the mathematical accuracy of the 
VIU model and engaged valuation specialists 
to support the audit team in calculating an 
independent range for assumptions underlying 
the VIU calculations, such as the discount rate 
and long-term growth rate. We reconciled the 
future profitability forecasts to the available 
analyst reports. 
We assessed the appropriateness of  
disclosures in the annual report in relation to  
the impact of reasonably possible changes  
in key assumptions on the carrying values of  
the investment in Bohai. 

5. Accounting and Impairment 
of investment in associate 
Refer to the Audit Committee Report (page 110); 
Accounting policies (page 396); and Note 32 of 
the financial statements
At 31 December 2020, the Group reported an 
investment in associate, China Bohai Bank 
(Bohai), of $2,025 million (2019: $1,803 million).  
On 16 July 2020, Bohai was listed on the Hong 
Kong Stock Exchange, and as a result, the 
Group’s investment in Bohai was diluted to 
16.26% as at 31 December 2020 (2019: 19.99%).
We focused on judgements, including the 
appropriateness of equity accounting, 
impairment considerations and non-
coterminous reporting. 
Equity accounting
There is a presumption that an investor holding 
less than a 20% stake in an investee cannot exert 
significant influence, and continue to account  
for the investment as an associate, unless such 
influence can be clearly demonstrated. 
Prior to listing, the Group equity accounted  
its interest in Bohai on a one-month lag basis. 
Following the listing, Bohai is now subject  
to regulations in respect of price sensitive 
information and, as such, the Group now 
includes Bohai’s results on a three-month  
lag basis. In 2020, the Group accounted for  
10 months of profits from Bohai (2019: 12 months).
Impairment testing
At 31 December 2020, there was a 7% deficit 
between the Group’s share of Bohai’s market 
capitalisation, as compared with the carrying 
value of the investment, which represents an 
impairment trigger. 
Impairment of the investment in Bohai is 
determined by comparing the carrying value  
to VIU. The VIU is based on future profitability 
forecasts, which are inherently uncertain, require 
significant judgement and are subject to the risk 
of management bias. 
Aside from profit forecasts, other significant 
judgements included in the VIU are discount 
rates and macroeconomic assumptions such  
as long-term growth rates. 
Consequently, there is a risk that if the 
judgements and assumptions underpinning the 
impairment assessments are inappropriate, then 
the investment in associate may be overstated. 

Other than the additional KAMs 4a and 5 noted in the table above, the current year KAMs are consistent with prior year KAMs 
reported by the predecessor auditor. 

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Our application of materiality 
We apply the concept of materiality in planning and 
performing the audit, in evaluating the effect of identified 
misstatements on the audit and in forming our audit opinion. 

Materiality
The magnitude of an omission or misstatement that, 
individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be 
expected to influence the economic decisions of the users  
of the financial statements. Materiality provides a basis for 
determining the nature and extent of our audit procedures.

We determined materiality for the Group to be $144 million 
(2019: KPMG $140 million), which is 5% of adjusted PBT.  
We believe that adjusted PBT provides us with the most 
appropriate measure for the users of the financial statements, 
given the Group is profit making; it is consistent with the wider 
industry and is the standard for listed and regulated entities 
and we believe it reflects the most useful measure for users  
of the financial statements. We also believe that the 
adjustments are appropriate as they relate to material 
non-recurring items.

Performance materiality
The application of materiality at the individual account  
or balance level. It is set at an amount to reduce to an 
appropriately low level the probability that the aggregate  
of uncorrected and undetected misstatements exceeds 
materiality.

On the basis of our risk assessments, together with our 
assessment of the Group’s overall control environment, our 
judgement was that performance materiality was 50% of  
our planning materiality, namely $72m (2019: KPMG $91m).  
We have set performance materiality at this percentage  
since this is an initial audit. 

Audit work at component locations for the purpose of 
obtaining audit coverage over significant financial statement 
accounts is undertaken based on a percentage of total 
performance materiality. The performance materiality set  
for each component is based on the relative size and risk of 
the component to the Group as a whole and our assessment 
of the risk of misstatement at that component. In the current 
year, the range of performance materiality allocated to 
components was $7m to $22m (2019: KPMG $1m to $60m).

Starting basis 
Starting basis

•  Statutory profit before tax $1.617bn

Adjustments 
Adjustments

•  Goodwill impairment of $489m

•  Provision for regulatory matters of ($14)m

•  Restructuring costs of $382m

•  Net loss on businesses disposed of $38m

•  Total Adjustments per Note 2 of $895m

•  Management overlay relating to COVID-19 of $359m

•  Total Non-recurring items: $1.25bn

Materiality 
Materiality

•  Totals $2.87bn Adjusted profit before tax

•  Materiality of $144m (5% of Adjusted PBT)

We determined materiality for the Parent Company to be 
$130 million (2019: KPMG $110 million), which is 0.25% of net 
assets. We believe that net assets provide us with the most 
appropriate measure for the users of the Parent Company’s 
financial statements, given that it is primarily a holding 
Company.

We reassessed our materiality based on actual results for  
the year ended 31 December 2020 and have concluded  
that the planning materiality remains appropriate. 

Reporting threshold
An amount below which identified misstatements are 
considered as being clearly trivial.

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report  
to them all uncorrected audit differences in excess of $7m 
(2019: KPMG $5m), which is set at 5% of planning materiality, 
as well as differences below that threshold that, in our view, 
warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.

We evaluate any uncorrected misstatements against both 
the quantitative measures of materiality discussed above and 
in light of other relevant qualitative considerations in forming 
our opinion.

Other information 
The other information comprises the information included in 
the annual report including the Strategic report, the Directors’ 
report, the Directors’ remuneration report, the Risk review  
and Capital review, and the Supplementary information,  
other than the financial statements, the specific disclosures  
or tables marked as ‘audited’ and our auditor’s report thereon. 
The directors are responsible for the other information 
contained within the annual report. 

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the 
other information and, except to the extent otherwise 
explicitly stated in this report, we do not express any form  
of assurance conclusion thereon. 

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in 
doing so, consider whether the other information is materially 
inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge 
obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears  
to be materially misstated. If we identify such material 
inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we  
are required to determine whether there is a material 
misstatement in the financial statements themselves.  
If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that 
there is a material misstatement of the other information,  
we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

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Financial statements

Independent auditor’s report

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the 
Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, the part of the directors’ remuneration report to 
be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with 
the Companies Act 2006.

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of 
the audit:

•  the information given in the strategic report and the 

directors’ report for the financial year for which the financial 
statements are prepared is consistent with the financial 
statements; and 

•  the strategic report and the directors’ report have been 

prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report 
by exception
In light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group  
and the Parent Company and its environment obtained in  
the course of the audit, we have not identified material 
misstatements in the strategic report or the directors’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters 
in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to 
report to you if, in our opinion:

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the 
Parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit have  
not been received from branches not visited by us; or

•  the Parent Company financial statements and the part of 
the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited are not  
in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

•  certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by 

law are not made; or

•  we have not received all the information and explanations 

we require for our audit

Corporate Governance Statement
The Listing Rules require us to review the directors’ statement 
in relation to going concern, longer-term viability and that 
part of the Corporate Governance Statement relating to the 
Group and Company’s compliance with the provisions of the 
UK Corporate Governance Code specified for our review.

Based on the work undertaken as part of our audit, we  
have concluded that each of the following elements of the 
Corporate Governance Statement is materially consistent 
with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained 
during the audit:

•  Directors’ statement with regards to the appropriateness  
of adopting the going concern basis of accounting and  
any material uncertainties identified set out on page 144;

•  Directors’ explanation as to its assessment of the 

Company’s prospects, the period this assessment covers 
and why the period is appropriate set out on page 144;

•  Directors’ statement on fair, balanced and understandable 

set out on page 144;

•  Board’s confirmation that it has carried out a robust 

assessment of the emerging and principal risks set out on 
page 148;

•  The section of the annual report that describes the review 
of effectiveness of risk management and internal control 
systems set out on page 148; and;

•  The section describing the work of the audit committee set 

out on pages 91 to 97.

Responsibilities of directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ 
responsibilities set out on page 153, the directors are 
responsible for the preparation of the financial statements 
and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view,  
and for such internal control as the directors determine is 
necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements 
that are free from material misstatement, whether due to 
fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are 
responsible for assessing the Group and Parent Company’s 
ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as 
applicable, matters related to going concern and using the 
going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either 
intend to liquidate the Group or the Parent Company or to 
cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the 
financial statements 
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about 
whether the financial statements as a whole are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to 
issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable 
assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee 
that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will 
always detect a material misstatement when it exists. 
Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are 
considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they 
could reasonably be expected to influence the economic 
decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial 
statements. 

Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered 
capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud 
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance 
with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with 
our responsibilities, outlined below, to detect irregularities, 
including fraud. The risk of not detecting a material 
misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not 
detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve 
deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional 
misrepresentations, or through collusion. The extent to which 
our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, 
including fraud is detailed below.

However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and 
detection of fraud rests with both those charged with 
governance of the Company and management. 

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•  We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory 

•  The Group operates in the banking industry which is a 

highly regulated environment. As such the Senior Statutory 
Auditor considered the experience and expertise of the 
Group audit engagement team, the component teams  
and the shared service centre teams to ensure that the 
team had the appropriate competence and capabilities, 
which included the use of specialists where appropriate. 

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of  
the financial statements is located on the FRC’s website  
at https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This 
description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Other matters we are required to address 
•  Following the recommendation from the Audit Committee, 

we were appointed as auditors of the Company and  
signed an engagement letter on 31 March 2020, and were 
appointed by the Company at the Annual General Meeting 
on 6 May 2020, to audit the financial statements for the 
year ended 31 December 2020 and subsequent financial 
periods. The period of total uninterrupted engagement is 
one year, covering the year ended 31 December 2020.

•  The non-audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical 

Standard were not provided to the Group or the Parent 
Company and we remain independent of the Group and 
the Parent Company in conducting the audit. 

•  The audit opinion is consistent with the additional report to 

the Audit Committee.

Use of our report
This report is made solely to the Company’s members,  
as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the 
Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken  
so that we might state to the Company’s members those 
matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report 
and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by 
law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone 
other than the Company and the Company’s members as a 
body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we 
have formed.

David Canning-Jones (Senior statutory auditor)
for and on behalf of Ernst & Young LLP, Statutory Auditor

London

25 February 2021

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frameworks that are applicable to the Group and 
determined that the most significant are those that relate 
to the reporting framework (IFRS, Companies Act 2006  
and the UK Corporate Governance Code), regulations and 
supervisory requirements of the Prudential Regulation 
Authority (PRA), FRC, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) 
and other overseas regulatory requirements, including  
but not limited to regulations in its major markets such as 
Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Singapore, United States  
of America, and the relevant tax compliance regulations in  
the jurisdictions in which the Group operates. In addition,  
we concluded that there are certain significant laws and 
regulations that may have an effect on the determination 
of the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements 
and those laws and regulations relating to regulatory 
capital and liquidity, conduct, financial crime including 
anti-money laundering, sanctions, market abuse and 
environmental regulations recognising the financial and 
regulated nature of the Group’s activities. 

•  We understood how the Group is complying with those 
frameworks by performing a combination of inquiries of 
senior management and those charged with governance 
as required by auditing standards, review of board and 
committee meeting minutes, gaining an understanding  
of the Group’s approach to governance and inspection of 
regulatory correspondences in the year. We also engaged 
EY financial crime specialists to perform procedures on 
areas relating to anti-money laundering and sanctions. 
Through these procedures, we became aware of actual  
or suspected non-compliance. The identified actual or 
suspected non-compliance was not sufficiently significant 
to our audit that would have resulted in being identified as 
a key audit matter.

•  We assessed the susceptibility of the Group’s financial 

statements to material misstatement, including how fraud 
might occur by considering the controls that the Group  
has established to address risks identified by the entity,  
or that otherwise seek to prevent, deter or detect fraud.  
Our procedures to address the risks identified also included 
incorporation of unpredictability into the nature, timing 
and/or extent of our testing, challenging assumptions  
and judgements made by management in their significant 
accounting estimates and journal entry testing. 

•  Based on this understanding we designed our audit 

procedures to identify non-compliance with such laws and 
regulations. Our procedures involved inquiries of Group 
legal counsel, money laundering reporting officer, internal 
audit, certain senior management executives and focused 
testing. We also performed inspection of key regulatory 
correspondence from the relevant regulatory authorities.

•  For instances of actual or suspected non-compliance with 
laws and regulations, which have a material impact on  
the financial statements, these were communicated to  
the Group audit engagement team and component  
teams who performed audit procedures such as inquiries 
with management and external legal counsel, sending 
confirmations to external lawyers and meeting with 
external regulators. Where appropriate, we involved 
specialists from our firm to support the audit team. 

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Financial statements

Financial statements

Consolidated income statement 

For the year ended 31 December 2020

Interest income

Interest expense 

Net interest income

Fees and commission income

Fees and commission expense

Net fee and commission income

Net trading income

Other operating income

Operating income

Staff costs

Premises costs

General administrative expenses

Depreciation and amortisation

Operating expenses

Operating profit before impairment losses and taxation

Credit impairment

Goodwill, property, plant and equipment and other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Profit before taxation

Taxation

Profit for the year

Profit attributable to:

Non-controlling interests

Parent company shareholders 

Profit for the year

Earnings per share:

Basic earnings per ordinary share

Diluted earnings per ordinary share

The notes on pages 304 to 425 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Notes

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

32

10

29

12

12

2020 
$million

12,292

(5,440)

6,852

3,865

(705)

3,160

3,672

1,070

14,754

(6,886)

(412)

(1,831)

(1,251)

(10,380)

4,374

(2,325)

(587)

151

1,613

(862)

751

27

724

751

cents

10.4

10.3

2019 
$million

16,549

(8,882)

7,667

4,111

(589)

3,522

3,350

878

15,417

(7,122)

(420)

(2,211)

(1,180)

(10,933)

4,484

(908)

(163)

300

3,713

(1,373)

2,340

37

2,303

2,340

cents

57.0

56.4

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Consolidated statement of  
comprehensive income 

For the year ended 31 December 2020

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income/(loss)

Items that will not be reclassified to income statement:

Own credit losses on financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss

Equity instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income 

Actuarial gains/(losses) on retirement benefit obligations

Taxation relating to components of other comprehensive income

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to income statement:

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations: 

Net gains/(losses) taken to equity

Net (losses)/gains on net investment hedges

Reclassified to income statement on sale of joint venture

Share of other comprehensive (loss)/income from associates and joint ventures

Debt instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income:

Net valuation gains taken to equity 

Reclassified to income statement

Net impact of expected credit losses

Cash flow hedges:

Net losses taken to equity

Reclassified to income statement 

Taxation relating to components of other comprehensive income

Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year, net of taxation

Total comprehensive income for the year

Total comprehensive income attributable to:

Non-controlling interests

Parent company shareholders

Total comprehensive income for the year

Notes

2020 
$million

751

2019 
$million

2,340

30

10

14

10

29

(9)

(55)

62

1

(17)

922

657

(287)

246

(37)

815

(431)

21

(25)

17

(54)

913

1,664

15

1,649

1,664

(531)

(462)

13

(124)

42

131

(386)

191

–

25

555

(170)

7

(64)

21

(48)

(400)

1,940

20

1,920

1,940

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Financial statements

Financial statements

Consolidated balance sheet

As at 31 December 2020

Assets
Cash and balances at central banks
Financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss
Derivative financial instruments
Loans and advances to banks
Loans and advances to customers
Investment securities
Other assets
Current tax assets
Prepayments and accrued income 
Interests in associates and joint ventures
Goodwill and intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Deferred tax assets
Assets classified as held for sale
Total assets

Liabilities
Deposits by banks
Customer accounts
Repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing
Financial liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss
Derivative financial instruments
Debt securities in issue
Other liabilities
Current tax liabilities
Accruals and deferred income 
Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds
Deferred tax liabilities
Provisions for liabilities and charges 
Retirement benefit obligations
Liabilities included in disposal groups held for sale
Total liabilities 

Equity
Share capital and share premium account
Other reserves
Retained earnings
Total parent company shareholders’ equity
Other equity instruments
Total equity excluding non-controlling interests
Non-controlling interests
Total equity
Total equity and liabilities

Notes

13, 35
13
13, 14
13, 15
13, 15
13
20
10

32
17
18
10
21

13
13
13
13
13, 14
13, 22
23
10

13, 27
10
24
30
21

28

28

29

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

66,712
106,787
69,467
44,347
281,699
153,315
48,688
808
2,122
2,162
5,063
6,515
919
446
789,050

30,255
439,339
1,903
68,373
71,533
55,550
47,904
660
4,546
16,654
695
466
443
–
738,321

7,058
12,688
26,140
45,886
4,518
50,404
325
50,729
789,050

52,728
92,818
47,212
53,549
268,523
143,731
42,022
539
2,700
1,908
5,290
6,220
1,105
2,053
720,398

28,562
405,357
1,935
66,974
48,484
53,025
41,583
703
5,369
16,207
611
449
469
9
669,737

7,078
11,685
26,072
44,835
5,513
50,348
313
50,661
720,398

The notes on pages 304 to 425 form an integral part of these financial statements.

These financial statements were approved by the Board of directors and authorised for issue on 25 February 2021 and signed  
on its behalf by:

José Viñals 
Chairman  

Bill Winters 
Group Chief Executive 

 Andy Halford

Group Chief Financial Officer

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Consolidated statement of changes in equity

For the year ended 31 December 2020

Ordinary 
share 
capital 
and 
share 
premium 
account 
$million

Prefer-
ence 
share 
capital 
and 
share 
premium 
account 
$million

Capital 
and 
merger 
reserves 
$million

Own 
credit 
adjust-
ment 
reserve 
$million

Fair 
value 
through 
other 
compre-
hensive 
income 
reserve 
– debt 
$million

Fair 
value 
through 
other 
compre-
hensive 
income 
reserve 
– equity 
$million

Cash 
flow 
hedge 
reserve 
$million

Trans-
lation 
reserve 
$million

Retained 
earnings 
$million

Parent 
company 
share-
holders’ 
equity 
$million

Other 
equity 
instru-
ments 
$million

Non-
controlling 
interests 
$million

Total 
$million

As at 1 January 2019

Profit for the period

Other comprehensive (loss)/income

Distributions

Shares issued, net of expenses3

Other equity instruments issued,  
net of expenses

Treasury shares purchased

Treasury shares issued

Share option expense

Dividends on ordinary shares

Dividends on preference shares and  
AT1 securities

Share buy-back4

Other movements

As at 31 December 2019

Profit for the period

Other comprehensive (loss)/income

Distributions

Other equity instruments issued,  
net of expenses

Redemption of other equity instruments

Treasury shares purchased

Treasury shares issued

Share option expense

Dividends on preference shares and  
AT1 securities

Share buy-back7

Other movements

5,617

1,494

17,1291

–

–

–

25

–

–

–

–

–

–

(58)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

58

–

5,584

1,494

17,187

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(20)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

20

–

412

–

(410)

358

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

197

–

(54)

332

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(161)

120

(10) (5,612) 26,129

45,118

4,961

273 50,352

–

–

30

–

–

2,303

2,303

(49)

(180)

(132)2

(383)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

25

–

–

–

–

552

(206)

(206)

7

139

7

139

(720)

(720)

(448)

(448)

(1,006)

(1,006)

65

6

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

150

(59) (5,792) 26,072 44,835

5,513

–

631

724

112

724

925

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

37

2,340

(17)

(35)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

556

313

27

(12)

(20)

(400)

(35)

25

552

(206)

7

139

(720)

(448)

(1,006)

61

50,661

751

913

(20)

–

(2)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(13)

(98)

8

133

–

–

(98)

8

133

(395)

(395)

(242)

(242)

69

(60)8

9

992

–

992

(13) (1,987)

– (2,000)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(98)

8

133

(395)

(242)

179

26

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As at 31 December 2020

5,564

1,494 17,207

(52)

529

148

(52) (5,092) 26,140 45,886 4,518

325 50,729

1 

Includes capital reserve of $5 million, capital redemption reserve of $13 million and merger reserve of $17,111 million

2  Comprises actuarial gain, net of taxation $11 million and nil share from associates and joint ventures ($130 million actuarial loss and $2 million share of loss from 

associates and joint ventures for the year ending 31 December 2019)

3  Comprises share capital of shares issued to fulfil discretionary awards $1 million, share capital of shares issued to fulfil employee share save options $1 million  

(nil for the year ended 31 December 2020) and share premium of shares issued to fulfil employee Sharesave options exercised $23 million  (nil for the year ended  
31 December 2020)

4  On 1 May 2019, the Group commenced a share buy-back of its ordinary shares of $0.50 each up to a maximum consideration of $1,000 million. Nominal value of 
share purchases is $58 million for the year ended 31 December 2019 and the total consideration paid was $1,006 million which includes share buyback expenses  
of $6 million. The total number of shares purchased was 116,103,483 representing 3.51 per cent of the ordinary shares in issue. The nominal value of the shares was 
transferred from the share capital to the capital redemption reserve account

5  Comprises $10 million disposal of non-controlling interest of Phoon Huat Pte Ltd offset by $4 million withholding tax on capitalisation of revenue reserves for 

Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited 

6  Comprises $72 million of non-controlling interest in Mox Bank Limited offset by $17 million disposal of non-controlling interest in Phoon Huat Pte Ltd, Sirat Holdings 

Limited and Ori Private Limited

7  On 28 February 2020, the Group announced the buy-back programme for a share buy-back of its ordinary shares of $0.50 each. Nominal value of share purchases 
was $20 million, and the total consideration paid was $242 million. The total number of shares purchased was 40,029,585 representing 1.25 per cent of the ordinary  
shares in issue. The nominal value of the shares was transferred from the share capital to the capital redemption reserve account. On 31 March 2020, the Group 
announced that, in response to a request from the Prudential Regulation Authority and as a consequence of the unprecedented challenges facing the world due 
to the COVID-19 pandemic, its board had decided after careful consideration to withdraw the recommendation to pay a final dividend for 2019 of 20 cents per 
ordinary share, and to suspend the buy-back programme

8 

Includes $69 million related to prior period  adjustments to reclass FX movements from translation reserve to retained earnings ($45 million related to FX 
movements of the hedging instruments for net investment hedges and $24 million related to FX movements for monetary items, which were considered structural 
positions), and $9 million increase related to revenue reserves of PT Bank Permata Tbk

 9  $17 million movement related to non-controlling interest from Mox Bank Limited

Note 28 includes a description of each reserve. 

The notes on pages 304 to 425 form an integral part of these financial statements.

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Financial statements

Financial statements

Cash flow statement

For the year ended 31 December 2020

Cash flows from operating activities:

Profit before taxation

Adjustments for non-cash items and other 
adjustments included within income statement

Change in operating assets

Change in operating liabilities

Contributions to defined benefit schemes

UK and overseas taxes paid

Net cash from/(used in) operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

Acquisition of investment in subsidiaries, associates, 
and joint ventures, net of cash acquired

Dividends received from subsidiaries, associates and 
joint ventures

Disposal of joint ventures, net of cash acquired

Purchase of investment securities

Disposal and maturity of investment securities

Net cash (used in)/from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:

Issue of ordinary and preference share capital,  
net of expenses

Exercise of share options

Purchase of own shares

Cancellation of shares including share buy-back

Premises and equipment lease liability principal 
payment

Issue of AT1 capital, net of expenses

Redemption of Tier 1 capital

Gross proceeds from issue of subordinated liabilities

Interest paid on subordinated liabilities

Repayment of subordinated liabilities

Proceeds from issue of senior debts

Repayment of senior debts

Interest paid on senior debts

Investment from non-controlling interests

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests, 
preference shareholders and AT1 securities

Dividends paid to ordinary shareholders

Net cash from/(used in) financing activities

Group

2020 
$million

Notes

Company

2019 
$million

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

34

34

34

30

10

18

32

32

28

28

28

34

34

34

34

34

34

1,613

3,713

4,342

(38,064)

54,437

(123)

(971)

21,234

(1,270)

178

(52)

–

1,066

2,417
(35,433)1

29,935

(137)

(1,421)
(926)1

(518)1
5661

–

3

–

(285,026)

280,626

(4,478)

(259,473)

241,600

(17,822)

–

8

(98)

(242)

(319)

992

(2,000)

2,473

(601)

(2,446)

9,953

(4,305)

(627)

–

(415)

–

2,373

19,129

77,454

1,291

97,874

25

7

(206)

(1,006)

(332)

552

–

1,000

(603)

(23)

9,169

(7,692)

(797)

56

(483)

(720)

(1,053)

(19,801)

97,500

(245)

77,454

666

19

(8,451)

6,415

–

3

22,306

(16,760)

(5,473)

(4,182)

–

–

(1,348)

(4,109)

–

–

–

1,110

–

–

2,590

3,700

–

8

(98)

(242)

–

990

(2,000)

2,473

(537)

(1,402)

2,193

(2,106)

(575)

–

(395)

–

(1,691)

661

11,622

–

12,283

–

–

–

4,494

–

(7,583)

1,065

(2,024)

25

7

(206)

(1,006)

–

552

–

1,000

(547)

–

6,012

(3,780)

(740)

–

(448)

(720)

149

(5,984)

17,606

–

11,622

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year

Effect of exchange rate movements on cash and 
cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year

35

1  Aircraft and shipping purchases and disposals re-presented as cash flows from investing activities 

300

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Company balance sheet

For the year ended 31 December 2020

Non-current assets

Investments in subsidiary undertakings

Current assets

Derivative financial instruments

Financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss

Investment securities

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings

Taxation

Total current assets

Current liabilities

Derivative financial instruments

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings

Financial liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss

Other creditors

Total current liabilities

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Debt securities in issue

Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds

Total non-current liabilities

Total assets less liabilities

Equity

Share capital and share premium account

Other reserves

Retained earnings

Total shareholders’ equity

Other equity instruments

Total equity

Notes

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

32

39

39

39

39

39

39

39

39

39

28

28

57,407

58,037

971

12,783

11,146

12,283

9

37,192

360

212

6,552

465

7,589

29,603

87,010

20,701

14,783

35,484

51,526

7,058

17,178

22,774

47,010

4,516

51,526

229

4,502

13,665

11,622

15

30,033

738

26

112

403

1,279

28,754

86,791

19,713

14,588

34,301

52,490

7,078

17,177

22,722

46,977

5,513

52,490

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The Company has taken advantage of the exemption in section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to present its individual 
statement of comprehensive income and related notes that form a part of these financial statements. The Company profit for 
the period after tax is $659 million (31 December 2019: $22,309 million). Please see Note 39 Standard Chartered PLC (Company) 
for details of the group reorganisation.

The notes on pages 304 to 425 form an integral part of these financial statements.

These financial statements were approved by the Board of directors and authorised for issue on 25 February 2021 and signed  
on its behalf by:

José Viñals 
Chairman  

Bill Winters 
Group Chief Executive 

 Andy Halford

Group Chief Financial Officer

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Financial statements

Financial statements

Company statement of changes in equity 

For the year ended 31 December 2020

As at 1 January 2019

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive loss

Shares issued, net of expenses

Other equity instruments issued, net of expenses

Treasury shares purchased

Treasury shares issued

Share option expense

Dividends on ordinary shares

Dividends on preference share and AT1 securities
Share buy-back3

As at 31 December 2019

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive loss

Other equity instruments issued, net of expenses

Treasury shares purchased

Treasury shares issued

Share option expense

Dividends on preference share and AT1 securities

Redemption of other equity instruments
Share buy-back4

Share 
capital  
and share 
premium 
account 
$million

7,111

–

–

25

–

–

–

–

–

–

Capital and 
merger 
reserve 
$million

17,1291

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(58)

7,078

58

17,187

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(20)

20

Own credit 
adjustment 
$million

Cash flow 
hedge 
reserve 
$million

Retained 
earnings 
$million

Other equity 
instruments 
$million

4,961

–

–

–

552

–

–

–

–

–

Total 
$million

31,849

22,309

(10)

25

552

(206)

7

139

(720)

(448)

(1,006)

5,513

52,490

–

–

990

–

–

–

–

659

(19)

990

(98)

8

133

(395)

2,647
22,3092

–

–

–

(206)

7

139

(720)

(448)

(1,006)

22,722

659

–

–

(98)

8

133

(395)

–

–

(10)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(10)

–

(8)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(11)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(13)

(1,987)

(2,000)

(242)

(242)

As at 31 December 2020

7,058

17,207

(18)

(11)

22,774

4,516

51,526

1 

2 

Includes capital reserve of $5 million, capital redemption reserve of $13 million and merger reserve of $17,111 million

Includes dividend received of $20,989 million from Standard Chartered Holding Limited. Of this amount, $17,978 million was a dividend in specie of Standard 
Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited, while $3,010 million was a cash dividend related to the sale of Standard 
Chartered NEA Limited and Standard Chartered Bank (Taiwan) Limited

3  On 1 May 2019, the Group commenced a share buy-back of its ordinary shares of $0.50 each up to a maximum consideration of $1,000 million. Nominal value of 

share purchases is $58 million for the year ended 31 December 2019 and the total consideration paid was $1,006 million which includes share buy-back expenses  
of $6 million. The total number of shares purchased was 116,103,483 representing 3.51 per cent of the ordinary shares in issue. The nominal value of the shares was 
transferred from the share capital to the capital redemption reserve account

4  On 28 February 2020, the Group announced the buy-back programme for a share buy-back of its ordinary shares of $0.50 each. Nominal value of share purchases 
was $20 million, and the total consideration paid was $242 million. The total number of shares purchased was 40,029,585 representing 1.25 per cent of the ordinary 
shares in issue. The nominal value of the shares was transferred from the share capital to the capital redemption reserve account. On 31 March 2020, the Group 
announced that, in response to a request from the Prudential Regulation Authority and as a consequence of the unprecedented challenges facing the world due 
to the COVID-19 pandemic, its Board had decided after careful consideration to withdraw the recommendation to pay a final dividend for 2019 of 20 cents per 
ordinary share, and to suspend the buy-back programme

Note 28 includes a description of each reserve. 

The notes on pages 304 to 425 form an integral part of these financial statements.

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Contents – Notes to the financial statements

Section

Basis of preparation

Performance/return

Assets and liabilities held at fair value

Financial instruments held at amortised cost

Other assets and investments

Funding, accruals, provisions, contingent 
liabilities and legal proceedings

Capital instruments, equity and reserves

Employee benefits

Scope of consolidation

Cash flow statement

Other disclosure matters

Note

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

Accounting policies

Segmental information

Net interest income

Net fees and commission

Net trading income

Other operating income

Operating expenses

Credit impairment

Goodwill, property, plant and equipment and other impairment

Taxation

Dividends

Earnings per ordinary share

Financial instruments

Derivative financial instruments

Loans and advances to banks and customers

Reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements including other  
similar lending and borrowing

Goodwill and intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Leased assets

Other assets

Assets held for sale and associated liabilities

Debt securities in issue

Other liabilities

Provisions for liabilities and charges

Contingent liabilities and commitments

Legal and regulatory matters

Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds

Share capital, other equity instruments and reserves

Non-controlling interests

Retirement benefit obligations

Share-based payments

Investments in subsidiary undertakings, joint ventures and associates

Structured entities

Cash flow statement

Cash and cash equivalents

Related party transactions

Post balance sheet events

Auditor’s remuneration

Standard Chartered PLC (Company)

40

Related undertakings of the Group

Page

304

306

312

312

314

315

315

316

320

321

325

326

327

353

363

364

366

369

372

373

373

 375

376

376

377

378

379

380

386

386

392

396

401

402

404

404

405

406

406

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

Notes to the financial statements

1. Accounting policies 

Statement of compliance
The Group financial statements consolidate Standard 
Chartered PLC (the Company) and its subsidiaries (together 
referred to as the Group) and equity account the Group’s 
interests in associates and jointly controlled entities.  
The parent company financial statements present 
information about the Company as a separate entity.

The Group financial statements have been prepared and 
approved by the directors in accordance with international 
accounting standards in conformity with the requirements  
of the Companies Act 2006 and with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) adopted pursuant to Regulation 
(EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union  
(EU IFRS). As the Group has early adopted ‘Amendments  
to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 Interest Rate 
Benchmark Reform – Phase 2’, which have been endorsed  
by the EU and UK in January 2021 (see ‘New accounting 
standards adopted by the Group’ below), the Group has 
applied international accounting standards which have 
been adopted for use within the UK.

The Company financial statements have been prepared 
and approved by the directors in accordance with 
international accounting standards in conformity with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006. The Company  
has taken advantage of the exemption in section 408 of the 
Companies Act 2006 not to present its individual statement 
of comprehensive income and related notes that form a part 
of these financial statements.

The following parts of the Risk review and Capital review 
form part of these financial statements:

a) Risk review: Disclosures marked as ‘audited’ from the  
start of the Credit Risk section (page 186) to the end of  
Other principal risks in the same section (page 247).

b) Capital review: Tables marked as ‘audited’ from the start 
of ‘CRD Capital base’ to the end of ‘Movement in total 
capital’, excluding ‘Total risk-weighted assets’ (pages 278  
to 279).

Basis of preparation
The consolidated and Company financial statements have 
been prepared on a going concern basis and under the 
historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation  
of cash-settled share-based payments, fair value through 
other comprehensive income, and financial assets and 
liabilities (including derivatives) at fair value through profit  
or loss.

The consolidated financial statements are presented in 
United States dollars ($), being the presentation currency of 
the Group and functional currency of the Company, and all 
values are rounded to the nearest million dollars, except 
when otherwise indicated.

Significant accounting estimates and judgements
In determining the carrying amounts of certain assets and 
liabilities, the Group makes assumptions of the effects of 
uncertain future events on those assets and liabilities at the 
balance sheet date. The Group’s estimates and assumptions 
are based on historical experience and expectation of future 

events and are reviewed periodically. Further information 
about key assumptions concerning the future, and other key 
sources of estimation uncertainty and judgement, are set 
out in the relevant disclosure notes for the following areas:

•  Credit impairment, including evaluation of management 
overlays and post-model adjustments, and determination 
of probability weightings for Stage 3 individually assessed 
provisions (Note 8)

•  Taxation (Note 10)

•  Financial instruments measured at fair value (Note 13)

•  Goodwill impairment (Note 17)

•  Recoverable amounts for aircraft operating lease assets 

(Note 18)

•  Provisions for liabilities and charges (Note 24)

•  Investments in subsidiary undertakings, joint ventures and 

associates (Note 32)

IFRS and Hong Kong accounting requirements
As required by the Hong Kong Listing Rules, an explanation 
of the differences in accounting practices between EU IFRS 
and Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards is required to 
be disclosed. There would be no significant differences had 
these accounts been prepared in accordance with Hong 
Kong Financial Reporting Standards.

Comparatives
Certain comparatives have been restated in line with current 
year disclosures. Details of these changes are set out in the 
relevant sections and notes below:

•  Note 2 Segmental information

•  Note 13 Financial instruments

•  Note 19 Leased Assets

•  Note 25 Contingent liabilities and commitments

New accounting standards adopted by the Group
Interest Rate Benchmark Reform – Phase 2 amendments to 
IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 
In August 2020 the IASB published the second phase of its 
amendments to IFRS concerning the global initiative to 
replace or reform Interbank Offered Rates (IBORs) that  
are used to determine interest cash flows on financial 
instruments such as loans to customers, debt securities and 
derivatives. These amendments were endorsed by the EU  
on 14 January 2021 and by the UK Secretary of State for 
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 5 January 2021. 
Phase 2 focuses on issues expected to affect financial 
reporting when an existing IBOR is replaced with an 
alternative risk-free rate (RFR). The Group has elected to 
early adopt the Phase 2 amendments for the year ended  
31 December 2020.

The first phase of amendments were early-adopted for the 
year ended 31 December 2019 (refer to pages 263 to 264 in 
the 2019 Annual Report), and continue to be in force until 
there is no longer uncertainty over the cash flows of both the 
hedged item and hedging instrument.

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1. Accounting policies continued

The Phase 2 amendments contain a practical expedient, 
which requires changes to the basis for determining 
contractual cash flows as a direct result of interest rate 
benchmark reform to be treated as a change in floating 
interest rate, provided that the transition from the IBOR 
benchmark to the alternative RFR takes place on an 
economically equivalent basis. This may include the addition 
of a fixed spread to compensate for a basis difference 
between the existing IBOR benchmark and alternative RFR, 
changes to reset period, reset dates or number of days 
between coupon payment dates that are necessary to 
effect reform of an IBOR benchmark and the addition of any 
fallback provision to the contractual terms of a financial 
instrument that allow any of the above changes to be made. 

Any other change to contractual terms would be assessed 
under the Group’s accounting policies for loan modifications, 
including an assessment of whether derecognition of the 
original instrument is required.

consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic is accounted for as 
a lease modification. Entities may therefore account for such 
rent concessions by reducing the lease liability by the value 
of the concession, with a corresponding gain recorded in 
Other income. A rent concession is only deemed a direct 
consequence of COVID-19 if all the following criteria are met:

•  A change in lease payments results in revised 

consideration for the lease that is substantially the  
same as, or less than, the consideration for the lease 
immediately preceding the change;

•  Any reduction in lease payments affects only payments 

originally due up to and including 30 June 2021 (this 
includes the case where the change results in reduced 
lease payments before this date and increased lease 
payments after this date); and

•  There is no substantive change to other terms and 

conditions of the lease

The amendments also provide reliefs which allow the  
Group to change hedge designations and corresponding 
documentation without the hedge relationship being 
discontinued. These include the ability to:

The amendments have not had a material effect on  
the Group’s financial statements, and do not result in  
any adjustment to opening retained earnings as of  
1 January 2020.

•  Redefine the description of the hedged item and/or 

hedging instrument

•  Redefine the hedged risk to reference an alternative RFR

•  Change the method for assessing hedge effectiveness 

due to modifications required by IBOR reform

•  Elect, on a hedge-by-hedge basis, to reset the cumulative 

fair value changes in the assessment of retrospective 
hedge effectiveness to zero

A hedge designation may be modified more than once, 
each time a relationship is affected as a direct result of  
IBOR reform (for example, if the hedged item and hedging 
instrument are repapered into the alternative RFR at 
different times).

Where an alternative RFR designated as a non-contractually 
specified risk portion is not separately identifiable (i.e. fair 
value hedge of a fixed-rate debt instrument), the Group may 
assume that the alternative RFR is deemed to have met that 
requirement provided it reasonably expected the alternative 
RFR will be separately identifiable within 24 months. 

The 24-month period begins individually for each 
benchmark, but if it is subsequently assessed that the 
alternative RFR is no longer expected to be separately 
identifiable within 24 months of the first hedge designation 
of a benchmark, then all hedges for that benchmark are 
discontinued prospectively.

Disclosures required under these amendments may be 
found in the Emerging Risks section on page 274 and in 
Notes 13 and 14.

Amendments to IFRS 16: COVID-19-related Rent 
Concessions
In May 2020 the IASB issued amendments to IFRS 16 Leases, 
which were endorsed by the EU on 12 October 2020. The 
amendments are effective for annual reporting periods 
beginning on or after 1 June 2020, but the Group has  
elected to early adopt the amendments for the year ended 
31 December 2020.

The amendments provide lessees of premises and 
equipment a practical expedient that permits them not  
to assess whether a rent concession granted as a direct 

Amendments to IFRS 3: Definition of a Business
In October 2018, the IASB issued amendments to the 
definition of a business in IFRS 3 Business Combinations, 
which were endorsed by the EU in April 2020. The 
amendments are effective for annual reporting periods 
beginning on or after 1 January 2020 and apply 
prospectively. The amendments:

•  Clarify the minimum requirements for a business;

•  Remove the assessment of whether market participants 

are capable of replacing any missing elements;

•  Add guidance to help entities assess whether an acquired 

process is substantive;

•  Narrow the definitions of a business and of outputs; and

•  Introduce an optional fair value concentration test

These amendments do not have a material effect on these 
financial statements as no transactions in scope of IFRS 3 
have occurred during the period and no adjustment is 
required to opening retained earnings.

Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting
In March 2018 the IASB published a revised Conceptual 
Framework for Financial Reporting, often referred to as the 
‘Conceptual Framework’, applicable to IFRS preparers for 
annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2020. The 
Conceptual Framework provides guidance to preparers on 
determining accounting policies where no specific IFRS or IAS 
standard applies to a particular transaction or where a 
standard allows for an accounting policy choice. It includes 
limited revisions of definitions of an asset and a liability, as 
well as new guidance on measurement and derecognition, 
presentation and disclosure. The concept of prudence has 
been reintroduced with the statement that prudence 
supports neutrality. The Conceptual Framework is not an 
IFRS standard and does not replace any specific standards. 
The changes in the Conceptual Framework are not 
considered material to the Group since all of the Group’s 
significant accounting policies are derived from specific  
IFRS or IAS standards.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

1. Accounting policies continued

Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8: Definition of Material
In October 2018 the IASB issued amendments to IAS 1 
Presentation of Financial Statements and IAS 8 Accounting 
Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors (‘the 
amendments’), applicable to IFRS preparers for annual 
periods beginning on or after 1 January 2020. The purpose  
is to align the definition of ‘material’ across the standards 
and to clarify certain aspects of the definition. Information  
is ‘material’ if omitting, misstating or obscuring it could 
reasonably be expected to influence decisions that the 
primary users of general-purpose financial statements make 
on the basis of those financial statements, which provide 
financial information about a specific reporting entity.  
The revised definition is already aligned to how the Group 
assesses whether the effect of a change in accounting 
policy, change in accounting estimate or error would be 
considered ‘material’ to the primary users of the Group’s 
financial statements, hence these amendments have  
no specific effect on the preparation of these financial 
statements and are not expected to affect the preparation 
of future financial statements.

New accounting standards in issue but not yet effective
IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts
IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts was issued in May 2017 to 
replace IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts and to establish a 
comprehensive standard for inceptors of insurance policies. 
The effective date has been deferred to 1 January 2023.  
The Group is assessing the likely implementation impact  
on adopting the standards on its financial statements. 

Amendments to IFRS 9 Financial Instruments: Fees in the  
’10 per cent’ test for derecognition of financial liabilities
In May 2020 the IASB published its 2018-2020 annual 
improvements process which provides non-urgent but 
necessary amendments to IFRS. This publication included 
changes to IFRS 9 that will be effective prospectively from  
1 January 2022, with early adoption permitted. Under these 
amendments, when assessing changes in terms of a 
financial liability, the only fees considered in the assessment 
of whether the terms of a new or modified financial liability 
are substantially different (i.e. a change in present value of 
more than 10 per cent) from the terms of the original 
financial liability are fees paid or received between the 
borrower or lender. This includes fees paid or received by 
either the borrower or lender on the other’s behalf. The effect 
of these amendments is not expected to be material to the 
Group’s financial statements.

Going concern 
These financial statements were approved by the Board of 
directors on 25 February 2021. The directors have made an 
assessment of the Group’s ability to continue as a going 
concern. This assessment has been made having considered 
the impact of COVID-19, macroeconomic and geopolitical 
headwinds, including:

•  A review of the Group Strategy and Corporate Plan,  

both of which cover a year from the date of signing the 
annual report

•  An assessment of the actual performance to date, loan 
book quality, credit impairment, legal, regulatory and 
compliance matters, and the updated annual budget

•  Consideration of stress testing performed, including a 
bespoke COVID-19 stress test with scenario analysis 
focused on mild, moderate, severe and extreme variants 
across the Group’s footprint markets to ensure that the 
Group has sufficient capital to withstand this shock.  
Under a range of scenarios, the results of these stress  
tests demonstrate that the Group has sufficient capital 
and liquidity to continue as a going concern and meet 
minimum regulatory capital and liquidity requirements

•  Analysis of the capital, funding and liquidity position of  

the Group, including the capital and leverage ratios, and 
ICAAP which summarises the Group’s capital and risk 
assessment processes, assesses its capital requirements 
and the adequacy of resources to meet them. Further, 
funding and liquidity was considered in the context of the 
risk appetite metrics, including the ADR and LCR ratios

•  The Group’s Internal Liquidity Adequacy Assessment 
Process (ILAAP), which considers the Group’s liquidity 
position, its framework and whether sufficient liquidity 
resources are being maintained to meet liabilities as they 
fall due, was also reviewed

•  The level of debt in issue, including redemptions and 

issuances during the year, debt falling due for repayment 
in the next 12 months and further planned debt issuances, 
including the appetite in the market for the Group’s debt. 

•  A detailed review of all principal and emerging risks

Based on the analysis performed, the directors confirm they 
are satisfied that the Group has adequate resources to 
continue in business for a period of at least 12 months from 
the date of approval of these financial statements. For this 
reason, the Group continues to adopt the going concern 
basis of accounting for preparing the financial statements.

2. Segmental information
The Group’s segmental reporting is in accordance with IFRS 8 
Operating Segments and is reported consistently with the 
internal performance framework and as presented to the 
Group’s Management Team. The four client segments are: 
Corporate & Institutional Banking, Retail Banking, Commercial 
Banking, and Private Banking. The four geographic regions 
are: Greater China & North Asia, ASEAN & South Asia, Africa & 
Middle East, and Europe & Americas. Activities not directly 
related to a client segment and/or geographic region are 
included in Central & other items. These mainly include 
Corporate Centre costs, treasury activities, certain strategic 
investments and the UK bank levy.

The following should also be noted:

•  Transactions and funding between the segments are 

carried out on an arm’s-length basis

•  Corporate Centre costs represent stewardship and central 
management services roles and activities that are not 
directly attributable to business or country operations

•  Treasury markets, joint ventures and associate investments 
are managed in the regions and are included within the 
applicable region. However, they are not managed directly 
by a client segment and are therefore included in the 
Central & other items segment

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2. Segmental information continued
•  In addition to treasury activities, Corporate Centre costs 

and other Group-related functions, Central & other items  
for regions includes globally run businesses or activities that 
are managed by the client segments but not directly by 
geographic management. These include Principal Finance 
and Portfolio Management

•  The Group allocated central costs (excluding Corporate 

Centre costs) relating to client segments and geographic 
regions using appropriate business drivers (such as in 
proportion to the direct cost base of each segment before 
allocation of indirect costs) and these are reported within 
operating expenses

•  The segmental and regional results reported for 2020  

do not reflect changes made to the Group organisation  
in January 2021 as discussed in the Strategic Report.  
The Group’s segmental and regional results will start to 
reflect those organisational changes in 2021.

Basis of preparation
The analysis reflects how the client segments and geographic 
regions are managed internally. This is described as the 
Management View (on an underlying basis) and is principally 
the location from which a client relationship is managed, 
which may differ from where it is financially booked and may 
be shared between businesses and/or regions. In certain 
instances this approach is not appropriate and a Financial 
View is disclosed, that is, the location in which the transaction 
or balance was booked. Typically, the Financial View is used  
in areas such as the Market and Liquidity Risk reviews where 
actual booking location is more important for an assessment. 
Segmental information is therefore on a Management View 
unless otherwise stated.

Profit before taxation (PBT)

Restructuring items excluded from underlying results
The Group’s statutory performance is adjusted for profits or 
losses of a capital nature, amounts consequent to investment 
transactions driven by strategic intent, other infrequent and/
or exceptional transactions that are significant or material in 
the context of the Group’s normal business earnings for the 
period and items which management and investors would 
ordinarily identify separately when assessing underlying 
performance period-by period.

Restructuring charges of $382 million for 2020 is broadly split 
evenly between actions to exit the Group’s discontinued 
businesses, primarily ship leasing and principal finance, and 
actions to transform the organisation to improve productivity, 
primarily redundancy related charges. Charges related to 
restructuring increased 50% due to the significant decline in 
income from discontinued businesses, including negative 
movements in the valuation of principal finance investments. 

The goodwill impairment of $489 million reflects writing off  
all goodwill relating to the Group’s businesses in India, UAE, 
Indonesia and Brunei. This was primarily due to lower forward-
looking cash flows, lower economic growth forecasts and 
higher discount rates reflecting lower interest rate 
environments. 

Other restructuring items also include a $43 million dilution 
loss following the initial public offering of the Group’s 
associate in China Bohai Bank. Charges related to other  
items reduced 86% primarily due to the regulatory provisions 
booked in the prior year. 

Reconciliations between underlying and statutory results are 
set out in the tables below:

Operating income

Operating expenses

Operating profit/(loss) before impairment losses 
and taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Profit/(loss) before taxation

Operating income

Operating expenses

Operating profit/(loss) before impairment losses 
and taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Profit/(loss) before taxation

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a

l
s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

2020

Provision for 
regulatory 
matters 
$million

Restructuring 
$million

Net loss on 
businesses 
disposed/ 
held for sale 
$million

Goodwill 
impairment 
$million

–

14

14

–

–

–

14

27

(252)

(225)

(31)

(113)

(13)

(382)

(38)

–

(38)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(489)

–

(38)

(489)

Underlying 
$million

14,765

(10,142)

4,623

(2,294)

15

164

2,508

Share of 
profits of  
PT Bank 
Permata 
Tbk joint 
venture 
$million

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Provision for 
regulatory 
matters 
$million

–

Underlying 
$million

15,271

(10,409)

(226)

4,862

(226)

(906)

(38)

254

4,172

–

–

–

(226)

2019

Net loss on 
businesses 
disposed/ 
held for sale 
$million

Share of 
profits of  
PT Bank 
Permata Tbk 
joint venture 
$million

Goodwill 
impairment 
$million

Restructuring 
$million

146

(298)

(152)

(2)

(98)

(2)

(254)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(27)

–

(27)

–

–

–

–

–

48

48

Statutory  
$million

14,754

(10,380)

4,374

(2,325)

(587)

151

1,613

Statutory  
$million

15,417

(10,933)

4,484

(908)

(163)

300

3,713

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

2. Segmental information continued

Underlying performance by client segment 

Total assets 

355,401

118,067

32,902

13,716

268,964

789,050

Operating income

External

Inter-segment

Operating expenses

Operating profit/(loss) before 
impairment losses and taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Underlying profit/(loss) before taxation

Restructuring

Goodwill impairment & other items

Statutory profit/(loss) before taxation

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

7,214

7,083

131

5,013

4,322

691

(4,178)

(3,701)

3,036

(1,237)

42

–

1,841

(164)

–

1,677

1,312

(715)

(10)

–

587

(50)

–

537

Of which: loans and advances  
to customers2

loans and advances to customers

loans held at fair value through  
profit or loss

Total liabilities

Of which: customer accounts2

Operating income

External

Inter-segment

Operating expenses

Operating profit/(loss) before 
impairment losses and taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Underlying profit before taxation

Restructuring

Goodwill impairment & other items

Statutory profit/(loss) before taxation

Total assets 

Of which: loans and advances  
to customers2

loans and advances to customers

loans held at fair value through  
profit or loss

Total liabilities

Of which: customer accounts2

160,629

109,043

51,586

429,239

262,201

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

7,074

7,264

(190)

(4,310)

2,764

(475)

(32)

–

2,257

(110)

–

2,147

326,565

153,884

108,746

45,138

387,561

243,269

115,611

115,476

135

158,827

154,831

Retail  
Banking 
$million

5,186

4,236

950

(3,759)

1,427

(336)

2

–

1,093

(63)

–

1,030

109,368

107,140

106,902

238

148,413

144,760

2020

Retail  
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

Central &  
other items 
$million

1,409

1,320

89

(878)

531

(316)

(1)

–

214

(57)

–

157

540

374

166

(476)

64

(2)

–

–

62

(11)

–

51

589

1,666

(1,077)

(909)

(320)

(24)

(16)

164

(196)

(100)

(513)

(809)

27,342

24,498

2,844

51,803

48,578

13,619

13,619

–

18,882

18,675

19,075

19,063

12

79,570

7,869

2019 (Restated)¹

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

Central &  
other items 
$million

1,574

1,618

(44)

(953)

621

(122)

–

–

499

(11)

–

488

33,978

28,831

27,978

853

41,628

38,847

577

329

248

(514)

63

31

–

–

94

(11)

–

83

860

1,824

(964)

(873)

(13)

(4)

(8)

254

229

(59)

(205)

(35)

14,922

235,565

720,398

14,821

14,821

–

18,480

18,424

10,078

10,076

2

73,655

7,433

314,754

268,523

46,231

669,737

452,733

Total 
$million

14,765

14,765

–

(10,142)

4,623

(2,294)

15

164

2,508

(382)

(513)

1,613

336,276

281,699

54,577

738,321

492,154

Total 
$million

15,271

15,271

–

(10,409)

4,862

(906)

(38)

254

4,172

(254)

(205)

3,713

1   Following a reorganisation of certain clients, there has been a reclassification of balances across client segments

2  Loans and advances to customers includes FVTPL and customer accounts includes FVTPL and repurchase agreements

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2. Segmental information continued

Operating income by client segment

Underlying operating income

Restructuring 

Other items

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

7,214

11

–

2020

Retail  
Banking 
$million

5,013

–

–

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

1,409

29

–

Statutory operating income

7,225

5,013

1,438

Private  
Banking 
$million

540

–

–

540

Central &  
other items 
$million

589

(13)

(38)

538

Underlying operating income

Restructuring 

Other items

Statutory operating income

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

7,074

146

–

7,220

Retail  
Banking 
$million

5,186

–

–

2019 (Restated)¹

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

Central &  
other items 
$million

1,574

4

–

577

–

–

577

860

(4)

–

856

5,186

1,578

1  Following a reorganisation of certain clients, there has been a reclassification of balances across client segments

Underlying performance by region 

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN & 
 South Asia 
$million

 Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

2020

Operating income

Operating expenses

Operating profit/(loss) before 
impairment losses and taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Underlying profit/(loss) before taxation

Restructuring

Goodwill impairment & other items

Statutory profit/(loss) before taxation

Total assets 

Of which: loans and advances  
to customers1

loans and advances to customers

loans held at fair value through  
profit or loss

Total liabilities

Of which: customer accounts1

6,016

(3,739)

2,277

(352)

(53)

163

2,035

(92)

(43)

1,900

311,484

151,879

143,260

8,619

286,855

231,456

4,366

(2,618)

1,748

(1,132)

163

–

779

(42)

–

737

2,364

(1,683)

681

(654)

(14)

–

13

(88)

–

(75)

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

1,922

(1,383)

539

(161)

8

–

386

(45)

–

341

155,728

58,069

253,438

87,213

82,897

4,316

134,856

103,167

29,413

28,214

1,199

39,980

32,106

67,771

27,328

40,443

211,840

125,425

Central &  
other items 
$million

97

(719)

(622)

5

(89)

1

(705)

(115)

(470)

(1,290)

10,331

–

–

–

64,790

–

Total 
$million

14,765

27

(38)

14,754

Total 
$million

15,271

146

–

15,417

Total 
$million

14,765

(10,142)

4,623

(2,294)

15

164

2,508

(382)

(513)

1,613

789,050

336,276

281,699

54,577

738,321

492,154

i

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n
a
n
c
i
a

l
s
t
a
t
e
m
e
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t
s

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

2. Segmental information continued

Underlying performance by region continued

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

 Africa & 
 Middle East 
$million

2019

Operating income

Operating expenses

Operating profit/(loss) before 
impairment losses and taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Underlying profit/(loss) before taxation

Restructuring

Goodwill impairment & other items

Statutory profit/(loss) before taxation

Total assets 

Of which: loans and advances  
to customers1

loans and advances to customers

loans held at fair value through  
profit or loss

Total liabilities

Of which: customer accounts1

6,155

(3,771)

2,384

(194)

(5)

247

2,432

(138)

–

2,294

277,704

139,977

134,066

5,911

249,004

204,286

4,213

(2,681)

1,532

(506)

(1)

–

1,025

(34)

48

1,039

149,785

80,885

78,229

2,656

126,213

97,459

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

1,725

(1,470)

255

(98)

–

–

157

(34)

–

123

Central &  
other items 
$million

616

(740)

(124)

24

(33)

7

(126)

(30)

(253)

(409)

Total 
$million

15,271

(10,409)

4,862

(906)

(38)

254

4,172

(254)

(205)

3,713

2,562

(1,747)

815

(132)

1

–

684

(18)

–

666

59,828

220,579

12,502

720,398

31,487

29,940

1,547

36,144

29,280

62,405

26,288

36,117

218,794

121,708

–

–

–

39,582

–

314,754

268,523

46,231

669,737

452,733

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

1,922

–

–

Central &  
other items 
$million

97

(49)

5

53

Central &  
other items 
$million

616

61

–

677

Total 
$million

14,765

27

(38)

14,754

Total 
$million

15,271

146

–

15,417

1  Loans and advances to customers includes FVTPL and customer accounts includes FVTPL and repurchase agreements

Operating income by region

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

 Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

2020

Underlying operating income

Restructuring

Other items

Statutory operating income

6,016

82

(43)

6,055

4,366

2,364

(4)

–

(2)

–

4,362

2,362

1,922

Underlying operating income

Restructuring

Other items

Statutory operating income

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

6,155

87

–

6,242

4,213

(2)

–

4,211

2019

 Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

2,562

–

–

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

1,725

–

–

2,562

1,725

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2. Segmental information continued

Additional segmental information (statutory)

Net interest income

Net fees and commission income

Net trading and other income

Operating income

Net interest income

Net fees and commission income

Net trading and other income

Operating income

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking  
$million

2,625

1,219

3,381

7,225

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking  
$million

2,615

1,559

3,046

7,220

2020

Retail  
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

Central &  
other items 
$million

3,102

1,457

454

5,013

880

280

278

1,438

262

237

41

540

2019 (Restated)¹

(17)

(33)

588

538

Retail  
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

Central &  
other items 
$million

3,295

1,505

386

5,186

990

285

303

1,578

315

223

39

577

452

(50)

454

856

1 Following a reorganisation of certain clients, there has been a reclassification of balances across client segments

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

Central &  
other items 
$million

2020

Net interest income

Net fees and commission income

Net trading and other income

Operating income

2,942

1,329

1,784

6,055

2,051

1,015

1,296

4,362

1,223

531

608

2,362

2019

316

519

1,087

1,922

320

(234)

(33)

53

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

Central &  
other items 
$million

Net interest income

Net fees and commission income

Net trading and other income

Operating income

3,276

1,393

1,573

6,242

2,068

1,123

1,020

4,211

1,456

617

489

2,562

2020

149

503

1,073

1,725

718

(114)

73

677

Total 
$million

6,852

3,160

4,742

14,754

Total 
$million

7,667

3,522

4,228

15,417

Total 
$million

6,852

3,160

4,742

14,754

Total 
$million

7,667

3,522

4,228

15,417

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a

l
s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

Net interest income

Net fees and commission 
income

Net trading and other income

Operating income

Hong Kong 
$million

1,557

760

1,235

3,552

Korea 
$million

650

175

236

1,061

China 
$million

Singapore 
$million

India 
$million

Indonesia 
$million

UAE 
$million

UK 
$million

US 
$million

545

163

175

883

676

515

367

664

202

379

1,558

1,245

2019

86

66

156

308

281

113

173

567

62

61

824

947

Hong Kong 
$million

Korea 
$million

China 
$million

Singapore 
$million

India 
$million

Indonesia 
$million

Net interest income

Net fees and commission 
income

Net trading and other income

Operating income

1,893

866

1,082

3,841

659

160

152

971

562

144

166

872

731

552

354

1,637

564

244

232

1,040

112

69

91

272

UAE 
$million

365

UK 
$million

(211)

143

110

618

70

904

763

170

371

242

783

US 
$million

256

352

151

759

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

3. Net interest income

Accounting policy
Interest income for financial assets held at either fair value through other comprehensive income or amortised cost, and 
interest expense on all financial liabilities held at amortised cost is recognised in profit or loss using the effective interest 
method.

The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial asset or a financial liability and  
of allocating the interest income or interest expense over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that 
discounts estimated future cash payments or receipts through the expected life of the financial instrument or, when 
appropriate, a shorter period, to the net carrying amount of the financial asset or financial liability. When calculating the 
effective interest rate, the Group estimates cash flows considering all contractual terms of the financial instrument (for 
example, prepayment options) but does not consider future credit losses. The calculation includes all fees paid or received 
between parties to the contract that are an integral part of the effective interest rate, transaction costs and all other 
premiums or discounts. Where the estimates of cash flows have been revised, the carrying amount of the financial asset or 
liability is adjusted to reflect the actual and revised cash flows, discounted at the instrument’s original effective interest rate. 
The adjustment is recognised as interest income or expense in the period in which the revision is made.

Interest income for financial assets that are either held at fair value through other comprehensive income or amortised  
cost that have become credit-impaired subsequent to initial recognition (stage 3) and have had amounts written off,  
is recognised using the credit-adjusted effective interest rate. This rate is calculated in the same manner as the effective 
interest rate except that expected credit losses are included in the expected cash flows. Interest income is therefore 
recognised on the amortised cost of the financial asset including expected credit losses. Should the Credit Risk on a stage 3 
financial asset improve such that the financial asset is no longer considered credit-impaired, interest income recognition 
reverts to a computation based on the rehabilitated gross carrying value of the financial asset.

Balances at central banks

Loans and advances to banks 

Loans and advances to customers

Listed debt securities

Unlisted debt securities

Other eligible bills

Accrued on impaired assets (discount unwind)

Interest income

Of which: financial instruments held at fair value through other comprehensive income

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts

Debt securities in issue

Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds

Interest expense on IFRS 16 lease liabilities

Interest expense

Net interest income

4. Net fees and commission

2020 
$million

113

801

8,473

1,783

542

495

85

12,292

2,134

237

3,671

836

637

59

5,440

6,852

2019 
$million

329

1,834

10,693

2,113

796

702

82

16,549

3,246

739

6,202

1,120

756

65

8,882

7,667

Accounting policy
Fees and commissions charged for services provided by the Group are recognised as or when the service is completed or 
significant act performed.

Loan syndication fees are recognised as revenue when the syndication has been completed and the Group retained no part 
of the loan package for itself, or retained a part at the same effective interest rate as for the other participants. 

The Group can act as trustee or in other fiduciary capacities that result in the holding or placing of assets on behalf of 
individuals, trusts, retirement benefit plans and other institutions. The assets and income arising thereon are excluded from 
these financial statements, as they are not assets and income of the Group.

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4. Net fees and commission continued
The Group applies the following practical expedients:

•  Information on amounts of transaction price allocated to unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) performance obligations at  
the end of the reporting period is not disclosed as almost all fee-earning contracts have an expected duration of less than 
one year

•  Promised consideration is not adjusted for the effects of a significant financing component as the period between the Group 

providing a service and the customer paying for it is expected to be less than one year

•  Incremental costs of obtaining a fee-earning contract are recognised upfront in ‘Fees and commission expense’ rather than 

amortised, if the expected term of the contract is less than one year

The determination of the services performed for the customer, the transaction price, and when the services are completed 
depends on the nature of the product with the customer. The main considerations on income recognition by product are as 
follows:

Transaction Banking
The Group recognises fee income associated with transactional trade and cash management at the point in time the service  
is provided. The Group recognises income associated with trade contingent risk exposures (such as letters of credit and 
guarantees) over the period in which the service is provided. 

Payment of fees is usually received at the same time the service is provided. In some cases, letters of credit and guarantees 
issued by the Group have annual upfront premiums, which are amortised on a straight-line basis to fee income over the year. 

Financial Markets and Corporate Finance
The Group recognises fee income at the point in time the service is provided. Fee income is recognised for a significant non-
lending service when the transaction has been completed and the terms of the contract with the customer entitle the Group  
to the fee. Fees are usually received shortly after the service is provided. 

Syndication fees are recognised when the syndication is complete. Fees are generally received before completion of the 
syndication, or within 12 months of the transaction date. 

Securities services include custody services, fund accounting and administration, and broker clearing. Fees are recognised over 
the period the custody or fund management services are provided, or as and when broker services are requested.

Wealth Management
Upfront consideration on bancassurance agreements is amortised straight-line over the contractual term. Commissions for 
bancassurance activities are recorded as they are earned through sales of third-party insurance products to customers. These 
commissions are received within a short time frame of the commission being earned. Target-linked fees are accrued based on  
a percentage of the target achieved, provided it is assessed as highly probable that the target will be met. Cash payment is 
received at a contractually specified date after achievement of a target has been confirmed.

Upfront and trailing commissions for managed investment placements are recorded as they are confirmed. Income from these 
activities is relatively even throughout the period, and cash is usually received within a short time frame after the commission  
is earned.

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Retail Products
The Group recognises most income at the point in time the Group is entitled to the fee, since most services are provided at the 
time of the customer’s request.

Credit card annual fees are recognised at the time the fee is received since, in most of our retail markets, there are contractual 
circumstances under which fees are waived, so income recognition is constrained until the uncertainties associated with the 
annual fee are resolved. The Group defers the fair value of reward points on its credit card reward programmes, and recognises 
income and costs associated with fulfilling the reward at the time of redemption.

Fees and commissions income

Of which:

Financial instruments that are not fair valued through profit or loss

Trust and other fiduciary activities

Fees and commissions expense

Of which:

Financial instruments that are not fair valued through profit or loss

Trust and other fiduciary activities

Net fees and commission

2020 
$million

3,865

1,122

254

2019 
$million

4,111

1,495

166

(705)

(589)

(219)

(11)

3,160

(138)

(27)

3,522

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

4. Net fees and commission continued

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking  
$million

Retail  
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

Central &  
other items 
$million

2020

Transaction Banking

Trade

Cash Management

Financial Markets

Corporate Finance

Lending and Portfolio Management

Principal Finance 

Wealth Management

Retail Products

Treasury

Others

789

399

390

224

140

65

1

–

–

–

–

10

10

–

–

–

–

–

1,119

328

–

–

205

143

62

47

21

6

–

1

–

–

–

Net fees and commission

1,219

1,457

280

1

1

–

–

–

–

–

231

5

–

–

237

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(25)

(8)

(33)

Transaction Banking

Trade

Cash Management

Financial Markets

Corporate Finance

Lending and Portfolio Management

Principal Finance 

Wealth Management

Retail Products

Treasury

Others

Net fees and commission

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking  
$million

Retail  
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

Central &  
other items 
$million

2019

865

434

431

453

168

85

(12)

–

–

–

–

1,559

11

11

–

–

–

–

–

1,132

362

–

–

1,505

212

154

58

30

27

14

–

2

–

–

–

285

–

–

–

–

2

–

–

216

5

–

–

223

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(22)

(28)

(50)

Total 
$million

1,005

553

452

271

161

71

1

1,351

333

(25)

(8)

3,160

Total 
$million

1,088

599

489

483

197

99

(12)

1,350

367

(22)

(28)

3,522

Upfront bancassurance consideration amounts are amortised on a straight-line basis over the contractual period to which the 
consideration relates. Deferred income on the balance sheet in respect of these activities is $718 million (31 December 2019:  
$802 million). The income will be earned evenly over the next 8.5 years (31 December 2019: 9.5 years). For the twelve months 
ended 31 December 2020, $84 million of fee income was released from deferred income (31 December 2019: $84 million).

5. Net trading income

Accounting policy
Gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of financial instruments held at fair value through profit or loss are 
recorded in net trading income in the period in which they arise. This includes contractual interest receivable or payable. 

Income is recognised from the sale and purchase of trading positions, margins on market making and customer business and 
fair value changes.

When the initial fair value of a financial instrument held at fair value through profit or loss relies on unobservable inputs, the 
difference between the initial valuation and the transaction price is amortised to net trading income as the inputs become 
observable or over the life of the instrument, whichever is shorter. Any unamortised ‘day one’ gain is released to net trading 
income if the transaction is terminated.

Net trading income

Significant items within net trading income include:
Gains on instruments held for trading1

Gains on financial assets mandatorily at fair value through profit or loss

(Losses)/gains on financial assets designated at fair value through profit or loss 

Losses on financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss

1  

Includes $395 million loss (31 December 2019: $671 million gain) from the translation of foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities

2020 
$million

3,672

3,254

607

(4)

(247)

2019 
$million

3,350

3,296

1,557

31

(1,602)

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6. Other operating income

Accounting policy
Operating lease income is recognised on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease unless another systematic basis is 
more appropriate.

Dividends on equity instruments are recognised when the Group’s right to receive payment is established.

On disposal of fair value through other comprehensive income debt instruments, the cumulative gain or loss recognised in 
other comprehensive income is recycled to the profit or loss in other operating income/expense.

When the Group loses control of the subsidiary or disposal group, the difference between the consideration received and the 
carrying amount of the subsidiary or disposal group is recognised as a gain or loss on sale of the business.

Other operating income includes:

Rental income from operating lease assets

Gains less losses on disposal of fair value through other comprehensive income debt instruments

Gains less losses on amortised cost financial assets
Net loss on sale of businesses1

Dividend income 

Gain on sale of aircrafts

Other

Other operating income

1  

Includes Bohai’s dilution loss, see Note 32

7. Operating expenses

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

495

431

40

(38)

27

11

104

1,070

540

170

(12)

–

17

71

92

878

Accounting policy
Short-term employee benefits: salaries and social security expenses are recognised over the period in which the employees 
provide the service. Variable compensation is included within share-based payments costs and wages and salaries. 

Pension costs: contributions to defined contribution pension schemes are recognised in profit or loss when payable.  
For defined benefit plans, net interest expense, service costs and expenses are recognised in the income statement.  
Further details are provided in Note 30.

Share-based compensation: the Group operates equity-settled and cash-settled share-based payment compensation 
plans. The fair value of the employee services (measured by the fair value of the option granted) received in exchange for  
the grant of the options is recognised as an expense. Further details are provided in Note 31.

Staff costs:

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Other pension costs (Note 30)

Share-based payment costs (Note 31)

Other staff costs

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

5,362

5,508

168

358

132

866

6,886

180

372

166

896

7,122

Other staff costs include redundancy expenses of $179 million (31 December 2019: $173 million). Further costs in this category 
include training, travel costs and other staff-related costs.

The following table summarises the number of employees within the Group:

At 31 December 

Average for the year

2020

Business Support services

34,905

36,435

48,752

48,305

Total

83,657

84,740

20191

Business

Support services

37,117

37,400

47,281

46,538

Total

84,398

83,938

1   Prior year headcount has been re-presented due to a change in Management View of segments

The Company employed nil staff at 31 December 2020 (31 December 2019: nil) and it incurred costs of $87 million (31 December 
2019: $32 million).

Details of directors’ pay, benefits, pensions and benefits and interests in shares are disclosed in the Directors’ remuneration 
report (page 133).

Transactions with directors, officers and other related parties are disclosed in Note 36.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

7. Operating expenses continued 

Premises and equipment expenses

General administrative expenses:

UK bank levy

Provision for regulatory matters

Other general administrative expenses 

Depreciation and amortisation:

Property, plant and equipment:

Premises

Equipment

Operating lease assets

Intangibles:

Software 

Acquired on business combinations

Total operating expenses

2020 
$million

412

2019 
$million

420

331

(14)

1,514

1,831

373

129

229

731

515

5

1,251

10,380

347

226

1,638

2,211

360

112

263

735

436

9

1,180

10,933

The UK bank levy is applied on the chargeable equity and liabilities on the Group’s consolidated balance sheet. Key exclusions 
from chargeable equity and liabilities include Tier 1 capital, insured or guaranteed retail deposits, repos secured on certain 
sovereign debt and liabilities subject to netting. The rate of the levy for 2020 is 0.14 per cent for chargeable short-term liabilities, 
with a lower rate of 0.07 per cent generally applied to chargeable equity and long-term liabilities (i.e. liabilities with a remaining 
maturity greater than one year). From 1 January 2021 the rates are 0.10 per cent for short-term liabilities and 0.05 per cent for 
long-term liabilities. In addition, the scope of the UK bank levy is restricted to the balance sheet of UK operations only from this 
date. 

8. Credit impairment

Accounting policy
Significant accounting estimates and judgements 
The Group’s expected credit loss (ECL) calculations are outputs of complex models with a number of underlying assumptions. 
The significant judgements in determining expected credit loss include:

•  The Group’s criteria for assessing if there has been a significant increase in Credit Risk; 

•  Development of expected credit loss models, including the choice of inputs relating to macroeconomic variables;

•  Evaluation of management overlays and post-model adjustments; 

•  Determination of probability weightings for Stage 3 individually assessed provisions

The calculation of credit impairment provisions also involves expert credit judgement to be applied by the Credit Risk 
Management Team based upon counterparty information they receive from various sources including relationship 
managers and on external market information. Details on the approach for determining expected credit loss can be found in 
the Credit Risk section, under IFRS 9 Methodology (page 224). 

Estimates of forecasts of key macroeconomic variables underlying the expected credit loss calculation can be found within 
the Risk review, Key assumptions and judgements in determining expected credit loss (page 225).

Expected credit losses
Expected credit losses are determined for all financial debt instruments that are classified at amortised cost or fair value 
through other comprehensive income, undrawn commitments and financial guarantees.

An expected credit loss represents the present value of expected cash shortfalls over the residual term of a financial asset, 
undrawn commitment or financial guarantee.

A cash shortfall is the difference between the cash flows that are due in accordance with the contractual terms of the 
instrument and the cash flows that the Group expects to receive over the contractual life of the instrument.

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8. Credit impairment continued

Measurement
Expected credit losses are computed as unbiased, probability-weighted amounts which are determined by evaluating  
a range of reasonably possible outcomes, the time value of money, and considering all reasonable and supportable 
information including that which is forward-looking.

For material portfolios, the estimate of expected cash shortfalls is determined by multiplying the probability of default (PD) 
with the loss given default (LGD) with the expected exposure at the time of default (EAD). There may be multiple default 
events over the lifetime of an instrument. Further details on the components of PD, LGD and EAD are disclosed in the Credit 
Risk section. For less material Retail Banking loan portfolios, the Group has adopted less sophisticated approaches based on 
historical roll rates or loss rates.

Forward-looking economic assumptions are incorporated into the PD, LGD and EAD where relevant and where they 
influence Credit Risk, such as GDP growth rates, interest rates, house price indices and commodity prices among others. 
These assumptions are incorporated using the Group’s most likely forecast for a range of macroeconomic assumptions. 
These forecasts are determined using all reasonable and supportable information, which includes both internally developed 
forecasts and those available externally, and are consistent with those used for budgeting, forecasting and capital planning.

To account for the potential non-linearity in credit losses, multiple forward-looking scenarios are incorporated into the range 
of reasonably possible outcomes for all material portfolios. For example, where there is a greater risk of downside credit 
losses than upside gains, multiple forward-looking economic scenarios are incorporated into the range of reasonably 
possible outcomes, both in respect of determining the PD (and where relevant, the LGD and EAD) and in determining the 
overall expected credit loss amounts. These scenarios are determined using a Monte Carlo approach centred around the 
Group’s most likely forecast of macroeconomic assumptions.

The period over which cash shortfalls are determined is generally limited to the maximum contractual period for which  
the Group is exposed to Credit Risk. However, for certain revolving credit facilities, which include credit cards or overdrafts,  
the Group’s exposure to Credit Risk is not limited to the contractual period. For these instruments, the Group estimates  
an appropriate life based on the period that the Group is exposed to Credit Risk, which includes the effect of Credit Risk 
management actions such as the withdrawal of undrawn facilities.

For credit-impaired financial instruments, the estimate of cash shortfalls may require the use of expert credit judgement. 

The estimate of expected cash shortfalls on a collateralised financial instrument reflects the amount and timing of cash 
flows that are expected from foreclosure on the collateral less the costs of obtaining and selling the collateral, regardless of 
whether foreclosure is deemed probable.

Cash flows from unfunded credit enhancements held are included within the measurement of expected credit losses if  
they are part of, or integral to, the contractual terms of the instrument (this includes financial guarantees, unfunded risk 
participations and other non-derivative credit insurance). Although non-integral credit enhancements do not impact  
the measurement of expected credit losses, a reimbursement asset is recognised to the extent of the expected credit  
losses recorded.

Cash shortfalls are discounted using the effective interest rate (or credit-adjusted effective interest rate for purchased or 
originated credit-impaired instruments (POCI)) on the financial instrument as calculated at initial recognition or if the 
instrument has a variable interest rate, the current effective interest rate determined under the contract.

Instruments

Location of expected credit loss provisions

Financial assets held at amortised cost

Financial assets held FVOCI - Debt instruments

Loan commitments

Financial guarantees

Loss provisions: netted against gross carrying value1
Other comprehensive income (FVOCI expected credit loss reserve)2 
Provisions for liabilities and charges3
Provisions for liabilities and charges3

1  Purchased or originated credit-impaired assets do not attract an expected credit loss provision on initial recognition. An expected credit loss provision will be 

recognised only if there is an increase in expected credit losses from that considered at initial recognition

2  Debt and treasury securities classified as fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) are held at fair value on the face of the balance sheet.  

The expected credit loss attributed to these instruments is held as a separate reserve within other comprehensive income (OCI) and is recycled to the profit 
and loss account along with any fair value measurement gains or losses held within FVOCI when the applicable instruments are derecognised

3  Expected credit loss on loan commitments and financial guarantees is recognised as a liability provision. Where a financial instrument includes both a loan 
(i.e. financial asset component) and an undrawn commitment (i.e. loan commitment component), and it is not possible to separately identify the expected 
credit loss on these components, expected credit loss amounts on the loan commitment are recognised together with expected credit loss amounts on  
the financial asset. To the extent the combined expected credit loss exceeds the gross carrying amount of the financial asset, the expected credit loss is 
recognised as a liability provision 

Recognition
12 months expected credit losses (stage 1) Expected credit losses are recognised at the time of initial recognition of a financial 
instrument and represent the lifetime cash shortfalls arising from possible default events up to 12 months into the future  
from the balance sheet date. Expected credit losses continue to be determined on this basis until there is either a significant 
increase in the Credit Risk of an instrument or the instrument becomes credit-impaired. If an instrument is no longer 
considered to exhibit a significant increase in Credit Risk, expected credit losses will revert to being determined on a  
12-month basis.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

8. Credit impairment continued

Significant increase in Credit Risk (Stage 2) If a financial asset experiences a significant increase in Credit Risk (SICR) since initial 
recognition, an expected credit loss provision is recognised for default events that may occur over the lifetime of the asset.

Significant increase in Credit Risk is assessed by comparing the risk of default of an exposure at the reporting date to the risk 
of default at origination (after taking into account the passage of time). Significant does not mean statistically significant nor 
is it assessed in the context of changes in expected credit loss. Whether a change in the risk of default is significant or not is 
assessed using a number of quantitative and qualitative factors, the weight of which depends on the type of product and 
counterparty. Financial assets that are 30 or more days past due and not credit-impaired will always be considered to have 
experienced a significant increase in Credit Risk. For less material portfolios where a loss rate or roll rate approach is applied 
to compute expected credit loss, significant increase in Credit Risk is primarily based on 30 days past due.

Quantitative factors include an assessment of whether there has been significant increase in the forward-looking probability 
of default (PD) since origination. A forward-looking PD is one that is adjusted for future economic conditions to the extent 
these are correlated to changes in Credit Risk. We compare the residual lifetime PD at the balance sheet date to the residual 
lifetime PD that was expected at the time of origination for the same point in the term structure and determine whether both 
the absolute and relative change between the two exceeds predetermined thresholds. To the extent that the differences 
between the measures of default outlined exceed the defined thresholds, the instrument is considered to have experienced 
a significant increase in Credit Risk. 

Qualitative factors assessed include those linked to current Credit Risk management processes, such as lending placed on 
non-purely precautionary early alert (and subject to closer monitoring).

A non-purely precautionary early alert account is one which exhibits risk or potential weaknesses of a material nature 
requiring closer monitoring, supervision, or attention by management. Weaknesses in such a borrower’s account, if left 
uncorrected, could result in deterioration of repayment prospects and the likelihood of being downgraded. Indicators could 
include a rapid erosion of position within the industry, concerns over management’s ability to manage operations, weak/
deteriorating operating results, liquidity strain and overdue balances among other factors.

Credit-impaired (or defaulted) exposures (Stage 3) Financial assets that are credit-impaired (or in default) represent those that 
are at least 90 days past due in respect of principal and/or interest. Financial assets are also considered to be credit-impaired 
where the obligors are unlikely to pay on the occurrence of one or more observable events that have a detrimental impact on 
the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset. It may not be possible to identify a single discrete event but instead 
the combined effect of several events may cause financial assets to become credit-impaired.

Evidence that a financial asset is credit-impaired includes observable data about the following events:

•  Significant financial difficulty of the issuer or borrower;

•  Breach of contract such as default or a past due event;

•  For economic or contractual reasons relating to the borrower’s financial difficulty, the lenders of the borrower have granted 
the borrower concession/s that lenders would not otherwise consider. This would include forbearance actions (page 319);

•  Pending or actual bankruptcy or other financial reorganisation to avoid or delay discharge of the borrower’s obligation/s;

•  The disappearance of an active market for the applicable financial asset due to financial difficulties of the borrower;

•  Purchase or origination of a financial asset at a deep discount that reflects incurred credit losses

Lending commitments to a credit-impaired obligor that have not yet been drawn down are included to the extent that the 
commitment cannot be withdrawn. Loss provisions against credit-impaired financial assets are determined based on an 
assessment of the recoverable cash flows under a range of scenarios, including the realisation of any collateral held where 
appropriate. The loss provisions held represent the difference between the present value of the expected cash shortfalls, 
discounted at the instrument’s original effective interest rate, and the gross carrying value (including contractual interest  
due but not paid) of the instrument prior to any credit impairment. The Group’s definition of default is aligned with the 
regulatory definition of default as set out in European Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR178) and related guidelines.

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8. Credit impairment continued

Expert credit judgement
For Corporate & Institutional, Commercial and Private Banking, borrowers are graded by Credit Risk management on a credit 
grading (CG) scale from CG1 to CG14. Once a borrower starts to exhibit credit deterioration, it will move along the credit 
grading scale in the performing book and when it is classified as CG12 the credit assessment and oversight of the loan will 
normally be performed by Group Special Assets Management (GSAM).

Borrowers graded CG12 exhibit well-defined weaknesses in areas such as management and/or performance but there is  
no current expectation of a loss of principal or interest. Where the impairment assessment indicates that there will be a  
loss of principal on a loan, the borrower is graded a CG14 while borrowers of other credit-impaired loans are graded CG13. 
Instruments graded CG13 or CG14 are regarded as stage 3.

For individually significant financial assets within stage 3, GSAM will consider all judgements that have an impact on  
the expected future cash flows of the asset. These include: the business prospects, industry and geopolitical climate  
of the customer, quality of realisable value of collateral, the Group’s legal position relative to other claimants and any 
renegotiation/forbearance/modification options. The future cash flow calculation involves significant judgements  
and estimates. As new information becomes available and further negotiations/forbearance measures are taken,  
the estimates of the future cash flows will be revised, and will have an impact on the future cash flow analysis.

For financial assets which are not individually significant, such as the Retail Banking portfolio or small business loans, which 
comprise a large number of homogenous loans that share similar characteristics, statistical estimates and techniques are 
used, as well as credit scoring analysis.

Retail Banking clients are considered credit-impaired where they are more than 90 days past due. Retail Banking products 
are also considered credit-impaired if the borrower files for bankruptcy or other forbearance programme, the borrower is 
deceased or the business is closed in the case of a small business, or if the borrower surrenders the collateral, or there is an 
identified fraud on the account. Additionally, if the account is unsecured and the borrower has other credit accounts with the 
Group that are considered credit-impaired, the account may be also be credit-impaired.

Techniques used to compute impairment amounts use models which analyse historical repayment and default rates over  
a time horizon. Where various models are used, judgement is required to analyse the available information provided and 
select the appropriate model or combination of models to use.

Expert credit judgement is also applied to determine whether any post-model adjustments are required for Credit Risk 
elements which are not captured by the models. 

Modified financial instruments
Where the original contractual terms of a financial asset have been modified for credit reasons and the instrument has not 
been derecognised (an instrument is derecognised when a modification results in a change in cash flows that the Group 
would consider substantial), the resulting modification loss is recognised within credit impairment in the income statement 
with a corresponding decrease in the gross carrying value of the asset. If the modification involved a concession that the 
bank would not otherwise consider, the instrument is considered to be credit-impaired and is considered forborne.

Expected credit loss for modified financial assets that have not been derecognised and are not considered to be credit-
impaired will be recognised on a 12-month basis, or a lifetime basis, if there is a significant increase in Credit Risk. These assets 
are assessed (by comparison to the origination date) to determine whether there has been a significant increase in Credit 
Risk subsequent to the modification. Although loans may be modified for non-credit reasons, a significant increase in Credit 
Risk may occur. In addition to the recognition of modification gains and losses, the revised carrying value of modified 
financial assets will impact the calculation of expected credit losses, with any increase or decrease in expected credit loss 
recognised within impairment.

Forborne loans
Forborne loans are those loans that have been modified in response to a customer’s financial difficulties. Forbearance 
strategies assist clients who are temporarily in financial distress and are unable to meet their original contractual repayment 
terms. Forbearance can be initiated by the client, the Group or a third-party including government-sponsored programmes 
or a conglomerate of credit institutions. Forbearance may include debt restructuring such as new repayment schedules, 
payment deferrals, tenor extensions, interest-only payments, lower interest rates, forgiveness of principal, interest or fees,  
or relaxation of loan covenants.

Forborne loans that have been modified (and not derecognised) on terms that are not consistent with those readily 
available in the market and/or where we have granted a concession compared to the original terms of the loans are 
considered credit-impaired if there is a detrimental impact on cash flows. The modification loss (see Classification and 
measurement – Modifications) is recognised in the profit or loss within credit impairment and the gross carrying value of  
the loan reduced by the same amount. The modified loan is disclosed as ‘Loans subject to forbearance – credit-impaired’.

Loans that have been subject to a forbearance modification, but which are not considered credit-impaired (not classified  
as CG13 or CG14), are disclosed as ‘Forborne – not credit-impaired’. This may include amendments to covenants within the 
contractual terms.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

8. Credit impairment continued

Write-offs of credit-impaired instruments and reversal of impairment
To the extent a financial debt instrument is considered irrecoverable, the applicable portion of the gross carrying value is 
written off against the related loan provision. Such loans are written off after all the necessary procedures have been 
completed, it is decided that there is no realistic probability of recovery and the amount of the loss has been determined. 
Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off decrease the amount of the provision for credit impairment in the 
income statement. 

Loss provisions on purchased or originated credit-impaired instruments (POCI)
The Group measures expected credit loss on a lifetime basis for POCI instruments throughout the life of the instrument. 
However, expected credit loss is not recognised in a separate loss provision on initial recognition for POCI instruments as  
the lifetime expected credit loss is inherent within the gross carrying amount of the instruments. The Group recognises  
the change in lifetime expected credit losses arising subsequent to initial recognition in the income statement and the 
cumulative change as a loss provision. Where lifetime expected credit losses on POCI instruments are less than those at  
initial recognition, then the favourable differences are recognised as impairment gains in the income statement (and as 
impairment loss where the expected credit losses are greater).

Improvement in Credit Risk/curing
A period may elapse from the point at which instruments enter lifetime expected credit losses (stage 2 or stage 3) and  
are reclassified back to 12-month expected credit losses (stage 1). For financial assets that are credit-impaired (stage 3),  
a transfer to stage 2 or stage 1 is only permitted where the instrument is no longer considered to be credit-impaired.  
An instrument will no longer be considered credit-impaired when there is no shortfall of cash flows compared to the  
original contractual terms.

For financial assets within stage 2, these can only be transferred to stage 1 when they are no longer considered to have 
experienced a significant increase in Credit Risk.

Where significant increase in Credit Risk was determined using quantitative measures, the instruments will automatically 
transfer back to stage 1 when the original PD-based transfer criteria are no longer met. Where instruments were transferred 
to stage 2 due to an assessment of qualitative factors, the issues that led to the reclassification must be cured before the 
instruments can be reclassified to stage 1. This includes instances where management actions led to instruments being 
classified as stage 2, requiring that action to be resolved before loans are reclassified to stage 1.

A forborne loan can only be removed from being disclosed as forborne if the loan is performing (stage 1 or 2) and a further 
two-year probation period is met. 

In order for a forborne loan to become performing, the following criteria have to be satisfied:

•  At least a year has passed with no default based upon the forborne contract terms

•  The customer is likely to repay its obligations in full without realising security

•  The customer has no accumulated impairment against amount outstanding (except for expected credit loss)

Subsequent to the criteria above, a further two-year probation period has to be fulfilled, whereby regular payments are 
made by the customer and none of the exposures to the customer are more than 30 days past due.

Net credit impairment on loans and advances to banks and customers

Net credit impairment on debt securities

Net credit impairment relating to financial guarantees and loan commitments

Net credit impairment relating to other financial assets
Credit impairment1

1   No material purchased or originated credit-impaired (POCI) assets

9. Goodwill, property, plant and equipment and other impairment

Accounting policy 
Refer to the below referenced notes for the relevant accounting policy

Impairment of goodwill (Note 17)

Impairment of property, plant and equipment (Note 18)

Impairment of other intangible assets (Note 17)
Other1

Property, plant and equipment and other impairment

Goodwill, property, plant and equipment and other impairment

1  

Includes a reversal of $165 million as a result of a recovery on a disputed derivative receivable, following a favourable court ruling

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2020 
$million

2,191

33

103

(2)

2,325

2020 
$million

489

132

17

(51)

98

587

2019 
$million

856

9

35

8

908

2019 
$million

27

122

12

2

136

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10. Taxation

Accounting policy
Income tax payable on profits is based on the applicable tax law in each jurisdiction and is recognised as an expense in the 
period in which profits arise.

Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying 
amounts in the consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been 
enacted or substantively enacted as at the balance sheet date, and that are expected to apply when the related deferred 
tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax liability is settled.

Deferred tax assets are recognised where it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the 
temporary differences can be utilised. Where permitted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset on an entity basis and 
not by component of deferred taxation.

Current and deferred tax relating to items which are charged or credited directly to equity, is credited or charged directly to 
equity and is subsequently recognised in the income statement together with the current or deferred gain or loss.

Significant accounting estimates and judgements
•  Determining the Group’s tax charge for the year involves estimation and judgement, which includes an interpretation of 
local tax laws and an assessment of whether the tax authorities will accept the position taken. These judgements take 
account of external advice where appropriate, and the Group’s view on settling with the relevant tax authorities

•  The Group provides for current tax liabilities at the best estimate of the amount that is expected to be paid to the tax 

authorities where an outflow is probable. In making its estimates the Group assumes that the tax authorities will examine 
all the amounts reported to them and have full knowledge of all relevant information

•  The recoverability of the Group’s deferred tax assets is based on management’s judgement of the availability of future 

taxable profits against which the deferred tax assets will be utilised

The following table provides analysis of taxation charge in the year:

The charge for taxation based upon the profit for the year comprises:

Current tax:

United Kingdom corporation tax at 19 per cent (2019:19 per cent):

Current tax charge on income for the year

Adjustments in respect of prior years (including double tax relief)

Foreign tax:

Current tax charge on income for the year

Adjustments in respect of prior years

Deferred tax:

Origination/reversal of temporary differences

Adjustments in respect of prior years

Tax on profits on ordinary activities

Effective tax rate

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

–

(41)

1,061

(352)

668

(193)

387

194

862

53.4%

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(6)

1,427

1

1,422

22

(71)

(49)

1,373

37.0%

The tax charge for the year of $862 million (31 December 2019: $1,373 million) on a profit before tax of $1,613 million (31 December 
2019: $3,713 million) reflects the impact of non-deductible expenses, non-deductible goodwill impairment and the impact of 
countries with tax rates higher or lower than the UK, the most significant of which is India. The 2019 charge reflected the  
impact of capital gains tax on internal restructuring to establish the Hong Kong hub and other non-deductible expenses, 
non-creditable withholding taxes and the impact of countries with tax rates higher or lower than the UK, the most significant  
of which is India. 

The adjustments in respect of prior years include $288 million between current and deferred tax, relating to the treatment of 
loan impairments in India as deductible in the period they are impaired.

Foreign tax includes current tax of $167 million (31 December 2019: $206 million) on the profits assessable in Hong Kong. Deferred 
tax includes origination or reversal of temporary differences of $(30) million (31 December 2019: $(1) million) provided at a rate of 
16.5 per cent (31 December 2019: 16.5 per cent) on the profits assessable in Hong Kong.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

10. Taxation continued
Tax rate: The tax charge for the year is higher than the charge at the rate of corporation tax in the UK, 19 per cent.  
The differences are explained below:

Profit on ordinary activities before tax

Tax at 19 per cent (2019: 19 per cent)

Lower tax rates on overseas earnings

Higher tax rates on overseas earnings

Non-creditable withholding taxes

Tax-free income

Share of associates and joint ventures

Non-deductible expenses

Provision for regulatory matters

Bank levy

Non-taxable losses on investments

Payments on financial instruments in reserves

Capital gains tax on internal restructuring

Goodwill impairment

Deferred tax not recognised

Deferred tax assets written-off

Deferred tax rate changes

Adjustments to tax charge in respect of prior years

Other items

Tax on profit on ordinary activities

2020 
$million

1,613

306

(36)

305

127

(133)

(26)

266

–

63

13

(59)

–

93

49

15

(51)

(6)

(64)

862

2019 
$million

3,713

705

(89)

316

144

(138)

(51)

288

27

66

9

(67)

179

5

41

30

(6)

(76)

(10)

1,373

Factors affecting the tax charge in future years: The Group’s tax charge, and effective tax rate in future years could be affected 
by several factors including acquisitions, disposals and restructuring of our businesses, the mix of profits across jurisdictions with 
different statutory tax rates, changes in tax legislation and tax rates and resolution of uncertain tax positions.

The evaluation of uncertain tax positions involves an interpretation of local tax laws which could be subject to challenge by a 
tax authority, and an assessment of whether the tax authorities will accept the position taken. The Group does not currently 
consider that assumptions or judgements made in assessing tax liabilities have a significant risk of resulting in a material 
adjustment within the next financial year.

Tax recognised in other  
comprehensive income

Items that will not be reclassified to 
income statement

Own credit adjustment

Equity instruments at fair value through 
other comprehensive income

Retirement benefit obligations

Items that may be reclassed 
subsequently to income statement

Debt instruments at fair value through 
other comprehensive income

Cash flow hedges

Total tax credit/(charge) recognised 
in equity

2020

2019

Current tax 
$million

Deferred tax 
$million

Total 
$million

Current tax 
$million

Deferred tax 
$million

Total 
$million

–

–

–

–

(1)

(1)

–

(1)

(17)

1

(27)

9

(53)

(68)

15

(17)

1

(27)

9

(54)

(69)

15

(70)

(71)

15

17

5

(7)

2

2

–

17

27

35

(10)

2

(50)

(44)

(6)

42

52

(5)

(5)

(48)

(42)

(6)

(23)

(6)

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10. Taxation continued
Current tax: The following are the movements in current tax during the year:

Current tax comprises:

Current tax assets 

Current tax liabilities 

Net current tax opening balance

Movements in income statement

Movements in other comprehensive income 

Taxes paid 

Other movements

Net current tax balance as at 31 December

Current tax assets 

Current tax liabilities

Total 

2020 
$million

539

(703)

(164)

(668)

(1)

971

10

148

808

(660)

148

2019 
$million

492

(676)

(184)

(1,422)

17

1,421

4

(164)

539

(703)

(164)

Deferred tax: The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the Group and movements thereon 
during the year:

Deferred tax comprises:

Accelerated tax depreciation

Impairment provisions on loans and advances 

Tax losses carried forward

Fair value through other comprehensive income

Cash flow hedges

Own credit adjustment

Retirement benefit obligations

Share-based payments

Other temporary differences

Net deferred tax assets

Deferred tax comprises:

Accelerated tax depreciation

Impairment provisions on loans and advances 

Tax losses carried forward

Fair value through other comprehensive income 

Cash flow hedges

Own credit adjustment

Retirement benefit obligations

Share-based payments

Other temporary differences

Net deferred tax assets

At 1 January 
2020 
$million

Exchange  
& other 
adjustments 
$million

(Charge)/credit 
to profit 
$million

(Charge)/credit 
to equity 
$million

At 31 December 
2020 
$million

(526)

957

263

(49)

(13)

2

31

16

(187)

494

–

(14)

(5)

–

–

–

(1)

(3)

14

(9)

33

(524)

24

(2)

–

–

(3)

10

268

(194)

–

–

–

(95)

15

1

9

–

3

(493)

419

282

(146)

2

3

36

23

98

(67)

224

At 1 January  
2019 
$million

Exchange  
& other 
adjustments 
$million

(Charge)/credit 
to profit 
$million

(Charge)/credit 
to equity 
$million

At 31 December 
2019 
$million

(494)

961

266

3

(7)

(33)

40

15

(267)

484

(5)

(13)

–

1

–

–

(3)

–

4

(16)

(27)

9

(3)

1

–

–

(8)

1

76

49

–

–

–

(54)

(6)

35

2

–

–

(23)

(526)

957

263

(49)

(13)

2

31

16

(187)

494

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

10. Taxation continued
Deferred tax comprises assets and liabilities as follows:

Deferred tax comprises:

Accelerated tax depreciation

Impairment provisions on loans  
and advances 

Tax losses carried forward

Fair value through other  
comprehensive income

Cash flow hedges

Own credit adjustment

Retirement benefit obligations

Share-based payments

Other temporary differences

Total 
$million

2020

Asset 
$million

Liability 
$million

Total 
$million

2019

Asset 
$million

Liability 
$million

(493)

(30)

(463)

(526)

419

282

(146)

2

3

36

23

98

224

403

171

(61)

6

2

25

8

395

919

16

111

(85)

(4)

1

11

15

(297)

(695)

957

263

(49)

(13)

2

31

16

(187)

494

(9)

956

137

(40)

6

4

20

14

17

1,105

(517)

1

126

(9)

(19)

(2)

11

2

(204)

(611)

At 31 December 2020, the Group has net deferred tax assets of $224 million (31 December 2019: $494 million). The recoverability 
of the Group’s deferred tax assets is based on management’s judgement of the availability of future taxable profits against 
which the deferred tax assets will be utilised.

Of the Group’s total deferred tax assets, $282 million relates to tax losses carried forward. These tax losses have arisen in 
individual legal entities and will be offset as future taxable profits arise in those entities.

•  $129 million of the deferred tax assets relating to losses has arisen in Ireland, where there is no expiry date for unused tax 

losses. These losses relate to aircraft leasing and are expected to be fully utilised over the useful economical life of the assets 
being up to 18 years

•  $92 million of the deferred tax assets relating to losses has arisen in the US. Management forecasts show that the losses are 

expected to be fully utilised over a period of five years. 

The remaining deferred tax assets of $61 million relating to losses have arisen in other jurisdictions and are expected to be 
recovered in less than 10 years.

No account has been taken of the following potential deferred tax assets/(liabilities):

Withholding tax on unremitted earnings from overseas subsidiaries

Tax losses

Held-over gains on incorporation of overseas branches

Other temporary differences

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

(315)

1,597

(336)

160

(230)

1,297

(410)

83

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11. Dividends

Accounting policy
Dividends on ordinary shares and preference shares classified as equity are recognised in equity in the year in which they are 
declared. Dividends on ordinary equity shares are recorded in the year in which they are declared and, in respect of the final 
dividend, have been approved by the shareholders.

On 31 March 2020, the Group announced that in response to a request from the Prudential Regulation Authority and as a 
consequence of the unprecedented challenges facing the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its Board had decided after 
careful consideration to withdraw the recommendation to pay a final dividend for 2019 of 20 cents per ordinary share.

Ordinary equity shares

2020

2019

Cents per share

$million

Cents per share

$million

2019/2018 final dividend declared and paid during the year

2020/2019 interim dividend declared and paid during the year

–

–

–

–

15

7

495

225

Dividends on ordinary equity shares are recorded in the period in which they are declared and, in respect of the final dividend, 
have been approved by the shareholders. Accordingly, the final ordinary equity share dividends set out above relate to the 
respective prior years. 

2020 recommended final ordinary equity share dividend 
The 2020 ordinary equity share dividend recommended by the Board is 9 cents per share. The financial statements for the year 
ended 31 December 2020 do not reflect this dividend as this will be accounted for in shareholders’ equity as an appropriation of 
retained profits in the year ending 31 December 2021.

The dividend will be paid in either pounds sterling, Hong Kong dollars or US dollars on 20 May 2021 to shareholders on the UK 
register of members at the close of business in the UK on 5 March 2021.

Preference shares and Additional Tier 1 securities
Dividends on these preference shares and securities classified as equity are recorded in the period in which they are declared

Non-cumulative redeemable preference shares:

7.014 per cent preference shares of $5 each

6.409 per cent preference shares of $5 each

Additional Tier 1 securities: Fixed rate resetting perpetual subordinated contingent convertible securities

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

53

20

73

322

395

53

30

83

365

448

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

12. Earnings per ordinary share

Accounting policy
Basic earnings per ordinary share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted 
average number of ordinary shares outstanding, excluding own shares held. Diluted earnings per ordinary share is calculated 
by dividing the basic earnings, which require no adjustment for the effects of dilutive potential ordinary shares, by the 
weighted average number of ordinary shares that would have been outstanding assuming the conversion of all dilutive 
potential ordinary shares, excluding own shares held. 

The Group also measures earnings per share on an underlying basis. This differs from earnings defined in IAS 33 Earnings  
per share. Underlying earnings is profit/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders adjusted for profits or losses of a capital 
nature; amounts consequent to investment transactions driven by strategic intent; and other infrequent and/or exceptional 
transactions that are significant or material in the context of the Group’s normal business earnings for the period.

The table below provides the basis of underlying earnings.

Profit for the period attributable to equity holders

Non-controlling interest

Dividend payable on preference shares and AT1 classified as equity

Profit for the period attributable to ordinary shareholders

Items normalised:

Provision for regulatory matters

Restructuring

Profit from joint venture

Goodwill impairment (Note 9)

Net loss on sale of businesses (Note 6)
Tax on normalised items1

Underlying profit

Basic – Weighted average number of shares (millions)

Diluted – Weighted average number of shares (millions)

Basic earnings per ordinary share (cents)

Diluted earnings per ordinary share (cents)

Underlying basic earnings per ordinary share (cents)

Underlying diluted earnings per ordinary share (cents)

1   No tax is included in respect of the impairment of goodwill as no tax relief is available

2020 
$million

751

(27)

(395)

329

(14)

382

–

489

38

(83)

1,141

3,160

3,199

10.4 

10.3

36.1

35.7

2019 
$million

2,340

(37)

(448)

1,855

226

254

(48)

27

–

152

2,466

3,256

3,290

57.0

56.4

75.7

75.0

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13. Financial instruments

Classification and measurement

Accounting policy
The Group classifies its financial assets into the following measurement categories: amortised cost; fair value through other 
comprehensive income (FVOCI); and fair value through profit or loss. Financial liabilities are classified as either amortised 
cost, or held at fair value through profit or loss. Management determines the classification of its financial assets and liabilities 
at initial recognition of the instrument or, where applicable, at the time of reclassification.

Financial assets held at amortised cost and fair value through other comprehensive income
Debt instruments held at amortised cost or held at FVOCI have contractual terms that give rise to cash flows that are solely 
payments of principal and interest (SPPI) characteristics. Principal is the fair value of the financial asset at initial recognition 
but this may change over the life of the instrument as amounts are repaid. Interest consists of consideration for the time 
value of money, for the credit risk associated with the principal amount outstanding during a particular period and for other 
basic lending risks and costs, as well as a profit margin.

In assessing whether the contractual cash flows have SPPI characteristics, the Group considers the contractual terms of the 
instrument. This includes assessing whether the financial asset contains a contractual term that could change the timing or 
amount of contractual cash flows such that it would not meet this condition. In making the assessment, the Group considers:

•  Contingent events that would change the amount and timing of cash flows

•  Leverage features

•  Prepayment and extension terms

•  Terms that limit the Group’s claim to cash flows from specified assets (e.g. non-recourse asset arrangements)

•  Features that modify consideration of the time value of money – e.g. periodical reset of interest rates

Whether financial assets are held at amortised cost or at FVOCI depend on the objectives of the business models under 
which the assets are held. A business model refers to how the Group manages financial assets to generate cash flows.

The Group makes an assessment of the objective of a business model in which an asset is held at the individual product 
business line, and where applicable within business lines depending on the way the business is managed and information is 
provided to management. Factors considered include:

•  How the performance of the product business line is evaluated and reported to the Group’s management

•  How managers of the business model are compensated, including whether management is compensated based on the 

fair value of assets or the contractual cash flows collected

•  The risks that affect the performance of the business model and how those risks are managed

•  The frequency, volume and timing of sales in prior periods, the reasons for such sales and expectations about future  

sales activity

The Group’s business model assessment is as follows:

Business model Business objective

Characteristics

Businesses

Products

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Hold to 
collect

Intent is to originate 
financial assets and 
hold them to maturity, 
collecting the 
contractual cash flows 
over the term of the 
instrument

Hold to 
collect and 
sell

Business objective met 
through both hold to 
collect and by selling 
financial assets

Fair value 
through 
profit or loss

All other business 
objectives, including 
trading and managing 
financial assets on a fair 
value basis

•  Providing financing and 

•  Corporate Lending

•  Loans and advances

•  Corporate Finance

•  Debt securities

•  Transaction Banking

•  Retail Lending

•  Treasury Markets 

(Loans and 
Borrowings)

•  Treasury Markets

•  Derivatives

•  Debt securities

originating assets to earn interest 
income as primary income stream

•  Performing credit risk 

management activities

•  Costs include funding costs, 

transaction costs and impairment 
losses

•  Portfolios held for liquidity needs; 
or where a certain interest yield 
profile is maintained; or that are 
normally rebalanced to achieve 
matching of duration of assets 
and liabilities

• 

Income streams come from 
interest income, fair value 
changes, and impairment losses

•  Assets held for trading

•  Financial Markets

•  Derivatives

•  Assets that are originated, 

•  Syndication

•  Trading portfolios

•  All other business lines

•  Financial Markets 

reverse repos

purchased, and sold for profit 
taking or underwriting activity

•  Performance of the portfolio is 
evaluated on a fair value basis

• 

Income streams are from fair 
value changes or trading gains  
or losses

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

13. Financial instruments continued

Financial assets which have SPPI characteristics and that are held within a business model whose objective is to hold 
financial assets to collect contractual cash flows (“hold to collect”) are recorded at amortised cost. Conversely, financial 
assets which have SPPI characteristics but are held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting 
contractual cash flows and selling financial assets (“Hold to collect and sell”) are classified as held at FVOCI.

Both hold to collect business and a hold to collect and sell business model involve holding financial assets to collect the 
contractual cash flows. However, the business models are distinct by reference to the frequency and significance that asset 
sales play in meeting the objective under which a particular group of financial assets is managed. Hold to collect business 
models are characterised by asset sales that are incidental to meeting the objectives under which a group of assets is 
managed. Sales of assets under a hold to collect business model can be made to manage increases in the credit risk of 
financial assets but sales for other reasons should be infrequent or insignificant.

Cash flows from the sale of financial assets under a hold to collect and sell business model by contrast are integral to 
achieving the objectives under which a particular group of financial assets are managed. This may be the case where 
frequent sales of financial assets are required to manage the Group’s daily liquidity requirements or to meet regulatory 
requirements to demonstrate liquidity of financial instruments. Sales of assets under hold to collect and sell business models 
are therefore both more frequent and more significant in value than those under the hold to collect model.

Equity instruments designated as held at FVOCI
Non-trading equity instruments acquired for strategic purposes rather than capital gain may be irrevocably designated at 
initial recognition as held at FVOCI on an instrument-by-instrument basis. Dividends received are recognised in profit or loss. 
Gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of these instruments, including foreign exchange gains and losses,  
are recognised directly in equity and are never reclassified to profit or loss even on derecognition.

Financial assets and liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss
Financial assets which are not held at amortised cost or that are not held at FVOCI are held at fair value through profit or 
loss. Financial assets and liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss are either mandatorily classified fair value through 
profit or loss or irrevocably designated at fair value through profit or loss at initial recognition.

Mandatorily classified at fair value through profit or loss
Financial assets and liabilities which are mandatorily held at fair value through profit or loss are split between two 
subcategories as follows:

Trading, including: 

•  Financial assets and liabilities held for trading, which are those acquired principally for the purpose of selling in the 

short-term

•  Derivatives

Non-trading mandatorily at fair value through profit or loss, including:

•  Instruments in a business which has a fair value business model (see the Group’s business model assessment) which are not 

trading or derivatives;

•  Hybrid financial assets that contain one or more embedded derivatives;

•  Financial assets that would otherwise be measured at amortised cost or FVOCI but which do not have SPPI characteristics;

•  Equity instruments that have not been designated as held at FVOCI

•  Financial liabilities that constitute contingent consideration in a business combination

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13. Financial instruments continued

Designated at fair value through profit or loss
Financial assets and liabilities may be designated at fair value through profit or loss when the designation eliminates or 
significantly reduces a measurement or recognition inconsistency that would otherwise arise from measuring assets or 
liabilities on a different basis (‘accounting mismatch’).

Interest rate swaps have been acquired by the Group with the intention of significantly reducing interest rate risk on certain 
debt securities with fixed rates of interest. To significantly reduce the accounting mismatch between assets and liabilities 
and measurement bases, these debt securities have been designated at fair value through profit or loss.

Similarly, to reduce accounting mismatches, the Group has designated certain financial liabilities at fair value through profit 
or loss where the liabilities either: 

•  Have fixed rates of interest and interest rate swaps or other interest rate derivatives have been entered with the intention 

of significantly reducing interest rate risk; or

•  Are exposed to foreign currency risk and derivatives have been acquired with the intention of significantly reducing 

exposure to market changes; or

•  Have been acquired to fund trading asset portfolios or assets

Financial liabilities may also be designated at fair value through profit or loss where they are managed on a fair value basis 
or have a embedded derivative where the Group is not able to bifurcate and separately value the embedded derivative 
component. 

Financial liabilities held at amortised cost
Financial liabilities that are not financial guarantees or loan commitments and that are not classified as financial liabilities 
held at fair value through profit or loss are classified as financial liabilities held at amortised cost.

Preference shares which carry a mandatory coupon that represents a market rate of interest at the issue date, or which are 
redeemable on a specific date or at the option of the shareholder are classified as financial liabilities and are presented in 
other borrowed funds. The dividends on these preference shares are recognised in the income statement as interest expense 
on an amortised cost basis using the effective interest method.

Financial guarantee contracts and loan commitments
The Group issues financial guarantee contracts and loan commitments in return for fees. Financial guarantee contracts  
and any loan commitments issued at below-market interest rates are initially recognised at their fair value as a financial 
liability, and subsequently measured at the higher of the initial value less the cumulative amount of income recognised in 
accordance with the principles of IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers and their expected credit loss provision. 
Loan commitments may be designated at fair value through profit or loss where that is the business model under which  
such contracts are held.

Fair value of financial assets and liabilities
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between 
market participants at the measurement date in the principal market for the asset or liability, or in the absence of a principal 
market, the most advantageous market to which the Group has access at the date. The fair value of a liability includes the 
risk that the bank will not be able to honour its obligations.

The fair value of financial instruments is generally measured on the basis of the individual financial instrument. However, 
when a group of financial assets and financial liabilities is managed on the basis of its net exposure to either market risk or 
credit risk, the fair value of the group of financial instruments is measured on a net basis.

The fair values of quoted financial assets and liabilities in active markets are based on current prices. A market is regarded as 
active if transactions for the asset or liability take place with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information 
on an ongoing basis. If the market for a financial instrument, and for unlisted securities, is not active, the Group establishes 
fair value by using valuation techniques.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

13. Financial instruments continued

Initial recognition
Purchases and sales of financial assets and liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss, and debt securities classified as 
financial assets held at fair value through other comprehensive income are initially recognised on the trade-date (the date 
on which the Group commits to purchase or sell the asset). Loans and advances and other financial assets held at amortised 
cost are recognised on the settlement date (the date on which cash is advanced to the borrowers).

All financial instruments are initially recognised at fair value, which is normally the transaction price, plus directly attributable 
transaction costs for financial assets which are not subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss.

In certain circumstances, the initial fair value may be based on a valuation technique which may lead to the recognition of 
profits or losses at the time of initial recognition. However, these profits or losses can only be recognised when the valuation 
technique used is based solely on observable market data. In those cases where the initially recognised fair value is based on 
a valuation model that uses unobservable inputs, the difference between the transaction price and the valuation model is 
not recognised immediately in the income statement but is amortised or released to the income statement as the inputs 
become observable, or the transaction matures or is terminated.

Subsequent measurement
Financial assets and financial liabilities held at amortised cost
Financial assets and financial liabilities held at amortised cost are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective 
interest method (see Interest income and expense). Foreign exchange gains and losses are recognised in the income 
statement.

Where a financial instrument carried at amortised cost is the hedged item in a qualifying fair value hedge relationship,  
its carrying value is adjusted by the fair value gain or loss attributable to the hedged risk.

Financial assets held at FVOCI
Debt instruments held at FVOCI are subsequently carried at fair value, with all unrealised gains and losses arising from 
changes in fair value (including any related foreign exchange gains or losses) recognised in other comprehensive income  
and accumulated in a separate component of equity. Foreign exchange gains and losses on the amortised cost are 
recognised in income. Changes in expected credit losses are recognised in the profit or loss and are accumulated in equity. 
On derecognition, the cumulative fair value gains or losses, net of the cumulative expected credit loss reserve, are transferred 
to the profit or loss. 

Equity investments designated at FVOCI are subsequently carried at fair value with all unrealised gains and losses arising 
from changes in fair value (including any related foreign exchange gains or losses) recognised in other comprehensive 
income and accumulated in a separate component of equity. On derecognition, the cumulative reserve is transferred to 
retained earnings and is not recycled to profit or loss.

Financial assets and liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss
Financial assets and liabilities mandatorily held at fair value through profit or loss and financial assets designated at fair 
value through profit or loss are subsequently carried at fair value, with gains and losses arising from changes in fair value, 
including contractual interest income or expense, recorded in the net trading income line in the profit or loss unless the 
instrument is part of a cash flow hedging relationship. 

Financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss
Financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss are held at fair value, with changes in fair value recognised 
in the net trading income line in the profit or loss, other than that attributable to changes in credit risk. Fair value changes 
attributable to credit risk are recognised in other comprehensive income and recorded in a separate category of reserves 
unless this is expected to create or enlarge an accounting mismatch, in which case the entire change in fair value of the 
financial liability designated at fair value through profit or loss is recognised in profit or loss.

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13. Financial instruments continued

Derecognition of financial instruments
Financial assets are derecognised when the rights to receive cash flows from the financial assets have expired or where the 
Group has transferred substantially all risks and rewards of ownership. If substantially all the risks and rewards have been 
neither retained nor transferred and the Group has retained control, the assets continue to be recognised to the extent of the 
Group’s continuing involvement.

Where financial assets have been modified, the modified terms are assessed on a qualitative and quantitative basis to 
determine whether a fundamental change in the nature of the instrument has occurred, such as whether the derecognition 
of the pre-existing instrument and the recognition of a new instrument is appropriate.

On derecognition of a financial asset, the difference between the carrying amount of the asset (or the carrying amount 
allocated to the portion of the asset derecognised) and the sum of the consideration received (including any new asset 
obtained less any new liability assumed) and any cumulative gain or loss that had been recognised in other comprehensive 
income is recognised in profit or loss except for equity instruments elected FVOCI (see above) and cumulative fair value 
adjustments attributable to the credit risk of a liability that are held in other comprehensive income.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when they are extinguished. A financial liability is extinguished when the obligation is 
discharged, cancelled or expires and this is evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively. However, where a financial 
liability has been modified, it is derecognised if the difference between the modified cash flows and the original cash flows is 
more than 10 per cent, or if less than 10 per cent, the Group will perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether the 
terms of the two instruments are substantially different.

If the Group purchases its own debt, it is derecognised and the difference between the carrying amount of the liability and 
the consideration paid is included in ‘Other income’ except for the cumulative fair value adjustments attributable to the 
credit risk of a liability that are held in other comprehensive income which are never recycled to the profit or loss.

Modified financial instruments
Financial assets and financial liabilities whose original contractual terms have been modified, including those loans subject 
to forbearance strategies, are considered to be modified instruments. Modifications may include changes to the tenor, cash 
flows and or interest rates among other factors.

Where derecognition of financial assets is appropriate (see Derecognition), the newly recognised residual loans are assessed 
to determine whether the assets should be classified as purchased or originated credit-impaired assets (POCI).

Where derecognition is not appropriate, the gross carrying amount of the applicable instruments is recalculated as the 
present value of the renegotiated or modified contractual cash flows discounted at the original effective interest rate (or 
credit adjusted effective interest rate for POCI financial assets). The difference between the recalculated values and the 
pre-modified gross carrying values of the instruments are recorded as a modification gain or loss in the profit or loss.

Gains and losses arising from modifications for credit reasons are recorded as part of ‘Credit impairment’ (see Credit 
Impairment Policy). Modification gains and losses arising for non-credit reasons are recognised either as part of “Credit 
impairment” or within income depending on whether there has been a change in the credit risk on the financial asset 
subsequent to the modification. Modification gains and losses arising on financial liabilities are recognised within income. 
The movements in the applicable expected credit loss loan positions are disclosed in further detail in Risk Review.

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Under the Phase 2 Interest Rate Benchmark Reform amendments to IFRS 9, changes to the basis for determining contractual 
cash flows as a direct result of interest rate benchmark reform are treated as changes to a floating interest rate to that 
instrument, provided that the transition from the IBOR benchmark rate to the alternative RFR takes place on an economically 
equivalent basis. Where the instrument is measured at amortised cost or FVOCI, this results in a change in the instrument’s 
effective interest rate, with no change in the amortised cost value of the instrument. If the change to the instrument does not 
meet these criteria, the Group applies judgement to assess whether the changes are substantial and if they are, the financial 
instrument is derecognised and a new financial instrument is recognised. If the changes are not substantial, the Group 
adjusts the gross carrying amount of the financial instrument by the present value of the changes not covered by the 
practical expedient, discounted using the revised effective interest rate.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

13. Financial instruments continued

Reclassifications
Financial liabilities are not reclassified subsequent to initial recognition. Reclassifications of financial assets are made when, 
and only when, the business model for those assets changes. Such changes are expected to be infrequent and arise as a 
result of significant external or internal changes such as the termination of a line of business or the purchase of a subsidiary 
whose business model is to realise the value of pre-existing held for trading financial assets through a hold to collect model.

Financial assets are reclassified at their fair value on the date of reclassification and previously recognised gains and losses 
are not restated. Moreover, reclassifications of financial assets between financial assets held at amortised cost and financial 
assets held at fair value through other comprehensive income do not affect effective interest rate or expected credit loss 
computations.

Reclassified from amortised cost
Where financial assets held at amortised cost are reclassified to financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss, the 
difference between the fair value of the assets at the date of reclassification and the previously recognised amortised cost is 
recognised in profit or loss. 

For financial assets held at amortised cost that are reclassified to fair value through other comprehensive income, the 
difference between the fair value of the assets at the date of reclassification and the previously recognised gross carrying 
value is recognised in other comprehensive income. Additionally, the related cumulative expected credit loss amounts 
relating to the reclassified financial assets are reclassified from loan loss provisions to a separate reserve in other 
comprehensive income at the date of reclassification.

Reclassified from fair value through other comprehensive income
Where financial assets held at fair value through other comprehensive income are reclassified to financial assets held at fair 
value through profit or loss, the cumulative gain or loss previously recognised in other comprehensive income is transferred to 
the profit or loss.

For financial assets held at fair value through other comprehensive income that are reclassified to financial assets held at 
amortised cost, the cumulative gain or loss previously recognised in other comprehensive income is adjusted against the fair 
value of the financial asset such that the financial asset is recorded at a value as if it had always been held at amortised cost. 
In addition, the related cumulative expected credit losses held within other comprehensive income are reversed against the 
gross carrying value of the reclassified assets at the date of reclassification.

Reclassified from fair value through profit or loss
Where financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss are reclassified to financial assets held at fair value through 
other comprehensive income or financial assets held at amortised cost, the fair value at the date of reclassification is used to 
determine the effective interest rate on the financial asset going forward. In addition, the date of reclassification is used as 
the date of initial recognition for the calculation of expected credit losses. Where financial assets held at fair value through 
profit or loss are reclassified to financial assets held at amortised cost, the fair value at the date of reclassification becomes 
the gross carrying value of the financial asset.

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13. Financial instruments continued
The Group’s classification of its financial assets and liabilities is summarised in the following tables.

Assets at fair value

Non-trading 
mandatorily 
at fair value 
through 
profit or loss 
$million

Derivatives 
held for 
hedging 
$million

Designated 
at fair value 
through 
profit or loss 
$million

Fair value 
through other 
comprehensive 
income 
$million

Total 
financial 
assets at  
fair value 
$million

Assets  
held at 
amortised 
cost 
$million

Total 
$million

Notes

Trading 
$million

–

1,552

4,169

16

–

24,919

4,223

34,863

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,325

5,129

63,405

425

305

71,589

14

15

16

15

16

20

21

67,826

1,641

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

79

–

256

–

335

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

66,712

66,712

3,877

9,377

63,405

25,600

4,528

106,787

69,467

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,877

9,377

63,405

25,600

4,528

106,787

69,467

–

44,347

44,347

–

–

–

1,247

1,247

281,699

281,699

2,919

2,919

133,381

133,381

19,480

152,861

454

454

133,835

133,835

–

–

–

5

–

19,480

40,978

83

454

153,315

40,978

88

Assets

Cash and balances at  
central banks

Financial assets held at fair 
value through profit or loss

Loans and advances  
to banks¹

Loans and advances 
to customers¹

Reverse repurchase 
agreements and other 
similar secured lending

Debt securities, alternative 
tier one and other  
eligible bills

Equity shares

Derivative financial 
instruments

Loans and advances  
to banks¹

of which – reverse 
repurchase agreements 
and other similar  
secured lending

Loans and advances  
to customers¹

of which – reverse 
repurchase agreements 
and other similar  
secured lending

Investment securities

Debt securities, alternative 
tier one and other  
eligible bills

Equity shares

Other assets

Assets held for sale

Total at 31 December 2020

102,689

1,641

71,589

340

133,835

310,094

453,299

763,393

1   Further analysed in Risk review and Capital review (pages 185 to 283)

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

13. Financial instruments continued

Assets at fair value

Non-trading 
mandatorily 
at fair value 
through 
profit or loss 
$million

Derivatives 
held for 
hedging 
$million

Designated 
at fair value 
through 
profit or loss 
$million

Fair value 
through other 
comprehensive 
income 
$million

Total 
financial 
assets at  
fair value 
$million

Assets  
held at 
amortised 
cost 
$million

Total 
$million

Notes

Trading 
$million

Assets

Cash and balances at  
central banks

Financial assets held at fair 
value through profit or loss

Loans and advances  
to banks1

Loans and advances  
to customers¹

Reverse repurchase 
agreements and other 
similar secured lending

Debt securities, alternative 
tier one and other  
eligible bills
Equity shares2

Derivative financial 
instruments

Loans and advances  
to banks¹

of which – reverse 
repurchase agreements 
and other similar  
secured lending

Loans and advances  
to customers¹

of which – reverse 
repurchase agreements 
and other similar  
secured lending

Investment securities

Debt securities, alternative 
tier one and other  
eligible bills

Equity shares

Other assets

Assets held for sale

–

198

2,886

16

–

21,877

2,208

27,169

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,330

4,010

57,604

166

261

65,371

14

15

16

15

16

20

21

46,424

788

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

87

–

–

–

–

278

–

278

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

243

521

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

52,728

52,728

3,528

6,896

57,604

22,321

2,469

92,818

47,212

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,528

6,896

57,604

22,321

2,469

92,818

47,212

–

–

–

–

53,549

53,549

1,341

1,341

268,523

268,523

1,469

1,469

129,471

129,471

13,969

143,440

291

291

129,762

129,762

–

–

–

330

–

13,969

36,161

90

291

143,731

36,161

420

129,762

270,122

425,020

695,142

Total at 31 December 2019

73,593

788

65,458

1   Further analysed in Risk review and Capital review (pages 185 to 283)

2   Prior year figures have been restated as the investments in Private Equity has been reclassified from designated at fair value to Non-Trading FVTPL category to 

reflect correct classification of portfolio

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13. Financial instruments continued

Liabilities

Financial liabilities held at fair value through  
profit or loss

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts

Repurchase agreements and other similar  
secured borrowing

Debt securities in issue

Short positions

Liabilities at fair value

Derivatives 
held for 
hedging 
$million

Designated 
at fair value 
through 
profit or loss 
$million

Total 
financial 
liabilities at 
fair value 
$million

Notes

Trading 
$million

Amortised 
cost 
$million

Total 
$million

16

22

–

–

–

–

3,754

3,754

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,249

8,897

1,249

8,897

48,662

48,662

5,811

–

64,619

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

5,811

3,754

68,373

71,533

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

30,255

1,249

8,897

48,662

5,811

3,754

68,373

71,533

30,255

439,339

439,339

1,903

55,550

47,228

16,654

1,903

55,550

47,228

16,654

Derivative financial instruments

14

69,790

1,743

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts

Repurchase agreements and other similar  
secured borrowing

Debt securities in issue

Other liabilities

Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds

16

22

23

27

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total at 31 December 2020

73,544

1,743

64,619

139,906

590,929

730,835

Liabilities at fair value

Derivatives 
held for 
hedging 
$million

Designated 
at fair value 
through 
profit or loss 
$million

Total 
financial 
liabilities at 
fair value 
$million

Amortised 
cost 
$million

Total 
$million

Notes

Trading 
$million

Liabilities

Financial liabilities held at fair value through  
profit or loss

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts

Repurchase agreements and other similar  
secured borrowing

Debt securities in issue

Short positions

16

22

–

–

–

–

4,153

4,153

–

–

–

–

–

–

Derivative financial instruments

14

46,906

1,578

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts

Repurchase agreements and other similar  
secured borrowing

Debt securities in issue

Other liabilities

Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds

16

22

23

27

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

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1,081

6,947

1,081

6,947

46,283

46,283

8,510

–

62,821

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

8,510

4,153

66,974

48,484

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

28,562

1,081

6,947

46,283

8,510

4,153

66,974

48,484

28,562

405,357

405,357

1,935

53,025

41,149

16,207

1,935

53,025

41,149

16,207

Total at 31 December 2019

51,059

1,578

62,821

115,458

546,235

661,693

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

13. Financial instruments continued

Interest rate benchmark reform
The Group has elected to early-adopt the ‘Interest Rate Benchmark Reform – Phase 2’ amendments to IFRS for the year ending 
31 December 2020, which apply to a financial instrument when its benchmark interest rate, such as USD LIBOR, is either replaced 
with an alternative risk-free rate (RFR) or the benchmark itself is reformed so that it depends on actual market transactions 
instead of panel bank submissions. Please refer to the accounting policy for modified financial instruments on page 331 which 
explains how the Group accounts for changes to a financial instrument as a result of interest rate benchmark reform.

The Group also applies the ‘Interest Rate Benchmark Reform – Phase 1’ amendments, and the Phase 2 reliefs contain additional 
reliefs for hedge accounting. These are discussed in Note 14.

As at 31 December 2020 the Group had the following notional principal exposures to interest rate benchmarks that are 
expected to be subject to interest rate benchmark reform. The Group has excluded financial instruments maturing before  
31 December 2021 as it is assumed that these will not require reform, due to the expectation that the IBOR benchmarks the 
Group is exposed to will be published until at least this date.

IBOR exposures by 
benchmark
Assets

Loans and advances to banks
Loans and advances to 
customers
Debt securities, AT1 and other 
eligible bills

Liabilities
Deposits by banks
Customer accounts
Repurchase agreements and 
other secured borrowing
Debt securities in issue
Subordinated liabilities and 
other borrowed funds

Derivatives – Foreign 
exchange contracts
Currency swaps and options
Derivatives – Interest rate 
contracts
Swaps
Forward rate agreements 
and options
Exchange traded futures  
and options
Equity and stock index 
options
Credit derivative contracts
Total IBOR derivative 
exposure
Total IBOR exposure

USD LIBOR 
$million

EUR LIBOR 
$million

GBP LIBOR 
$million

JPY LIBOR 
$million

CHF LIBOR 
$million

EONIA 
$million

SGD SOR 
$million

THB FIX 
$million

Total IBOR 
$million

1,072

–

55

34,143

727

2,861

3,984
39,199

399
4,239

1,195
2,159

160
8,152

170
897

1,409
4,325

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 
–

– 
19

–
–

15
34

–

134

–
134

– 
189

– 
– 

– 
189

–

44

–
44

– 
– 

–
– 

– 
–

–

–

–
–

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 
–

–

2,011

365
2,376

– 
2

– 
– 

– 
2

–

33

–
33

– 
42

– 
– 

– 
42

1,127

39,953

5,928
47,008

399
4,491

1,195
2,159

175
8,419

202,086

– 

34,205

14,969

6,634

55

5,125

1,998

265,072

839,653

73

104,763

25,328

13,402

4,850

72,849

27,013

1,087,931

21,634

63,239

75
4,466

– 

– 

– 
– 

523

2,527

1,445

2
–

– 

– 
–

–

– 

–
– 

–

– 

– 
– 

76

55

24,815

– 

– 
– 

– 

64,684

– 
134

77
4,600

1,131,153
1,178,504

73
970

140,938
145,297

48,824
43,147

20,036
20,080

4,905
4,905

78,050
80,428

29,200 1,447,179
29,275 1,502,606

Additionally, the Group had off-balance sheet exposures in respect of partially undrawn credit lines that reference an IBOR 
benchmark. The table below only includes the undrawn portion of existing facilities that are known to reference at least one 
IBOR benchmark; it does not include facilities that have yet to be drawn down and not known whether the customer may 
choose to borrow funds linked to an IBOR benchmark.

Off-balance sheet IBOR exposures
USD LIBOR
EUR LIBOR
GBP LIBOR
CHF LIBOR
SGD SOR
THB FIX
Multi-currency facilities referencing LIBOR
Total off-balance sheet IBOR exposures

$million

7,176
88
763
56
206
1
1,352
9,642

‘Multi-currency facilities referencing LIBOR’ are facilities where the customer has a choice of two or more floating rates to draw 
down on and at least one of the floating rates available is a LIBOR benchmark.

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13. Financial instruments continued

Offsetting of financial instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the balance sheet when there is a legally enforceable 
right to offset the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the 
liability simultaneously. 

In practice, for credit mitigation, the Group is able to offset assets and liabilities which do not meet the IAS 32 netting criteria set 
out below. Such arrangements include master netting arrangements for derivatives and global master repurchase agreements 
for repurchase and reverse repurchase transactions. These agreements generally allow that all outstanding transactions with a 
particular counterparty can be offset but only in the event of default or other predetermined events.

In addition, the Group also receives and pledges readily realisable collateral for derivative transactions to cover net exposure in 
the event of a default. Under repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements the Group pledges (legally sells) and obtains 
(legally purchases) respectively, highly liquid assets which can be sold in the event of a default.

The following tables set out the impact of netting on the balance sheet. This comprises derivative transactions settled through 
an enforceable netting agreement where we have the intent and ability to settle net and which are offset on the balance sheet. 

Gross amounts  
of recognised 
financial 
instruments 
$million

Impact of  
offset in the 
balance sheet 
$million

2020

Net amounts  
of financial 
instruments 
presented in the 
balance sheet 
$million

Related amount not offset  
in the balance sheet

Financial 
instruments 
$million

Financial 
collateral  
$million

Net amount 
$million

Assets 

Derivative financial instruments

111,979

(42,512)

69,467

(47,097)

(10,136)

12,234

Reverse repurchase agreements and 
other similar secured lending

At 31 December 2020

Liabilities

75,490

187,469

(7,919)

(50,431)

67,571

137,038

–

(47,097)

(67,571)

(77,707)

–

12,234

Derivative financial instruments

114,045

(42,512)

71,533

(47,097)

(11,757)

12,679

Repurchase agreements and other  
similar secured borrowing

At 31 December 2020

58,484

172,529

(7,919)

(50,431)

50,565

122,098

–

(47,097)

(50,565)

(62,322)

–

12,679

Gross amounts  
of recognised 
financial 
instruments 
$million

Impact of  
offset in the 
balance sheet 
$million

2019

Net amounts  
of financial 
instruments 
presented in the 
balance sheet 
$million

Related amount not offset  
in the balance sheet

Financial 
instruments 
$million

Financial 
collateral 
$million

Net amount 
$million

Assets 

Derivative financial instruments

63,854

(16,642)

47,212

(28,659)

(7,824)

10,729

Reverse repurchase agreements and 
other similar secured lending

At 31 December 2019

Liabilities

63,535

127,389

(3,121)

(19,763)

60,414

107,626

–

(28,659)

(60,414)

(68,238)

–

10,729

Derivative financial instruments

65,126

(16,642)

48,484

(28,659)

(9,169)

10,656

Repurchase agreements and other  
similar secured borrowing

At 31 December 2019

51,339

116,465

(3,121)

(19,763)

48,218

96,702

–

(28,659)

(48,218)

(57,387)

–

10,656

Related amounts not offset in the balance sheet comprises:

•  Financial instruments not offset in the balance sheet but covered by an enforceable netting arrangement. This comprises 

master netting arrangements held against derivative financial instruments and excludes the effect of over-collateralisation

•  Financial instruments where a legal opinion evidencing enforceability of the right of offset may not have been sought, or may 

have been unable to obtain

•  Financial collateral comprises cash collateral pledged and received for derivative financial instruments and collateral bought 
and sold for reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements respectively and excludes the effect of over-collateralisation

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

13. Financial instruments continued

Financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss

Carrying balance aggregate fair value

Amount contractually obliged to repay at maturity

Difference between aggregate fair value and contractually obliged to repay at maturity

Cumulative change in fair value accredited to credit risk difference

2020 
$million

64,619

64,405

214

(43)

2019 
$million

62,821

62,505

316

17

During 2020, the Group enhanced its valuation methodology for financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit  
or loss. The financial impact of the revision in methodology is a loss of $56 million in net trading income and a loss in other 
comprehensive income of $78 million. These impacts are treated as a change in accounting estimate.

The net fair value loss on financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss was $247 million for the year  
(31 December 2019: net loss of $1,602 million). Further details of the Group’s own credit adjustment (OCA) valuation technique  
is described later in this Note. 

Valuation of financial instruments 
The fair values of quoted financial assets and liabilities in active markets are based on current prices. A market is regarded as 
active if transactions for the asset or liability take place with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on 
an ongoing basis. Wherever possible, fair values have been calculated using unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets 
for identical instruments held by the Group. Where quoted market prices are not available, or are unreliable because of poor 
liquidity, fair values have been determined using valuation techniques which, to the extent possible, use market observable 
inputs, but in some cases use non market observable inputs. Valuation techniques used include discounted cash flow analysis 
and pricing models and, where appropriate, comparison with instruments that have characteristics similar to those of the 
instruments held by the Group.

The Valuation Control function is responsible for independent price verification, oversight of fair value and appropriate value 
adjustments and escalation of valuation issues. Independent price verification is the process of determining that the valuations 
incorporated into the financial statements are validated independent of the business area responsible for the product. The 
Valuation Control function has oversight of the fair value adjustments to ensure the financial instruments are priced to exit. 
These are key controls in ensuring the material accuracy of the valuations incorporated in the financial statements. The market 
data used for price verification may include data sourced from recent trade data involving external counterparties or third 
parties such as Bloomberg, Reuters, brokers and consensus pricing providers. Valuation Control performs a semi-annual review 
of the suitability of the market data used for price testing. Price verification uses independently sourced data that is deemed 
most representative of the market the instruments trade in. To determine the quality of the market data inputs, factors such as 
independence, relevance, reliability, availability of multiple data sources and methodology employed by the pricing provider are 
taken into consideration. 

The Valuation and Benchmarks Committee (VBC) is the valuation governance forum consisting of representatives from Group 
Market Risk, Product Control, Valuation Control and the business, which meets monthly to discuss and approve the independent 
valuations of the inventory. For Principal Finance, the Investment Committee meeting is held on a quarterly basis to review 
investments and valuations.

Significant accounting estimates and judgements
The Group evaluates the significance of financial instruments and material accuracy of the valuations incorporated in the 
financial statements as they involve a high degree of judgement and estimation uncertainty in determining the carrying 
values of financial assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date.

•  Fair value of financial instruments is determined using valuation techniques and estimates (see below) which, to the extent 
possible, use market observable inputs, but in some cases use non-market observable inputs. Changes in the observability 
of significant valuation inputs can materially affect the fair values of financial instruments

•  When establishing the exit price of a financial instrument using a valuation technique, the Group estimates valuation 

adjustments in determining the fair value (page 339)

•  In determining the valuation of financial instruments, the Group makes judgements on the amounts reserved to cater for 

model and valuation risks, which cover both Level 2 and Level 3 assets, and the significant valuation judgements in respect 
of Level 3 instruments (page 341)

•  Where the estimated measurement of fair value is more judgemental in respect of Level 3 assets, these are valued based 

on models that use a significant degree of non-market-based unobservable inputs

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13. Financial instruments continued

Valuation techniques 
Refer to the fair value hierarchy explanation – Level 1, 2 and 3 (page 341)

•  Financial instruments held at fair value

–  Debt securities – asset-backed securities: Asset-backed securities are valued based on external prices obtained from 

consensus pricing providers, broker quotes, recent trades, arrangers’ quotes, etc. Where an observable price is available for 
a given security, it is classified as Level 2. In instances where third-party prices are not available or reliable, the security is 
classified as Level 3. The fair value of Level 3 securities is estimated using market standard cash flow models with input 
parameter assumptions which include prepayment speeds, default rates, discount margins derived from comparable 
securities with similar vintage, collateral type, and credit ratings

–  Debt securities in issue: These debt securities relate to structured notes issued by the Group. Where independent market 
data is available through pricing vendors and broker sources these positions are classified as Level 2. Where such liquid 
external prices are not available, valuations of these debt securities are implied using input parameters such as bond 
spreads and credit spreads, and are classified as Level 3. These input parameters are determined with reference to the 
same issuer (if available) or proxies from comparable issuers or assets

–  Derivatives: Derivative products are classified as Level 2 if the valuation of the product is based upon input parameters 
which are observable from independent and reliable market data sources. Derivative products are classified as Level 3  
if there are significant valuation input parameters which are unobservable in the market, such as products where the 
performance is linked to more than one underlying variable. Examples are foreign exchange basket options, equity options 
based on the performance of two or more underlying indices and interest rate products with quanto payouts. In most cases 
these unobservable correlation parameters cannot be implied from the market, and methods such as historical analysis 
and comparison with historical levels or other benchmark data must be employed

–  Equity shares – private equity: The majority of private equity unlisted investments are valued based on earning multiples 
– Price-to-Earnings (P/E) or enterprise value to earnings before income tax, depreciation and amortisation (EV/EBITDA) 
ratios – of comparable listed companies. The two primary inputs for the valuation of these investments are the actual  
or forecast earnings of the investee companies and earning multiples for the comparable listed companies. To ensure 
comparability between these unquoted investments and the comparable listed companies, appropriate adjustments are 
also applied (for example, liquidity and size) in the valuation. In circumstances where an investment does not have direct 
comparables or where the multiples for the comparable companies cannot be sourced from reliable external sources, 
alternative valuation techniques (for example, discounted cash flow models), which use predominantly unobservable 
inputs or Level 3 inputs, may be applied. Even though earning multiples for the comparable listed companies can be 
sourced from third-party sources (for example, Bloomberg), and those inputs can be deemed Level 2 inputs, all unlisted 
investments (excluding those where observable inputs are available, for example, Over-the-counter (OTC) prices) are 
classified as Level 3 on the basis that the valuation methods involve judgements ranging from determining comparable 
companies to discount rates where the discounted cash flow method is applied

–  Loans and advances: These primarily include loans in the global syndications business which were not syndicated as of the 
balance sheet date and other financing transactions within Financial Markets and loans and advances including reverse 
repurchase agreements that do not have SPPI cash flows or are managed on a fair value basis. These loans are generally 
bilateral in nature and, where available, their valuation is based on observable clean sales transactions prices or market 
observable spreads. If observable credit spreads are not available, proxy spreads based on comparable loans with similar 
credit grade, sector and region, are used. Where observable credit spreads and market standard proxy methods are 
available, these loans are classified as Level 2. Where there are no recent transactions or comparable loans, these loans  
are classified as Level 3

–  Other debt securities: These debt securities include convertible bonds, corporate bonds, credit and structured notes. 

Where quoted prices are available through pricing vendors, brokers or observable trading activities from liquid markets, 
these are classified as Level 2 and valued using such quotes. Where there are significant valuation inputs which are 
unobservable in the market, due to illiquid trading or the complexity of the product, these are classified as Level 3.  
The valuations of these debt securities are implied using input parameters such as bond spreads and credit spreads.  
These input parameters are determined with reference to the same issuer (if available) or proxied from comparable  
issuers or assets

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

13. Financial instruments continued
•  Financial instruments held at amortised cost

The following sets out the Group’s basis for establishing fair values of amortised cost financial instruments and their 
classification between Levels 1, 2 and 3. As certain categories of financial instruments are not actively traded, there is a 
significant level of management judgement involved in calculating the fair values:

–  Cash and balances at central banks: The fair value of cash and balances at central banks is their carrying amounts

–  Debt securities in issue, subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds: The aggregate fair values are calculated 
based on quoted market prices. For those notes where quoted market prices are not available, a discounted cash flow 
model is used based on a current market related yield curve appropriate for the remaining term to maturity

–  Deposits and borrowings: The estimated fair value of deposits with no stated maturity is the amount repayable on 
demand. The estimated fair value of fixed interest-bearing deposits and other borrowings without quoted market  
prices is based on discounted cash flows using the prevailing market rates for debts with a similar Credit Risk and  
remaining maturity 

–  Investment securities: For investment securities that do not have directly observable market values, the Group utilises a 
number of valuation techniques to determine fair value. Where available, securities are valued using input proxies from  
the same or closely related underlying (for example, bond spreads from the same or closely related issuer) or input  
proxies from a different underlying (for example, a similar bond but using spreads for a particular sector and rating).  
Certain instruments cannot be proxies as set out above, and in such cases the positions are valued using non-market 
observable inputs. This includes those instruments held at amortised cost and predominantly relates to asset-backed 
securities. The fair value for such instruments is usually proxies from internal assessments of the underlying cash flows 

–  Loans and advances to banks and customers: For loans and advances to banks, the fair value of floating rate placements 
and overnight deposits is their carrying amounts. The estimated fair value of fixed interest-bearing deposits is based on 
discounted cash flows using the prevailing money market rates for debts with a similar Credit Risk and remaining maturity. 
The Group’s loans and advances to customers’ portfolio is well diversified by geography and industry. Approximately a 
quarter of the portfolio re-prices within one month, and approximately half re-prices within 12 months. Loans and advances 
are presented net of provisions for impairment. The fair value of loans and advances to customers with a residual maturity 
of less than one year generally approximates the carrying value. The estimated fair value of loans and advances with a 
residual maturity of more than one year represents the discounted amount of future cash flows expected to be received, 
including assumptions relating to prepayment rates and Credit Risk. Expected cash flows are discounted at current market 
rates to determine fair value. The Group has a wide range of individual instruments within its loans and advances portfolio 
and as a result providing quantification of the key assumptions used to value such instruments is impractical

–  Other assets: Other assets comprise primarily of cash collateral and trades pending settlement. The carrying amount of 
these financial instruments is considered to be a reasonable approximation of fair value as they are either short-term in 
nature or re-price to current market rates frequently

Fair value adjustments
When establishing the exit price of a financial instrument using a valuation technique, the Group considers adjustments to  
the modelled price which market participants would make when pricing that instrument. The main valuation adjustments 
(described further below) in determining fair value for financial assets and financial liabilities are as follows:

Bid-offer valuation adjustment

Credit valuation adjustment

Debit valuation adjustment

Model valuation adjustment

Funding valuation adjustment

Other fair value adjustments

Total

Income deferrals

Day 1 and other deferrals

Total

01.01.2020 
$million

Movement 
during the year 
$million

31.12.20 
$million

01.01.2019 
$million

Movement 
during the year 
$million

31.12.19 
$million

79

136

(43)

7

26

45

250

103

103

24

53

(12)

(2)

(21)

(13)

29

35

35

103

189

(55)

5

5

32

279

138

138

67

196

(143)

6

60

59

245

100

100

12

(60)

100

1

(34)

(14)

5

3

3

79

136

(43)

7

26

45

250

103

103

Note: Bracket represents an asset and credit to the income statement

•  Bid-offer valuation adjustment: Generally, market parameters are marked on a mid-market basis in the revaluation systems, 
and a bid-offer valuation adjustment is required to quantify the expected cost of neutralising the business’ positions through 
dealing away in the market, thereby bringing long positions to bid and short positions to offer. The methodology to calculate 
the bid-offer adjustment for a derivative portfolio involves netting between long and short positions and the grouping of risk 
by strike and tenor based on the hedging strategy where long positions are marked to bid and short positions marked to offer 
in the systems

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13. Financial instruments continued
•  Credit valuation adjustment (CVA): The Group accounts for CVA against the fair value of derivative products. CVA is an 
adjustment to the fair value of the transactions to reflect the possibility that our counterparties may default and we may  
not receive the full market value of the outstanding transactions. It represents an estimate of the adjustment a market 
participant would include when deriving a purchase price to acquire our exposures. CVA is calculated for each subsidiary,  
and within each entity for each counterparty to which the entity has exposure and takes account of any collateral we may 
hold. The Group calculates the CVA by using estimates of future positive exposure, market-implied probability of default  
(PD) and recovery rates. Where market-implied data is not readily available, we use market-based proxies to estimate  
the PD. Wrong-way risk occurs when the exposure to a counterparty is adversely correlated with the credit quality of that 
counterparty, and the Group has implemented a model to capture this impact for key wrong-way exposures. The Group also 
captures the uncertainties associated with wrong-way risk in the Group’s Prudential Valuation Adjustments framework

•  Debit valuation adjustment (DVA): The Group calculates DVA adjustments on its derivative liabilities to reflect changes in  
its own credit standing. The Group’s DVA adjustments will increase if its credit standing worsens and conversely, decrease if  
its credit standing improves. For derivative liabilities, a DVA adjustment is determined by applying the Group’s probability  
of default to the Group’s negative expected exposure against the counterparty. The Group’s probability of default and loss 
expected in the event of default is derived based on bond and CDS spreads associated with the Group’s issuances and 
market standard recovery levels. The expected exposure is modelled based on the simulation of the underlying risk factors 
over the expected life of the deal. This simulation methodology incorporates the collateral posted by the Group and the 
effects of master netting agreements

•  Model valuation adjustment: Valuation models may have pricing deficiencies or limitations that require a valuation 
adjustment. These pricing deficiencies or limitations arise due to the choice, implementation and calibration of the  
pricing model

•  Funding valuation adjustment (FVA): The Group makes FVA adjustments against derivative products. FVA reflects an 

estimate of the adjustment to its fair value that a market participant would make to incorporate funding costs or benefits 
that could arise in relation to the exposure. FVA is calculated by determining the net expected exposure at a counterparty 
level and then applying a funding rate to those exposures that reflect the market cost of funding. The FVA for uncollateralised 
(including partially collateralised) derivatives incorporates the estimated present value of the market funding cost or benefit 
associated with funding these transactions

•  Other fair value adjustments: The Group calculates the fair value on the interest rate callable products by calibrating to a set 

of market prices with differing maturity, expiry and strike of the trades

•  Day one and other deferrals: In certain circumstances the initial fair value may be based on a valuation technique which 

differs to the transaction price at the time of initial recognition. However, gains can only be recognised when the valuation 
technique used is based primarily on observable market data. In those cases where the initially recognised fair value is based 
on a valuation model that uses inputs which are not observable in the market, the difference between the transaction price 
and the valuation model is not recognised immediately in the income statement. The difference is amortised to the income 
statement until the inputs become observable, or the transaction matures or is terminated. Other deferrals primarily 
represent adjustments taken to reflect the specific terms and conditions of certain derivative contracts which affect the 
termination value at the measurement date

In addition, the Group calculates own credit adjustment (OCA) on its issued debt designated at fair value, including structured 
notes, in order to reflect changes in its own credit standing. Own issued note liabilities are discounted utilising spreads as at the 
measurement date. These spreads consist of a market level of funding component and an idiosyncratic own credit component. 
Under IFRS 9 the change in the own credit component (OCA) is reported under other comprehensive income. The Group’s OCA 
reserve will increase if its credit standing worsens and conversely, decrease if its credit standing improves. The Group’s OCA 
reserve will reverse over time as its liabilities mature. The OCA at 31 December 2020 is a loss of $43 million (31 December 2019:  
$17 million gain).

Fair value hierarchy – financial instruments held at fair value
Assets and liabilities carried at fair value or for which fair values are disclosed have been classified into three levels according to 
the observability of the significant inputs used to determine the fair values. Changes in the observability of significant valuation 
inputs during the reporting period may result in a transfer of assets and liabilities within the fair value hierarchy. The Group 
recognises transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy when there is a significant change in either its principal market  
or the level of observability of the inputs to the valuation techniques as at the end of the reporting period.

•  Level 1: Fair value measurements are those derived from unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets  

or liabilities

•  Level 2: Fair value measurements are those with quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for 

identical or similar instruments in inactive markets and financial instruments valued using models where all significant inputs 
are observable

•  Level 3: Fair value measurements are those where inputs which could have a significant effect on the instrument’s valuation 

are not based on observable market data

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

13. Financial instruments continued
The following tables show the classification of financial instruments held at fair value into the valuation hierarchy:

Level 1 
$million

Level 2 
$million

Level 3 
$million

Total 
$million

Assets

Financial instruments held at fair value through profit or loss

Loans and advances to banks

Loans and advances to customers

Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending

Debt securities and other eligible bills

Of which:

Government bonds and treasury bills
Issued by corporates other than financial institutions1
Issued by financial institutions1

Equity shares

Derivative financial instruments

Of which:

Foreign exchange

Interest rate

Credit

Equity and stock index options

Commodity

Investment securities

–

–

–

9,453

8,904

49

500

3,677

8,659

62,341

15,889

7,929

3,880

4,080

3,657

592

473

68,986

111

36

–

–

326

54,533

11,788

1,700

109

856

Debt securities and other eligible bills

68,280

65,061

Of which:

Government bonds and treasury bills
Issued by corporates other than financial institutions1

Issued by financial institutions¹

Equity shares

Total financial instruments at 31 December 2020²

Liabilities

Financial instruments held at fair value through profit or loss

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts

Repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing

Debt securities in issue

Short positions

Derivative financial instruments

Of which:

Foreign exchange

Interest rate

Credit

Equity and stock index options

Commodity

52,771

6,229

9,280

68

81,931

–

–

–

–

2,573

413

115

11

–

–

287

27,171

9,498

28,392

5

225,210

1,103

8,876

48,662

5,651

1,181

71,001

56,968

10,387

2,904

255

487

200

718

1,064

258

–

256

2

279

8

3

2

2

1

–

40

40

–

–

3,877

9,377

63,405

25,600

16,833

4,185

4,582

4,528

69,467

54,647

11,826

1,702

110

1,182

133,381

79,982

15,727

37,672

381

2,948

454

310,089

146

21

–

160

–

119

2

26

86

5

–

1,249

8,897

48,662

5,811

3,754

71,533

57,085

10,424

2,990

260

774

Total financial instruments at 31 December 20202

2,986

136,474

446

139,906

1  

Includes covered bonds of $7,216 million, securities issued by Multilateral Development Banks/International Organisations of $10,870 million and State-owned 
agencies and development banks of $15,606 million

2   The above table does not include held for sale assets of $5 million and liabilities of $nil. These are reported in Note 21 together with their fair value hierarchy

There were no significant changes to valuation or levelling approaches in 2020.

There were no significant transfers of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value between Level 1 and Level 2 during 
the year.

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Level 1 
$million

Level 2 
$million

Level 3 
$million

Total 
$million

13. Financial instruments continued

Assets

Financial instruments held at fair value through profit or loss

Loans and advances to banks

Loans and advances to customers

Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending

Debt securities and other eligible bills

Of which:

Government bonds and treasury bills
Issued by corporates other than financial institutions1
Issued by financial institutions1

Equity shares

–

–

–

5,963

5,656

7

300

2,241

3,163

6,453

57,604

16,158

7,898

5,090

3,170

–

Derivative financial instruments

466

46,729

Of which:

Foreign exchange

Interest rate

Credit

Equity and stock index options

Commodity

Investment securities

69

28

–

–

369

25,929

19,342

1,231

23

204

Debt securities and other eligible bills

73,699

55,734

Of which:

Government bonds and treasury bills
Issued by corporates other than financial institutions1
Issued by financial institutions1

Equity shares

Total financial instruments at 31 December 2019²

Liabilities

Financial instruments held at fair value through profit or loss

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts

Repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing

Debt securities in issue

Short positions

Derivative financial instruments

Of which:

Foreign exchange

Interest rate

Credit

Equity and stock index options

Commodity

54,637

11,667

7,395

30

82,399

–

–

–

–

2,499

515

97

31

–

–

387

19,664

14,505

21,565

4

185,845

1,025

6,907

46,283

8,100

1,654

47,912

26,824

18,891

1,892

76

229

365

443

–

200

–

200

–

228

17

8

4

1

4

–

38

33

5

–

257

1,548

56

40

–

410

–

57

5

9

23

20

–

3,528

6,896

57,604

22,321

13,554

5,297

3,470

2,469

47,212

26,006

19,374

1,232

27

573

129,471

74,334

26,177

28,960

291

269,792

1,081

6,947

46,283

8,510

4,153

48,484

26,926

18,931

1,915

96

616

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Total financial instruments at 31 December 20192

3,014

111,881

563

115,458

1  

Includes covered bonds of $6,137 million (represented from $3,499 million), securities issued by Multilateral Development Banks/International Organisations of 
$11,894 million and State-owned agencies and development banks of $17,936 million

2   The above table does not include held for sale assets of $330 million and liabilities of $nil. These are reported in Note 21 together with their fair value hierarchy

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

13. Financial instruments continued

Fair value hierarchy – financial instruments measured at amortised cost
The following table shows the carrying amounts and incorporates the Group’s estimate of fair values of those financial assets 
and liabilities not presented on the Group’s balance sheet at fair value. These fair values may be different from the actual 
amount that will be received or paid on the settlement or maturity of the financial instrument. For certain instruments, the fair 
value may be determined using assumptions for which no observable prices are available.

Assets

Cash and balances at central banks¹

Loans and advances to banks

of which – reverse repurchase agreements and other 
similar secured lending

Loans and advances to customers

of which – reverse repurchase agreements and other 
similar secured lending

Investment securities2

Other assets¹

Assets held for sale

At 31 December 2020

Liabilities

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts

Repurchase agreements and other similar secured 
borrowing

Debt securities in issue

Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds 

Other liabilities¹

At 31 December 2020

Assets

Cash and balances at central banks¹

Loans and advances to banks

of which – reverse repurchase agreements and other 
similar secured lending

Loans and advances to customers

of which – reverse repurchase agreements and other 
similar secured lending

Investment securities2

Other assets¹

Assets held for sale

At 31 December 2019

Liabilities

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts

Repurchase agreements and other similar secured 
borrowing

Debt securities in issue

Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds 

Other liabilities¹

At 31 December 2019

Carrying value 
$million

Level 1 
$million

Level 2 
$million

Level 3 
$million

Total 
$million

Fair value

66,712

44,347

1,247

281,699

2,919

19,480

40,978

83

453,299

30,255

439,339

1,903

55,550

16,654

47,228

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

25,638

16,993

–

590,929

42,631

66,712

44,275

1,265

29,145

2,922

20,349

40,978

25

–

4

–

251,991

–

7

–

58

66,712

44,279

1,265

281,136

2,922

20,356

40,978

83

201,484

252,060

453,544

30,288

439,407

1,903

30,441

607

47,228

549,874

Fair value

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

30,288

439,407

1,903

56,079

17,600

47,228

592,505

Carrying value 
$million

Level 1 
$million

Level 2 
$million

Level 3 
$million

Total 
$million

52,728

53,549

1,341

268,523

1,469

13,969

36,161

90

425,020

28,562

405,357

1,935

53,025

16,207

41,149

546,235

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

20,031

15,986

–

36,017

52,728

53,431

1,356

22,829

1,341

14,238³

36,161

70

–

–

–

246,632

130

20

–

20

52,728

53,431

1,356

269,461

1,471

14,261

36,161

90

179,457

246,672

426,132

28,577

405,361

1,935

33,269

803

41,149

511,094

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

28,577

405,361

1,935

53,300

16,789

41,149

547,111

1   The carrying amount of these financial instruments is considered to be a reasonable approximation of fair value as they are short-term in nature or reprice to 

current market rates frequently

2   Includes Government bonds and Treasury bills of $ 7,371 million at 31 December 2020 and $5,973 million at 31 December 2019

3   Fair value of investment securities restated from $13,107 million to $14,238 million as a result of an observable price in the market now being used

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13. Financial instruments continued

Loans and advances to customers by client segment1

Corporate & Institutional Banking

Retail Banking

Commercial Banking

Private Banking

Central & other items

At 31 December 2020

Corporate & Institutional Banking

Retail Banking

Commercial Banking

Private Banking

Central & other items

At 31 December 2019

Carrying value

Stage 1 and 
stage 2 
$million

106,513

114,941

23,902

13,321

19,149

Stage 3 
$million

2,441

604

601

227

–

3,873

277,826

Carrying value

Stage 1 and  
stage 22
$million

107,459

106,466

27,584

14,522

10,098

266,129

Stage 3 
$million

1,193

472

510

219

–

2,394

2020

Total 
$million

108,954

115,545

24,503

13,548

19,149

281,699

2019 (Restated)

Total 
$million

108,652

106,938

28,094

14,741

10,098

268,523

Fair value

Stage 1 and 
stage 2 
$million

106,316

114,737

23,645

13,342

19,149

277,189

Fair value

Stage 1 and  
stage 2 
$million

109,996

106,939

25,463

14,471

10,106

266,975

Stage 3 
$million

2,487

610

622

228

–

3,947

Stage 3 
$million

1,244

482

541

219

–

2,486

Total 
$million

108,803

115,347

24,267

13,570

19,149

281,136

Total 
$million

111,240

107,421

26,004

14,690

10,106

269,461

1   Loans and advances includes reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending: carrying value $2,919 million and fair value $2,922 million  

(31 December 2019: $1,469 million and $1,471 million respectively)

2   Corporate & Institutional Banking, Commercial Banking and Retail Banking carrying value numbers have been restated to reflect client transfers between the 

segments. The changes are in stage 1 and stage 2 only

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

13. Financial instruments continued

Fair value of financial instruments

Level 3 Summary and significant unobservable inputs
The following table presents the Group’s primary Level 3 financial instruments which are held at fair value. The table also 
presents the valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of those financial instruments, the significant unobservable 
inputs, the range of values for those inputs and the weighted average of those inputs:

Instrument

Loans and advances to Banks

Loans and advances to 
customers

Reverse repurchase 
agreements and other similar 
secured lending

Debt securities, alternative 
tier one and other eligible 
securities

Government bonds and 
treasury bills

Asset-backed securities

Equity shares (includes private 
equity investments)

Derivative financial 
instruments of which:

Foreign exchange

Interest rate

Credit

Equity and stock index

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts

Debt securities in issue

Value as at  
31 December 2020

Assets 
$million

Liabilities 
$million

Principal valuation  
technique

Significant unobservable 
inputs

Range1

Weighted 
average2

200

718

– Discounted cash flows  Price/yield

– Discounted cash flows Price/yield

1,064

– Discounted cash flows Repo curve

Recovery rates

12.7%–12.9%

0.9% – 11.5%

34.2% – 100%

1.0%–3.2%

12.8%

4.6%

83.4%

2.8%

171

40

87

– Discounted cash flows Price/yield

4.7%–11.5%

10.5%

– Discounted cash flows Price/yield

2.8% – 5.5%

3.6%

– Discounted cash flows Price/yield

Recovery rates

8.3%–12.0%

55.0%

11.7%

55.0%

660

– Comparable pricing/

EV/EBITDA multiples

3.3x – 14.2x

yield

P/E multiples

P/B multiples

P/S multiples

N/A

0.5x – 2.0x

N/A

8.7x

N/A

0.7x

N/A

Liquidity discount

20.0%

20.0%

Discounted cash flows Discount rates

Option pricing model

Equity value based on  
EV/Revenue multiples

6.0% – 15.0%

13.5x – 130.9x

9.1%

114.9x

3

2

2

1

–

–

–

2 Option pricing model

Foreign exchange option 
implied volatility

N/A

N/A

Discounted cash flows

Foreign exchange curves

2.7%–5.6%

26 Discounted cash flows

Interest rate curves

(5.2)%-18.6%

Option pricing model

Bond option implied 
volatility

86 Discounted cash flows Credit spreads

Price/yield

20.0%–30.0%

2.0%

0.9%–12.0%

4.1%

10.0%

24.2%

2.0%

11.2%

5 Internal pricing model

Equity correlation

20.0% – 90.0%

49.0%

Equity-FX correlation

(70.0)% 
– 80.0%

(59.0)%

146 Discounted cash flows  Credit spreads

1.0% – 1.4%

21 Discounted cash flows  Credit spreads

Bond option implied 
volatility

N/A

1.0%

Interest rate curves

(0.4)% – 7.7%

160 Discounted cash flows  Credit spreads

Recovery rates

55.0%

0.1% – 11.5%

Internal pricing model

Equity correlation

20.0% – 90.0%

Equity-FX correlation

(70.0)% 
– 80.0%

1.1%

N/A

1.0%

3.9%

55.0%

2.3%

49.0%

(59.0)%

Total

2,948

446

1   The ranges of values shown in the above table represent the highest and lowest levels used in the valuation of the Group’s Level 3 financial instruments as at 31 

December 2020. The ranges of values used are reflective of the underlying characteristics of these Level 3 financial instruments based on the market conditions at 
the balance sheet date. However, these ranges of values may not represent the uncertainty in fair value measurements of the Group’s Level 3 financial instruments

2   Weighted average for non-derivative financial instruments has been calculated by weighting inputs by the relative fair value. Weighted average for derivatives 
has been provided by weighting inputs by the risk relevant to that variable. N/A has been entered for the cases where weighted average is not a meaningful 
indicator

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13. Financial instruments continued

Level 3 Summary and significant unobservable inputs continued

Value as at  
31 December 2019

Instrument

Loans and advances to Banks

Loans and advances to 
customers

Debt securities, alternative 
tier one and other eligible 
securities

Government bonds and 
treasury bills

Asset-backed securities

Equity shares (includes private 
equity investments)3

Derivative financial 
instruments of which:

Foreign exchange

Interest rate

Credit

Equity and stock index

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts

Debt securities in issue

Assets 
$million

Liabilities 
$million

Principal valuation  
technique

Significant unobservable 
inputs

Range1

Weighted 
average2

365

443

184

33

21

485

8

4

1

4

–

–

–

– Discounted cash flows  Price/yield

– Discounted cash flows Price/yield

– Discounted cash flows Price/yield

Recovery rates

1.0%–15.6%

0.5% – 6.9%

18.9% – 100%

3.8% – 18.7%

10.8%

4.2%

92.1%

11.6%

– Discounted cash flows Price/yield

2.9% – 5.5%

3.7%

– Discounted cash flows Price/yield

– Comparable pricing/

EV/EBITDA multiples

yield

P/E multiples

P/B multiples

P/S multiples

1.4% – 3.2%

3.5x – 7.3x

17.4x

0.6x – 1.0x

N/A

Discounted cash flows Discount rates

8.4% – 16.2%

Liquidity discount

10.0% – 20.0%

2.7%

4.6x

17.4x

0.9x

N/A

15.9%

9.5%

5 Option pricing model

Foreign exchange option 
implied volatility

4.4% – 18.9%

16.7%

Discounted cash flows

Foreign exchange curves

7.8% – 8.0%

9 Discounted cash flows

Interest rate curves

5.3% – 19.6%

7.9%

8.6%

Option pricing model

Bond option implied 
volatility

17.0% – 28.0%

24.0%

23 Discounted cash flows Credit spreads

1.0% – 7.9%

1.1%

20 Internal pricing model

Equity correlation

1.0% – 90.0%

58.0%

Equity-FX correlation

56 Discounted cash flows  Credit spreads

40 Discounted cash flows  Credit spreads

410 Discounted cash flows  Credit spreads

(80.0)% 
– 70.0%

(29.0)%

1.0% – 1.8%

1.0% – 5.8%

0.1% – 1.4%

1.4%

2.7%

0.9%

Internal pricing model

Equity correlation

1.0% – 90.0%

58.0%

Equity-FX correlation

(80.0)% 
– 70.0%

(29.0)%

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1,548

563

1   The ranges of values shown in the above table represent the highest and lowest levels used in the valuation of the Group’s Level 3 financial instruments as  
at 31 December 2019. The ranges of values used are reflective of the underlying characteristics of these Level 3 financial instruments based on the market 
conditions at the balance sheet date. However, these ranges of values may not represent the uncertainty in fair value measurements of the Group’s Level 3 
financial instruments

2   Weighted average for non-derivative financial instruments has been calculated by weighting inputs by the relative fair value. Weighted average for  

derivatives has been provided by weighting inputs by the risk relevant to that variable. N/A has been entered for the cases where weighted average is  
not a meaningful indicator

3   The Group has an equity investment in the Series B preferred shares of Ripple Labs, Inc., which owns a digital currency (XRP) and is being carried at a fair value 

based on the shares’ initial offering price

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

13. Financial instruments continued

Level 3 Summary and significant unobservable inputs continued
The following section describes the significant unobservable inputs identified in the valuation technique table:

•  Comparable price/yield is a valuation methodology in which the price of a comparable instrument is used to estimate the 
fair value where there are no direct observable prices. Yield is the interest rate that is used to discount the future cash flows  
in a discounted cash flow model. Valuation using comparable instruments can be done by calculating an implied yield (or 
spread over a liquid benchmark) from the price of a comparable instrument, then adjusting that yield (or spread) to derive  
a value for the instrument. The adjustment should account for relevant differences in the financial instruments such as 
maturity and/or credit quality. Alternatively, a price-to-price basis can be assumed between the comparable instrument  
and the instrument being valued in order to establish the value of the instrument (for example, deriving a fair value for a  
junior unsecured bond from the price of a senior secured bond). An increase in price, in isolation, would result in a favourable 
movement in the fair value of the asset. An increase in yield, in isolation, would result in an unfavourable movement in the  
fair value of the asset

•  Correlation is the measure of how movement in one variable influences the movement in another variable. An equity 

correlation is the correlation between two equity instruments while an interest rate correlation refers to the correlation 
between two swap rates

•  Credit spread represents the additional yield that a market participant would demand for taking exposure to the Credit Risk 

of an instrument

•  Discount rate refers to the rate of return used to convert expected cash flows into present value 

•  Equity-FX correlation is the correlation between equity instrument and foreign exchange instrument

•  EV/EBITDA ratio multiples is the ratio of Enterprise Value (EV) to Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and 

Amortisation (EBITDA). EV is the aggregate market capitalisation and debt minus the cash and cash equivalents. An increase 
in EV/EBITDA multiples in isolation, will result in a favourable movement in the fair value of the unlisted firm

•  Foreign exchange curves is the term structure for forward rates and swap rates between currency pairs over a specified 

period

•  Interest rate curves is the term structure of interest rates and measure of future interest rates at a particular point in time

•  Liquidity discounts in the valuation of unlisted investments primarily applied to the valuation of unlisted firms’ investments 

to reflect the fact that these stocks are not actively traded. An increase in liquidity discount will result in unfavourable 
movement in the fair value of the unlisted firm

•  Price-Earnings (P/E) multiples is the ratio of the Market Capitalisation to the net income after tax. The multiples are 

determined from multiples of listed comparables, which are observable. An increase in P/E multiple will result in a favourable 
movement in the fair value of the unlisted firm

•  Price-Book (P/B) multiple is the ratio of the market value of equity to the book value of equity. An increase in P/B multiple will 

result in a favourable movement in the fair value of the unlisted firm

•  Price-Sales (P/S) multiple is the ratio of the market value of equity to sales. An increase in P/S multiple will result in a 

favourable movement in the fair value of the unlisted firm 

•  Recovery rates are the expectation of the rate of return resulting from the liquidation of a particular loan. As the probability 

of default increases for a given instrument, the valuation of that instrument will increasingly reflect its expected recovery level 
assuming default. An increase in the recovery rate, in isolation, would result in a favourable movement in the fair value of  
the loan 

•  Volatility represents an estimate of how much a particular instrument, parameter or index will change in value over time. 

Generally, the higher the volatility, the more expensive the option will be 

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13. Financial instruments continued

Level 3 movement tables – financial assets
The table below analyses movements in Level 3 financial assets carried at fair value.

Held at fair value through profit or loss

Investment securities

Reverse 
repurchase 
agreements 
and other 
similar 
secured 
lending 
$million

–

1

1

–

–

–

–

1,165

(102)

–

–

–

1,064

Debt 
securities, 
alternative 
tier one  
and other 
eligible bills 
$million

200

(20)

(18)

(2)

–

–

–

203

(237)

(68)

(37)

217

258

Equity 
shares 
$million

228

(54)

(54)

–

–

–

–

7

(37)

–

(1)

136

279

Loans and 
advances to 
banks 
$million

Loans and 
advances to 
customers 
$million

365

443

16

16

–

–

–

–

321

(164)

(416)

–

78

200

(15)

(15)

–

–

–

–

540

(28)

(567)

(174)

519

718

–

(6)

–

4

(3)

Debt 
securities, 
alternative 
tier one  
and other 
eligible bills 
$million

Derivative 
financial 
instruments 
$million

17

38

Equity 
shares 
$million

257

Total 
$million

1,548

(6)

(6)

–

–

–

–

115

(70)

(7)

(41)

–

8

–

–

–

–

6

7

(1)

36

–

–

(40)

–

40

–

–

–

22

19

3

109

(4)

–

(3)

–

(78)

(76)

(2)

28

26

2

2,496

(642)

(1,058)

(296)

950

381

2,948

–

–

(5)

Assets

At 1 January 2020

Total gains/(losses) 
recognised in income 
statement

Net trading income

Other operating income

Total gains recognised in 
other comprehensive income 
(OCI)

Fair value through  
OCI reserve

Exchange difference

Purchases

Sales

Settlements
Transfers out1
Transfers in2

At 31 December 2020

Total unrealised (losses)/gains 
recognised in the income 
statement, within net trading 
income, relating to change  
in fair value of assets held at 
31 December 2020

1   Transfers out includes loans and advances, derivative financial instruments, debt securities, alternative tier one and other eligible bills and equity shares where the 
valuation parameters became observable during the year and were transferred to Level 1 and Level 2. Transfers in of $62 million further relates to Equity Shares 
moved from Held for Sale

2   Transfers in primarily relate to loans and advances, debt securities, alternative tier one and other eligible bills, and equity shares where the valuation parameters 

become unobservable during the year

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

13. Financial instruments continued

Level 3 movement tables – financial assets continued
The table below analyses movements in Level 3 financial assets carried at fair value.

Held at fair value through profit or loss

Investment securities

Reverse 
repurchase 
agreements 
and other 
similar 
secured 
lending 
$million

Debt 
securities, 
alternative 
tier one  
and other 
eligible bills 
$million

Debt 
securities, 
alternative 
tier one  
and other 
eligible bills 
$million

Derivative 
financial 
instruments 
$million

12

412

Equity  
shares 
$million

327

Equity  
shares 
$million

230

Total 
$million

2,422

(26)

(26)

(15)

(15)

–

–

–

–

139

(153)

–

(134)

75

228

–

–

–

–

109

(26)

(5)

(75)

17

17

2

–

2

(341)

(4)

(337)

156

(1)

(34)

(161)

5

38

–

–

–

5

12

(7)

26

(7)

–

–

3

257

(109)

(111)

2

(336)

8

(344)

1,495

(443)

(1,363)

(462)

344

1,548

317

(14)

(14)

–

–

–

–

106

(248)

(3)

(86)

128

200

Assets

At 1 January 2019

Total (losses)/gains 
recognised in income 
statement

Net trading income

Other operating income

Total (losses)/gains 
recognised in other 
comprehensive income (OCI)

Fair value through  
OCI reserve

Exchange difference

Purchases

Sales

Settlements
Transfers out1
Transfers in2

At 31 December 2019

Total unrealised gains 
recognised in the income 
statement, within net trading 
income, relating to change  
in fair value of assets held at 
31 December 2019

Loans and 
advances to 
banks 
$million

Loans and 
advances to 
customers 
$million

632

492

(25)

(25)

(31)

(31)

–

–

–

–

826

–

(1,068)

–

–

365

–

–

–

–

133

(8)

(253)

(6)

116

443

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(1)

–

(1)

–

–

(2)

1   Transfers out includes debt securities, alternative tier one and other eligible bills, equity shares, derivative financial instruments and loans and advances where the 
valuation parameters became observable during the year and were transferred to Level 1 and Level 2. Transfers out further relates to $74 million equity shares held 
for sale

2   Transfers in primarily relate to debt securities, alternative tier one and other eligible bills, loans and advances, equity shares and derivative financial instruments 

where the valuation parameters become unobservable during the year

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410

(10)

557

(575)

(223)

1

160

57

12

201

(118)

(53)

20

119

439

22

592

(522)

(121)

–

410

65

54

436

(642)

(13)

157

57

Total 
$million

563

8

984

(862)

(276)

29

446

Total 
$million

508

73

1,122

(1,164)

(134)

158

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13. Financial instruments continued

Level 3 movement tables – financial liabilities

2020

Deposits by 
banks 
$million

Customer 
accounts 
$million

Debt securities  
in issue 
$million

Derivative 
financial 
instruments 
$million

At 1 January 2020

Total losses/(gains) recognised in income statement – 
net trading income

Issues

Settlements
Transfers out1
Transfers in2

At 31 December 2020

Total unrealised losses recognised in the income 
statement, within net trading income, relating to change 
in fair value of liabilities held at 31 December 2020

56

7

136

(53)

–

–

146

–

40

(1)

90

(116)

–

8

21

1

–

1

2

2019

Deposits by 
banks 
$million

Customer 
accounts 
$million

Debt securities  
in issue 
$million

Derivative 
financial 
instruments³ 
$million

At 1 January 2019

Total(gains)/losses recognised in income statement –  
net trading income

Issues

Settlements
Transfers out1
Transfers in2

At 31 December 2019

Total unrealised (gains)/losses recognised in the income 
statement, within net trading income, relating to change 
in fair value of liabilities held at 31 December 2019

4

(1)

53

–

–

–

56

–

–

(2)

41

–

–

1

40

(2)

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2

16

1   Transfers out during the year primarily relate to debt securities in issue and derivative financial instruments where the valuation parameters became observable 

during the year and were transferred to Level 2 financial liabilities

2   Transfers in during the year primarily relate to derivative financial instruments, customer accounts and debt securities in issue where the valuation parameters 

become unobservable during the year

3   Prior period movements have been restated on account of restatement done during 2019 due to change in observability parameters

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

13. Financial instruments continued

Sensitivities in respect of the fair values of Level 3 assets and liabilities
Sensitivity analysis is performed on products with significant unobservable inputs. The Group applies a 10 per cent increase or 
decrease on the values of these unobservable inputs, to generate a range of reasonably possible alternative valuations. The 
percentage shift is determined by statistical analysis performed on a set of reference prices based on the composition of the 
Group’s Level 3 inventory as the measurement date. Favourable and unfavourable changes (which show the balance adjusted 
for input change) are determined on the basis of changes in the value of the instrument as a result of varying the levels of the 
unobservable parameters. The Level 3 sensitivity analysis assumes a one-way market move and does not consider offsets  
for hedges.

Held at fair value through profit or loss

Fair value through other comprehensive income

Net exposure 
$million

Favourable 
changes 
$million

Unfavourable 
changes 
$million

Net exposure 
$million

Favourable 
changes 
$million

Unfavourable 
changes 
$million

Financial instruments held at fair value 

Loans and advances

Reverse repurchase agreements and 
other similar secured lending

Asset-backed securities

Debt securities, alternative tier one and 
other eligible bills

Equity shares

Derivative financial instruments

Customer accounts

Deposits by banks

Debt securities in issue

At 31 December 2020

Financial instruments held at fair value 

Loans and advances

Asset-backed securities

Debt securities, alternative tier one and 
other eligible bills

Equity shares

Derivative financial instruments

Customer accounts

Deposits by banks

Debt securities in issue

At 31 December 2019

918

1,064

87

171

279

(111)

(21)

(146)

(160)

2,081

808

21

179

228

(40)

(40)

(56)

(410)

690

947

1,089

94

183

307

(98)

(18)

(146)

(154)

867

1,040

80

159

251

(126)

(24)

(146)

(167)

–

–

–

40

381

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

40

418

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

39

345

–

–

–

–

2,204

1,934

421

458

384

820

21

189

255

(34)

(40)

(56)

(379)

776

787

21

170

201

(46)

(40)

(56)

(441)

596

–

–

38

257

–

–

–

–

–

–

38

283

–

–

–

–

–

–

38

231

–

–

–

–

295

321

269

The reasonably possible alternatives could have increased or decreased the fair values of financial instruments held at  
fair value through profit or loss and those classified as fair value through other comprehensive income by the amounts  
disclosed below.

Financial instruments

Held at fair value through profit or loss

Fair value changes

Possible increase

Possible decrease

Fair value through other comprehensive income

Possible increase

Possible decrease

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

123

(147)

37

(37)

86

(94)

26

(26)

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14. Derivative financial instruments

Accounting policy
Derivatives are financial instruments that derive their value in response to changes in interest rates, financial instrument 
prices, commodity prices, foreign exchange rates, credit risk and indices. Derivatives are categorised as trading unless they 
are designated as hedging instruments.

Derivatives are initially recognised and subsequently measured at fair value, with revaluation gains recognised in profit or 
loss (except where cash flow or net investment hedging has been achieved, in which case the effective portion of changes in 
fair value is recognised within other comprehensive income).

Fair values may be obtained from quoted market prices in active markets, recent market transactions, and valuation 
techniques, including discounted cash flow models and option pricing models, as appropriate. Where the initially recognised 
fair value of a derivative contract is based on a valuation model that uses inputs which are not observable in the market, it 
follows the same initial recognition accounting policy as for other financial assets and liabilities. All derivatives are carried as 
assets when fair value is positive and as liabilities when fair value is negative.

Hedge accounting
Under certain conditions, the Group may designate a recognised asset or liability, a firm commitment, highly probable 
forecast transaction or net investment of a foreign operation into a formal hedge accounting relationship with a derivative 
that has been entered to manage interest rate and/or foreign exchange risks present in the hedged item. The Group 
continues to apply the ‘Phase 1’ hedge accounting requirements of IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and 
Measurement and has early adopted the ‘Phase 2’ amendments to IFRS in respect of interest rate benchmark reform.  
There are three categories of hedge relationships:

•  Fair value hedge: to manage the fair value of interest rate and/or foreign currency risks of recognised assets or liabilities or 

firm commitments

•  Cash flow hedge: to manage interest rate or foreign exchange risk of highly probable future cash flows attributable to a 

recognised asset or liability, or a forecasted transaction

•  Net investment hedge: to manage the structural foreign exchange risk of an investment in a foreign operation

The Group formally documents at the inception of the transaction the relationship between hedging instruments and 
hedged items, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking hedge transactions. This is described  
in more detail in the categories of hedges below. 

The Group assesses, both at hedge inception and on a quarterly basis, whether the derivatives designated in hedge 
relationships are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items. Hedges are considered  
to be highly effective if all the following criteria are met:

•  At inception of the hedge and throughout its life, the hedge is prospectively expected to be highly effective in achieving 

offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows attributable to the hedged risk

•  Actual results of the hedge are within a range of 80–125%. This is tested using regression analysis

•  The regression co-efficient (R squared), which measures the correlation between the variables in the regression, is at  

least 80%

•  In the case of the hedge of a forecast transaction, the transaction must have a high probability of occurring and must 
present an exposure to variations in cash flows that are expected to affect reported profit or loss. The Group assumes  
that any interest rate benchmarks on which hedged item cash flows are based are not altered by IBOR reform

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The Group discontinues hedge accounting in any of the following circumstances:

•  The hedging instrument is not, or has ceased to be, highly effective as a hedge

•  The hedging instrument has expired, is sold, terminated or exercised

•  The hedged item matures, is sold or repaid

•  The forecast transaction is no longer deemed highly probable

•  The Group elects to discontinue hedge accounting voluntarily

For interest rate benchmarks deemed in scope of IBOR reform, if the actual result of a hedge is outside the 80-125% range, 
but the hedge passes the prospective assessment, then the Group will not de-designate the hedge relationship.

Under the Phase 2 Interest Rate Benchmark Reform amendments to IFRS 9 and IAS 39, the Group may change hedge 
designations and corresponding documentation without the hedge being discontinued where there is a change in interest 
rate benchmark of the hedged item, hedging instrument or designated hedged risk. Permitted changes include the right to:

•  Redefine the description of the hedged item and/or hedging instrument

•  Redefine the hedged risk to reference an alternative risk-free rate

•  Change the method for assessing hedge effectiveness due to modifications required by IBOR reform

•  Elect, on a hedge-by-hedge basis, to reset the cumulative fair value changes in the assessment of retrospective hedge 

effectiveness to zero

A hedge designation may be modified more than once, each time a relationship is affected as a direct result of IBOR reform.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

14. Derivative financial instruments continued

Fair value hedge
Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as fair value hedging instruments are recorded in  
net trading income, together with any changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the 
hedged risk. If the hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, the adjustment to the carrying amount of a 
hedged item for which the effective interest method is used is amortised to the income statement over the remaining term  
to maturity of the hedged item. If the hedged item is sold or repaid, the unamortised fair value adjustment is recognised 
immediately in the income statement. For financial assets classified as fair value through other comprehensive income,  
the hedge accounting adjustment attributable to the hedged risk is included in net trading income to match the hedging 
derivative.

Cash flow hedge
The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedging 
instruments are initially recognised in other comprehensive income, accumulating in the cash flow hedge reserve within 
equity. These amounts are subsequently recycled to the income statement in the periods when the hedged item affects 
profit or loss. Both the derivative fair value movement and any recycled amount are recorded in the ‘Cashflow hedges’ line 
item in other comprehensive income. 

The Group assesses hedge effectiveness using the hypothetical derivative method, which creates a derivative instrument to 
serve as a proxy for the hedged transaction. The terms of the hypothetical derivative match the critical terms of the hedged 
item and it has a fair value of zero at inception. The hypothetical derivative and the actual derivative are regressed to 
establish the statistical significance of the hedge relationship. Any ineffective portion of the gain or loss on the hedging 
instrument is recognised in the net trading income immediately.

If a cash flow hedge is discontinued, the amount accumulated in the cash flow hedge reserve is released to the income 
statement as and when the hedged item affects the income statement.

For interest rate benchmarks deemed in scope of IBOR reform, the Group will retain the cumulative gain or loss in the cash 
flow hedge reserve for designated cash flow hedges even though there is uncertainty arising from these reforms with respect 
to the timing and amount of the cash flows of the hedged items. Should the Group consider the hedged future cash flows  
are no longer expected to occur due to reasons other than IBOR reform, the cumulative gain or loss will be immediately 
reclassified to profit or loss.

Net investment hedge
Hedges of net investments are accounted for in a similar manner to cash flow hedges, with gains and losses arising on the 
effective portion of the hedges recorded in the line ‘Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations’ in other 
comprehensive income, accumulating in the translation reserve within equity. These amounts remain in equity until the  
net investment is disposed of. The ineffective portion of the hedges is recognised in the net trading income immediately.

The tables below analyse the notional principal amounts and the positive and negative fair values of derivative financial 
instruments. Notional principal amounts are the amounts of principal underlying the contract at the reporting date.

Derivatives

2020

2019

Foreign exchange derivative contracts:

Forward foreign exchange contracts

Currency swaps and options

Exchange traded futures and options

Interest rate derivative contracts:

Swaps

Forward rate agreements and options

Exchange traded futures and options

Credit derivative contracts

Equity and stock index options 

Commodity derivative contracts

Gross total derivatives 

Offset

Total derivatives 

Notional 
principal 
amounts 
$million

3,018,866

1,423,520

–

Assets 
$million

Liabilities 
$million

37,505

17,142

–

39,181

17,904

–

Notional 
principal 
amounts 
$million

2,290,781

806,226

–

Assets 
$million

Liabilities 
$million

16,281

9,725

–

4,442,386

54,647

57,085

3,097,007

26,006

3,165,532

606,357

261,372

4,033,261

140,437

6,018

67,664

8,689,766

–

8,689,766

52,755

1,350

233

54,338

1,702

110

1,182

111,979

(42,512)

69,467

50,982

4,046,209

1,770

184

52,936

2,990

260

774

114,045

(42,512)

71,533

284,973

359,031

4,690,213

80,972

3,412

79,458

7,951,062

–

7,951,062

34,011

1,826

179

36,016

1,232

27

573

63,854

(16,642)

47,212

16,396

10,530

–

26,926

33,351

2,061

161

35,573

1,915

96

616

65,126

(16,642)

48,484

The Group limits exposure to credit losses in the event of default by entering into master netting agreements with certain 
market counterparties. As required by IAS 32, exposures are only presented net in these accounts where they are subject to  
legal right of offset and intended to be settled net in the ordinary course of business.

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14. Derivative financial instruments continued
The Group applies balance sheet offsetting only in the instance where we are able to demonstrate legal enforceability of the 
right to offset (e.g. via legal opinion) and the ability and intention to settle on a net basis (e.g. via operational practice).

The Group has met the criteria to offset the derivative asset and liability balances and related variation margin for trades 
cleared on behalf of clients with LCH SwapClear. This applies to both trades between the Group and the clients and between 
the Group and LCH SwapClear. The impact of this as at 31 December 2020 is a decrease in the derivative assets and derivative 
liabilities of $15.4 billion. Prior periods have not been restated as the effect would not be material. The impact at 31 December 
2019 would have been a decrease in the derivative assets and derivative liabilities of $8.7 billion.

The Group has also met the criteria to derecognise initial margin for trades cleared on behalf of clients with LCH SwapClear.  
The impact of this as at 31 December 2020 is a decrease in other assets and other liabilities of $1.4 billion. Prior periods have not 
been restated as the effect would not be material. The impact at 31 December 2019 would have been a decrease in other assets 
and other liabilities of $3.2 billion.

The Group may enter into economic hedges that do not qualify for IAS 39 hedge accounting treatment, including derivative 
such as interest rate swaps, interest rate futures and cross currency swaps to manage interest rate and currency risks of the 
Group. These derivatives are measured at fair value, with fair value changes recognised in net trading income: refer to Market 
risk (page 234).

The Derivatives and Hedging sections of the Risk review and Capital review (page 215) explain the Group’s risk management  
of derivative contracts and application of hedging.

Derivatives held for hedging
The Group enters into derivative contracts for the purpose of hedging interest rate, currency and structural foreign exchange 
risks inherent in assets, liabilities and forecast transactions. The table below summarises the notional principal amounts and 
carrying values of derivatives designated in hedge accounting relationships at the reporting date.

2020

2019

Derivatives designated as fair value 
hedges:

Interest rate swaps

Currency swaps

Derivatives designated as cash flow 
hedges:

Interest rate swaps

Forward foreign exchange contracts 

Currency swaps

Derivatives designated as net 
investment hedges:

Forward foreign exchange contracts

Total derivatives held for hedging

Notional 
principal 
amounts 
$million

70,846

4,136

74,982

9,347

164

9,935

19,446

5,376

99,804

Assets 
$million

Liabilities 
$million

1,500

25

1,525

83

21

12

116

712

179

891

129

–

340

469

–

1,641

383

1,743

Notional 
principal 
amounts 
$million

69,121

8,405

77,526

9,277

289

5,254

14,820

5,103

97,449

Assets 
$million

Liabilities 
$million

617

47

664

53

6

34

93

31

788

589

774

1,363

74

20

51

145

70

1,578

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Fair value hedges 
The Group issues various long-term fixed rate debt issuances that are measured at amortised cost, including some 
denominated in foreign currency, such as unsecured senior and subordinated debt (see Notes 22 and 27). The Group also holds 
various fixed rate debt securities such as government and corporate bonds, including some denominated in foreign currency 
(see Note 13). These assets and liabilities held are exposed to changes in fair value due to movements in market interest and 
foreign currency rates.

The Group uses interest rate swaps to exchange fixed rates for floating rates on funding to match floating rates received on 
assets, or exchange fixed rates on assets to match floating rates paid on funding. The Group further uses cross currency swaps 
to match the currency of the issued debt or held asset with that of the entity’s functional currency. 

Hedge ineffectiveness from fair value hedges is driven by cross currency basis risk. The amortisation of fair value hedge 
adjustments for hedged items no longer designated is recognised in net trading income. In future periods hedge relationships 
linked to an interest rate benchmark deemed in scope of benchmark reform may experience ineffectiveness due to market 
participants’ expectations for when the change from the existing IBOR benchmark to an alternative risk-free rate will occur, 
since the transition may occur at different times for the hedged item and hedging instrument.

At 31 December 2020 the Group held the following interest rate and cross currency swaps as hedging instruments in fair value 
hedges of interest and currency risk.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

14. Derivative financial instruments continued

Fair value hedges continued
Hedging instruments and ineffectiveness

2020

Carrying amount

Interest rate1

Interest rate swaps – issued notes

Interest rate swaps – loans and advances

Interest rate swaps – debt securities and other 
eligible bills
Interest and currency risk1

Cross currency swaps – subordinated notes issued

Cross currency swaps – debt securities and other 
eligible bills

Total at 31 December 2020

Notional 
$million

29,598

2,535

38,713

3,329

807

74,982

Asset 
$million

1,475

2

23

17

8

1,525

Change in fair 
value used to 
calculate hedge 
ineffectiveness 
$million

Ineffectiveness 
recognised in 
profit or loss 
$million

Liability 
$million

14

38

858

(27)

660

(934)

146

33

891

267

(70)

94

17

–

3

5

(2)

23

1 

Interest rate swaps are designated in hedges of the fair value of interest rate risk attributable to the hedged item. Cross currency swaps are used to hedge both 
interest rate and currency risks. All of the hedging instruments are derivatives, with changes in fair value including hedge ineffectiveness recorded within net 
trading income

Interest rate1

Interest rate swaps – issued notes

Interest rate swaps – loans and advances

Interest rate swaps – debt securities and other 
eligible bills
Interest and currency risk1

Cross currency swaps – subordinated notes issued

Cross currency swaps – debt securities and other 
eligible bills

Total at 31 December 2019

2019

Carrying amount

Asset 
$million

Liability 
$million

Change in fair 
value used to 
calculate hedge 
ineffectiveness 
$million

Ineffectiveness 
recognised in 
profit or loss 
$million

559

1

57

17

30

664

44

24

521

751

23

1,363

511

(22)

(589)

32

(18)

(86)

–

(1)

12

6

1

18

Notional 
$million

22,029

1,410

45,682

5,451

2,954

77,526

1 

Interest rate swaps are designated in hedges of the fair value of interest rate risk attributable to the hedged item. Cross currency swaps are used to hedge both 
interest rate and currency risks. All of the hedging instruments are derivatives, with changes in fair value including hedge ineffectiveness recorded within net 
trading income

Hedged items in fair value hedges

2020

Carrying amount

Accumulated amount of fair value 
hedge adjustments included in the 
carrying amount

Asset 
$million

–

40,663

2,561

43,224

Liability 
$million

33,737

–

–

33,737

Asset 
$million

–

577

32

609

2019

Liability 
$million

1,096

–

–

1,096

Change in the 
value used for 
calculating 
hedge 
ineffectiveness 
$million

(1,103)

1,005

27

(71)

Carrying amount

Asset 
$million

–

49,190

1,431

50,621

Liability 
$million

27,921

–

–

27,921

Accumulated amount of fair value 
hedge adjustments included in the 
carrying amount

Asset 
$million

Liability 
$million

Change in fair 
value used for 
calculating 
hedge 
ineffectiveness 
$million

–

373

22

395

271

–

–

271

(537)

620

21

104

Cumulative 
balance of  
fair value 
adjustments 
from  
de-designated 
hedge 
relationships¹
$million

856

(92)

–

764

Cumulative 
balance of  
fair value 
adjustments  
from de-
designated 
hedge 
relationships¹
$million

611

(120)

–

491

Issued notes

Debt securities and other eligible bills

Loans and advances to customers

Total at 31 December 2020

Issued notes

Debt securities and other eligible bills

Loans and advances to customers

Total at 31 December 2019

1   This represents a credit/(debit) to the balance sheet value

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14. Derivative financial instruments continued
Income statement impact of fair value hedges

Change in fair value of hedging instruments

Change in fair value of hedged risks attributable to hedged items

Net ineffectiveness gain to net trading income

Amortisation loss to net interest income

2020 
Income/
(expense) 
$million

2019 
Income/
(expense) 
$million

94

(71)

23

(31)

(86)

104

18

(5)

Cash flow hedges
The Group has exposure to market movements in future interest cash flows on portfolios of customer accounts, debt securities 
and loans and advances to customers. The amounts and timing of future cash flows, representing both principal and interest 
flows, are projected on the basis of contractual terms and other relevant factors, including estimates of prepayments  
and defaults.

The hedging strategy of the Group involves using interest rate swaps to manage the variability in future cash flows on assets 
and liabilities that have floating rates of interest by exchanging the floating rates for fixed rates. It also uses foreign exchange 
contracts and currency swaps to manage the variability in future exchange rates on its assets and liabilities and costs in foreign 
currencies. This is done on both a micro basis whereby a single interest rate or cross currency swap is designated in a separate 
relationship with a single hedged item (such as a floating rate loan to a customer), and on a portfolio basis whereby each 
hedging instrument is designated against a group of hedged items that share the same risk (such as a group of customer 
accounts). 

The hedged risk is determined as the variability of future cash flows arising from changes in the designated benchmark interest 
rate, e.g. one-month or three-month LIBOR. 

Hedging instruments and ineffectiveness

Carrying amount

Notional 
$million

Asset 
$million

Liability 
$million

2020

Change in fair 
value used to 
calculate 
hedge 
ineffectiveness 
$million

Ineffectiveness 
gain/(loss) 
recognised in 
net trading 
income 
$million

Amount 
reclassified 
from 
reserves to 
income 
$million

Gain/(loss) 
recognised 
in OCI 
$million

Interest rate risk

Interest rate swaps

Currency risk

Forward foreign exchange contract

Cross currency swaps

Total as at 31 December 2020

9,347

164

9,935

19,446

83

21

12

116

129

–

340

469

(45)

(45)

14

(261)

(292)

14

(261)

(292)

–

–

–

–

Carrying amount

Notional 
$million

Asset 
$million

Liability 
$million

2019

Change in fair 
value used to 
calculate 
hedge 
ineffectiveness 
$million

Ineffectiveness 
gain/(loss) 
recognised in 
net trading 
income 
$million

Amount 
reclassified 
from 
reserves to 
income 
$million

Gain/(loss) 
recognised 
in OCI 
$million

Interest rate risk

Interest rate swaps

Currency risk

Forward foreign exchange contract

Cross currency swaps

Total as at 31 December 2019

9,277

289

5,254

14,820

53

6

34

93

74

20

51

145

(87)

(87)

6

(5)

(86)

6

(5)

(86)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(2)

(2)

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–

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

14. Derivative financial instruments continued
Hedged items in cash flow hedges

Customer accounts

Debt securities and other eligible bills

Loans and advances to customers

Forecast cashflow currency hedge

Intragroup lending currency hedge

Intragroup borrowing currency hedge

Total at 31 December 2020

Customer accounts

Debt securities and other eligible bills

Loans and advances to customers

Forecast cashflow currency hedge

Intragroup lending currency hedge

Total at 31 December 2019

2020

Change in fair 
value used for 
calculating 
hedge 
ineffectiveness 
$million

Cash flow  
hedge reserve 
$million

Cumulative 
balance in the 
cash flow hedge 
reserve from 
de-designated 
hedge 
relationships  
$million

105

92

(45)

(14)

169

(15)

292

(110)

(8)

16

34

21

5

2

–

1

–

–

–

(32)

(7)

2019

Change in fair 
value used for 
calculating 
hedge 
ineffectiveness 
$million

Cash flow  
hedge reserve 
$million

Cumulative 
balance in the 
cash flow hedge 
reserve from 
de-designated 
hedge 
relationships 
$million

86

(3)

(28)

40

(9)

86

(58)

1

(10)

–

(6)

(73)

(4)

–

(4)

–

–

(8)

Impact of cash flow hedges on profit and loss and other comprehensive income

Cash flow hedge reserve balance as at 1 January

Loss recognised in other comprehensive income on effective portion of changes in fair value of  
hedging instruments

Gain transferred to net trading income on hedging instruments no longer in a hedging relationship

Gain reclassified to income statement when hedged item affected net profit

Taxation charge relating to cash flow hedges

Cash flow hedge reserve balance as at 31 December

2020 
Income/
(expense) 
$million

2019 
Income/
(expense) 
$million

(59)

(25)

–

17

15

(52)

(10)

(64)

10

11

(6)

(59)

Net investment hedges
Foreign currency exposures arise from investments in subsidiaries that have a different functional currency from that of the 
presentation currency of the Group. This risk arises from the fluctuation in spot exchange rates between the functional currency 
of the subsidiaries and the Group’s presentation currency, which causes the value of the investment to vary.

The Group’s policy is to hedge these exposures only when not doing so would be expected to have a significant impact on the 
regulatory ratios of the Group and its banking subsidiaries. The Group uses foreign exchange forwards to manage the effect of 
exchange rates on its net investments in foreign subsidiaries.

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14. Derivative financial instruments continued
Hedging instruments and ineffectiveness

2020

Change in fair 
value used to 
calculate 
hedge 
ineffectiveness 
$million

Changes in 
the value of 
the hedging 
instrument 
recognised  
in OCI 
$million

Carrying amount

Asset 
$million

Liability 
$million

Ineffectiveness 
recognised in 
profit or loss 
$million

Amount 
reclassified 
from reserves 
to income 
$million

–

383

(286)

(286)

–

–

2019

Change in fair 
value used to 
calculate 
hedge 
ineffectiveness 
$million

Changes in 
the value of 
the hedging 
instrument 
recognised  
in OCI 
$million

Ineffectiveness 
recognised in 
profit or loss 
$million

Amount 
reclassified 
from reserves 
to income 
$million

Carrying amount

Asset 
$million

Liability 
$million

31

70

98

98

–

–

Notional 
$million

5,376

Notional 
$million

5,103

Derivative forward currency contracts¹

Derivative forward currency contracts¹

1   These derivative forward currency contracts have a maturity of less than one year. The hedges are rolled on a periodic basis

Hedged items in net investment hedges

Net investments

2020

Change in the 
value used for 
calculating 
hedge 
ineffectiveness 
$million

Translation 
reserve 
$million

Balances 
remaining in the 
translation 
reserve from 
hedging 
relationships for 
which hedge 
accounting is no 
longer applied 
$million

286

(383)

–

2019

Change in the 
value used for 
calculating 
hedge 
ineffectiveness 
$million

Translation 
reserve 
$million

Balances 
remaining in the 
translation 
reserve from 
hedging 
relationships for 
which hedge 
accounting is no 
longer applied 
$million

Net investments

(98)

98

–

Impact of net investment hedges on other comprehensive income

Gains/(losses) recognised in other comprehensive income

2020 
Income/
(expense) 
$million

(287)

2019 
Income/
(expense) 
$million

191

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

14. Derivative financial instruments continued

Maturity of hedging instruments

Fair value hedges

Interest rate swap

Notional

Average fixed interest rate

Cross currency swap

Notional

Average fixed interest rate (to USD)

Average exchange rate

Cash flow hedges

Interest rate swap

Notional

Average fixed interest rate

Cross currency swap

Notional

Average fixed interest rate

Average exchange rate

2020

More than  
one month  
and less than  
one year

Less than  
one month

One to  
five years 

More than  
five years

$million

2,334

13,908

40,768

13,836

USD

EUR

1.44%

–

1.28%

1.86%

1.47%

1.49%

1.64%

1.72%

$million

837

1,384

1,915

0.25%

(0.12)%

0.82

109.93

1.63%

–

0.74

–

3.43%

(0.23)%

0.79

107.91

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,428

4,686

1,233

1.46%

0.96%

0.62%

1.80%

–

1.32%

7,822

2,084

29

1.15%

0.79%

(0.63)%

(0.21)%

7.75

1,174.75

29.88

107.54

–

–

–

(0.16)%

–

–

–

107.12

EUR

JPY

EUR/USD

JPY/USD

$million

HKD

USD

$million

HKD

KRO

TWD¹

JPY

HKD/USD

KRO/USD

TWD¹/USD

JPY/USD

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Forward foreign exchange contracts

Notional

$million

27

137

Average exchange rate

GBP/USD

0.84

0.84

Net investment hedges

Foreign exchange derivatives

Notional

Average exchange rate

1   Offshore currency

$million

5,376

CNY¹/USD

KRW¹/USD

TWD¹/USD

7.07

1,197.02

28.89

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

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14. Derivative financial instruments continued

Maturity of hedging instruments

Fair value hedges

Interest rate swap

Notional

Average fixed interest rate

Cross currency swap

Notional

Average fixed interest rate (to USD)

Average exchange rate

Cash flow hedges

Interest rate swap

Notional

Average fixed interest rate

Cross currency swap

Notional

Average fixed interest rate

Average exchange rate

Forward foreign exchange contracts

Notional

Average exchange rate

Net investment hedges

Foreign exchange derivatives

Notional

Average exchange rate

1   Offshore currency

2019

More than  
one month  
and less than  
one year

Less than  
one month

One to  
five years 

More than  
five years

$million

433

12,032

46,229

10,427

USD

$million

EUR

GBP

JPY

EUR/USD

GBP/USD

JPY/USD

2.78%

2.50%

2.47%

4.05%

92

–

–

(0.16)%

–

–

107.90

4,267

3,379

667

4.00%

5.38%

(0.17)%

0.74

0.55

109.90

2.61%

4.71%

–

0.77

0.63

–

–

4.38%

–

–

0.62

–

$million

193

4,440

3,891

753

HKD

USD

1.91%

–

1.95%

2.72%

1.80%

1.65%

–

2.46%

$million

403

4,121

730

CNY1

HKD
INR1
KRW1

CNY1/USD

HKD/USD
INR1/USD
KRW1/USD

$million

INR1/USD

INR/USD

GBP/USD

3.22%

–

–

–

6.86

–

–

–

196

81.20

81.01

0.80

$million

5,103

CNY/USD

KRW/USD

TWD/USD

6.90

1,188.90

30.56

3.49%

2.52%

4.32%

1.25%

6.93

7.84

69.43

1,201.23

93

–

–

0.79

–

–

–

–

3.94%

–

3.85%

–

7.08

–

68.85

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

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–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

14. Derivative financial instruments continued

Interest rate benchmark reform
The Group applies the Phase 1 ‘Interest Rate Benchmark Reform Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7’ which allow the Group 
to assume that the interest rate benchmark on which cash flows for the hedged item and/or hedging instrument are based is 
are altered as a result of IBOR reform for the following activities:

•  Prospective hedge assessment

•  Determining whether a cash flow or forecast transaction for a cash flow hedge is highly probable. However, the Group 

otherwise assesses whether the cash flows are considered highly probable

•  Determining when cumulative balances in the cash flow hedge reserve from de-designated hedges should be recycled to the 

income statement

The Group will not de-designate a hedge relationship of a benchmark in scope of IBOR reform if the retrospective hedge result 
is outside the required 80-125% range but, the hedge passes the prospective assessment. Any hedge ineffectiveness continues 
to be recorded in net trading income.

For hedges of non-contractually specified benchmark portions of an interest rate (such as fair value hedges of interest rate risk 
on fixed rate debt instruments) the Group only assesses whether the designated benchmark is separately identifiable at hedge 
inception. The choice of designated benchmark is not revisited for existing hedge relationships.

In applying these amendments, the Group has made the following key assumptions for the period end, to be reviewed on an 
ongoing basis:

•  The interest rate benchmarks applicable to the Group that are in scope of the IFRS amendments are all LIBORs, EONIA, 

Singapore Swap Offer Rate (SGD SOR) and Thai Baht Interest Rate Fixing (THB FIX)

•  EURIBOR is not in scope of the IFRS amendments because its revised methodology incorporates market transaction data, 

hence the benchmark is expected to continue to exist in future reporting periods

•  The Group believes it is too early to reliably estimate when interest rate benchmark uncertainty will be resolved for all 

benchmarks assumed to be in scope of the amendments. It therefore assumes that the uncertainty arising from interest  
rate benchmark reform will be present until 31 December 2021, at which time the amendments to IFRS no longer apply

The Group has established an IBOR Transition Programme that is overseen by the Group’s Chief Operating Officer, and updates 
a number of committees including the Board Risk Committee and Group Risk Committee regularly updated. The programme 
comprises a series of business and function workstreams, with oversight and coordination of the specific areas and risks 
provided by a central project team. The key objectives of these workstreams include identifying all contracts in scope of 
benchmark reform, upgrading internal systems to support business in the alternative RFR product suite, identifying and 
communicating to customers with whom repricing and/or re-papering IBOR-referenced contracts is required and executing  
the necessary change in contracts. Workstreams actively participate in industry-wide working groups to ensure they are kept 
informed of the latest developments and are consistent with the approaches of other market participants.

As at 31 December 2020, the following populations of derivative instruments designated in fair value or cash flow hedge 
accounting relationships were linked to IBOR reference rates:

Fair value hedges

Cash flow hedges

Notional 
designated  
up to  
31 December 
2021 
$million

Notional 
designated 
beyond  
31 December 
2021 
$million

Notional 
designated  
up to  
31 December 
2021 
$million

Notional 
designated 
beyond  
31 December 
2021 
$million

Total 
$million

48,556

2,077

2,337

483

53,453

2,733

–

–

–

2,733

–

4,136

Weighted 
average 
exposure 
Years

3.2

10.9

3.0

1.2

3.5

1.3

3.4

Interest rate swaps

USD LIBOR

GBP LIBOR

JPY LIBOR

SGD SOR

Cross currency swaps

9,454

36,024

268

552

360

10,634

1,720

1,785

123

39,652

USD LIBOR vs Fixed rate foreign currency

2,221

1,915

345

89

–

–

434

–

Total notional of hedging instruments  
in scope of IFRS amendments as at  
31 December 2020

12,855

41,567

434

2,733

57,589

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14. Derivative financial instruments continued

Fair value hedges

Cash flow hedges

Notional 
designated  
up to  
31 December  
2021 
$million

Notional 
designated 
beyond  
31 December  
2021 
$million

Notional 
designated  
up to  
31 December  
2021 
$million

Notional 
designated 
beyond  
31 December  
2021 
$million

26,159

613

1,429

563

28,764

25,622

4,049

569

132

30,372

950

2,559

–

–

–

–

–

–

950

2,559

Total 
$million

55,290

4,662

1,998

695

62,645

6,216

2,189

–

–

8,405

34,980

32,561

950

2,559

71,050

Weighted 
average 
exposure 
Years

2.7

5.5

2.4

1.7

2.9

2.7

2.9

Interest rate swaps

USD LIBOR

GBP LIBOR

JPY LIBOR

SGD SOR

Cross currency swaps

USD LIBOR vs Fixed rate foreign 
currency

Total notional of hedging instruments 
in scope of IFRS amendments as at  
31 December 2019

The Group’s primary exposure is to USD LIBOR due to the extent of fixed rate debt security assets and issued notes 
denominated in USD that are designated in fair value hedge relationships. Where fixed rate instruments are in other currencies, 
cross currency swaps are used to achieve an equivalent floating USD exposure. 

15. Loans and advances to banks and customers

Accounting policy
Refer to Note 13 Financial instruments for the relevant accounting policy

Loans and advances to banks

Expected credit loss

Loans and advances to customers

Expected credit loss

Total loans and advances to banks and customers

2020 
$million

44,364

(17)

2019 
$million

53,558

(9)

44,347

53,549

288,312

(6,613)

281,699

326,046

274,306

(5,783)

268,523

322,072

The Group has outstanding residential mortgage loans to Korea residents of $22.1 billion (31 December 2019: $17.8 billion) and 
Hong Kong residents of $32 billion (31 December 2019: $29.9 billion).

Analysis of loans and advances to customers by geographic region and client segment together with their related impairment 
provisions are set out within the Risk review and Capital review (page 198).

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

16. Reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements including other similar lending and borrowing

Accounting policy
The Group purchases securities (a reverse repurchase agreement – ‘reverse repo’) typically with financial institutions subject 
to a commitment to resell or return the securities at a predetermined price. These securities are not included in the balance 
sheet as the Group does not acquire the risks and rewards of ownership, however they are recorded off-balance sheet as 
collateral received. Consideration paid (or cash collateral provided) is accounted for as a loan asset at amortised cost, unless 
it is managed on a fair value basis or designated at fair value through profit or loss. In the majority of cases through the 
contractual terms of a reverse repo arrangement, the Group as the transferee of the security collateral has the right to sell  
or repledge the asset concerned.

The Group also sells securities (a repurchase agreement – ‘repo’) subject to a commitment to repurchase or redeem the 
securities at a predetermined price. The securities are retained on the balance sheet as the Group retains substantially all  
the risks and rewards of ownership and these securities are disclosed as pledged collateral. Consideration received (or cash 
collateral received) is accounted for as a financial liability at amortised cost, unless it is either mandatorily classified as fair 
value through profit or loss or irrevocably designated at fair value through profit or loss at initial recognition. 

Financial assets are pledged as collateral as part of sales and repurchases, securities borrowing and securitisation 
transactions under terms that are usual and customary for such activities. The Group is obliged to return equivalent 
securities.

Repo and reverse repo transactions typically entitle the Group and its counterparties to have recourse to assets similar  
to those provided as collateral in the event of a default. Securities sold subject to repos, either by way of a Global Master 
Repurchase Agreement (GMRA), or through a securities sale and Total Return Swap (TRS) continue to be recognised on  
the balance sheet as the Group retains substantially the associated risks and rewards of the securities (the TRS is not 
recognised). The counterparty liability is included in deposits by banks or customer accounts, as appropriate. Assets sold 
under repurchase agreements are considered encumbered as the Group cannot pledge these to obtain funding.

Reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending

Banks

Customers

Of which:

Fair value through profit or loss

Banks

Customers

Held at amortised cost

Banks

Customers

2020 
$million

19,452

48,119

67,571

63,405

18,205

45,200

4,166

1,247

2,919

2019 
$million

19,610

40,804

60,414

57,604

18,269

39,335

2,810

1,341

1,469

Under reverse repurchase and securities borrowing arrangements, the Group obtains securities on terms which permit it to 
repledge or resell the securities to others. Amounts on such terms are:

Securities and collateral received (at fair value)

Securities and collateral which can be repledged or sold (at fair value)

Amounts repledged/transferred to others for financing activities, to satisfy liabilities under sale and 
repurchase agreements (at fair value)

2020 
$million

99,676

99,238

2019 
$million

86,308

85,415

46,209

44,530

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16. Reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements including other similar lending and borrowing 
continued

Repurchase agreements and other similar secured borrowing

Banks

Customers

Of which:

Fair value through profit or loss

Banks

Customers

Held at amortised cost

Banks

Customers

2020 
$million

6,647

43,918

50,565

48,662

6,107

42,555

1,903

540

1,363

2019 
$million

7,789

40,429

48,218

46,283

7,401

38,882

1,935

388

1,547

The tables below set out the financial assets provided as collateral for repurchase and other secured borrowing transactions:

Collateral pledged against repurchase agreements

On-balance sheet

2020

Fair value 
through profit  
or loss 
$million

Fair value 
through other 
comprehensive 
income 
$million

Amortised cost 
$million

Off-balance 
sheet 
$million

Total 
$million

Debt securities and other eligible bills

2,664

2,108

Off-balance sheet

Repledged collateral received

At 31 December 2020

Collateral pledged against repurchase agreements

On-balance sheet

Debt securities and other eligible bills

Off-balance sheet

Repledged collateral received

At 31 December 2019

–

2,664

–

2,108

Fair value 
through profit  
or loss 
$million

Fair value 
through other 
comprehensive 
income 
$million

355

–

355

2019

–

5,127

46,209

46,209

46,209

51,336

Amortised cost 
$million

Off-balance 
sheet 
$million

Total 
$million

1,036

–

1,036

2,137

–

2,137

1,023

–

1,023

–

4,196

44,530

44,530

44,530

48,726

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

17. Goodwill and intangible assets

Accounting policy
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the identifiable net 
assets and contingent liabilities of the acquired subsidiary, associate or joint venture at the date of acquisition. Goodwill on 
acquisitions of subsidiaries is included in intangible assets. Goodwill on acquisitions of associates is included in Investments  
in associates. Goodwill included in Intangible assets is assessed at each balance sheet date for impairment and carried at 
cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Gains and losses on the disposal of an entity include the carrying amount of 
goodwill relating to the entity sold. Detailed calculations are performed based on discounting expected cash flows of the 
relevant cash-generating units (CGUs) and discounting these at an appropriate discount rate, the determination of which 
requires the exercise of judgement. Goodwill is allocated to CGUs for the purpose of impairment testing. CGUs represent  
the lowest level within the Group which generate separate cash inflows and at which the goodwill is monitored for internal 
management purposes. These are equal to or smaller than the Group’s reportable segments (as set out in Note 2) as the 
Group views its reportable segments on a global basis. The major CGUs to which goodwill has been allocated are set out in 
the CGU table (page 368).

Significant accounting estimates and judgements
The carrying amount of goodwill is based on the application of judgements including the basis of goodwill impairment 
calculation assumptions. Judgement is also applied in determination of cash-generating units.

Estimates include forecasts used for determining cash flows for CGUs, the appropriate long term growth rates to use and 
discount rates which factor in country risk-free rates and applicable risk premiums. These estimates are periodically assessed 
for appropriateness. The Group undertakes an annual assessment to evaluate whether the carrying value of goodwill is 
impaired. The estimation of future cash flows and the level to which they are discounted is inherently uncertain and requires 
significant judgement and is subject to potential change over time.

Acquired intangibles
At the date of acquisition of a subsidiary or associate, intangible assets which are deemed separable and that arise from 
contractual or other legal rights are capitalised and included within the net identifiable assets acquired. These intangible 
assets are initially measured at fair value, which reflects market expectations of the probability that the future economic 
benefits embodied in the asset will flow to the entity and are amortised on the basis of their expected useful lives (4 to 16 
years). At each balance sheet date, these assets are assessed for indicators of impairment. In the event that an asset’s 
carrying amount is determined to be greater than its recoverable amount, the asset is written down immediately.

Computer software
Acquired computer software licences are capitalised on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and bring to use the 
specific software. 

Internally generated software represents substantially all of the total software capitalised. Direct costs of the development 
of separately identifiable internally generated software are capitalised where it is probable that future economic benefits 
attributable to the asset will flow from its use (internally generated software). These costs include salaries and wages, 
materials, service providers and contractors, and directly attributable overheads. Costs incurred in the ongoing maintenance 
of software are expensed immediately when incurred. Internally generated software is amortised over a three to five-year 
time period. On an annual basis software assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, including assessing for 
indicators of impairment. Indicators of impairment include loss of business relevance, obsolescence of asset, exit of the 
business to which the software relates, technological changes, change in use of the asset, reduction in useful life, plans to 
reduce usage or scope.

For capitalised software, judgement is required to determine which costs relate to research (and therefore expensed) and 
which costs relate to development (capitalised). Further judgement is required to determine the technical feasibility of 
completing the software such that it will be available for use. Estimates are used to determine how the software will 
generate probable future economic benefits, these estimates include: cost savings, income increases, balance sheet 
improvements, improved functionality or improved asset safeguarding. 

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17. Goodwill and intangible assets continued

Cost

At 1 January

Exchange translation differences

Additions

Disposals

Impairment

Amounts written off

Classified as held for sale

At 31 December

Provision for amortisation

At 1 January

Exchange translation differences

Amortisation

Impairment charge

Disposals

Amounts written off

At 31 December

Net book value 

2020

2019

Goodwill 
$million

Acquired 
intangibles 
$million

Computer 
software 
$million

Total 
$million

Goodwill 
$million

Acquired 
intangibles 
$million

Computer 
software 
$million

Total 
$million

3,079

27

–

–

(489)

–

–

461

16

–

–

–

(4)

–

3,239

6,779

60

790

(4)

–

(403)

–

103

790

(4)

(489)

(407)

–

3,116

(10)

–

–

(27)

–

–

2,617

473

3,682

6,772

3,079

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,617

431

15

5

–

–

–

451

22

1,058

1,489

21

515

17

(4)

36

520

17

(4)

(349)

(349)

1,258

2,424

1,709

5,063

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,079

510

2,835

6,461

(5)

1

(1)

–

(44)

–

461

458

(5)

9

–

(1)

(30)

431

30

26

753

(3)

–

(372)

–

11

754

(4)

(27)

(416)

–

3,239

6,779

947

6

436

12

–

(343)

1,058

2,181

1,405

1

445

12

(1)

(373)

1,489

5,290

At 31 December 2020, accumulated goodwill impairment losses incurred from 1 January 2005 amounted to $3,317 million  
(31 December 2019: $2,828 million), of which $489 million was recognised in 2020 (31 December 2019: $27 million).

Goodwill
Testing of goodwill for impairment
An annual assessment is made as to whether the current carrying value of goodwill is impaired. For the purposes of impairment 
testing, goodwill is allocated at the date of acquisition to a CGU. Goodwill is considered to be impaired if the carrying amount 
of the relevant CGU exceeds its recoverable amount. Indicators of impairment include changes in the economic performance 
and outlook of the region including geopolitical changes, changes in market value of regional investments, large credit defaults 
and strategic decisions to exit certain regions. The recoverable amounts for all the CGUs were measured based on value-in-use 
(ViU). The calculation of ViU for each CGU is calculated using five-year cash flow projections and an estimated terminal value 
based on a perpetuity value after year five. The cash flow projections are based on forecasts approved by management up to 
2025. The perpetuity terminal value amount is calculated using year five cash flows using long-term GDP growth rates. All cash 
flows are discounted using discount rates which reflect market rates appropriate to the CGU. 

The goodwill allocated to each CGU and key assumptions used in determining the recoverable amounts are set out below and 
are solely estimates for the purposes of assessing impairment of acquired goodwill.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

17. Goodwill and intangible assets continued

Goodwill continued

Cash-generating unit

Country CGUs

Greater China & North Asia

Hong Kong

Taiwan

Africa & Middle East

Pakistan

UAE

Others (4)¹

ASEAN & South Asia

India

Singapore

Others ²

Global CGUs

Global Private Banking

Global Corporate &  
Institutional Banking

2020

2019

Goodwill 
$million

Discount
 rates 
per cent

Long-term 
forecast GDP 
growth rates 
per cent

Goodwill 
$million

Discount
 rates 
per cent

Long-term 
forecast GDP 
growth rates 
per cent

934

359

575

303

183

–

120

414

–

345

69

966

84

882

2,617

9.7

8.6

15.0

–

2.7

2.1

5.0

–

8.1–14.3

2.8–5.8

–

10.3

–

3.0

12.8–13.4

6.9–7.2

10.0

10.0

3.6

3.0

900

358

542

512

188

204

120

706

259

342

105

961

84

877

3,079

9.2

10.6

21.0

7.1

2.4

2.0

4.0

2.5

8.3–16.6

2.5–4.9

16.4

10.4

7.3

1.9

11.7–15.4

3.3–7.3

9.1

9.1

3.5

3.5

1   Bahrain, Ghana, Jordan and Qatar

2   Bangladesh and Vietnam, Indonesia and Brunei goodwill was written off in 2020

Four country CGUs; India, UAE, Indonesia and Brunei have had all the goodwill allocated to them written off, totalling  
$489 million. This was primarily due to lower economic growth forecasts, higher discount rates and forward-looking cash  
flows reflecting lower interest rate environments. As a result, the carrying amount of each CGU, which included goodwill,  
was greater than the recoverable amount.

In view of the increased economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group has performed sensitivity analysis 
on the key assumptions for each CGU’s recoverable amount. The following CGUs are considered sensitive to the key variables 
and any individual movements on the estimates (cashflow, discount rate and GDP growth rate) up to the levels disclosed below 
would eliminate the current headroom.

2020

Sensitivities

GDP

Discount rates

Cashflow

Cashflow

Cashflow

Base case

+ 1%

-1%

+ 1%

-1% + 10% - 10% +20% - 20%

- 30%

Downside 
scenario

Extreme 
downside 
scenario

GDP – 1% 
DR + 1% 
CF – 10%

GDP – 1% 
DR + 1% 
CF – 20%

Head-
room 
$million

Discount 

rate GDP

Head-
room 
$million

Head-
room 
$million

Head-
room 
$million

Head-
room 
$million

Head-
room 
$million

Head-
room 
$million

Head-
room 
$million

Head-
room 
$million

Head-
room 
$million

Head-
room 
$million

Head-
room 
$million

Goodwill

575

359

8.6% 2.1% 652

144

84

734

620

97

882

(165)

(426)

(276)

(479)

882 3,845 10.0% 3.0% 7,233 1,304

546 8,245 7,369

322 10,893 (3,202)

(6,726)

(4,150)

(6,938)

CGU

Taiwan

Global 
Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking

The table above represents reasonably possible scenarios that could occur if either; economic factors (which drive GDP rates 
and discount rates); country-specific cash flows; or a combination of both are different from the assumptions used in the 
goodwill impairment assessment at 31 December 2020.

For there to be no headroom, the discount rate will need to increase by 1.37 per cent and 1.19 per cent, for Taiwan and Global 
Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB) respectively. Similarly, the GDP rates will need to decrease by 1.87 per cent, 1.63 per cent 
and cash flows would need to decrease by 13.71 per cent, 10.91 per cent for Taiwan and Global CIB respectively .

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17. Goodwill and intangible assets continued

Acquired intangibles
These primarily comprise those items recognised as part of the acquisitions of Union Bank (now amalgamated into Standard 
Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited), Hsinchu (now amalgamated into Standard Chartered Bank (Taiwan) Limited), Pembroke, 
American Express Bank and ABSA’s custody business in Africa. Maintenance intangible assets represent the value in the 
difference between the contractual right under acquired leases to receive aircraft in a specified maintenance condition at  
the end of the lease and the actual physical condition of the aircraft at the date of acquisition.

The acquired intangibles are amortised over periods from four years to a maximum of 16 years. The constituents are as follows:

Acquired intangibles comprise:

Aircraft maintenance

Core deposits

Customer relationships

Licences

Net book value

18. Property, plant and equipment

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

6

–

7

9

22

10

1

12

7

30

Accounting policy
All property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Cost includes 
expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the assets. Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying 
amount or are recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits 
associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. 

At each balance sheet date the assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, including 
assessing for indicators of impairment. In the event that an asset’s carrying amount is determined to be greater than its 
recoverable amount, the asset is written down to the recoverable amount. Gains and losses on disposals are included in the 
income statement. 

Repairs and maintenance are charged to the income statement during the financial period in which they are incurred.

Land and buildings comprise mainly branches and offices. Freehold land is not depreciated although it is subject to 
impairment testing. 

Depreciation on other assets is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate their cost to their residual values over 
their estimated useful lives, as follows: 

•  Buildings  

•  up to 50 years

•  Leasehold improvements life of lease  

•  up to 50 years

•  Equipment and motor vehicles  

•  three to 15 years

•  Aircraft  

•  Ships  

•  up to 18 years

•  up to 15 years

Where the Group is a lessee of a right-of-use asset, the leased assets are capitalised and included in Property, plant and 
equipment with a corresponding liability to the lessor recognised in Other liabilities, in accordance with the Group’s leased 
assets accounting policy in Note 19.

All other repairs and maintenance are charged to the income statement during the financial period in which they  
are incurred.

Significant accounting estimates and judgements
The carrying amount of the Group’s aircraft leasing portfolio is based on the application of judgement and estimates to 
determine the most appropriate recoverable amount for each aircraft when assessing for impairment. Estimates involve the 
appropriate cash flows, discount rates and residual values used in determining a value-in-use for aircraft, and judgement is 
required in determining the appropriate observable third-party valuations to use for assessing current market value.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

18. Property, plant and equipment continued

Premises 
$million

Equipment 
$million

2020

Operating  
lease assets 
$million

Leased  
premises  
assets 
$million

Leased 
equipment 
assets 
$million

Cost or valuation

At 1 January 

Exchange translation differences 
Additions1

Disposals and fully depreciated assets 
written off2

Transfers to assets held for sale

As at 31 December

Depreciation

Accumulated at 1 January 

Exchange translation differences 

Charge for the year
Impairment charge3

Attributable to assets sold, transferred or 
written off2

Transfers to assets held for sale

Accumulated at 31 December

Net book amount at 31 December

2,058

40

36

(83)

(3)

2,048

737

13

73

–

(52)

(1)

770

1,278

800

6

121

(53)

–

874

518

6

122

–

(52)

–

594

280

4,461

(2)

952

(178)

–

5,233

1,067

–

229

132

(92)

–

1,336

3,897

1,493

11

155

(82)

–

1,577

286

–

300

–

(50)

–

536

1,041

23

4

6

(2)

–

31

7

–

7

–

(2)

–

12

19

Total 
$million

8,835

59

1,270

(398)

(3)

9,763

2,615

19

731

132

(248)

(1)

3,248

6,515

1   Refer to the cash flow statement under cash flows from investing activities section for the purchase of property, plant and equipment during the year of 

 $1,270 million on page 300

2   Disposals for property, plant and equipment during the year of $178 million in the cash flow statement would include the gains and losses incurred as part of  

other operating income (Note 6) on disposal of assets during the year and the net book value disposed

3  Aircraft have been impaired due to a decrease in the market values, particularly wide-body variants

Cost or valuation

At 1 January 

Exchange translation differences 

Additions 

Disposals and fully depreciated assets 
written off 

Transfers to assets held for sale

As at 31 December

Depreciation

Accumulated at 1 January 

Exchange translation differences 

Charge for the year

Impairment charge

Attributable to assets sold, transferred or 
written off

Transfers to assets held for sale

Accumulated at 31 December

Net book amount at 31 December

Premises 
$million

Equipment 
$million

2019

Operating  
lease assets 
$million

Leased  
premises  
assets3
$million

Leased 
equipment  
assets3
$million

2,070

(31)
961

(62)2

(15)

2,058

706

(7)

77

1

(35)2

(5)

737

1,321

766

(17)
1231

(72)2

–

800

494

(10)

106

–

(72)2

–

518

282

6,323

(5)
2991

(694)2

(1,462)

4,461

1,469

(5)

263

121

(155)2

(626)

1,067

3,394

1,408

(35)

128

(8)

–

1,493

–

7

283

–

(4)

–

286

1,207

13

–

10

–

–

23

1

–

6

–

–

–

7

16

Total 
$million

10,580

(88)

656

(836)

(1,477)

8,835

2,670

(15)

735

122

(266)

(631)

2,615

6,220

1   Refer to the cash flow statement under cash flows from investing activities section for the purchase of property, plant and equipment during the period  

$518 million on page 300

2   Disposals for property, plant and equipment during the period $566 million in the cash flow statement would include the gains and losses incurred as part of  

other operating income (Note 6) on disposal of assets during the period and the net book value disposed

3   Leased premises assets and leased equipment assets were newly recognised on 1 January 2019 due to the adoption of IFRS 16 Leases. The Group applied the 
modified retrospective transition approach, such that the right-of-use asset recognised equalled the lease liability, adjusted for prepayments and accruals 
recognised under IAS 17 as of 31 December 2018

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18. Property, plant and equipment continued

Operating lease assets
The operating lease assets subsection of property, plant and equipment is the Group’s aircraft leasing business, consisting of  
114 commercial aircraft, of which 107 are narrow-body and 7 wide-body, leased to clients under operating leases. The leases are 
classified as operating leases as they do not transfer substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to the ownership of the 
assets, and rental income from operating lease assets is disclosed in Note 6. At 31 December 2020, these assets had a net book 
value of $3,897 million (31 December 2019: $3,394 million).

Under these leases the lessee is responsible for the maintenance and servicing of the aircraft during the lease term while the 
Group receives rental income and assumes the risks of the residual value of the aircraft at the end of the lease. Initial lease  
terms range in length up to 12 years, while the average remaining lease term at 31 December 2020 is approximately six years.  
By varying the lease terms the effects of changes in cyclical market conditions at the time aircraft become eligible for re-lease 
are mitigated. The Group will look at entering into a lease extension with existing lessees well in advance of lease expiry in order 
to minimise the risk of aircraft downtime and aircraft transition costs. Aircraft may also be sold from time to time to manage the 
composition and average age of the fleet.

A series of stress sensitivities conducted on the narrow-body portfolio highlight the two biggest risks remain either an increase  
in the discount rate in conjunction with further market value decreases, as the majority of the leased portfolio is now valued on  
a VIU basis, or a substantial number of airline clients defaulting. A sensitivity test was performed on the narrow-body portfolio 
assuming a discount rate increase of 50 basis points and a future market value decrease of 10 per cent, which resulted in a 
possible increase in impairment of $46 million.

A further sensitivity test considered that the lessees with lower credit ratings defaulted on their current leases. This scenario 
would result in a possible increase in impairment of $38 million.

During 2020 the Group offered payment concessions to customers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing them to 
defer lease payments for between three and nine months. As of 31 December 2020 the outstanding amount of deferred  
lease payments was $19 million. For customers who have not defaulted on their obligations, deferrals do not affect income 
recognition provided the total lease rentals and lease expiry date are unchanged. For customers who have defaulted,  
any income not covered by collateral is provided against. The provision is reversed on receipt of the deferred payment.

The table below gives a maturity analysis of undiscounted lease payments receivable in future periods:

Within one year

One to two years

Two to three years

Three to four years

Four to five years

After five years

2020 
Minimum lease 
receivables 
under operating 
leases  
falling due: 
$million

2019 
Minimum lease 
receivables  
under operating 
leases  
falling due: 
$million

478

436

374

328

251

697

473

451

403

337

82

789

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

19. Leased assets

Accounting policy
The Group assesses whether a contract is a lease in scope of this policy by determining whether the contract gives it the right 
to use a specified underlying physical asset for a lease term greater than 12 months, unless the underlying asset is of low 
value.

Where the Group is a lessee and the lease is deemed in scope, it recognises a liability equal to the present value of lease 
payments over the lease term, discounted using the incremental borrowing rate applicable in the economic environment of 
the lease. The liability is recognised in ‘Other liabilities’. A corresponding right-of-use asset equal to the liability, adjusted for 
any lease payments made at or before the commencement date, is recognised in ‘Property, plant and equipment’. The lease 
term includes any extension options contained in the contract that the Group is reasonably certain it will exercise.

The Group subsequently depreciates the right-of-use asset using the straight-line method over the lease term and  
measures the lease liability using the effective interest method. Depreciation on the asset is recognised in ‘Depreciation  
and amortisation’, and interest on the lease liability is recognised in ‘Interest expense’.

The judgements in determining lease balances are the determination of whether the Group is reasonably certain that it will 
exercise extension options present in lease contracts. On initial recognition, the Group considers a range of characteristics 
such as premises function, regional trends and the term remaining on the lease to determine whether it is reasonably certain 
that a contractual right to extend a lease will be exercised. Where a change in assumption is confirmed by the local property 
management team, a remeasurement is performed in the Group-managed vendor system.

The estimates were the determination of incremental borrowing rates in the respective economic environments. The Group 
uses third-party broker quotes to estimate its USD cost of senior unsecured borrowing, then uses cross-currency swap pricing 
information to determine the equivalent cost of borrowing in other currencies. If it is not possible to estimate an incremental 
borrowing rate through this process, other proxies such as local government bond yields are used.

The Group primarily enters lease contracts that grant it the right to use premises such as office buildings and retail branches.

Existing lease liabilities may change in future periods due to changes in assumptions or decisions to exercise lease renewal or 
termination options, changes in payments due to renegotiations of market rental rates as permitted by those contracts and 
changes to payments due to rent being contractually linked to an inflation index. In general the remeasurement of a lease 
liability under these circumstances leads to an equal change to the right-of-use asset balance, with no immediate effect on  
the income statement.

The total cash outflow during the year for premises and equipment leases was $352 million (2019: $397 million).

The total expense during the year in respect of leases with a term less than or equal to 12 months was less than $1 million  
(2019: $20 million).

The right-of-use asset balances and depreciation charges are disclosed in Note 18. The lease liability balances are disclosed in 
Note 23 and the interest expense on lease liabilities is disclosed in Note 3. 

Maturity analysis
The maturity profile for lease liabilities associated with leased premises and equipment assets is as follows:

Other liabilities – lease liabilities

Other liabilities – lease liabilities

2020

One year  
or less  
$million

368

Between  
one year  
and two years  
$million

Between  
two years  
and five years  
$million

280

559

restated 20191

One year  
or less  
$million

364

Between  
one year  
and two years  
$million

Between  
two years  
and five years  
$million

335

626

More than  
five years  
$million

188

More than  
five years  
$million

325

Total  
$million

1,395

Total  
$million

1,650

1   Prior year values have been restated to reflect undiscounted contractual cash flows that are allocated to the periods in which the Group is required to pay them

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20. Other assets

Accounting policy
Refer to Note 13 Financial instruments for the relevant accounting policy.

Commodities represent physical holdings where the Group has title and exposure to the Market Risk associated with  
the holding. 

Commodities are fair valued with the fair value derived from observable spot or short-term futures prices from relevant 
exchanges.

Other assets include:

Financial assets held at amortised cost (Note 13):

Hong Kong SAR Government certificates of indebtedness (Note 23)¹

Cash collateral
Acceptances and endorsements2

Unsettled trades and other financial assets

Non-financial assets:
Commodities3

Other assets

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

7,295

11,757

5,868

16,058

40,978

7,239

471

48,688

6,911

9,169

5,518

14,563

36,161

5,465

396

42,022

1   The Hong Kong SAR Government certificates of indebtedness are subordinated to the claims of other parties in respect of bank notes issued

2   Trade finance whereby the Group offers a guarantee of payment between trade counterparties for a fee

3   Commodities are carried at fair value and classified as Level 2

21. Assets held for sale and associated liabilities

Accounting policy
Financial instruments can be reclassified as held for sale if they are non-current assets or if they are part of a disposal group; 
however, in these circumstances financial instruments continue to be measured per the requirements of IFRS 9 Financial 
Instruments. Refer to Note 13 Financial instruments for the relevant accounting policy.

Non-current assets are classified as held for sale and measured at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value less cost 
to sell when: 

a) Their carrying amounts will be recovered principally through sale;

b) They are available for immediate sale in their present condition; and

c) Their sale is highly probable.

Immediately before the initial classification as held for sale, the carrying amounts of the assets are measured in accordance 
with the applicable accounting policies related to the asset or liability before reclassification as held for sale.

The assets below have been presented as held for sale following the approval of Group management and the transactions 
are expected to complete in 2020.

Following a decision by the Board of directors to exit the ship leasing business within CIB, the shipping portfolio has been 
moved to ‘Held for sale’.

The financial assets reported below are classified under Level 1 $nil (31 December 2019: $70 million), Level 2 $25 million  
(31 December 2019: nil ) and Level 3 $63 million (31 December 2019: $260 million).

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

21. Assets held for sale and associated liabilities continued

Assets held for sale

Financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss

Loans and advances to customers

Equity shares

Financial assets held at amortised cost

Loans and advances to customers

Debt securities held at amortised cost

Interests in joint venture

Property, plant and equipment

Aircraft

Vessels

Others

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

5

5

–

83

83

–

–

358

–

354

4

446

330

–

330

90

32

58

800

833

49

769

15

2,053

Interests in joint venture
On the 20 May 2020 the Group completed the sale of its 44.56 per cent equity interest in PT Bank Permata Tbk to Bangkok Bank 
Public Company Limited for cash consideration of IDR 17 trillion ($1,072 million).

The profit on sale is as follows:

Cash received

Less: Investment in joint venture

Gain on carrying value
Less: Translation and other reserve recycling and transaction costs1

Net gain on disposal

1  

Includes $246 million exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Liabilities held for sale

Other liabilities

2020 
$million

1,072

(800)

272

(266)

6

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

–

–

9

9

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22. Debt securities in issue

Accounting policy
Refer to Note 13 Financial instruments for the relevant accounting policy.

Certificates  
of deposit  
of $100,000  
or more 
$million

2020

Other debt 
securities  
in issue 
$million

Debt securities in issue

21,020

34,530

Certificates  
of deposit  
of $100,000  
or more 
$million

2019

Other debt 
securities  
in issue 
$million

22,242

30,783

Total 
$million

55,550

Total 
$million

53,025

Debt securities in issue included within:

Financial liabilities held at fair value 
through profit or loss (Note 13)

Total debt securities in issue

–

21,020

5,811

40,341

5,811

61,361

–

22,242

8,510

39,293

8,510

61,535

In 2020, the Company issued a total of $6.8 billion senior notes for general business purposes of the Group as shown below:

Securities

$2,000 million fixed rate senior notes due 2026 (callable 2025)

$2,000 million fixed rate senior notes due 2031 (callable 2030)

$1,000 million fixed rate senior notes due 2023 (callable 2022)

EUR 750 million fixed rate senior notes due 2028 (callable 2027)

$500 million floating rate senior notes due 2023 (callable 2022)

HKD 1,081 million fixed rate senior notes due 2023 (callable 2022)

$100 million zero coupon callable bond due 2050 (callable 2025)

$80 million zero coupon callable bond due 2050 (callable 2023)

JPY 5,500 million fixed rate senior notes due 2023 (callable 2022)

$50 million zero coupon callable bond due 2050 (callable 2023)

Total senior notes issued

$million

2,000

2,000

1,000

917

500

139

100

80

53

50

6,839

In 2019, the Company issued a total of $6.1 billion senior notes for general business purposes of the Group as shown below:

Securities

$1,500 million callable floating rate senior notes due 2022 (callable 2021)

$1,250 million callable fixed rate senior notes due 2022 (callable 2021)

$1,000 million callable fixed rate senior notes due 2025 (callable 2024)

$1,000 million callable fixed rate senior notes due 2030 (callable 2029)

EUR 500 million callable fixed rate senior notes due 2027 (callable 2026)

AUD 600 million callable fixed rate senior notes due 2025 (callable 2024)

AUD 400 million callable fixed rate senior notes due 2025 (callable 2024)

$100 million zero coupon callable bond due 2049 (callable 2024)

Total senior notes issued

Where a debt instrument is callable, the issuer has the right to call.

$million

1,500

1,250

1,000

1,000

567

417

278

100

6,112

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

23. Other liabilities

Accounting policy
Refer to Note 13 Financial instruments for the relevant accounting policy for financial liabilities, Note 19 Leased assets for the 
accounting policy for leases, and Note 31 Share-based payments for the accounting policy for cash-settled share-based 
payments.

Financial liabilities held at amortised cost (Note 13)

Notes in circulation1
Acceptances and endorsements2

Cash collateral
Property leases3
Equipment leases3

Unsettled trades and other financial liabilities

Non-financial liabilities

Cash-settled share-based payments

Other liabilities

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

7,295

5,868

10,136

1,127

20

22,782

47,228

41

635

47,904

6,911

5,518

7,824

1,275

20

19,601

41,149

50

384

41,583

1   Hong Kong currency notes in circulation of $7,295 million (31 December 2019: $6,911 million) that are secured by the Government of Hong Kong SAR certificates  

of indebtedness of the same amount included in Other assets (Note 20)

2   Trade finance whereby the Group offers a guarantee of payment between trade counterparties for a fee

3   Other financial liabilities include the present value of lease liabilities, as required by IFRS 16 from 1 January 2019; refer to Note 19

24. Provisions for liabilities and charges

Accounting policy
The Group recognises a provision for a present legal or constructive obligation resulting from a past event when it is more 
likely than not that it will be required to transfer economic benefits to settle the obligation and the amount of the obligation 
can be estimated reliably. Where a liability arises based on participation in a market at a specified date, the obligation is 
recognised in the financial statements on that date and is not accrued over the period.

Significant accounting estimates and judgements
The recognition and measurement of provisions for liabilities and charges requires significant judgement and the use of 
estimates about uncertain future conditions or events. 

Estimates include the best estimate of the probability of outflow of economic resources, cost of settling a provision and 
timing of settlement. Judgements are required for inherently uncertain areas such as legal decisions (including external 
advice obtained), and outcome of regulator reviews.

At 1 January

Exchange translation differences

Transfer

Charge against profit

Provisions utilised

At 31 December 

Provision  
for credit 
commitments 
$million

2020

Other  
provisions 
$million

317

(50)

–

103

(3)

367

132

(3)

9

22

(61)

99

Provision  
for credit 
commitments 
$million

281

5

–

35

(4)

317

Total 
$million

449

(53)

9

125

(64)

466

2019

Other  
provisions 
$million

1,049

4

–

239

(1,160)

132

Total 
$million

1,330

9

–

274

(1,164)

449

Provision for credit commitment comprises those undrawn contractually committed facilities where there is doubt as to the 
borrowers’ ability to meet their repayment obligations.

Other provisions consist mainly of provisions for regulatory settlements and legal claims, the nature of which are described in 
Note 26 (page 378).

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25. Contingent liabilities and commitments

Accounting policy
Financial guarantee contracts and loan commitments
The Group issues financial guarantee contracts and loan commitments in return for fees. Financial guarantee contracts and 
any loan commitments issued at below-market interest rates are initially recognised at their fair value as a financial liability, 
and subsequently measured at the higher of the initial value less the cumulative amount of income recognised in accordance 
with the principles of IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers and their expected credit loss provision. Loan 
commitments may be designated at fair value through profit or loss where that is the business model under which such 
contracts are held. Notional values of financial guarantee contracts and loan commitments are disclosed in the table below.

Financial guarantees, trade credits and irrevocable letters of credit are the notional values of contracts issued by the Group’s 
Transaction Banking business for which an obligation to make a payment has not arisen at the reporting date. Transaction 
Banking will issue contracts to clients and counterparties of clients, whereby in the event the holder of the contract is not 
paid, the Group will reimburse the holder of the contract for the actual financial loss suffered. These contracts have various 
legal forms such as letters of credit, guarantee contracts and performance bonds. The contracts are issued to facilitate  
trade through export and import business, provide guarantees to financial institutions where the Group has a local presence, 
as well as guaranteeing project financing involving large construction projects undertaken by sovereigns and corporates.  
The contracts may contain performance clauses which require the counterparty performing services or providing goods to 
meet certain conditions before a right to payment is achieved, however the Group does not guarantee this performance.  
The Group will only guarantee the credit of the counterparty paying for the services or goods.

Commitments are where the Group has confirmed its intention to provide funds to a customer or on behalf of a customer 
under prespecified terms and conditions in the form of loans, overdrafts, future guarantees whether cancellable or not and 
the Group has not made payments at the balance sheet date; those instruments are included in these financial statements 
as commitments. Commitments and contingent liabilities are generally considered on demand as the Group may have to 
honour them, or the client may draw down at any time.

Capital commitments are contractual commitments the Group has entered into to purchase non-financial assets.

The table below shows the contract or underlying principal amounts of unmatured off-balance sheet transactions at the 
balance sheet date. The contract or underlying principal amounts indicate the volume of business outstanding and do not 
represent amounts at risk.

Financial guarantees and trade credits

Financial guarantees, trade credits and irrevocable letters of credit

Commitments

Undrawn formal standby facilities, credit lines and other commitments to lend

One year and over

Less than one year

Unconditionally cancellable

2020 
$million

53,832

53,832

68,848

24,500

60,055

153,403

Restated  
2019 
$million

46,714¹

46,714

64,450

19,520²

57,224²

141,194

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Capital commitments
Contracted capital expenditure approved by the directors but not provided for in these accounts3

135

419

1   Financial guarantees, trade credits and irrevocable letters of credit: separate disclosure as individual line items in 2019 as follows: Guarantees and irrevocable 

letters of credit $37,007 million, Other contingent liabilities $5,425 million, Documentary credits and short-term trade related transactions $4,282 million

2   Undrawn formal standby facilities, credit lines and other commitments to lend: Less than one year – restated from $34,925 million to $19,520 million. 

Unconditionally cancellable – restated from $41,819 million to $57,224 million. Certain non-revolving facilities have now been classified as unconditionally 
cancellable

3   Of which the Group has commitments totalling $110 million to purchase aircraft for delivery in 2021 (31 December 2019: $400 million). No pre-delivery payments 

have been made in respect of these commitments (2019: $ nil)

The Group’s share of contingent liabilities and commitments relating to joint ventures is $ nil (31 December 2019: $251 million).  
On 20 May 2020 the Group completed the sale of its 44.56 per cent equity interest in PT Bank Permata Tbk to Bangkok Bank 
Public Company Limited. Please refer to Note 21 for further details. As set out in Note 26, the Group has contingent liabilities in 
respect of certain legal and regulatory matters for which it is not practicable to estimate the financial impact as there are many 
factors that may affect the range of possible outcomes.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

26. Legal and regulatory matters

Accounting policy
Where appropriate, the Group recognises a provision for liabilities when it is probable that an outflow of economic  
resources embodying economic benefits will be required and for which a reliable estimate can be made of the obligation. 
The uncertainties inherent in legal and regulatory matters affect the amount and timing of any potential outflows with 
respect to which provisions have been established. These uncertainties also mean that it is not possible to give an aggregate 
estimate of contingent liabilities arising from such legal and regulatory matters.

The Group receives legal claims against it in a number of jurisdictions and is subject to regulatory and enforcement 
investigations and proceedings from time to time. Apart from the matters described below, the Group currently considers  
none of the ongoing claims, investigations or proceedings to be material. However, in light of the uncertainties involved in such 
matters there can be no assurance that the outcome of a particular matter or matters currently not considered to be material 
may not ultimately be material to the Group’s results in a particular reporting period depending on, among other things, the 
amount of the loss resulting from the matter(s) and the results otherwise reported for such period.

The Group is a defendant in a number of lawsuits that have been filed since 2014 in the United States District Courts for the 
Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, against a number of banks on behalf of plaintiffs who are, or are relatives of, victims 
of various terrorist attacks in Iraq. The plaintiffs allege that the defendant banks aided and abetted the unlawful conduct of  
US sanctioned parties in breach of the US Anti-Terrorism Act. One lawsuit has been withdrawn by the plaintiffs and the courts 
have ruled in favour of the banks’ motions to dismiss in five of the lawsuits. Following those rulings, in one lawsuit the plaintiffs 
appealed against the dismissal and a ruling on their appeal is awaited. Appeals are also expected by the plaintiffs in three of 
the other dismissed lawsuits. The remaining lawsuits are still at an early procedural stage and have been stayed pending the 
outcomes of the appeals in the dismissed cases.

In January 2020, a shareholder derivative complaint was filed in the New York State Court against 45 current and former 
directors and senior officers of the Group. It is alleged that the individuals breached their duties to the Group and caused a 
waste of corporate assets by permitting the conduct that gave rise to the costs and losses to the Group related to legacy 
conduct and control issues. Standard Chartered PLC, Standard Chartered Holdings Limited and Standard Chartered Bank  
are each named as “nominal defendants” in the complaint. The case is at an early procedural stage. On 23 December 2020,  
the Group filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. 

In October 2020, a claim was filed in the English High Court by 249 shareholders against Standard Chartered PLC alleging 
untrue and/or misleading statements were made, and/or there were omissions in information published by Standard Chartered 
PLC in its rights issue prospectuses of 2008, 2010 and 2015 and/or public statements regarding the Group’s historic sanctions, 
anti-money laundering and financial crime compliance issues. The case is at an early stage.

Based on the facts currently known, it is not possible for the Group to predict the outcome of these lawsuits. 

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27. Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds 

Accounting policy 
Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds are classified as financial instruments. Refer to Note 13 Financial 
instruments for the accounting policy.

All subordinated liabilities are unsecured, unguaranteed and subordinated to the claims of other creditors including without 
limitation, customer deposits and deposits by banks. The Group has the right to settle these debt instruments in certain 
circumstances as set out in the contractual agreements. Where a debt instrument is callable, the issuer has the right to call.

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

Subordinated loan capital – issued by subsidiary undertakings

£675 million 5.375 per cent undated step-up subordinated notes (callable 2020)¹

£200 million 7.75 per cent subordinated notes (callable 2022)¹

$750 million 5.875 per cent subordinated notes due 2020²

$700 million 8.0 per cent subordinated notes due 2031¹

Subordinated loan capital – issued by the Company3

Primary capital floating rate notes:

$400 million floating rate undated subordinated notes

$300 million floating rate undated subordinated notes (Series 2)

$400 million floating rate undated subordinated notes (Series 3)

$200 million floating rate undated subordinated notes (Series 4)

£150 million floating rate undated subordinated notes

£900 million 5.125 per cent subordinated notes due 2034

$2 billion 5.7 per cent subordinated notes due 2044

$2 billion 3.95 per cent subordinated notes due 2023

$1 billion 5.7 per cent subordinated notes due 2022

$1 billion 5.2 per cent subordinated notes due 2024

$750 million 5.3 per cent subordinated notes due 2043

€1.25 billion 4 per cent subordinated notes due 2025 (callable 2020)

€750 million 3.625 per cent subordinated notes due 2022

€500 million 3.125 per cent subordinated notes due 2024

SGD 700 million 4.4 per cent subordinated notes due 2026 (callable 2021)

$1.25 billion 4.3 per cent subordinated notes due 2027

$1 billion 3.516 per cent subordinated notes due 2030 (callable 2025)

$500 million 4.886 per cent subordinated notes due 2033 (callable 2028)

£ 96.035m 7.375% Non-Cumulative Irredeemable Preference Shares (reclassed as Debt)

£ 99.250m 8.25% Non-Cumulative Irredeemable Preference Shares (reclassed as Debt)

€ 1 billion 2.5 per cent subordinated debt 2030

$1.25 billion 3.265 per cent subordinated notes due 2036

Total for Group

1  

Issued by Standard Chartered Bank

2   Issued by Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited

–

52

–

454

506

16

69

50

26

16

930

2,370

2,066

1,001

1,141

785

–

955

646

530

1,310

997

499

134

138

1,217

1,252

16,148

16,654

298

53

754

429

1,534

16

69

50

26

16

855

2,379

2,009

1,002

1,069

786

1,421

884

585

525

1,214

996

499

134

138

–

–

14,673

16,207

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3   In the balance sheet of the Company the amount recognised is $16,069 million (2019: $14,588 million), with the difference being the effect of hedge accounting 

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

27. Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds continued

Fixed rate subordinated debt

Floating rate subordinated debt

Total

Fixed rate subordinated debt

Floating rate subordinated debt

Total

USD 
$million

11,875

161

12,036

USD 
$million

11,137

161

11,298

GBP 
$million

1,254

16

1,270

GBP 
$million

1,478

16

1,494

2020

EUR 
$million

2,818

–

2,818

2019

EUR 
$million

2,890

–

2,890

Others 
$million

530

–

530

Others 
$million

525

–

525

Total 
$million

16,477

177

16,654

Total 
$million

16,030

177

16,207

Redemptions and repurchases during the year
On 24 June 2020, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited exercised its right to redeem USD 750 million 5.875 per cent 
subordinated notes 2020.

On 14 July 2020, Standard Chartered Bank exercised its right to redeem the remaining GBP 275 million of GBP 675 million  
5.375 per cent undated step-up subordinated notes (callable 2020).

On 21 October 2020, Standard Chartered PLC exercised its right to redeem GBP 1250 million 4 per cent subordinated debt 2025 
(callable 2020).

Issuance during the year
On 9 June 2020, Standard Chartered PLC issued EUR 1,000 million 2.5 per cent subordinated debt 2030 (callable 2025).

On 19 November 2020, Standard Chartered PLC issued USD 1250 million 3.265 per cent subordinated notes due 2036.

28. Share capital, other equity instruments and reserves

Accounting policy
Financial instruments issued are classified as equity when there is no contractual obligation to transfer cash, other financial 
assets or issue available number of own equity instruments. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares 
or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds. 

Securities which carry a discretionary coupon and have no fixed maturity or redemption date are classified as other equity 
instruments. Interest payments on these securities are recognised, net of tax, as distributions from equity in the period in 
which they are paid. 

Where the Company or other members of the consolidated Group purchase the Company’s equity share capital, the 
consideration paid is deducted from the total shareholders’ equity of the Group and/or of the Company as treasury shares 
until they are cancelled. Where such shares are subsequently sold or reissued, any consideration received is included in 
shareholders’ equity of the Group and/or the Company.

Number of 
ordinary  
shares 
millions

Ordinary  
share  
capital1
$million

3,308

4

(116)

–

3,196

(40)

–

–

1,654

2

(58)

–

1,598

(20)

–

–

Ordinary  
share  
premium 
$million

3,963

23

–

–

Preference  
share  
premium2
$million

1,494

–

–

–

Total  
share capital  
and share 
premium 
$million

7,111

25

(58)

–

3,986

1,494

7,078

–

–

–

–

–

–

(20)

–

–

3,156

1,578

3,986

1,494

7,058

Other  
equity 
instruments 
$million

4,961

–

–

552

5,513

–

992

(1,987)

4,518

At 1 January 2019

Shares issued

Cancellation of shares including  
share buy-back

Additional Tier 1 equity securities

At 31 December 2019

Cancellation of shares including  
share buy-back

Additional Tier 1 equity issuance

Additional Tier 1 redemption

At 31 December 2020

1  

Issued and fully paid ordinary shares of 50 cents each

2   Includes preference share capital of $75,000

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28. Share capital, other equity instruments and reserves continued

Share buy-back
On 28 February 2020, the Group announced the buy-back programme for a share buy-back of its ordinary shares of $0.50 each. 
Nominal value of share purchases was $20 million, and the total consideration paid was $242 million. The total number of  
shares purchased was 40,029,585 representing 1.25 per cent of the ordinary shares in issue. The nominal value of the shares was 
transferred from the share capital to the capital redemption reserve account. On 31 March 2020, the Group announced that in 
response to a request from the Prudential Regulation Authority and as a consequence of the unprecedented challenges facing 
the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its Board had decided after careful consideration to withdraw the recommendation 
to pay a final dividend for 2019 of 20 cents per ordinary share and to suspend the buy-back programme.

Share buy-back of 2020

Mar – 2020

Number of 
ordinary  
shares

Average price 
paid per share 
£

Aggregate  
price paid 
£

Aggregate  
price paid 
$

40,029,585

4.89428

195,916,167

241,705,472

Ordinary share capital 
In accordance with the Companies Act 2006 the Company does not have authorised share capital. The nominal value of each 
ordinary share is 50 cents.

During the period nil shares were issued under employee share plans. 

Preference share capital
At 31 December 2020, the Company has 15,000 $5 non-cumulative redeemable preference shares in issue, with a premium of 
$99,995 making a paid-up amount per preference share of $100,000. The preference shares are redeemable at the option of  
the Company and are classified in equity.

The available profits of the Company are distributed to the holders of the issued preference shares in priority to payments 
made to holders of the ordinary shares and in priority to, or pari passu with, any payments to the holders of any other class of 
shares in issue. On a winding up, the assets of the Company are applied to the holders of the preference shares in priority to  
any payment to the ordinary shareholders and in priority to, or pari passu with, the holders of any other shares in issue, for an 
amount equal to any dividends payable (on approval of the board) and the nominal value of the shares together with any 
premium as determined by the Board. The redeemable preference shares are redeemable at the paid up amount (which 
includes premium) at the option of the Company in accordance with the terms of the shares. The holders of the preference 
shares are not entitled to attend or vote at any general meeting except where any relevant dividend due is not paid in full or 
where a resolution is proposed varying the rights of the preference shares.

Other equity instruments
On 2 April 2015, Standard Chartered PLC issued $2,000 million Fixed Rate Resetting Perpetual Subordinated Contingent 
Convertible Securities as Additional Tier 1 (AT1) securities, raising $1,987 million after issue costs. This security was redeemed on  
its first optional redemption date of 2 April 2020. On 18 August 2016, Standard Chartered PLC issued $2,000 million fixed rate 
resetting perpetual subordinated contingent convertible securities as AT1 securities, raising $1,982 million after issue costs.  
On 18 January 2017, Standard Chartered PLC issued $1,000 million fixed rate resetting perpetual subordinated contingent 
convertible securities as AT1 securities, raising $992 million after issue costs. On 3 July 2019, Standard Chartered PLC issued  
SGD 750 million Fixed Rate Resetting Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Securities as AT1 securities, raising  
$552 million after issue costs. On 26 June 2020, Standard Chartered PLC issued $1,000 million fixed rate resetting perpetual 
subordinated AT1 securities, raising $ 992 million after issue costs All issuances are made for general business purposes and  
to increase the regulatory capital base of the Group.

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The principal terms of the AT1 securities are described below:

•  The securities are perpetual and redeemable, at the option of Standard Chartered PLC in whole but not in part, on the first 

interest reset date and each date falling five years after the first reset date

•  The securities are also redeemable for certain regulatory or tax reasons on any date at 100 per cent of their principal amount 
together with any accrued but unpaid interest up to (but excluding) the date fixed for redemption. Any redemption is subject 
to Standard Chartered PLC giving notice to the relevant regulator and the regulator granting permission to redeem

•  The interest rate in respect of the securities issued on 26 June 2020 for the period from (and including) the issue date to (but 

excluding) 26 July 2025 is a fixed rate of 6 per cent per annum. The first reset date for the interest rate is 26 July 2025 and each 
date falling five years, or an integral multiple of five years, after the first reset date.

•  Interest on the securities are accounted for as a dividend and it is due and payable only at the sole and absolute discretion of 
Standard Chartered PLC, subject to certain additional restrictions set out in the terms and conditions. Accordingly, Standard 
Chartered PLC may at any time elect to cancel any interest payment (or part thereof) which would otherwise be payable on 
any interest payment date

•  The securities convert into ordinary shares of Standard Chartered PLC, at a pre-determined price detailed in the table below, 
should the fully loaded Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of the Group fall below 7.0 per cent. Approximately 645 million ordinary 
shares would be required to satisfy the conversion of all the securities mentioned above

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

28. Share capital, other equity instruments and reserves continued

Issuance date

18 August 2016

18 January 2017

3 July 2019

26 June 2020

Nominal value

Fixed coupon

Interest payment dates

First reset dates*

USD 2,000 million

USD 1,000 million

7.5%

7.75%

2 April, 2 October

2 April, 2 October

2 April 2022

2 April 2023

SGD 750 million

5.375%

3 April, 3 October

3 October 2024

USD 1,000 million

6%

26 January, 26 July

26 January 2026

Conversion price  
per ordinary share

USD 7.732

USD 7.732

SGD 10.909

USD 5.331

*   Subsequent reset dates are each date falling five years, or an integral multiple of five years, after the first reset date.

The securities rank behind the claims against Standard Chartered PLC of (a) unsubordinated creditors; (b) which are expressed 
to be subordinated to the claims of unsubordinated creditors of Standard Chartered PLC but not further or otherwise; or (c) 
which are, or are expressed to be, junior to the claims of other creditors of Standard Chartered PLC, whether subordinated or 
unsubordinated, other than claims which rank , or are expressed to rank, pari passu with, or junior to, the claims of holders of the 
AT1 securities in a winding-up occurring prior to the conversion trigger.

Reserves
The constituents of the reserves are summarised as follows:

•  The capital reserve represents the exchange difference on redenomination of share capital and share premium from sterling 

to US dollars in 2001. The capital redemption reserve represents the nominal value of preference shares redeemed

•  The amounts in the ‘Capital and Merger Reserve’ represent the premium arising on shares issued using a cash box financing 

structure, which required the Company to create a merger reserve under section 612 of the Companies Act 2006. Shares were 
issued using this structure in 2005 and 2006 to assist in the funding of Korea ($1.9 billion) and Taiwan ($1.2 billion) acquisitions, 
in 2008, 2010 and 2015 for the shares issued by way of a rights issue, primarily for capital maintenance requirements and for 
the shares issued in 2009 by way of an accelerated book build, the proceeds of which were used in the ordinary course of 
business of the Group. The funding raised by the 2008, 2010 and 2015 rights issues and 2009 share issue was fully retained 
within the Company. Of the 2015 funding, $1.5 billion was used to subscribe to additional equity in Standard Chartered Bank,  
a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Apart from the Korea, Taiwan and Standard Chartered Bank funding, the merger 
reserve is considered realised and distributable.

•  Own credit adjustment reserve represents the cumulative gains and losses on financial liabilities designated at fair value 

through profit or loss relating to own credit. Gains and losses on financial liabilities designated at fair value through  
profit or loss relating to own credit in the year have been taken through other comprehensive income into this reserve.  
On derecognition of applicable instruments, the balance of any OCA will not be recycled to the income statement, but  
will be transferred within equity to retained earnings

•  Fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) debt reserve represents the unrealised fair value gains and losses  

in respect of financial assets classified as FVOCI, net of expected credit losses and taxation. Gains and losses are deferred in 
this reserve and are reclassified to the income statement when the underlying asset is sold, matures or becomes impaired. 

•  FVOCI equity reserve represents unrealised fair value gains and losses in respect of financial assets classified as FVOCI, net of 

taxation. Gains and losses are recorded in this reserve and never recycled to the income statement

•  Cash flow hedge reserve represents the effective portion of the gains and losses on derivatives that meet the criteria for  

these types of hedges. Gains and losses are deferred in this reserve and are reclassified to the income statement when the 
underlying hedged item affects profit and loss or when a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur

•  Translation reserve represents the cumulative foreign exchange gains and losses on translation of the net investment of the 
Group in foreign operations. Since 1 January 2004, gains and losses are deferred to this reserve and are reclassified to the 
income statement when the underlying foreign operation is disposed. Gains and losses arising from derivatives used as 
hedges of net investments are netted against the foreign exchange gains and losses on translation of the net investment  
of the foreign operations

•  Retained earnings represents profits and other comprehensive income earned by the Group and Company in the current  
and prior periods, together with the after tax increase relating to equity-settled share options, less dividend distributions,  
own shares held (treasury shares) and share buy-backs

A substantial part of the Group’s reserves is held in overseas subsidiary undertakings and branches, principally to support local 
operations or to comply with local regulations. The maintenance of local regulatory capital ratios could potentially restrict  
the amount of reserves which can be remitted. In addition, if these overseas reserves were to be remitted, further unprovided 
taxation liabilities might arise.

As at 31 December 2020, the distributable reserves of Standard Chartered PLC (the Company) were $14.3 billion (31 December 
2019: $14.3 billion). These comprised retained earnings and $12.6 billion of the merger reserve account. Distribution of reserves is 
subject to maintaining minimum capital requirements.

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28. Share capital, other equity instruments and reserves continued

Own shares
Computershare Trustees (Jersey) Limited is the trustee of the 2004 Employee Benefit Trust (‘2004 Trust’) and Ocorian Trustees 
(Jersey) Limited (formerly known as Bedell Trustees Limited) is the trustee of the 1995 Employees’ Share Ownership Plan Trust 
(‘1995 Trust’). The 2004 Trust is used in conjunction with the Group’s employee share schemes and the 1995 Trust is used for the 
delivery of other employee share-based payments (such as upfront shares and fixed pay allowances). Group companies fund 
these trusts from time to time to enable the trustees to acquire shares to satisfy these arrangements.

Except as disclosed, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has bought, sold or redeemed any securities of the 
Company listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited during the period. Details of the shares purchased and held by 
the trusts are set out below.

1995 Trust

2004 Trust1

2020

2019

2020

2019

Total

2020

2019

Shares purchased during the period

2,999,210

646,283

14,359,481

24,065,354

17,358,691

24,711,637

Market price of shares purchased 
($million)

22

5

Shares transferred between trusts

(2,999,210)

(3,001,103)

Shares held at the end of the period

–

–

86

2,999,210

6,119,666

201

3,001,103

5,113,455

108

–

206

–

6,119,666

5,113,455

Maximum number of shares held 
during the period

11,262,818

15,070,923

1   Note that 1,489,139 shares were purchased by the trustee of the 2004 Trust using $10 million participant savings as part of Sharesave exercises

Changes in share capital and other equity instruments of Standard Chartered PLC subsidiaries
The table below details the transactions in equity instruments (including convertible and hybrid instruments) of the Group’s 
subsidiaries, including issuances, conversions, redemptions, purchase or cancellation. This is required under the Hong Kong 
Listing requirements, appendix 16 paragraph 10.

Name and registered address

The following companies have the 
address of 1 Basinghall Avenue, London, 
EC2V 5DD, United Kingdom

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Issued/(redeemed) 
capital

Issued/(redeemed) 
Shares

Proportion of 
shares held  
(%)

Standard Chartered Bank

United Kingdom $1.00 Ordinary shares

$300,000,000

300,000,000

Standard Chartered Holdings Limited

United Kingdom $2.00 Ordinary shares

$370,000,000

185,000,000

Standard Chartered I H Limited

United Kingdom $1.00 Ordinary shares

$70,000,000

70,000,000

Standard Chartered UK Holdings Limited United Kingdom £10.00 Ordinary 

shares

£56,164,330

5,616,433

The following companies have the 
address of TMF Group, 8th Floor, 20 
Farringdon Street, London, EC4A 4AB, 
United Kingdom.

Zodia Custody Limited

Zodia Holdings Limited

United Kingdom $1.00 Ordinary shares

$3,000,000

3,000,000

United Kingdom $1.00 Ordinary shares

$4,999,999

4,999,999

100

100

100

100

100

100

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The following company has the address  
of Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, no 3.477, 
6O andar, conjunto 62 – Torre Norte, 
Condominio Patio Victor Malzoni, CEP 
04538-133, São Paulo, Brazil

Standard Chartered Participacoes Ltda

Brazil

The following company has the address  
of Walkers Corporate Limited, Cayman 
Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road 
George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9008, 
Cayman Islands

BRL1.00 Ordinary 
shares

BRL(241,371,991)

(241,371,991)

100

Sirat Holdings Limited

Cayman Islands

$0.01 Preference 
shares

$(3)

(300)

100

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

28. Share capital, other equity instruments and reserves continued

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Issued/(redeemed) 
capital

Issued/(redeemed) 
Shares

Proportion of 
shares held  
(%)

Name and registered address

The following company have the address 
of Units 61-65 (Office use only), Self-
numbered Room 01-04, Room 901, No 6, 
Zhujiang East Road, Tianhe District, 
Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, 
China

Standard Chartered (Guangzhou) 
Business Management Co.Ltd.

Standard Chartered Global Business 
Services (Guangzhou) Co.Ltd.

China

China

The following company has the address of 
Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited, 
87, Independence Avenue, Post Office Box 
678, Accra, Ghana

Standard Chartered Wealth 
Management Limited Company

Ghana

The following company has the address of 
25/F, Standard Chartered Bank Building, 
4-4A Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong

$ Ordinary shares

$13,000,000

13,000,000

$ Ordinary shares

$3,000,000

3,000,000

100

100

GHS Ordinary shares

GHS100,000

100,000

100

Marina Leasing Limited

Hong Kong

$ Ordinary shares

$36,000,000

36,000,000

100

The following company has the address of 
3/F Standard Chartered Bank Building, 
4-4A Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong

Standard Chartered Private Equity Limited Hong Kong

$ Ordinary shares

$(573,000,000)

(573,000,000)

100

The following company has the address of 
21/F, Standard Chartered Tower, 388 Kwun 
Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong 
Kong

Standard Chartered Asia Limited

Hong Kong

$ Ordinary shares

$(612,000,000)

(612,000,000)

100

The following company has the address of 
32/F, Standard Chartered Bank Building, 
4-4A Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong

Mox Bank Limited

Hong Kong

HKD Ordinary shares

HKD46,920,000

46,920,000

65.1

The following company has the address  
of Second Floor, Indiqube Edge, Khata  
No. 571/630/6/4, Sy.No.6/4, Ambalipura 
Village, Varthur Hobli, Marathahalli 
Sub-Division, Ward No. 150, Bengaluru, 
560102, India.

Standard Chartered Research and 
Technology India Private Limited

India

The following company has the address of 
Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, 
Ajeltake Island, Majuro, MH96960, 
Marshall Islands

INR10.00 A Equity 
shares

INR10.00 Preference 
shares

INR41,555,370

4,155,537

INR189,923,900

18,992,390

100

100

Marina Lilac Shipping Limited

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$49,990

49,990

100

The following company has the address  
of c/o Ocorian Corporate Services 
(Mauritius) Ltd, 6th Floor, Tower A, 
 1 Cybercity, Ebene, 72201, Mauritius

Standard Chartered Private Equity 
(Mauritius) Limited

Mauritius

$ Redeemable 
preference shares

$(21,584,069)

(21,584,069)

100

The following company has the address of 
Rondo Daszyńskiego 2B, 00-843 , Warsaw, 
Poland

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28. Share capital, other equity instruments and reserves continued

Country of 
incorporation

Poland

Name and registered address

Standard Chartered Global Business 
Services spólka z ograniczona 
odpowiedzialnoscia

The following company has the address of 
9 & 11, Lightfoot Boston Street, Freetown, 
Sierra Leone

Description of shares

Issued/(redeemed) 
capital

Issued/(redeemed) 
Shares

Proportion of 
shares held  
(%)

PLN50.00 Ordinary 
shares

PLN4,923,100

98,462

100

Standard Chartered Bank Sierra Leone 
Limited

Sierra Leone

SLL1.00 Ordinary 
shares

SLL34,564,477,113

34,564,477,113

80.7

The following company has the address of 
8 Marina Boulevard, Level 26, Marina Bay 
Financial Centre, Tower 1, 018981, 
Singapore

Marina Poise Shipping Pte. Ltd.

Singapore

$ Ordinary shares

$13,142

13,142

100

The following company has the address of 
8 Marina Boulevard, #27-01 Marina Bay 
Financial Centre Tower 1, 018981, 
Singapore

SC Bank Solutions (Singapore) Limited

Singapore

SGD Ordinary shares

SGD50,000,000

50,000,000

100

The following companies have the 
address of 80 Robinson Road, #02-00, 
068898, Singapore

Autumn Life Pte. Ltd.

Cardspal Pte. Ltd.

Nexco Pte. Ltd.

The following company has the address  
of Walkers Corporate Limited, Cayman 
Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road 
George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9008, 
Cayman Islands

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$4,500,000

$3,240,000

$1

4,500,000

3,240,000

1

100

100

100

Standard Chartered Principal Finance 
(Cayman) Limited

Cayman Islands

$0.0001 Ordinary 
shares

$140

1,400,000

100

The following company has the address of 
20 Adelaide Street, Suite 1105 , Toronto ON 
M5C 2T6 Canada

Standard Chartered (Canada) Limited

Canada

CAD1.00 Ordinary 
shares

CAD10

10

100

Please see Note 22 Debt securities in issue for issuances and redemptions of senior notes.

Please see Note 27 Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds for issuance and redemptions of subordinated liabilities 
and AT1 securities. 

Please see Note 40 Related undertakings of the Group for subsidiaries liquidated, dissolved or sold during the year.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

29. Non-controlling interests

Accounting policy
Non-controlling interests are measured at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the acquiree’s identifiable  
net assets.

At 1 January 2019

Income in equity attributable to non-controlling interests

Other profits attributable to non-controlling interests

Comprehensive income for the year

Distributions
Other increases1

At 31 December 2019

Income in equity attributable to non-controlling interests

Other profits attributable to non-controlling interests

Comprehensive income for the year

Distributions
Other increases2

At 31 December 2020

$million

273

(17)

37

20

(35)

55

313

(12)

27

15

(20)

17

325

1   Comprises $72 million of non-controlling interest in Mox Bank Limited offset by $17 million disposal of non-controlling interest of Phoon Huat Ltd, Sirat Holdings 

Limited and Ori Private Limited

2   $17 million movement related to non-controlling interest from Mox Bank Limited

30. Retirement benefit obligations 

Accounting policy
The Group operates pension and other post-retirement benefit plans around the world, which can be categorised into 
defined contribution plans and defined benefit plans. For defined contribution plans, the Group pays contributions to 
publicly or privately administered pension plans on a statutory or contractual basis, and such amounts are charged to 
operating expenses. The Group has no further payment obligations once the contributions have been paid.

For funded defined benefit plans, the liability recognised in the balance sheet is the present value of the defined benefit 
obligation at the balance sheet date less the fair value of plan assets. For unfunded defined benefit plans the liability 
recognised at the balance sheet date is the present value of the defined benefit obligation. 

The defined benefit obligation is calculated annually by independent actuaries using the projected unit method. 

Actuarial gains and losses that arise are recognised in shareholders’ equity and presented in the statement of other 
comprehensive income in the period they arise. The Group determines the net interest expense on the net defined benefit 
liability for the year by applying the discount rate used to measure the defined benefit obligation at the beginning of the 
annual period to the net defined benefit liability, taking into account any changes in the net defined benefit liability during 
the year as a result of contributions and benefit payments. Net interest expense, the cost of the accrual of new benefits, 
benefit enhancements (or reductions) and administration expenses met directly from plan assets are recognised in the 
income statement in the period in which they were incurred.

Significant accounting estimates and judgements
There are many factors that affect the measurement of the retirement benefit obligations. This measurement requires the 
use of estimates, such as discount rates, inflation, pension increases, salary increases, and life expectancies which are 
inherently uncertain. Discount rates are determined by reference to market yields at the end of the reporting period on 
high-quality corporate bonds (or, in countries where there is no deep market in such bonds, government bonds) of a currency 
and term consistent with the currency and term of the post-employment benefit obligations. This is the approach adopted 
across our geographies. Where there are inflation-linked bonds available (e.g. United Kingdom and the eurozone), the Group 
derives inflation based on the market on those bonds, with the market yield adjusted in respect of the United Kingdom to 
take account of the fact that liabilities are linked to Consumer Price Index inflation, whereas the reference bonds are linked  
to Retail Price Index inflation. Where no inflation-linked bonds exist, we determine inflation assumptions based on a 
combination of long-term forecasts and short-term inflation data. Salary growth assumptions reflect the Group’s long-term 
expectations, taking into account future business plans and macroeconomic data (primarily expected future long-term 
inflation). Demographic assumptions, including mortality and turnover rates, are typically set based on the assumptions  
used in the most recent actuarial funding valuation, and will generally use industry standard tables, adjusted where 
appropriate to reflect recent historic experience and/or future expectations. The sensitivity of the liabilities to changes  
in these assumptions is shown in the Note below.

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30. Retirement benefit obligations continued
Retirement benefit obligations comprise:

Defined benefit plans obligation

Defined contribution plans obligation

Net obligation

Retirement benefit charge comprises:

Defined benefit plans

Defined contribution plans

Charge against profit (Note 7)

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

434

9

443

458

11

469

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

81

277

358

73

299

372

The Group operates over 60 defined benefit plans across its geographies, many of which are closed to new entrants who now 
join defined contribution arrangements. The aim of all these plans is, as part of the Group’s commitment to financial wellbeing 
for employees, to give employees the opportunity to save appropriately for retirement in a way that is consistent with local 
regulations, taxation requirements and market conditions. The defined benefit plans expose the Group to currency risk, interest 
rate risk, investment risk and actuarial risks such as Longevity Risk.

The material holdings of government and corporate bonds shown on page 389 partially hedge movements in the liabilities 
resulting from interest rate and inflation changes. Setting aside movements from other drivers such as currency fluctuation,  
the reductions in discount rates in most geographies over 2020 have led to higher liabilities. These have been largely offset by 
increases in the value of bonds held and good stock market performance. These movements are shown as actuarial losses 
versus gains respectively in the tables below. Contributions into a number of plans in excess of the amounts required to fund 
benefits accruing have also helped to reduce the net deficit over the year.

The disclosures required under IAS 19 have been calculated by independent qualified actuaries based on the most recent full 
actuarial valuations updated, where necessary, to 31 December 2020.

UK Fund
The Standard Chartered Pension Fund (the ‘UK Fund’) is the Group’s largest pension plan, representing 63 per cent  
(31 December 2019: 60 per cent) of total pension liabilities. The UK Fund is set up under a trust that is legally separate from  
the Bank (its formal sponsor) and, as required by UK legislation, at least one-third of the trustee directors are nominated  
by members; the remainder are appointed by the Bank. The trustee directors have a fiduciary duty to members and are 
responsible for governing the UK Fund in accordance with its Trust Deed and Rules.

The UK Fund was closed to new entrants from 1 July 1998 and closed to the accrual of new benefits from 1 April 2018: all 
employees are now offered membership of a defined contribution plan.

The financial position of the UK Fund is regularly assessed by an independent qualified actuary. The funding valuation as at  
31 December 2017 was completed in December 2018 by the then Scheme Actuary, A Zegleman of Willis Towers Watson, using 
assumptions different from those on page 388, and agreed with the UK Fund trustee. It showed that the UK Fund was 89% 
funded at that date revealing a past service deficit of $210 million (£159 million). To repair the deficit, four annual cash payments 
of $42.2 million (£32.9 million) were agreed, with three of these having been paid in December 2018, December 2019 and 
December 2020. The agreement allows that if the funding position improves to being at or near a surplus in future years the 
payments due in December 2021 will be reduced or eliminated. In addition, an escrow account of $150 million (£110 million) exists 
to provide security for future contributions. The 31 December 2020 funding valuation is currently underway and may conclude 
by altering, or adding to, the cash payment due in 2021. Its analysis of mortality experience has driven the small adjustment to 
life expectancy assumptions shown below. 

The Group is not required to recognise any additional liability under IFRIC 14 or the 2015 exposure draft of proposed 
amendments to it, as the Bank has control of any pension surplus under the Trust Deed and Rules.

Overseas plans
The principal overseas defined benefit arrangements operated by the Group are in Germany, Hong Kong, India, Jersey, Korea, 
Taiwan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States of America (US). Plans in Germany, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Taiwan 
and UAE remain open for accrual of future benefits.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

30. Retirement benefit obligations continued

Key assumptions
The principal financial assumptions used at 31 December 2020 were:

Discount rate

Price Inflation

Salary increases

Pension increases

Funded plans

UK Fund

Overseas Plans1

2020 
%

1.4

2.2

n/a

2.1

2019 
%

2.0

2.1

n/a

2.1

2020 
%

0.3 – 2.8 

1.0 – 3.0

2.9 – 4.0

1.3 – 2.7

2019 
%

0.7 – 3.4

1.0 – 3.0

3.0 – 4.0

1.4 – 3.0

1   The range of assumptions shown is for the main defined benefit overseas plans in Germany, Hong Kong, Jersey, Korea, Taiwan, UAE and the US. These comprise 

around 85 per cent of the total liabilities of overseas defined benefit plans

Discount rate

Price inflation

Salary increases

Pension increases

Post-retirement medical rate

US post-retirement medical 

Unfunded plans

2020 
%

2.8

2.5

N/A

N/A

2019 
%

3.4

2.5

N/A

N/A

7% in 2020 
reducing  
by 0.5%  
per annum  
to 5%  
in 2024

8% in 2019 
reducing  
by 1%  
per annum  
to 5%  
in 2022

Other1

2020 
%

1.4 – 6.3 

2.0 – 4.0

3.5 – 7.0

0.0 – 2.1

2019 
%

1.5 – 7.0

2.0 – 4.0

3.5 – 7.0

0.0 – 2.1

N/A

1   The range of assumptions shown is for the main unfunded plans in Bahrain, India, Korea, Thailand, UAE and the UK. They comprise around 95 per cent of the total 

liabilities of other unfunded plans

The principal non-financial assumptions are those made for UK life expectancy. The assumptions for life expectancy for the  
UK Fund are that a male member currently aged 60 will live for 27 years (31 December 2019: 28 years) and a female member for 
30 years (31 December 2019: 29 years) and a male member currently aged 40 will live for 29 years (31 December 2019: 31 years) 
and a female member for 31 years (31 December 2019: 30 years) after their 60th birthdays.

Both financial and non-financial assumptions can be expected to change in the future, which would affect the value placed on 
the liabilities. For example, changes at the reporting date to one of the relevant actuarial assumptions, holding other 
assumptions constant, would have affected the defined benefit obligation by the amounts shown below:

•  If the discount rate increased by 25 basis points the liability would reduce by approximately $75 million for the UK Fund 

(31 December 2019: $65 million) and $40 million for the other plans (31 December 2019: $35 million)

•  If the rate of inflation increased by 25 basis points the liability, allowing for the consequent impact on pension and salary 

increases would increase by approximately $50 million for the UK Fund (31 December 2019: $45 million) and $25 million for  
the other plans (31 December 2019: $25 million)

•  If the rate salaries increase compared to inflation increased by 25 basis points the liability would increase by nil for the  

UK Fund (31 December 2019: nil) and approximately $15 million for the other plans (31 December 2019: $15 million)

•  If longevity expectations increased by one year the liability would increase by approximately $70 million for the UK Fund 

(31 December 2019: $60 million) and $20 million for the other plans (31 December 2019: $15 million)

Although this analysis does not take account of the full distribution of cash flows expected, it does provide an approximation of 
the sensitivity to the main assumptions. While changes in other assumptions would also have an impact, the effect would not 
be as significant.

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30. Retirement benefit obligations continued

Profile of plan obligations

Duration of the defined benefit obligation (in years)

(Duration of the defined benefit obligation – 2019)

Benefits expected to be paid from plans

Benefits expected to be paid during 2021

Benefits expected to be paid during 2022

Benefits expected to be paid during 2023

Benefits expected to be paid during 2024

Benefits expected to be paid during 2025

Benefits expected to be paid during 2026 to 2030

Fund values: 

Funded plans

Unfunded plans

UK Fund

Overseas

Post-retirement 
medical

Other

15

16

86

88

90

92

94

499

11

11

60

79

77

80

78

516

10

10

1

1

1

1

1

5

11

12

17

15

15

15

16

79

The fair value of assets and present value of liabilities of the plans attributable to defined benefit members were:

At 31 December 

Equities 

Government bonds 

Corporate bonds 

Absolute Return Fund
Hedge funds1
Insurance linked funds1

Property

Derivatives

Cash and equivalents
Others1
Total fair value of assets2

Present value of liabilities

Net pension plan obligation

1   Unquoted assets

2020

2019

Funded plans

Unfunded plans

Funded plans

Unfunded plans

UK Fund  
$million

Overseas 
plans  
$million

Post-
retirement 
medical  
$million

Other  
$million

UK Fund  
$million

Overseas 
plans  
$million

Post-
retirement 
medical  
$million

Other  
$million

118

844

508

94

89

36

74

20

141

10

374

189

129

–

–

–

9

4

297

21

1,934

1,023

(1,982)

(1,147)

(48)

(124)

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

102

956

189

158

100

37

75

13

77

8

1,715

349

196

121

–

–

–

32

3

163

31

895

(16)

(16)

(246)

(246)

(1,832)

(1,010)

(117)

(115)

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

(16)

(16)

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

(210)

(210)

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2   Self-investment is monitored closely and is less than $1 million of Standard Chartered equities and bonds for 2020 (31 December 2019: <$1 million). Self-investment 
is only allowed where it is not practical to exclude it – for example through investment in index-tracking funds where the Group is a constituent of the relevant 
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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

30. Retirement benefit obligations continued
The pension cost for defined benefit plans was:

2020
Current service cost1
Past service cost and curtailments2

Settlement cost

Interest income on pension plan assets

Interest on pension plan liabilities

Total charge to profit before deduction of tax
Net gain on plan assets3

Losses on liabilities

Total (gains)/losses recognised directly in statement  
of comprehensive income before tax

Deferred taxation

Total (gains) /losses after tax

Funded plans

Unfunded plans

UK Fund 
$million

Overseas plans 
$million

Post-retirement 
medical 
$million

Other 
$million

Total 
$million

–

–

–

(32)

35

3

(160)

131

(29)

–

(29)

50

–

–

(28)

29

51

(81)

88

7

(9)

(2)

–

–

–

–

1

1

–

(1)

(1)

–

(1)

7

14

–

–

5

26

–

22

22

–

22

57

14

–

(60)

70

81

(241)

240

(1)

(9)

(10)

1  

Includes administrative expenses paid out of plan assets of $2 million (31 December 2019: $2 million)

2   Past service costs arose primarily due to recognition of a legacy UK long-term sick plan which has been clarified as technically representing a defined benefit

3   The actual return on the UK Fund assets was a gain of $192 million and on overseas plan assets was a gain of $109 million

The pension cost for defined benefit plans was:

Funded plans

Unfunded plans

UK Fund 
$million

Overseas plans 
$million

Post-retirement 
medical 
$million

Other 
$million

Total 
$million

2019
Current service cost1
Past service cost and curtailments2

Settlement cost

Interest income on pension plan assets

Interest on pension plan liabilities

Total charge to profit before deduction of tax
Net gain on plan assets3

Losses on liabilities 

Total losses/(gains) recognised directly in statement  
of comprehensive income before tax

Deferred taxation

Total losses/(gains) after tax

–

–

–

(43)

44

1

(86)

196

110

5

115

49

2

–

(26)

29

54

(88)

77

(11)

–

(11)

–

–

–

–

1

1

–

(2)

(2)

–

(2)

12

(1)

–

–

6

17

–

27

27

–

27

1  

Includes administrative expenses paid out of plan assets of $1 million (31 December 2018: $2 million)

2   Past service costs arose primarily due to plan changes in Thailand and US, and were largely offset by past service credits due to plan changes in UAE

3   The actual return on the UK Fund assets was a gain of $129 million and on overseas plan assets was a gain of $114 million

Movement in the defined benefit pension plans and post-retirement medical deficit during the year comprise:

Deficit at 1 January 2020

Contributions
Current service cost1

Past service cost and curtailments
Settlement costs and transfers impact2

Net interest on the net defined benefit asset/liability

Actuarial gains/(losses)

Exchange rate adjustment

Deficit at 31 December 2020³

Funded plans

Unfunded plans

UK Fund 
$million

Overseas plans 
$million

Post-retirement 
medical 
$million

(117)

44

–

–

–

(3)

29

(1)

(48)

(115)

63

(50)

–

(5)

(1)

(7)

(9)

(124)

(16)

–

–

–

–

(1)

1

–

(16)

Other 
$million

(210)

16

(7)

(14)

–

(5)

(22)

(4)

(246)

1  

Includes administrative expenses paid out of plan assets of $2 million (31 December 2019: $1 million)

2   Impact of transfers relates to a gratuity plan in India which was included within IAS 19 disclosures for the first time this year. Previously, a separate provision for 

these liabilities was included on the balance sheet

3   The deficit total of $434 million is made up of plans in deficit of $476 million (31 December 2019: $486 million) net of plans in surplus with assets totalling  

$42 million (31 December 2019: $28 million)

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1

–

(69)

80

73

(174)

298

124

5

129

Total 
$million

(458)

123

(57)

(14)

(5)

(10)

1

(14)

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30. Retirement benefit obligations continued
Movement in the defined benefit pension plans and post-retirement medical deficit during the year comprise:

Deficit at 1 January 2019

Contributions
Current service cost1

Past service cost and curtailments

Settlement costs and transfers impact

Net interest on the net defined benefit asset/liability

Actuarial (losses)/gains

Exchange rate adjustment

Deficit at 31 December 2019²

Funded plans

Unfunded plans

UK Fund 
$million

Overseas plans 
$million

Post-retirement 
medical 
$million

Other 
$million

(50)

44

–

–

–

(1)

(110)

–

(117)

(129)

73

(49)

(2)

–

(3)

11

(16)

(115)

(17)

–

–

–

–

(1)

2

–

(16)

(190)

20

(12)

1

–

(6)

(27)

4

(210)

Total 
$million

(386)

137

(61)

(1)

–

(11)

(124)

(12)

(458)

1  

Includes administrative expenses paid out of plan assets of $1 million (31 December 2018: $2 million)

2   The deficit total of $458 million is made up of plans in deficit of $486 million (31 December 2018: $421 million) net of plans in surplus with assets totalling $28 million 

(31 December 2018: $35 million)

The Group’s expected contribution to its defined benefit pension plans in 2021 is $120 million.

At 1 January 2020
Contributions1
Current service cost2

Past service cost and curtailments
Settlement costs & impact of transfers3

Interest cost on pension plan liabilities

Interest income on pension plan assets
Benefits paid out2
Actuarial gains/(losses)4

Exchange rate adjustment

At 31 December 2020

Assets 
$million

2,610

123

–

–

19

–

60

(161)

241

65

2,957

2020

Obligations 
$million

(3,068)

–

(57)

(14)

(24)

(70)

–

161

(240)

(79)

(3,391)

Total  
$million

(458)

123

(57)

(14)

(5)

(70)

60

–

1

(14)

(434)

Assets 
$million

2,410

137

–

–

(7)

–

69

(165)

174

(8)

2,610

2019

Obligations 
$million

(2,796)

–

(61)

(1)

7

(80)

–

165

(298)

(4)

(3,068)

Total 
$million

(386)

137

(61)

(1)

–

(80)

69

–

(124)

(12)

(458)

1  

Includes employee contribution of nil (31 December 2019: nil) 

2   Includes administrative expenses paid out of plan assets of $1 million (31 December 2019: $ 1 million) 

3   Impact of transfers relates to a gratuity plan in India which was included within IAS 19 Disclosures for the first time this year. Previously, a separate provision for 

these liabilities was included elsewhere on the balance sheet

4   Actuarial loss on obligation comprises $256 million loss (31 December 2019: $267 million loss) from financial assumption changes, $21 million gain (31 December 

2019: $4 million loss) from demographic assumption changes and $5 million loss (31 December 2019: $18 million loss) from experience

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

31. Share-based payments 

Accounting policy
The Group operates equity-settled and cash-settled share-based compensation plans. The fair value of the employee 
services (measured by the fair value of the awards granted) received in exchange for the grant of the shares and awards  
is recognised as an expense. For deferred share awards granted as part of an annual performance award, the expense  
is recognised over the period from the start of the performance period to the vesting date. For example, the expense for 
three-year awards granted in 2021 in respect of 2020 performance, which vest in 2022-24, is recognised as an expense over 
the period from 1 January 2020 to the vesting dates in 2022-24. For all other awards, the expense is recognised over the 
period from the date of grant to the vesting date.

For equity-settled awards, the total amount to be expensed over the vesting period is determined by reference to the fair 
value of the shares and awards at the date of grant, which excludes the impact of any non-market vesting conditions  
(for example, profitability and growth targets). The fair value of equity instruments granted is based on market prices,  
if available, at the date of grant. In the absence of market prices, the fair value of the instruments is estimated using an 
appropriate valuation technique, such as a binomial option pricing model. Non-market vesting conditions are included  
in assumptions for the number of shares and awards that are expected to vest.

At each balance sheet date, the Group revises its estimates of the number of shares and awards that are expected to vest.  
It recognises the impact of the revision of original estimates, if any, in the income statement and a corresponding adjustment 
to equity over the remaining vesting period. Forfeitures prior to vesting attributable to factors other than the failure to satisfy 
service conditions and non-market vesting conditions are treated as a cancellation and the remaining unamortised charge  
is debited to the income statement at the time of cancellation. The proceeds received net of any directly attributable 
transaction costs are credited to share capital (nominal value) and share premium when awards in the form of options  
are exercised. 

Cash-settled awards are revalued at each balance sheet date and a liability recognised on the balance sheet for all unpaid 
amounts, with any changes in fair value charged or credited to staff costs in the income statement until the awards are 
exercised. Where forfeitures occur prior to vesting that are attributable to factors other than a failure to satisfy service 
conditions or market-based performance conditions, the cumulative charge incurred up to the date of forfeiture is  
credited to the income statement. Any revaluation related to cash-settled awards is recorded as an amount due from 
subsidiary undertakings.

The Group operates a number of share-based arrangements for its executive directors and employees. Details of the share-
based payment charge are set out below.

Deferred share awards

Other share awards

Total share-based payments

1   No forfeiture assumed

2020¹

2019¹

Cash  
$million

Equity  
$million

Total  
$million

Cash  
$million

Equity  
$million

Total  
$million

(1)

(1)

(2)

59

75

134

58

74

132

13

12

25

88

53

141

101

65

166

2011 Standard Chartered Share Plan (the ‘2011 Plan’)
The 2011 Plan was approved by shareholders in May 2011 and is the Group’s main share plan. Since approval, it has been used to 
deliver various types of share awards: 

•  Long term incentive plan (LTIP) awards: granted with vesting subject to performance measures. Performance measures 

attached to awards granted previously include: total shareholder return (TSR); return on equity (RoE) and return on tangible 
equity (RoTE) (in the case of both RoE and RoTE, with a Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) underpin); strategic measures; earnings 
per share (EPS) growth; and return on risk-weighted assets (RoRWA). Each measure is assessed independently over a 
three-year period. Awards granted from 2016 have an individual conduct gateway requirement that results in the award 
lapsing if not met

•  Deferred awards are used to deliver the deferred portion of variable remuneration, in line with both market practice and 

regulatory requirements. These awards vest in instalments on anniversaries of the award date specified at the time of grant. 
Deferred awards are not subject to any plan limit. This enables the Group to meet regulatory requirements relating to deferral 
levels, and is in line with market practice

•  Restricted share awards, made outside of the annual performance process as replacement buy-out awards to new joiners 

who forfeit awards on leaving their previous employers, vest in instalments on the anniversaries of the award date specified 
at the time of grant. This enables the Group to meet regulatory requirements relating to buy-outs, and is in line with market 
practice. In line with similar plans operated by our competitors, restricted share awards are not subject to an annual limit and 
do not have any performance measures

Under the 2011 Plan, no grant price is payable to receive an award. The remaining life of the 2011 Plan during which new awards 
can be made is one year.

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31. Share-based payments continued

Valuation – LTIP awards
The vesting of awards granted in both 2020 and 2019 is subject to relative TSR performance measures and achievement of  
a strategic scorecard. The vesting of awards granted in 2019 and 2020 are subject to the satisfaction of RoTE (subject to a 
capital CET1 underpin). The fair value of the TSR component is calculated using the probability of meeting the measures over  
a three-year performance period, using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The number of shares expected to vest is evaluated  
at each reporting date, based on the expected performance against the RoTE and strategic measures in the scorecard, to 
determine the accounting charge.

No dividend equivalents accrue for the LTIP awards made in 2019 or 2020 and the fair value takes this into account, calculated 
by reference to market consensus dividend yield.

Grant date

Share price at grant date (£)

Vesting period (years)

Expected divided yield (%)

Fair value (RoTE) (£)

Fair value (TSR) (£)

Fair value (Strategic) (£)

2020

2019

09 March

11 March

5.20

3–7

4.2

6.11

3–7

4.2

1.40, 1.34

0.75, 0.72

1.40, 1.34

2.02, 2.02

0.97, 0.91

2.02, 2.02

Valuation – deferred shares and restricted shares 
The fair value for deferred awards which are not granted to material risk-takers is based on 100 per cent of the face value of the 
shares at the date of grant as the share price will reflect expectations of all future dividends. For awards granted to material 
risk-takers in 2020, the fair value of awards takes into account the lack of dividend equivalents, calculated by reference to 
market consensus dividend yield.

Deferred share awards

Grant date

Share price at grant date (£)

Vesting period (years)

1-3 years

1-5 years

3-7 years

Grant date

Share price at grant date (£)

Vesting period (years)

1-3 years

1-5 years

3-7 years

22 June

4.27 

Expected 
dividend  
yield  
(%)

NA

– 

– 

2020

30 March

4.67 

Fair value  
(£)

Expected 
dividend  
yield  
(%)

Fair value  
(£)

9 March

5.20 

Expected 
dividend  
yield  
(%)

Fair value  
(£)

4.27

NA,4.2

4.67,4.13

NA,4.2,4.2 5.20,4.79,4.59

 –

– 

4.04

–

2019

4.2

–

24 June

7.03

Expected 
dividend  
yield  
(%)

Fair value  
(£)

4.2,4.2

4.2,4.2

4.59,4.50

4.23,4.06

11 March

6.11

Expected 
dividend  
yield  
(%)

Fair value  
(£)

N/A,4.2,4.2

7.03,6.47,6.21

N/A,4.2,4.2

6.11,5.62,5.40

–

–

–

–

4.2,4.2

4.2,4.2

5.29,5.40

4.77,4.97

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

31. Share-based payments continued

Other restricted share awards

Grant date

26 November

30 September

Share price at grant date (£)

4.71

3.52

22 June

4.27

9 March

5.20

2020

Vesting period (years)

Expected 
dividend 
yield  
(%)

Fair value 
(£)

Expected 
dividend 
yield  
(%)

Fair value 
(£)

Expected 
dividend 
yield  
(%)

Fair value 
(£)

Expected 
dividend 
yield  
(%)

Fair value 
(£)

1 year

2 years

2-3 years

3 years

4 years

5 years

4.2 4.34,4.52

4.2 4.16,4.34

 –

4.2

4.2

– 

 –

4.16

4.00

 –

4.2

4.2

– 

4.2

4.2

– 

3.38

3.24

 –

3.11

2.98

 –

2019

4.2

4.2

 –

4.2

4.2

4.2

4.10

3.93

 –

3.77

3.62

3.48

4.2

4.2

– 

4.2

4.2

4.2

4.99

4.79

 –

4.59

4.41

4.23

Grant date

Share price at grant date (£)

28 November

7.04

1 October

6.84

24 June

7.03

11 March

6.11

Vesting period (years)

1 year

2 years

2-3 years

3 years

4 years

5 years

Expected 
dividend 
yield  
(%)

Fair value  
(£)

Expected 
dividend 
yield  
(%)

Fair value  
(£)

Expected 
dividend 
yield  
(%)

Fair value  
(£)

Expected 
dividend 
yield  
(%)

Fair value  
(£)

4.2

4.2

–

4.2

–

–

6.75

6.48

–

6.22

–

–

4.2

4.2

–

4.2

4.2

4.2

6.57

6.30

–

6.05

5.80

5.57

4.2

4.2

–

4.2

4.2

4.2

6.74

6.47

–

6.21

5.96

5.72

4.2 5.86, 5.62, 
5.74

4.2

5.62, 5.40

–

4.2

4.2

–

–

5.40

5.18

–

All Employee Sharesave Plans
2013 Sharesave Plan
Under the 2013 Sharesave Plan, employees may open a savings contract. Within a maturity period of six months after the third 
anniversary, employees may save up to £250 per month over three years to purchase ordinary shares in the Company at a 
discount of up to 20 per cent on the share price at the date of invitation (this is known as the ‘option exercise price’). There are no 
performance measures attached to options granted under the 2013 Sharesave Plan and no grant price is payable to receive an 
option. In some countries in which the Group operates, it is not possible to operate Sharesave plans, typically due to securities 
law and regulatory restrictions. In these countries, where possible, the Group offers an equivalent cash-based plan to its 
employees. 

The 2013 Sharesave Plan was approved by shareholders in May 2013 and all future Sharesave invitations are made under this 
plan. The remaining life of the 2013 Sharesave Plan is two years.

Valuation – Sharesave:
Options under the Sharesave plans are valued using a binomial option-pricing model. The same fair value is applied to all 
employees including executive directors. The fair value per option granted and the assumptions used in the calculation are  
as follows:

All Employee Sharesave Plan (Sharesave)

Grant date

Share price at grant date (£)

Exercise price (£)

Vesting period (years)

Expected volatility (%)

Expected option life (years)

Risk-free rate (%)

Expected dividend yield (%)

Fair value (£)

2020

2019

30 September

1 October

3.52

3.14

3

31.8

3.33

(0.07)

4.2

0.69

6.84

4.98

3

25.3

3.33

0.26

4.2

1.62

The expected volatility is based on historical volatility over the last three years, or three years prior to grant. The expected life  
is the average expected period to exercise. The risk-free rate of return is the yield on zero-coupon UK government bonds of  
a term consistent with the assumed option life. The expected dividend yield is calculated by reference to market consensus 
dividend yield.

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31. Share-based payments continued
Limits
An award shall not be granted under the 2011 Plan in any calendar year if, at the time of its proposed grant, it would cause the 
number of Standard Chartered PLC ordinary shares allocated in the period of 10 calendar years ending with that calendar year 
under the 2011 Plan and under any other discretionary share plan operated by Standard Chartered PLC to exceed such number 
as represents 5 per cent of the ordinary share capital of Standard Chartered PLC in issue at that time.

An award shall not be granted under the 2011 Plan or 2013 Sharesave Plan in any calendar year if, at the time of its proposed 
grant, it would cause the number of Standard Chartered PLC ordinary shares allocated in the period of 10 calendar years ending 
with that calendar year under the 2011 Plan or 2013 Sharesave Plan and under any other employee share plan operated by 
Standard Chartered PLC to exceed such number as represents 10 per cent of the ordinary share capital of Standard Chartered 
PLC in issue at that time.

An award shall not be granted under the 2011 Plan or 2013 Sharesave Plan in any calendar year if, at the time of its proposed 
grant, it would cause the number of Standard Chartered PLC ordinary shares which may be issued or transferred pursuant  
to awards then outstanding under the 2011 Plan or 2013 Sharesave Plan as relevant to exceed such number as represents  
10 per cent of the ordinary share capital of Standard Chartered PLC in issue at that time.

The number of Standard Chartered PLC ordinary shares which may be issued pursuant to awards granted under the 2011 Plan in 
any 12-month period must not exceed such number as represents 1 per cent of the ordinary share capital of Standard Chartered 
PLC in issue at that time. The number of Standard Chartered PLC ordinary shares which may be issued pursuant to awards 
granted under the 2013 Sharesave Plan in any 12-month period must not exceed such number as represents 1 per cent of the 
ordinary share capital of Standard Chartered PLC in issue at that time.

Reconciliation of share award movements for the year to 31 December 2020

Outstanding at 1 January 2020
Granted2,3

Lapsed

Exercised

Outstanding at 31 December

Total number of securities available for issue under  
the plan

Percentage of the issued shares this represents as at 
31 December

Exercisable as at 31 December
Range of exercise prices (£)3

Intrinsic value of vested but not exercised options 
($ million)

Weighted average contractual remaining life (years)

Weighted average share price for awards exercised 
during the period (£)

1 

 Employees do not contribute towards the cost of these awards

2011 Plan1

Deferred/
Restricted  
shares

LTIP

20,912,679

28,235,461

3,086,220

23,452,802

(824,269)

(657,697)

(256,388)

(11,487,018)

22,918,242

39,543,548

22,918,242

39,543,548

0.7%

27,810

–

0.18

6.28

4.28

1.3%

2,395,136

–

15.23

8.36

 4.55 

Weighted 
average 
Sharesave 
exercise price  
(£)

PSP1

Sharesave

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

12,602,842

7,373,729

(3,228,307)

(156,560)

16,591,704

16,591,704

0.5%

1,549,597

3.14 – 6.20

0.02

2.47

 6.76 

5.28

–

5.37

5.30

4.31

4.31

6.16

–

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2  22,007,464 (DRSA/RSA) granted on 9 March 2020, 189,991 (DRSA/RSA) granted as notional dividend on 6 March 2020, 3,025,163 (LTIP) granted on 9 March 2020, 
56,805 (LTIP) granted as notional dividend on 6 March 2020, 86,319 (DRSA/RSA) granted on 30 March 2020, 214,754 (DRSA/RSA) granted on 22 June 2020, 4,252 
(LTIP) granted as notional dividend on 25 August 2020, 503,520 (DRSA/RSA) granted on 30 September 2020, 7, 373,729 (Sharesave) granted on 30 September 
2020, 450,754 (DRSA/RSA) granted on 26 November 2020

3  For Sharesave granted in 2020 the exercise price is £3.14 per share, which was a 20% discount to the closing share price on 28 August 2020. The closing share price 

on 28 August 2020 was £3.924

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

31. Share-based payments continued
Reconciliation of share award movements for the year to 31 December 2019

2011 Plan1

Deferred/
Restricted  
shares

LTIP

Weighted 
average 
Sharesave 
exercise price  
(£)

PSP1

Sharesave

Outstanding at 1 January 2019
Granted2,3

Lapsed

Exercised

27,003,333

26,612,980

4,270

2,777,179

15,140,609

(2,824,549)

(1,441,046)

–

–

13,724,361

5,025,310

(1,821,467)

(6,043,284)

(12,077,082)

(4,270)

(4,325,362)

Outstanding at 31 December

20,912,679

28,235,461

Total number of securities available for issue under the 
plan

Percentage of the issued shares this represents as at 
31 December

Exercisable as at 31 December
Range of exercise prices (£)3

Intrinsic value of vested but not exercised options 
($ million)

Weighted average contractual remaining life (years)

Weighted average share price for awards exercised 
during the period (£)

1.  Employees do not contribute towards the cost of these awards

20,912,679

28,235,461 

0.7% 

53,986

–

0.51

6.85

6.37

0.9%

2,539,752

–

24.13

8.25

6.33

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

6.95

12,602,842

12,602,842

0.4%

1,231,333

4.98 – 6.20

3.06

2.44

 6.72 

5.48

–

5.50

5.49

5.28

5.30

2.   14,346,920 (DRSA/RSA) granted on 11 March 2019, 186,955 (DRSA/RSA) granted as notional dividend on 8 March 2019, 2,530,325 (LTIP) granted on 11 March 2019, 
232,895 (LTIP) granted as notional dividend on 8 March 2019, 278,813 (DRSA/RSA) granted on 24 June 2019, 74,125 (DRSA/RSA) granted as notional dividend on 
9 August 2019, 13,959 (LTIP) granted as notional dividend on 9 August 2019, 151,751 (RSA) granted on 1 October 2019, 5,025,310 (Sharesave) granted on 1 October 
2019 and 102,045 (RSA) granted on 28 November 2019 

3.   For Sharesave granted in 2019 the exercise price is £4.98 per share, which was a 20% discount to the closing share price on 30 August 2019. The closing share price 

on 30 August 2019 was £6.22

32. Investments in subsidiary undertakings, joint ventures and associates 

Accounting policy
Subsidiaries
Subsidiaries are all entities, including structured entities, which the Group controls. The Group controls an entity when it is 
exposed to, and has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns 
through its power over the investee. The assessment of power is based on the Group’s practical ability to direct the relevant 
activities of the entity unilaterally for the Group’s own benefit and is subject to reassessment if and when one or more of  
the elements of control change. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which the Group effectively obtains 
control. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases, and where any interest in the subsidiary remains, this  
is remeasured to its fair value and the change in carrying amount is recognised in the income statement. 

Associates and joint arrangements
Joint arrangements are where two or more parties either have rights to the assets, and obligations of the joint arrangement 
(joint operations), or have rights to the net assets of the joint arrangement (joint venture). The Group evaluates the 
contractual terms of joint arrangements to determine whether a joint arrangement is a joint operation or a joint venture.  
The Group did not have any contractual interest in joint operations.

An associate is an entity over which the Group has significant influence.
Investments in associates and joint ventures are accounted for by the equity method of accounting and are initially 
recognised at cost. The Group’s investment in associates and joint ventures includes goodwill identified on acquisition  
(net of any accumulated impairment loss). 

The Group’s share of its associates’ and joint ventures’ post-acquisition profits or losses is recognised in the income statement, 
and its share of post-acquisition movements in other comprehensive income is recognised in reserves. The cumulative 
post-acquisition movements are adjusted against the carrying amount of the investment. When the Group’s share of losses 
in an associate or a joint venture equals or exceeds its interest in the associate, including any other unsecured receivables, the 
Group does not recognise further losses, unless it has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the associate or 
joint venture.

Unrealised gains and losses on transactions between the Group and its associates and joint ventures are eliminated to the 
extent of the Group’s interest in the associates and joint ventures. At each balance sheet date, the Group assesses whether 
there is any objective evidence of impairment in the investment in associates and joint ventures. Such evidence includes a 
significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of the Group’s investment in an associate or joint venture below its cost, 
among other factors.

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32. Investments in subsidiary undertakings, joint ventures and associates continued

Significant accounting estimates and judgements
The Group applies judgement in determining if it has control, joint control or significant influence over subsidiaries, joint 
ventures and associates respectively. These judgements are based upon identifying the relevant activities of counterparties, 
being those activities that significantly affect the entities’ returns, and further making a decision of if the Group has control 
over those entities, joint control, or has significant influence (being the power to participate in the financial and operating 
policy decisions but not control them). 

These judgements are at times determined by equity holdings, and the voting rights associated with those holdings. 
However, further considerations including but not limited to board seats, advisory committee members and specialist 
knowledge of some decision-makers are also taken into account. Further judgement is required when determining if the 
Group has de-facto control over an entity even though it may hold less than 50 per cent of the voting shares of that entity. 
Judgement is required to determine the relative size of the Group’s shareholding when compared to the size and dispersion 
of other shareholders. 

Impairment testing of investments in associates and joint ventures is performed if there is a possible indicator of impairment. 
Judgement is used to determine if there is objective evidence of impairment. Objective evidence may be observable data 
such as losses incurred on the investment when applying the equity method, the granting of concessions as a result of 
financial difficulty, or breaches of contracts/regulatory fines of the associate or joint venture. Further judgement is required 
when considering broader indicators of impairment such as losses of active markets or ratings downgrades across key 
markets in which the associate or joint venture operate. 

Impairment testing is based on estimates including forecasting the expected cash flows from the investments, growth rates, 
terminal values and the discount rate used in calculation of the present values of those cash flows. The estimation of future 
cash flows and the level to which they are discounted is inherently uncertain and requires significant judgement.

Business combinations
The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for the acquisition of subsidiaries by the Group. The cost of an 
acquisition is measured as the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred or assumed  
at the date of exchange, together with the fair value of any contingent consideration payable. The excess of the cost  
of acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the identifiable net assets and contingent liabilities acquired is 
recorded as goodwill (see Note 17 for details on goodwill recognised by the Group). If the cost of acquisition is less than the 
fair value of the net assets and contingent liabilities of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognised directly in the 
income statement.

Where the fair values of the identifiable net assets and contingent liabilities acquired have been determined provisionally,  
or where contingent or deferred consideration is payable, adjustments arising from their subsequent finalisation are not 
reflected in the income statement if: (i) they arise within 12 months of the acquisition date (or relate to acquisitions completed 
before 1 January 2014); and (ii) the adjustments arise from better information about conditions existing at the acquisition 
date (measurement period adjustments). Such adjustments are applied as at the date of acquisition and, if applicable, prior 
year amounts are restated. All changes that are not measurement period adjustments are reported in income other than 
changes in contingent consideration not classified as financial instruments, which are accounted for in accordance with the 
appropriate accounting policy, and changes in contingent consideration classified as equity, which is not remeasured.

Changes in ownership interest in a subsidiary, which do not result in a loss of control, are treated as transactions between 
equity holders and are reported in equity. Where a business combination is achieved in stages, the previously held equity 
interest is remeasured at the acquisition date fair value with the resulting gain or loss recognised in the income statement.

In the Company’s financial statements, investment in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures are held at cost less 
impairment and dividends from pre-acquisition profits received prior to 1 January 2009, if any. Inter-company transactions, 
balances and unrealised gains and losses on transactions between Group companies are eliminated in the Group accounts.

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Investments in subsidiary undertakings

As at 1 January

Additions1
Disposal2

As at 31 December

2020 
$million

58,037

1,370

(2,000) 

57,407

2019 
$million

34,853

23,184

–

58,037

1  

Includes internal Additional Tier 1 issuances of $1 billion by Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited. (31 December 2019: Includes internal Additional  
Tier 1 issuances of $900 million by Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and $500 million and SGD750 million by Standard Chartered Bank  
(Singapore) Limited)

2   Redemption of Additional Tier 1 capital of $2 billion by Standard Chartered Bank

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

32. Investments in subsidiary undertakings, joint ventures and associates continued
At 31 December 2020, the principal subsidiary undertakings, all indirectly held except for Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) 
Limited, and principally engaged in the business of banking and provision of other financial services, were as follows: 

Country and place of incorporation or registration

Main areas of operation

Standard Chartered Bank, England and Wales

United Kingdom, Middle East, South Asia, Asia Pacific, 
Americas and, through Group companies, Africa

Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited, China1

China

Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, Hong Kong Hong Kong

Standard Chartered Bank Korea Limited, Korea

Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad, Malaysia

Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited, Nigeria

Korea

Malaysia

Nigeria

Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited, Singapore

Singapore

Standard Chartered Bank (Taiwan) Limited, Taiwan

Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited, Pakistan

Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) Public Company Limited, 
Thailand

Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited, Kenya

Taiwan

Pakistan

Thailand

Kenya

1   Under PRC law, registered as ‘Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited, China’

A complete list of subsidiary undertaking is included in Note 40.

Group interest  
in ordinary  
share capital  
%

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

98.99

99.87

74.32

The Group does not have any material non-controlling interests in any of its subsidiaries except the 25.68 per cent non-
controlling interest in Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited. This contributes $13 million (31 December 2019: $20 million) of  
the profit attributable to non-controlling interests and $111 million (31 December 2019: $111 million) of the equity attributable to 
non-controlling interests.

While the Group’s subsidiaries are subject to local statutory capital and liquidity requirements in relation to foreign exchange 
remittance, these restrictions arise in the normal course of business and do not significantly restrict the Group’s ability to access 
or use assets and settle liabilities of the Group. 

The Group does not have significant restrictions on its ability to access or use its assets and settle its liabilities other than those 
resulting from the regulatory framework within which the banking subsidiaries operate. These frameworks require banking 
operations to keep certain levels of regulatory capital, liquid assets, exposure limits and comply with other required ratios.  
These restrictions are summarised below:

Regulatory and liquidity requirements
The Group’s subsidiaries are required to maintain minimum capital, leverage ratios, liquidity and exposure ratios which therefore 
restrict the ability of these subsidiaries to distribute cash or other assets to the parent company.

The subsidiaries are also required to maintain balances with central banks and other regulatory authorities in the countries in 
which they operate. At 31 December 2020, the total cash and balances with central banks was $67 billion (31 December 2019: 
$53 billion) of which $7 billion (31 December 2019: $10 billion) is restricted. 

Statutory requirements 
The Group’s subsidiaries are subject to statutory requirements not to make distributions of capital and unrealised profits to the 
parent company, generally to maintain solvency. These requirements restrict the ability of subsidiaries to remit dividends to the 
Group. Certain subsidiaries are also subject to local exchange control regulations which provide for restrictions on exporting 
capital from the country other than through normal dividends.

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32. Investments in subsidiary undertakings, joint ventures and associates continued

Contractual requirements
The encumbered assets in the balance sheet of the Group’s subsidiaries are not available for transfer around the Group. 
Encumbered assets are disclosed in Risk review and Capital review (page 240).

Share of profit from investment in associates and joint ventures comprises:

(Loss)/profit from investment in joint ventures

Profit from investment in associates

Total

Interests in associates and joint ventures

As at 1 January

Exchange translation difference

Additions

Share of profits

Dividend received

Disposals

Share of FVOCI and Other reserves
Transfer to held for sale assets1

As at 31 December

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

(3)

154

151

2020 
$million

1,908

123

52

151

–

(35)

(37)

–

2,162

48

252

300

2019 
$million

2,307

15

64

300

(3)

–

25

(800)

1,908

1   Refer to Note 21 Assets held for sale and associated liabilities where our joint venture PT Bank Permata Tbk (Permata) is disclosed

A complete list of the Group’s interest in associates is included in Note 40. The Group’s principal associate is:

Associate

China Bohai Bank

Nature of 
activities

Banking

Main areas of 
operation

Group interest  
in ordinary  
share capital  
%

China

16.26

The Group’s investment in China Bohai Bank is less than 20 per cent but it is considered to be an associate because of the 
significant influence the Group is able to exercise over the management and financial and operating policies. This influence  
is through board representation and the provision of technical expertise to Bohai. The Group applies the equity method of 
accounting for investments in associates. 

The Group’s ownership percentage decreased to 16.26 per cent from 19.99 per cent as a result of the IPO which was completed 
on the 16 July 2020 in which the Group did not participate. A $35 million loss was recognised on the dilution of the Group’s 
ownership percentage as the IPO price was based on the net asset value of Bohai at 31 December 2019.

The Group has recognised 19.99 per cent of Bohai’s earnings through the date of the IPO after which it has recognised  
16.26 per cent of Bohai’s earnings. Bohai has a statutory year end of 31 December, but Bohai publishes their results after the 
Group. For the year ended 31 December 2019, the Group was on a one-month lag in recognising its share of Bohai’s earnings.  
For the year ended 31 December 2020, the Group recognised Bohai’s results through 30 September 2020 (10 months of  
earnings, including December 2019). The Group will continue on a three-month lag in recognising its share of Bohai’s earnings 
going forward.

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Impairment testing
At 31 December 2020, the listed equity value of Bohai is below the carrying amount of the investment in associate. As a result, 
the Group has performed an impairment test on the carrying amount, which confirmed that there was no impairment at 
31 December 2020 as the recoverable amount as determined by a value-in-use (‘VIU’) calculation was higher than the  
carrying value.

Bohai

ViU 
$million

2,943

Carrying  
amount 
$million

2,025

Fair value 
$million

1,888

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

32. Investments in subsidiary undertakings, joint ventures and associates continued

Basis of recoverable amount
The impairment test was performed by comparing the recoverable amount of Bohai, determined by a VIU calculation, with its 
carrying amount. The VIU calculation uses three primary inputs, being; 

•  Discounted short to medium term cash flow projections based on management’s best estimates of future earnings available 

to ordinary shareholders; 

•  A discount rate representing the risk-free rate and company risk premiums, and; 

•  A long term sustainable growth rate which is used to extrapolate in perpetuity those expected short to medium term 

earnings to derive a terminal value. 

From the estimated cash flows a capital maintenance haircut is taken in order for Bohai to meet its target regulatory capital 
requirements over the forecast period. This haircut takes into account movements in risk-weighted assets and the total capital 
required, including retained earnings to meet the target capital ratios. 

The key assumptions used in the VIU calculation:

Discount rate

Long term growth rate

Capital requirement adequacy ratio

%

10.00

5.00

7.50

Base case

GDP

Sensitivities 2020

Discount rates

Cash flows

Carrying 
amount  
$million

2,025

VIU $million

Headroom 
$million

Discount 
Rate

2,943

918

10%

GDP

5%

+1%

-1%

+1%

-1%

+10%

-10%

Headroom 
$million

Headroom 
$million

Headroom 
$million

Headroom 
$million

Headroom 
$million

Headroom 
$million

1,460

557

480

1,573

1,353

483

The following table sets out the summarised financial statements of China Bohai Bank prior to the Group’s share of the 
associates being applied:

Total assets

Total liabilities

Other equity instruments

Operating income

Net profit

Other comprehensive income

30 Sep 2020 
$million

30 Nov 2019 
$million

202,537

187,024

3,053

3,474

950

(121)

156,429

147,407

2,865

3,769

1,163

(63)

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33. Structured entities

Accounting policy
A structured entity is an entity that has been designed so that voting or similar rights are not the dominant factor in deciding 
who controls the entity. Contractual arrangements determine the rights and therefore relevant activities of the structured 
entity. Structured entities are generally created to achieve a narrow and well-defined objective with restrictions around their 
activities. Structured entities are consolidated when the substance of the relationship between the Group and the structured 
entity indicates the Group has power over the contractual relevant activities of the structured entity, is exposed to variable 
returns, and can use that power to affect the variable return exposure.

In determining whether to consolidate a structured entity to which assets have been transferred, the Group takes into 
account its ability to direct the relevant activities of the structured entity. These relevant activities are generally evidenced 
through a unilateral right to liquidate the structured entity, investment in a substantial proportion of the securities issued  
by the structured entity or where the Group holds specific subordinate securities that embody certain controlling rights.  
The Group may further consider relevant activities embedded within contractual arrangements such as call options which 
give the practical ability to direct the entity, special relationships between the structured entity and investors, and if a single 
investor has a large exposure to variable returns of the structured entity.

Judgement is required in determining control over structured entities. The purpose and design of the entity is considered, 
along with a determination of what the relevant activities are of the entity and who directs these. Further judgements are 
made around which investor is exposed to, and absorbs the variable returns of the structured entity. The Group will have to 
weigh up all of these facts to consider whether the Group, or another involved party is acting as a principal in its own right or 
as an agent on behalf of others. Judgement is further required in the ongoing assessment of control over structured entities, 
specifically if market conditions have an effect on the variable return exposure of different investors.

The Group has involvement with both consolidated and unconsolidated structured entities, which may be established by the 
Group as a sponsor or by a third-party.

Interests in consolidated structured entities: A structured entity is consolidated into the Group’s financial statements where the 
Group controls the structured entity, as per the determination in the accounting policy above. 

The following table presents the Group’s interests in consolidated structured entities.

Aircraft and ship leasing

Principal and other structured finance

Total 

2020 
$million

4,388

365

4,753

2019 
$million

4,312

 816

5,128

Interests in unconsolidated structured entities: 
Unconsolidated structured entities are all structured entities that are not controlled by the Group. The Group enters into 
transactions with unconsolidated structured entities in the normal course of business to facilitate customer transactions and for 
specific investment opportunities. An interest in a structured entity is contractual or non-contractual involvement which creates 
variability of the returns of the Group arising from the performance of the structured entity.

The table below presents the carrying amount of the assets recognised in the financial statements relating to variable interests 
held in unconsolidated structured entities, the maximum exposure to loss relating to those interests and the total assets of the 
structured entities. Maximum exposure to loss is primarily limited to the carrying amount of the Group’s on-balance sheet 
exposure to the structured entity. For derivatives, the maximum exposure to loss represents the on-balance sheet valuation and 
not the notional amount. For commitments and guarantees, the maximum exposure to loss is the notional amount of potential 
future losses.

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Group’s interest – assets

Financial assets held at fair value 
through profit or loss

Loans and advances/Investment 
securities at amortised cost

Investment securities (fair value 
through other comprehensive income)

Other assets

Total assets 

Off-balance sheet

Asset-
backed 
securities 
$million

Structured 
finance 
$million

2020

Principal 
Finance 
funds 
$million

Other 
activities 
$million

Total 
$million

Asset-
backed 
securities 
$million

Structured 
finance 
$million

2019

Principal 
Finance 
funds 
$million

Other 
activities 
$million

Total 
$million

1,002

–

197

271

1,470

1,055

–

105

181

1,341

8,270

3,081

267

11,618

4,939

2,020

343

251

7,553

2,912

–

–

–

12,184

3,081

69

914

–

34

498

67

565

–

–

–

2,912

34

271

16,034

–

1,050

271

17,084

3,158

–

9,152

65

9,217

–

–

2,020

572

2,592

6,594

–

289

737

109

846

–

–

3,158

289

432

12,341

–

746

432

13,087

3,028

7,976 171,546

Group’s maximum exposure to loss

12,253

3,995

Total assets of structured entities

198,622

10,410

2,424

276 211,732

153,948

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

33. Structured entities continued
The main types of activities for which the Group utilises unconsolidated structured entities cover synthetic credit default swaps 
for managed investment funds (including specialised Principal Finance funds), portfolio management purposes, structured 
finance and asset-backed securities. These are detailed as follows:

•  Asset-backed securities (ABS): The Group also has investments in asset-backed securities issued by third-party sponsored 
and managed structured entities. For the purpose of market making and at the discretion of ABS trading desk, the Group  
may hold an immaterial amount of debt securities from structured entities originated by credit portfolio management. This is 
disclosed in the ABS column above

Portfolio management (Group sponsored entities): For the purposes of portfolio management, the Group purchased credit 
protection via synthetic credit default swaps from note-issuing structured entities. This credit protection creates credit risk 
which the structured entity and subsequently the end investor absorbs. The referenced assets remain on the Group’s balance 
sheet as they are not assigned to these structured entities. The Group continues to own or hold all of the risks and returns 
relating to these assets. The credit protection obtained from the regulatory-compliant securitisation only serves to protect 
the Group against losses upon the occurrence of eligible credit events and the underlying assets are not derecognised  
from the Group’s balance sheet. The Group does not hold any equity interests in the structured entities, but may hold an 
insignificant amount of the issued notes for market making purposes. This is disclosed in the ABS section above. The proceeds 
of the notes’ issuance are typically held as cash collateral in the issuer’s account operated by a trustee or invested in AAA-
rated government-backed securities to collateralise the structured entities swap obligations to the Group, and to repay the 
principal to investors at maturity. The structured entities reimburse the Group on actual losses incurred, through the use of the 
cash collateral or realisation of the collateral security. Correspondingly, the structured entities write down the notes issued by 
an equal amount of the losses incurred, in reverse order of seniority. All funding is committed for the life of these vehicles and 
the Group has no indirect exposure in respect of the vehicles’ liquidity position. The Group has reputational risk in respect of 
certain portfolio management vehicles and investment funds either because the Group is the arranger and lead manager or 
because the structured entities have Standard Chartered branding. 

•  Structured finance: Structured finance comprises interests in transactions that the Group or, more usually, a customer has 

structured, using one or more structured entities, which provide beneficial arrangements for customers. The Group’s exposure 
primarily represents the provision of funding to these structures as a financial intermediary, for which it receives a lender’s 
return. The transactions largely relate to real estate financing and the provision of aircraft leasing and ship finance.

•  Principal Finance Fund: The Group’s exposure to Principal Finance Funds represents committed or invested capital in 

unleveraged investment funds, primarily investing in pan-Asian infrastructure, real estate and private equity.

•  Other activities: Other activities include structured entities created to support margin financing transactions, the refinancing 

of existing credit and debt facilities, as well as setting up of bankruptcy remote structured entities. 

34. Cash flow statement

Adjustment for non-cash items and other adjustments included within income statement

Amortisation of discounts and premiums of investment securities

Interest expense on subordinated liabilities

Interest expense on senior debt securities in issue

Other non-cash items

Pension costs for defined benefit schemes

Share-based payment costs

Impairment losses on loans and advances and other credit  
risk provisions

Dividend income from subsidiaries

Other impairment

Net gain on derecognition of investment in associate

Profit from associates and joint ventures

Total

Group

2020 
$million

(588)

637

639

686

81

132

2,325

–

587

(6)

(151)

4,342

2019 
$million

(818)

756

677

792

73

166

908

–

163

–

(300)

2,417

Company

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

–

606

559

(36)

–

–

–

–

688

606

(75)

–

–

–

(1,110)

(17,979)

–

–

–

19

–

–

–

(16,760)

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34. Cash flow statement continued

Change in operating assets

Increase in derivative financial instruments

Increase in debt securities, treasury bills and equity shares held at  
fair value through profit or loss

Increase in loans and advances to banks and customers

Net decrease/(increase) in prepayments and accrued income

Net (increase)/decrease in other assets

Total

Group

Company

2020 
$million

(21,640)

(5,385)

(5,361)

588

(6,266)

(38,064)

2019 
$million

(1,603)

(5,579)

(19,108)

(199)
(8,944)1

(35,433)

2020 
$million

(742)

2019 
$million

(220)

(8,281)

(4,502)

–

–

572

(8,451)

–

–

(751)

(5,473)

1  Aircraft and shipping purchases and disposals re-presented as cash flows from investing activities. This was previously presented under operating activities

Change in operating liabilities

Increase/(decrease) in derivative financial instruments

Net increase in deposits from banks, customer accounts, debt securities 
in issue, Hong Kong notes in circulation and short positions

(Decrease)/increase in accruals and deferred income

Net increase/(decrease) in other liabilities

Total

Changes in liabilities arising from financing activities

Subordinated debt (including accrued interest):

Opening balance 

Proceeds from the issue

Interest paid

Repayment

Foreign exchange movements

Fair value changes

Other

Closing balance

Senior debt (including accrued interest):

Opening balance 

Proceeds from the issue

Interest paid

Repayment

Foreign exchange movements

Fair value changes

Other

Closing balance

Group

Company

2020 
$million

22,399

28,087

(845)

4,796

54,437

2019 
$million

1,290

27,850

(15)

810

29,935

2020 
$million

(378)

6,630

67

96

6,415

2019 
$million

(390)

1,131

(18)

(4,905)

(4,182)

Group

2020 
$million

Company

2019 
$million

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

16,445

2,473

(601)

(2,446)

170

255

596

15,227

1,000

(603)

(23)

(2)

227

619

14,737

2,473

(537)

(1,402)

166

243

552

13,648

1,000

(547)

–

(14)

147

503

16,892

16,445

16,232

14,737

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i
a

l
s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

23,889

9,953

(627)

(4,305)

622

574

(117)

21,998

9,169

(797)

(7,692)

(1)

360

852

19,849

2,193

(575)

(2,106)

468

426

634

17,361

6,012

(740)

(3,780)

(1)

283

714

29,989

23,889

20,889

19,849

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

35. Cash and cash equivalents

Accounting policy
For the purposes of the cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents comprise cash, on demand and overnight balances 
with central banks (unless restricted) and balances with less than three months’ maturity from the date of acquisition, 
including treasury bills and other eligible bills, loans and advances to banks, and short-term government securities.

The following balances with less than three months’ maturity from the date of acquisition have been identified by the Group as 
being cash and cash equivalents.

Cash and balances at central banks 

Less: restricted balances

Treasury bills and other eligible bills 

Loans and advances to banks 

Trading securities 

Amounts owed by and due to Subsidiary undertakings 

Total

36. Related party transactions 

Group

Company

2020 
$million

66,712

(7,341)

10,500

25,762

2,241

–

97,874

2019 
$million

52,728

(9,843)

10,078

21,556

2,935

–

77,454

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

12,283

12,283

11,622

11,622

Directors and officers
Details of directors’ remuneration and interests in shares are disclosed in the Directors’ remuneration report.

IAS 24 Related party disclosures requires the following additional information for key management compensation. Key 
management comprises non-executive directors, executive directors of Standard Chartered PLC, the Court directors of 
Standard Chartered Bank and the persons discharging managerial responsibilities (PDMR) of Standard Chartered PLC.

Salaries, allowances and benefits in kind

Share-based payments

Bonuses paid or receivable

Total

2020 
$million

2019  
$million

35

26

1

62

37

28

4

69

Transactions with directors and others
At 31 December 2020, the total amounts to be disclosed under the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) and the Listing Rules of the 
Hong Kong Stock Exchange Limited (Hong Kong Listing Rules) about loans to directors were as follows:

Directors1

1   Outstanding loan balances were below $50,000 

2020

2019

Number

$million

Number

$million

3

–

3

–

The loan transactions provided to the directors of Standard Chartered PLC were a connected transaction under Chapter 14A of 
the Hong Kong Listing Rules. It was fully exempt as financial assistance under Rule 14A.87(1), as it was provided in our ordinary 
and usual course of business and on normal commercial terms.

As at 31 December 2020, Standard Chartered Bank had created a charge over $89 million (31 December 2019: $86 million) of 
cash assets in favour of the non-consolidated independent trustee of its employer financed retirement benefit scheme.

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36. Related party transactions continued

Company
The Company has received $904 million (31 December 2019: $1006 million) of net interest income from its subsidiaries.  
The Company issues debt externally and lends proceeds to Group companies.

The Company has an agreement with Standard Chartered Bank that in the event of Standard Chartered Bank defaulting on  
its debt coupon interest payments, where the terms of such debt requires it, the Company shall issue shares as settlement for 
non-payment of the coupon interest. 

2020

Standard 
Chartered Bank 
(Hong Kong) 
Limited 
$million

Standard 
Chartered Bank 
$million

Others1
$million

Standard 
Chartered Bank 
$million

2019

Standard 
Chartered Bank 
(Hong Kong) 
Limited 
$million

11,706

846

18,092

30,644

212

347

559

45

126

4,686

4,857

–

–

–

356

–

1,151

1,507

–

13

13

11,068

212

13,665

24,945

26

738

764

32

17

3,953

4,002

–

–

–

Others1
$million

346

–

548

894

–

–

–

Assets

Due from subsidiaries

Derivative financial instruments

Debt securities

Total assets 

Liabilities

Due to subsidiaries

Derivative financial instruments

Total liabilities

1   Others include Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited, Standard Chartered Holdings Limited and Standard Chartered I H Limited

Associate and joint ventures
The following transactions with related parties are on an arm’s length basis:

Assets

Loans and advances

Debt securities

Total assets 

Liabilities

Deposits

Derivative liabilities

Total liabilities

Loan commitments and other guarantees¹

1   The maximum loan commitments and other guarantees during the year was $55 million

2020 
$million

2019 
$million

5

–

5

1,061

5

1,066

55

2

79

81

225

–

225

53

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a
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m
e
n
t
s

On 26 March 2020, the Group entered into an investment agreement and shareholders’ agreement with Clifford Capital 
Holdings Pte. Ltd (a related party of the Group), the special purpose vehicles wholly owned by Temasek (namely, Kovan 
Investments Pte. Ltd. and Aranda Investments Pte. Ltd.), DBS Bank Ltd., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Prudential 
Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Limited, and John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), with Asian Development 
Bank subsequently joining as a party. This transaction is considered to be a related party transaction under IAS 24. This 
transaction also constitutes a connected transaction under Chapter 14A of the Hong Kong Listing Rules and has complied  
with the requirements of that Chapter. Further details of the transaction are set out on page 170.

Other than as disclosed in the Annual Report, there were no other transactions, arrangements or agreements outstanding for 
any director, connected person or officer of the Company which have to be disclosed under the Act, the rules of the UK Listing 
Authority or the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

37. Post balance sheet events
On 14 January 2021, Standard Chartered PLC issued $1,250 million fixed rate Additional Tier 1 (AT1) securities. On 14 January 2021, 
Standard Chartered PLC also issued $1,500 million 0.991 per cent senior debt due 2025 and $1,500 million 1.456 per cent senior 
debt due 2027.

Following the publication of recent PRA guidance, the Board has recommended a final ordinary dividend for 2020 of 9 cents  
a share or $284 million. The Board has also decided to carry out a share buy-back for up to a maximum consideration of  
$254 million to further reduce the number of ordinary shares in issue by cancelling the repurchased shares.

Nine vessels within the ship leasing business, disclosed as held for sale at year end, were sold in January 2021.

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

38. Auditor’s remuneration
Auditor’s remuneration is included within other general administration expenses. The amounts paid by the Group to their 
principal auditor, Ernst & Young LLP and its associates (together Ernst & Young LLP), are set out below. All services are approved 
by the Group Audit Committee and are subject to controls to ensure the external auditor’s independence is unaffected by the 
provision of other services.

Audit fees for the Group statutory audit

Fees payable to EY/KPMG for other services provided to the Group:

Audit of Standard Chartered PLC subsidiaries

Total audit fees

Audit-related assurance services

Other assurance services

Other non-audit services

Corporate finance transaction services

Total fees payable

2020 
 $million

11.0

2019  
$million

10.0

9.9

20.9

5.1

2.1

0.1

0.4

28.6

8.4

18.4

7.6

0.1

–

0.6

26.7

The following is a description of the type of services included within the categories listed above:

•  Audit fees for the Group statutory audit are in respect of fees payable to Ernst & Young LLP for the statutory audit of the 

consolidated financial statements of the Group and the separate financial statements of Standard Chartered PLC 

•  Audit-related fees consist of fees such as those for services required by law or regulation to be provided by the auditor, reviews 
of interim financial information, reporting on regulatory returns, reporting to a regulator on client assets and extended work 
performed over financial information and controls authorised by those charged with governance

•  Other assurance services include agreed-upon-procedures in relation to statutory and regulatory filings

•  Corporate finance transaction services are fees payable to Ernst & Young LLP for issuing comfort letters 

Expenses for costs incurred and disbursements made in respect of their role as auditor, were reimbursed to EY. Such expenses 
since their appointment on 31 March 2020, did not exceed 1% of total fees charged above.

39. Standard Chartered PLC (Company)

Group reorganisation
The Board of the Group approved in 2018 an in principle group reorganisation which would result in Standard Chartered Bank 
(SCB) transferring its ordinary shares in Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (SCB HK), Standard Chartered Bank 
(China) Limited (SCB China), Standard Chartered NEA Limited (SC NEA) and Standard Chartered Bank (Taiwan) Limited  
(SCB TW) to other entities within the Standard Chartered PLC Group.

On 4 March 2019, SCB transferred via a dividend in specie its ordinary shares in SCB HK to Standard Chartered Holdings Limited 
(SCH). SCH in turn transferred via a dividend in specie 100% of the ordinary shares of SCB HK to Standard Chartered PLC  
(SC PLC), the Group’s ultimate parent.

On 1 June 2019, the Company transferred its shareholding in SCB China to SCB HK in exchange for ordinary shares in SCB HK.  
On 3 June 2019, the Company transferred via dividend in specie such SCB HK shares to SCH and in turn, SCH transferred via 
dividend in specie such SCB HK shares to SC PLC.

On 1 October 2019, the Company transferred its ordinary shares in SC NEA, the holding company of Standard Chartered Bank 
Korea Limited, to SCB HK, and on the same day, its ordinary shares in SCB TW to SC NEA.

All of the transfers were done on a fair value basis in the Standard Chartered PLC (Company) accounts. The result of these 
transfers was an increase in Investment in Subsidiaries and corresponding dividend income of $20,989 million. This resulted in  
an increase to retained earnings but no change to distributable reserves.

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39. Standard Chartered PLC (Company) continued

Classification and measurement of financial instruments

2020

2019

Financial assets

Derivatives

Investment securities

Amounts owed by subsidiary 
undertakings

Total 

Derivatives 
held for 
hedging 
$million

Amortised 
cost 
$million

Non-trading 
mandatorily 
at fair value 
through 
profit or loss 
$million

Total 
$million

971

971

–

–

971

–

–

11,146

12,783

23,929

12,283

23,429

–

12,783

12,283

37,183

Derivatives 
held for 
hedging 
$million

Amortised 
cost 
$million

Non-trading 
mandatorily 
at fair value 
through 
profit or loss 
$million

229

–

–

229

–

13,665

11,622

25,287

–
4,5021

–

4,502

Total 
$million

229

18,167

11,622

30,018

1   Standard Chartered Bank, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited issued Loss Absorbing Capacity 

(LAC) eligible debt securities

Instruments classified as amortised cost are recorded in Stage 1.

Derivatives held for hedging are held at fair value and are classified as Level 2 while the counterparty is Standard Chartered 
Bank and Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited.

Debt securities comprise corporate securities issued by Standard Chartered Bank and have a fair value equal to carrying value 
of $11,146 million (31 December 2019: $13,665 million).

In 2020 and 2019, amounts owed by Subsidiary undertakings have a fair value equal to carrying value.

Financial liabilities

Derivatives

Debt securities in issue

Subordinated liabilities and other 
borrowed funds

Amounts owed to subsidiary 
undertakings

2020

Derivatives 
held for 
hedging 
$million

Amortised 
cost 
$million

Designated 
at fair value 
through 
profit or loss  
$million

360

–

–

Derivatives 
held for 
hedging 
$million

738

Total 
$million

360

–

–

–

20,701

5,266

25,967

14,783

1,286

16,069

212

–

212

–

–

–

2019

Designated 
at fair value 
through 
profit or loss  
$million

Amortised 
cost 
$million

–

19,713

14,588

26

–

112

–

–

Total 
$million

738

19,825

14,588

26

Total

360

35,696

6,552

42,608

738

34,327

112

35,177

Derivatives held for hedging are held at fair value and are classified as Level 2 while the counterparty is Standard  
Chartered Bank.

The fair value of debt securities in issue is $21,231 million (31 December 2019: $20,030 million) and have fair value equal to  
carrying value.

The fair value of subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds is $15,792 million (31 December 2019: $15,238 million).

i

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n
a
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i
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s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

Derivative financial instruments

Derivatives

Foreign exchange derivative contracts:

Forward foreign exchange

Currency swaps 

Other foreign exchange (OTC)

Interest rate derivative contracts:

Swaps 

Forward rate agreements and options

Total

2020

2019

Notional 
principal 
amounts 
$million

3,300

3,895

–

14,677

394

22,266

Assets 
$million

Liabilities 
$million

126

17

–

777

51

971

125

186

–

–

49

360

Notional 
principal 
amounts 
$million

–

5,114

1,564

13,201

–

19,879

Assets 
$million

Liabilities 
$million

17

–

34

178

–

229

–

642

–

96

–

738

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

39. Standard Chartered PLC (Company) continued

Credit risk
Maximum exposure to credit risk

Derivative financial instruments

Debt securities

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings

Total

2020 
$million

971

23,929

12,283

37,183

2019 
$million

229

18,167

11,622

30,018

In 2020 and 2019, amounts owed by Subsidiary undertakings were neither past due nor impaired; the Company had no 
individually impaired loans.

In 2020 and 2019, the Company had no impaired debt securities. The debt securities held by the Company are issued by 
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and by Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited, subsidiary undertaking 
with credit ratings of A+/A/A1.

There is no material expected credit loss on these instruments as they are Stage 1 assets, short term in nature and of a  
high quality.

Liquidity risk
The following table analyses the residual contractual maturity of the assets and liabilities of the Company on a  
discounted basis:

Between 
one month 
and three 
months 
$million

Between 
three 
months and 
six months 
$million

Between  
six months 
and nine 
months 
$million

Between 
nine months 
and one 
year 
$million

Between 
one year 
and two 
years 
$million

Between 
two years 
and five 
years 
$million

More than 
five years 
and 
undated 
$million

One month 
or less 
$million

Total 
$million

2020

Assets

Derivative financial 
instruments

Investment securities

Amount owed by subsidiary 
undertakings

Investments in Subsidiary 
undertakings 

Other assets

Total assets

Liabilities 

Derivative financial 
instruments

Senior debt

Amount owed to subsidiary 
undertakings

Other liabilities

Subordinated liabilities and 
other borrowed funds

Total liabilities

Net liquidity gap

136

–

574

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

600

1,355

975

–

–

–

–

–

–

21

–

–

–

–

3

4,247

326

4,770

485

971

14,912

23,929

2,370

3,300

3,109

12,283

–

–

–

–

57,407

57,407

9

9

710

600

1,355

975

21

6,620

8,396

75,922

94,599

138

1,000

–

179

–

1,317

(607)

–

–

–

126

–

126

474

114

1,230

–

92

–

1,436

(81)

–

436

–

12

–

448

527

–

–

–

10

–

10

11

10

50

48

360

2,760

9,950

10,591

25,967

–

–

1,956

4,726

1,894

–

–

212

46

212

465

3,710

13,710

10,403

21,300

(5,314)

54,622

16,069

43,073

51,526

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39. Standard Chartered PLC (Company) continued

Liquidity risk continued

Between 
one month 
and three 
months 
$million

Between 
three 
months and 
six months 
$million

Between  
six months 
and nine 
months 
$million

Between 
nine months 
and one  
year 
$million

Between 
one year  
and two 
years 
$million

Between 
two years 
and five 
years 
$million

More than 
five years 
and  
undated 
$million

One month 
or less 
$million

Total 
$million

2019

Assets

Derivative financial 
instruments

Investment securities

Amount owed by subsidiary 
undertakings

Investments in Subsidiary 
undertakings 

Other assets

Total assets

Liabilities 

Derivative financial 
instruments

Senior debt

Other debt securities in issue

Amount owed to subsidiary 
undertakings

Other liabilities

Subordinated liabilities and 
other borrowed funds

Total liabilities

Net liquidity gap

34

–

–

–

–

34

–

–

–

–

–

–

5

–

–

5

–

–

–

–

298

–

298

(264)

86

–

86

(81)

1

–

2,104

–

–

2,105

3

2,104

–

–

68

–

2,175

(70)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

7

–

7

(7)

Financial liabilities on an undiscounted basis

–

–

–

–

–

–

286

–

–

–

20

–

8

–

52

7,024

134

11,143

229

18,167

1,025

5,249

3,239

11,622

–

–

–

–

58,037

58,037

15

15

1,033

12,325

72,568

88,070

229

2,547

127

7,734

93

7,328

–

26

36

738

19,713

–

26

515

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

5,478

13,339

(1,014)

9,110

16,593

55,975

14,588

35,580

52,490

306

(306)

2,776

(1,743)

2020

Between 
one month 
and three 
months 
$million

Between 
three 
months and 
six months 
$million

Between  
six months 
and nine 
months 
$million

Between 
nine months 
and one 
year 
$million

Between 
one year 
and two 
years 
$million

Between 
two years 
and five 
years 
$million

More than 
five years 
and 
undated 
$million

One month 
or less 
$million

Total 
$million

Derivative financial 
instruments

Debt securities in issue 

Subordinated liabilities and 
other borrowed funds 

Other liabilities

Total liabilities

138

1,000

–

–

1,138

–

11

–

–

11

114

1,517

239

–

1,870

–

446

–

–

446

–

317

359

–

676

2019

10

50

48

360

3,350

11,225

11,783

29,649

2,567

5,069

14,700

22,934

–

–

36

36

5,927

16,344

26,567

52,979

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a

l
s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

Between 
one month 
and three 
months 
$million

Between 
three 
months and 
six months 
$million

Between  
six months 
and nine 
months 
$million

Between 
nine months 
and one  
year 
$million

Between 
one year  
and two 
years 
$million

Between 
two years 
and five 
years 
$million

More than 
five years 
and  
undated 
$million

One month 
or less 
$million

Derivative financial 
instruments

Debt securities in issue 

Subordinated liabilities and 
other borrowed funds 

Other liabilities

Total liabilities

–

–

–

172

172

–

18

–

86

104

3

2,331

221

68

2,623

–

18

26

7

51

286

250

361

20

917

229

3,030

618

–

Total 
$million

738

22,671

127

8,879

93

8,145

7,002

14,166

22,394

–

13

366

3,877

16,008

22,417

46,169

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

40. Related undertakings of the Group
As at 31 December 2020, the Group’s interests in related undertakings are disclosed below. Unless otherwise stated, the share 
capital disclosed comprises ordinary or common shares which are held by subsidiaries of the Group. Standard Chartered  
Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, Standard Chartered Funding (Jersey) Limited, Stanchart Nominees Limited, Standard Chartered 
Holdings Limited and Standard Chartered Nominees Limited are directly held subsidiaries, all other related undertakings are 
held indirectly. Unless otherwise stated, the principal country of operation of each subsidiary is the same as its country of 
incorporation. Note 32 details undertakings that have a significant contribution to the Group’s net profit or net assets. 

Subsidiary undertakings 

Name and registered address 

The following companies have the address of 1 Basinghall 
Avenue, London, EC2V 5DD, United Kingdom

FinVentures UK Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing (UK) Limited

SC (Secretaries) Limited

SC Transport Leasing 1 Limited

SC Transport Leasing 2 Limited

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

United Kingdom

$1.00 Ordinary shares

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

SC Ventures Innovation Investment L.P.

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

SCMB Overseas Limited

Stanchart Nominees Limited

Standard Chartered Africa Limited

Standard Chartered Bank

United Kingdom

£0.10 Ordinary shares

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

United Kingdom

$0.01 Non-Cumulative 
Irredeemable Preference shares

$5.00 Non-Cumulative 
Redeemable Preference shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Foundation1

United Kingdom

Guarantor

Standard Chartered Health Trustee (UK) Limited

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Holdings Limited

Standard Chartered I H Limited

United Kingdom

$2.00 Ordinary shares

United Kingdom

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Leasing (UK) 2 Limited

United Kingdom

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Leasing (UK) 3 Limited

United Kingdom

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Leasing (UK) Limited

Standard Chartered NEA Limited

Standard Chartered Nominees Limited

United Kingdom

$1.00 Ordinary shares

United Kingdom

$1.00 Ordinary shares

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Nominees (Private Clients UK) Limited

United Kingdom

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Overseas Holdings Limited

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Securities (Africa) Holdings Limited

United Kingdom

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Trustees (UK) Limited

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered UK Holdings Limited

United Kingdom

£10.00 Ordinary shares

The SC Transport Leasing Partnership 1

The SC Transport Leasing Partnership 2

The SC Transport Leasing Partnership 3

The SC Transport Leasing Partnership 4
The BW Leasing Partnership 1 LP1
The BW Leasing Partnership 2 LP1
The BW Leasing Partnership 3 LP1
The BW Leasing Partnership 4 LP1
The BW Leasing Partnership 5 LP1

The following companies have the address of 2 More London 
Riverside, London SE1 2JT, United Kingdom
Bricks (C&K) LP1
Bricks (C) LP1
Bricks (T) LP1

The following company has the address of 8th Floor, 
20 Farringdon Street, London, EC4A 4AB, United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

SC Ventures G.P. Limited

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

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100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

 100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

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40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Subsidiary undertakings continued

Name and registered address 

The following companies have the address of TMF Group, 8th 
Floor, 20 Farringdon Street, London, EC4A 4AB, United Kingdom.

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

Zodia Custody Limited

Zodia Holdings Limited

United Kingdom

$1.00 Ordinary shares

United Kingdom

$1.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of Rua Gamal Abdel 
Nasser, Edificio Tres Torres, Eixo Viario, Distrito Urbano da 
Ingombota, Municipio de Luanda, Provincia de Luanda, Angola

Standard Chartered Bank Angola S.A.

Angola

AOK8,742.05 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of Level 5, 345 George St, 
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

Standard Chartered Grindlays Pty Limited

Australia

AUD Ordinary shares

The following companies have the address of 5th Floor Standard 
House Bldg, The Mall, Queens Road, PO Box 496, Gaborone, 
Botswana

Standard Chartered Bank Insurance Agency (Proprietary) 
Limited

Botswana

BWP Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Investment Services (Proprietary) Limited

Botswana

BWP Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Bank Botswana Limited
Standard Chartered Botswana Education Trust2

Botswana

Botswana

BWP Ordinary shares

Interest in trust

Standard Chartered Botswana Nominees (Proprietary) Limited

Botswana

BWP Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of Avenida Brigadeiro 
Faria Lima, no 3.477, 6 andar, conjunto 62 – Torre Norte, 
Condominio Patio Victor Malzoni, CEP 04538-133, São Paulo, 
Brazil

Standard Chartered Participacoes Ltda

Brazil

BRL1.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of Avenida Brigadeiro 
Faria Lima, 3600 – 7° andar, conj 72 04538-132, São Paulo, Brazil. 

Standard Chartered Representação Ltda

Brazil

BRL1.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of G01-02, Wisma Haji 
Mohd Taha Building, Jalan Gadong, BE4119, Brunei Darussalam 

Standard Chartered Securities (B) Sdn Bhd

Brunei Darussalam BND1.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 1155, Boulevard de la 
Liberté, Douala, B.P. 1784, Cameroon

100

100

60

100

100

100

75.8

100

100

100

100

100

Standard Chartered Bank Cameroon S.A

Cameroon

XAF10,000.00 Ordinary shares

100

The following company has the address of Maples Corporate 
Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman 
KY1-1104, Cayman Islands

Cerulean Investments LP

Cayman Islands

Limited Partnership interest

100

The following company has the address of Maples Finance 
Limited, PO Box 1093 GT, Queensgate House, Georgetown, 
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

SCB Investment Holding Company Limited

Cayman Islands

$1,000.00 A Ordinary shares

100

The following company has the address of Walkers Corporate 
Limited, Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road George 
Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9008, Cayman Islands

Sirat Holdings Limited

Cayman Islands

$0.01 Ordinary shares

100

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a

l
s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

The following company has the address of No. 1034, Managed 
by Tianjin Dongjiang Secretarial Services Co. Ltd, Room 202, 
Office Area of Inspection Warehouse, No.6262 Ao Zhou Road, 
Dongjiang Free Trade Port Zone, Tianjin Pilot Free Trade Zone, 
China
Pembroke Aircraft Leasing (Tianjin) Limited3

The following company has the address of No. 1035, Managed 
by Tianjin Dongjiang Secretarial Services Co. Ltd, Room 202, 
Office Area of Inspection Warehouse, No.6262 Ao Zhou Road, 
Dongjiang Free Trade Port Zone, Tianjin Pilot Free Trade Zone, 
China
Pembroke Aircraft Leasing Tianjin 1 Limited3

China 

$1.00 Ordinary shares

100

China 

CNY1.00 Ordinary shares

100

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Subsidiary undertakings continued

Name and registered address 

The following company has the address of No. 1036, Managed 
by Tianjin Dongjiang Secretarial Services, Co. Ltd, Room 202, 
Office Area of Inspection Warehouse, No.6262 Ao Zhou Road, 
Dongjiang Free Trade Port Zon, Tianjin Pilot Free Trade Zone, 
China
Pembroke Aircraft Leasing Tianjin 2 Limited3

The following company has the address of Standard Chartered 
Tower, 201 Century Avenue, Pudong, Shanghai 200120, China
Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited3

The following company has the address of 26F, Fortune Financial 
Centre, #5, Dong San Huan Zhong Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 
P. R. China.
Standard Chartered Corporate Advisory Co. Ltd3

The following company has the address of No. 35, Xinhuanbei 
Road, TEDA, Tianjin, 300457, China
Standard Chartered Global Business Services Co. Limited3

The following companies have the address of Units 61-65 (Office 
use only), Self-numbered Room 01-04, Room 901, No 6, Zhujiang 
East Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, 
China

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

China 

CNY1.00 Ordinary shares

China

CNY Ordinary shares

China

$1.00 Ordinary shares

China

$ Ordinary shares

100

100

100

100

100

100

Standard Chartered (Guangzhou) Business Management  
Co. Ltd.3

Standard Chartered Global Business Services (Guangzhou)  
Co. Ltd.3

China

China

The following company has the address of Standard Chartered 
Bank Cote d’Ivoire, 23 Boulevard de la République, Abidjan 17, 17 
B.P. 1141, Cote d’Ivoire

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Bank Cote d’ Ivoire SA

Cote d’Ivoire

XOF100,000.00 Ordinary shares

100

The following company has the address of Standard Chartered 
Bank France, 32 Rue de Monceau, 75008, Paris, France

Pembroke Lease France SAS

France

€1.00 Ordinary shares

100

The following company has the address of 8 Ecowas Avenue, 
Banjul, Gambia

Standard Chartered Bank Gambia Limited

Gambia

GMD1.00 Ordinary shares

74.85

The following company has the address of Taunusanlage 16, 
60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Standard Chartered Bank AG

Germany 

€ Ordinary shares

The following companies have the address of Standard 
Chartered Bank Building, 87 Independence Avenue, P.O. Box 768, 
Accra, Ghana

Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC

Standard Chartered Ghana Nominees Limited

The following company has the address of Standard Chartered 
Bank Ghana Limited, 87, Independence Avenue, Post Office Box 
678, Accra, Ghana

Ghana

Ghana

GHS Ordinary shares

GHS0.52 Preference shares

GHS Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Wealth Management Limited Company

Ghana

GHS Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 15/F, Standard 
Chartered Tower, 388 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, 
Hong Kong

Horsford Nominees Limited

Hong Kong

HKD Ordinary shares

The following companies have the address of 14th Floor, One 
Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong.

Kozagi Limited

Standard Chartered PF Real Estate (Hong Kong) Limited

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

HKD Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

100

69.4

87.0

100

100

100

100

100

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40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Subsidiary undertakings continued

Name and registered address 

The following companies have the address of 25/F, Standard 
Chartered Bank Building, 4-4A Des Voeux Road, Central, 
Hong Kong

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

Marina Acacia Shipping Limited

Marina Amaryllis Shipping Limited

Marina Amethyst Shipping Limited

Marina Ametrine Shipping Limited

Marina Angelite Shipping Limited

Marina Apollo Shipping Limited

Marina Beryl Shipping Limited

Marina Carnelian Shipping Limited

Marina Emerald Shipping Limited

Marina Flax Shipping Limited

Marina Gloxinia Shipping Limited

Marina Hazel Shipping Limited

Marina Honor Shipping Limited

Marina Ilex Shipping Limited

Marina Iridot Shipping Limited

Marina Kunzite Shipping Limited

Marina Leasing Limited

Marina Mimosa Shipping Limited

Marina Moonstone Shipping Limited

Marina Peridot Shipping Limited

Marina Sapphire Shipping Limited

Marina Splendor Shipping Limited

Marina Tourmaline Shipping Limited

Standard Chartered Leasing Group Limited

Standard Chartered Trade Support (HK) Limited

The following companies have the address of 3/F Standard 
Chartered Bank Building, 4-4A Des Voeux Road Central,  
Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

HKD Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

HKD Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

HKD Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Private Equity Limited

Hong Kong

HKD Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Private Equity Managers (Hong Kong) 
Limited

The following company has the address of 13/F, Standard 
Chartered Bank Building, 4-4A Des Voeux Road, Central,  
Hong Kong

Hong Kong

HKD Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Trust (Hong Kong) Limited

Hong Kong

HKD Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 15/F, Two 
International Finance Centre, No. 8 Finance Street, Central,  
Hong Kong

Standard Chartered Securities (Hong Kong) Limited

Hong Kong

HKD Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 21/F, Standard 
Chartered Tower, 388 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, 
Hong Kong

Standard Chartered Asia Limited

Hong Kong

HKD Deferred shares

HKD Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a

l
s
t
a
t
e
m
e
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t
s

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Subsidiary undertakings continued

Name and registered address 

The following companies have the address of 32/F, Standard 
Chartered Bank Building, 4-4A Des Voeux Road, Central, 
Hong Kong

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited

Hong Kong

HKD A Ordinary shares

HKD B Ordinary shares

$ D Ordinary shares

$ C Ordinary shares

Mox Bank Limited

Hong Kong

HKD Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 1st Floor, Europe 
Building, No.1, Haddows Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai, 600 
006, India

Standard Chartered Global Business Services Private Limited

India

INR10.00 Equity shares

The following company has the address of 90 M.G.Road, II Floor, 
Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400 001, India

100

100

100

100

65.1

100

Standard Chartered Finance Private Limited

India

INR10.00 Ordinary shares

98.68

The following company has the address of Crescenzo, 6th Floor, 
Plot No 38-39, G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, 
Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400051, India

Standard Chartered Investments and Loans (India) Limited

India

INR10.00 Ordinary shares

100

The following company has the address of Crescenzo, 3A Floor, 
Plot No 38-39, G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, 
Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400051, India

Standard Chartered Private Equity Advisory (India) Private 
Limited

India

INR1,000.00 Ordinary shares

100

The following company has the address of Second Floor, 
Indiqube Edge, Khata No. 571/630/6/4, Sy.No.6/4, Ambalipura 
Village, Varthur Hobli, Marathahalli Sub-Division, Ward No. 150, 
Bengaluru, 560102, India.

Standard Chartered Research and Technology India Private 
Limited

The following company has the address of 2nd Floor, 23-25 M.G. 
Road, Fort, Mumbai, 400 001, India

India

INR10.00 A Equity shares

INR10.00 Preference shares

Standard Chartered Securities (India) Limited

India

INR10.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of Ground Floor, 
Crescenzo Building, G Block, C 38/39 , Bandra Kurla Complex, 
Bandra (East) , Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400051, India

St Helen’s Nominees India Private Limited

India

INR10.00 Equity shares

The following company has the address of Vaishnavi Serenity, 
First Floor, No. 112, Koramangala Industrial Area, 5th Block, 
Koramangala, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560095, India

Standard Chartered (India) Modeling and Analytics Centre 
Private Limited

India

The following companies have the address of 32 Molesworth 
Street, Dublin 2, D02 Y512, Ireland

Inishbrophy Leasing Limited

Inishcannon Leasing Limited

Inishcrean Leasing Limited

Inishdawson Leasing Limited

Inisherkin Leasing Limited

Inishlynch Leasing Limited

Inishoo Leasing Limited

Nightjar Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 1 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 2 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 3 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 4 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 5 Limited

414

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Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

INR10.00 Equity shares

€1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

€1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

€1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

€1.00 Ordinary shares

€1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

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100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

_38Z76_44253 U SCB AR 2020 Combined Text.pdf  | Page number | 415

40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Subsidiary undertakings continued

Name and registered address 

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 6 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 7 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 8 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 9 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 10 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 11 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 12 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 13 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 14 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 15 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 16 Limited

Pembroke Aircraft Leasing Holdings Limited

Pembroke Capital Limited

Skua Limited

The following company has the address of First Names House, 
Victoria Road, Douglas, IM2 4DF, Isle of Man 
Pembroke Group Limited5

The following companies have the address of 1st Floor, Goldie 
House, 1-4 Goldie Terrace, Upper Church Street, Douglas, IM1 1EB, 
Isle of Man

Country of 
incorporation

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Description of shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

€1.25 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Isle of Man

$0.01 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Assurance Limited

Isle of Man

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Redeemable Preference 
shares

Standard Chartered Insurance Limited6

Isle of Man

$1.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 21/F, Sanno Park 
Tower, 2-11-1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-6155, Japan

Standard Chartered Securities (Japan) Limited

Japan

JPY50,000 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 15 Castle Street,  
St Helier, JE4 8PT, Jersey

SCB Nominees (CI) Limited

Jersey

$1.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of IFC 5, St Helier, JE1 1ST, 
Jersey
Standard Chartered Funding (Jersey) Limited6

The following companies have the address of 
StandardChartered@Chiromo, Number 48, Westlands Road,  
P. O. Box 30003 – 00100, Nairobi, Kenya

Standard Chartered Investment Services Limited

Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited

Standard Chartered Securities (Kenya) Limited

Standard Chartered Financial Services Limited

Standard Chartered Insurance Agency Limited

Standard Chartered Kenya Nominees Limited

The following company has the address of M6-2701, West 27Fl, 
Suha-dong, 26, Eulji-ro 5-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
Resolution Alliance Korea Ltd4

The following companies have the address of 2/F, 47 Jongno, 
Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-702, Korea, Republic of

Jersey

£1.00 Ordinary shares

Kenya

Kenya

Kenya

Kenya

Kenya

Kenya

KES20.00 Ordinary shares

KES5.00 Ordinary shares

KES5.00 Preference shares

KES10.00 Ordinary shares

KES20.00 Ordinary shares

KES100.00 Ordinary shares

KES20.00 Ordinary shares

Korea, Republic of

KRW5,000.00 Ordinary shares

100

Standard Chartered Bank Korea Limited

Korea, Republic of

KRW5,000.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Securities Korea Limited

Korea, Republic of

KRW5,000.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of Atrium Building, 
Maarad Street, 3rd Floor, P.O.Box: 11-4081 Riad El Solh, Beirut, 
Beirut Central District, Lebanon

Standard Chartered Metropolitan Holdings SAL

Lebanon

$10.00 Ordinary A shares

100

100

100

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Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

74.32

100

100

100

100

100

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a

l
s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

 
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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Subsidiary undertakings continued

Name and registered address 

The following companies have the address of Level 26, Equatorial 
Plaza, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Cartaban (Malaya) Nominees Sdn Berhad

Cartaban Nominees (Asing) Sdn Bhd

Cartaban Nominees (Tempatan) Sdn Bhd

Golden Maestro Sdn Bhd

Popular Ambience Sdn Bhd

Price Solutions Sdn Bhd

SCBMB Trustee Berhad

Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad

Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad

The following companies have the address of TMF Trust Labuan 
Limited, Brumby Centre, Lot 42, Jalan Muhibbah, 87000 Labuan 
F.T., Malaysia
Marina Morganite Shipping Limited7
Marina Moss Shipping Limited7
Marina Tanzanite Shipping Limited7

Pembroke Leasing (Labuan) 3 Berhad

The following company has the address of Suite 18-1, Level 18, 
Vertical Corporate Tower B, Avenue 10, The Vertical, Bangsar 
South City , No. 8, Jalan Kerinchi , 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah 
Persekutuan, Malaysia
Resolution Alliance Sdn Bhd1

The following company has the address of Level 1, Wisma 
Standard Chartered, Jalan Teknologi 8, Taman Teknologi 
Malaysia, 57000 Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, 
Malaysia

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

Malaysia

Malaysia

Malaysia

Malaysia

Malaysia

Malaysia

Malaysia

Malaysia

Malaysia

Malaysia

Malaysia

Malaysia

Malaysia

RM Ordinary shares

RM Ordinary shares

RM Ordinary shares

RM Ordinary shares

RM Ordinary shares

RM Ordinary shares

RM Ordinary shares

RM Irredeemable Convertible 
Preference shares

RM Ordinary shares

RM Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

Malaysia

RM Ordinary shares

RM Irredeemable Preference 
shares

Standard Chartered Global Business Services Sdn Bhd

Malaysia

RM Ordinary shares

The following companies have the address of Trust Company 
Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, MH96960, 
Marshall Islands
Marina Alysse Shipping Limited7
Marina Amandier Shipping Limited7
Marina Ambroisee Shipping Limited7
Marina Angelica Shipping Limited7
Marina Aventurine Shipping Limited7
Marina Buxus Shipping Limited7
Marina Citrine Shipping Limited7
Marina Dahlia Shipping Limited7
Marina Dittany Shipping Limited7
Marina Dorado Shipping Limited7
Marina Lilac Shipping Limited7
Marina Lolite Shipping Limited7
Marina Obsidian Shipping Limited7
Marina Pissenlet Shipping Limited7
Marina Protea Shipping Limited7
Marina Quartz Shipping Limited7
Marina Remora Shipping Limited7
Marina Turquoise Shipping Limited7
Marina Zircon Shipping Limited7

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

416

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100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

91

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

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40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Subsidiary undertakings continued

Name and registered address 

The following company has the address of SGG Corporate 
Services (Mauritius) Ltd, 33, Edith Cavell St, Port Louis, 11324, 
Mauritius
Actis Treit Holdings (Mauritius) Limited1

The following company has the address of 6/F, Standard 
Chartered Tower, 19, Bank Street, Cybercity, Ebene, 72201, 
Mauritius

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

Mauritius

Class A $1.00 Ordinary shares

Class B $1.00 Ordinary shares

62.001

62.001

Standard Chartered Bank (Mauritius) Limited

Mauritius

$ Ordinary shares

The following companies have the address of c/o Ocorian 
Corporate Services (Mauritius) Ltd, 6th Floor, Tower A, 1 Cybercity, 
Ebene, 72201, Mauritius

Standard Chartered Financial Holdings

Standard Chartered Private Equity (Mauritius) Limited

Standard Chartered Private Equity (Mauritius) II Limited

Standard Chartered Private Equity (Mauritius) lll Limited

Mauritius

Mauritius

Mauritius

Mauritius

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of C/O International 
Proximity, 5th Floor, Ebene Esplanade, 24 Bank Street, Cybercity, 
Ebene, Plaines, Wilhems, 72201, Mauritius

Subcontinental Equities Limited

Mauritius

$1.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of Standard Chartered 
Bank Nepal Limited, Madan Bhandari Marg, Ward No.34, 
Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Kathmandu District, Bagmati 
Zone, Kathmandu, Nepal

100

100

100

100

100

100

Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited

Nepal

NPR100.00 Ordinary shares

70.21

The following company has the address of Hoogoorddreef 15, 
1101 BA, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Pembroke Holland B.V.

Netherlands

€450.00 Ordinary shares

The following companies have the address of 1 Basinghall 
Avenue, London, EC2V 5DD, United Kingdom
Standard Chartered Holdings (Africa) B.V6.
Standard Chartered Holdings (Asia Pacific) B.V.6
Standard Chartered Holdings (International) B.V.6
Standard Chartered MB Holdings B.V.6

Netherlands

Netherlands

Netherlands

Netherlands

€4.50 Ordinary shares

€4.50 Ordinary shares

€4.50 Ordinary shares

€4.50 Ordinary shares

The following companies have the address of 142, Ahmadu Bello 
Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, 101241, Nigeria

Cherroots Nigeria Limited

Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited

Nigeria

Nigeria

NGN1.00 Ordinary Shares

NGN1.00 Irredeemable Non 
Cumulative Preference shares

NGN1.00 Ordinary shares

NGN1.00 Redeemable Preference 
shares

Standard Chartered Capital & Advisory Nigeria Limited

Standard Chartered Nominees (Nigeria) Limited

Nigeria

Nigeria

NGN1.00 Ordinary shares

NGN1.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 3/F Main SCB Building, 
I.I Chundrigar Road, Karachi, Sindh, 74000, Pakistan

Price Solution Pakistan (Private) Limited

Pakistan

PKR10.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of P.O. Box No. 5556I.I. 
Chundrigar Road, Karachi, 74000, Pakistan

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a

l
s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited

Pakistan

PKR10.00 Ordinary shares

98.99

The following company has the address of Rondo Daszyńskiego 
2B, 00-843 , Warsaw, Poland

Standard Chartered Global Business Services spólka z 
ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia

The following company has the address of Vistra Corporate 
Services Centre, Ground Floor, NPF Building, Beach Road, Apia, 
Samoa

Poland

PLN50.00 Ordinary shares

100

Standard Chartered Nominees (Western Samoa) Limited

Samoa

$1.00 Ordinary shares

100

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Subsidiary undertakings continued

Name and registered address 

The following company has the address of Al Faisaliah Office 
Tower Floor No 7 (T07D) , King Fahad Highway, Olaya District, 
Riyadh P.O. box 295522, Riyadh, 11351, Saudi Arabia

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

Standard Chartered Capital (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

SAR10.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 9 & 11, Lightfoot 
Boston Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Standard Chartered Bank Sierra Leone Limited

Sierra Leone

SLL1.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of Marina Bay Financial 
Centre (Tower 1), 8 Marina Boulevard, Level 23, 018981, Singapore

Standard Chartered Private Equity (Singapore) Pte. Ltd

Singapore

$ Ordinary shares

The following companies have the address of 8 Marina 
Boulevard, Level 26, Marina Bay Financial Centre, Tower 1, 018981, 
Singapore

Marina Aquata Shipping Pte. Ltd

Marina Aruana Shipping Pte. Ltd

Marina Aster Shipping Pte. Ltd

Marina Cobia Shipping Pte. Ltd

Marina Daffodil Shipping Pte. Ltd

Marina Fatmarini Shipping Pte. Ltd

Marina Frabandari Shipping Pte. Ltd

Marina Freesia Shipping Pte. Ltd

Marina Gerbera Shipping Pte. Ltd

Marina Mars Shipping Pte. Ltd

Marina Mercury Shipping Pte. Ltd

Marina Opah Shipping Pte. Ltd

Marina Partawati Shipping Pte. Ltd

Marina Poise Shipping Pte. Ltd

The following companies have the address of 9 Raffles Place, 
#27-00 Republic Plaza, 048619, Singapore.
Actis RE Investment 1 Private Limited1
Actis RE Investment 2 Private Limited1
Actis RE Investment 3 Private Limited1
Actis RE Investment 4 Private Limited1
Actis Treit Holdings No.1 (Singapore) Private Limited1
Actis Treit Holdings No.2 (Singapore) Private Limited1

The following company has the address of 7 Changi Business 
Park Crescent, #03-00 Standard Chartered @ Changi, 486028, 
Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

$ Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

Raffles Nominees (Pte.) Limited

Singapore

SGD Ordinary shares

The following companies have the address of 8 Marina 
Boulevard, #27-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1, 018981, 
Singapore

SCTS Capital Pte. Ltd

SCTS Management Pte. Ltd

Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

SGD Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

SGD Ordinary shares

SGD Non-cumulative Preference 
shares

SGD Non-cumulative Class C 
Preference shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Preference shares

Standard Chartered Trust (Singapore) Limited

Singapore

SGD Ordinary shares

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80.7

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

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40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Subsidiary undertakings continued

Name and registered address 

Standard Chartered Holdings (Singapore) Private Limited

Country of 
incorporation

Singapore

Description of shares

SGD Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

SC Bank Solutions (Singapore) Limited

Singapore

SGD Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Real Estate Investment Holdings 
(Singapore) Private Limited

The following company has the address of 120 Robinson Road, 
#08-01, 068913, Singapore

Singapore

$ Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Nominees (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Singapore

SGD Ordinary shares

The following companies have the address of 80 Robinson Road, 
#02-00, 068898, Singapore

Autumn Life Pte. Ltd

Cardspal Pte. Ltd

Nexco Pte. Ltd

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

The following companies have the address of 2nd Floor, 115 West 
Street, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa

CMB Nominees (RF) PTY Limited

South Africa

ZAR1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Nominees South Africa Proprietary Limited 
(RF)

The following company has the address of 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 10F, No. 
168/170 &, 8F, 12F, No.168, Tun Hwa N. Rd., Songshan Dist., Taipei, 
105, Taiwan

South Africa

ZAR Ordinary shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Standard Chartered Bank (Taiwan) Limited

Taiwan

TWD10.00 Ordinary shares

100

The following companies have the address of 1 Floor, 
International House, Shaaban Robert Street / Garden Avenue, 
PO Box 9011, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of

Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania Limited

Standard Chartered Tanzania Nominees Limited

The following company has the address of 100 North Sathorn 
Road, Silom, Bangrak Bangkok , 10500, Thailand

Tanzania, United 
Republic of

Tanzania, United 
Republic of

TZS1,000.00 Ordinary shares

TZS1,000.00 Preference shares

TZS1,000.00 Ordinary shares

100

100

100

Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) Public Company Limited

Thailand

THB10.00 Ordinary shares

99.99

The following company has the address of Buyukdere Cad. Yapi 
Kredi Plaza C Blok, Kat 15, Levent, Istanbul, 34330, Turkey

Standard Chartered Yatirim Bankasi Turk Anonim Sirketi

Turkey

TRL0.10 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of Standard Chartered 
Bank Bldg, 5 Speke Road, PO Box 7111, Kampala, Uganda

Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Limited

Uganda

UGS1,000.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 505 Howard St. #201, 
San Francisco, CA 94105, United States

SC Studios, LLC

United States

Membership Interest

The following company has the address of Standard Chartered 
Bank, 37F, 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York 10036, United 
States

Standard Chartered Bank International (Americas) Limited

United States

$1,000.00 Ordinary shares

The following companies have the address of Corporation Trust 
Centre, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington DE 19801, United States

Standard Chartered Holdings Inc.

Standard Chartered Capital Management (Jersey), LLC

Standard Chartered Securities (North America) LLC

StanChart Securities International LLC

Standard Chartered International (USA) LLC

The following company has the address of 50 Fremont Street, 
San Francisco CA 94105, United States

United States

United States

United States

United States

United States

$100.00 Common shares

$ Ordinary shares

Membership interest

Membership interest

Membership interest

Standard Chartered Overseas Investment Inc.

United States

$10.00 Ordinary shares

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Subsidiary undertakings continued

Name and registered address 

The following company has the address of C/O Corporation 
Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington DE 19808, 
United States

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

Standard Chartered Trade Services Corporation

United States

$0.01 Common shares

100

The following company has the address of Room 1810-1815, Level 
18, Building 72, Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower, Pham Hung 
Road, Cau Giay New Urban Area, Me Tri Ward, Nam Tu Liem 
District, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam

Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) Limited

Vietnam

VND Charter Capital shares

100

The following companies have the address of Vistra Corporate 
Services Centre, Wickhams Cay II, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, 
Virgin Islands, British

Sky Favour Investments Limited

Sky Harmony Holdings Limited

The following companies have the address of Stand 13, Standard 
Chartered House, Cairo Road, P.0. Box 32238, Lusaka, Zambia , 
10101, Zambia

Standard Chartered Bank Zambia Plc

Standard Chartered Zambia Securities Services Nominees 
Limited

The following companies have the address of Africa Unity 
Square Building, 68 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Harare, Zimbabwe
Africa Enterprise Network Trust2

Standard Chartered Bank Zimbabwe Limited

Standard Chartered Nominees Zimbabwe (Private) Limited

Virgin Islands, 
British

Virgin Islands, 
British

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Zambia

Zambia

ZMW0.25 Ordinary shares

ZMW1.00 Ordinary shares

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Interest in trust

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$2.00 Ordinary shares

100

100

90

100

100

100

100

1  The Group has determined that these undertakings are excluded from being consolidated into the Groups accounts, and do not meet the definition of a 

subsidiary under IFRS. See Notes 31 and 32 for the consolidation policy and disclosure of the undertaking

2  No share capital by virtue of being a trust

3  Limited liability company

4  The Group has determined the principal country of operation to be Singapore

5  The Group has determined the principal country of operation to be Ireland

6  The Group has determined the principal country of operation to be the United Kingdom

7  The Group has determined the principal country of operation to be Hong Kong

Joint ventures

Name and registered address 

The following company has the address of 38 Beach Road,  
#29-11 South Beach Tower, 189767, Singapore

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

Assembly Payments Pte. Ltd.

Singapore

$ Ordinary shares

$ Preference shares

The following company has the address of 100/36 Sathorn 
Nakorn Tower, Fl 21 North Sathorn Road, Silom Sub-District, 
Bangrak District, Bangkok, 10500, Thailand

Resolution Alliance Limited

Thailand

THB10.00 Ordinary shares

50

50

49

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40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Associates

Name and registered address 

The following company has the address of 3 More London 
Riverside, London, England, SE1 2AQ, United Kingdom

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

Trade Information Network Limited

United Kingdom

$1.00 Ordinary shares

16.667

The following company has the address of Bohai Bank Building, 
No.218 Hai He Dong Lu, Hedong District, Tianjin, China, 300012, 
China

China Bohai Bank Co. Ltd

China

CNY Ordinary shares

16.263

The following company has the address of 17/F, 100, 
Gongpyeong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Ascenta IV

Korea, Republic of

KRW1.00 Partnership interest

39.063

The following company has the address of C/o CIM Corporate 
Services Ltd, Les Cascades, Edith Cavell Street, Port Louis, 
Mauritius

FAI Limited

Mauritius

$1.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of Victoria House, State 
House Avenue, Victoria, MAHE, Seychelles

Seychelles International Mercantile Banking Corporation Limited Seychelles

SCR1,000.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 1 Raffles Quay, #23-01, 
One Raffles Quay, 048583, Singapore

Clifford Capital Holdings Pte. Ltd.

Singapore

$1.00 Ordinary shares

25

22

9.9

The following company has the address of Avenue de Tivoli 2, 
1007, Lausanne, Switzerland

Metaco SA

Switzerland

CHF 0.01 Preference A shares

29.505

Significant investment holdings and other related undertakings 

Name and registered address 

The following company has the address of Intertrust Corporate 
Services (Cayman) Limited, 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, 
Grand Cayman, KY1-9005, Cayman Islands

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

ATSC Cayman Holdco Limited

Cayman Islands

$0.01 A Ordinary shares

$0.01 B Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 3, Floor 1, No.1, Shiner 
Wuxingcaiyuan, West Er Huan Rd, Xi Shan District, Kunming, 
Yunnan Province, PR, China

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

5.3

100

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Yunnan Golden Shiner Property Development Co. Ltd

China

CNY1.00 Ordinary shares

42.5

The following companies have the address of Unit 605-08, 6/F 
Wing On Centre, 111 Connaught Rd, Central Sheung Wan, Hong 
Kong

Actis Carrock Holdings (HK) Limited

Hong Kong

$ Class A Ordinary shares

$ Class B Ordinary shares

Actis Jack Holdings (HK) Limited

Hong Kong

$ Class A Ordinary shares

$ Class B Ordinary shares

Actis Rivendell Holdings (HK) Limited

Hong Kong

$ Class A Ordinary shares

Actis Temple Stay Holdings (HK) Limited

Hong Kong

$ Class A Ordinary shares

$ Class B Ordinary shares

Actis Young City Holdings (HK) Limited

Hong Kong

$ Class A Ordinary shares

$ Class B Ordinary shares

$ Class B Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 1221 A, Devika Tower, 
12th Floor, 6 Nehru Place, New Delhi 110019, India

39.69

39.69

39.69

39.69

39.69

39.69

39.69

39.69

39.69

39.69

Mikado Realtors Private Limited

India

INR10.00 Ordinary shares

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Significant investment holdings and other related undertakings continued

Name and registered address 

The following company has the address of Elphinstone Building, 
2nd Floor, 10 Veer Nariman Road, Fort, Mumbai -400001, 
Maharashtra, India

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

TRIL IT4 Private Limited

India

INR10.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 4/F, 274, Chitalia 
House, Dr. Cawasji Hormusji Road, Dhobi Talao, Mumbai City, 
Maharashtra, India 400 002, India

Industrial Minerals and Chemical Co. Pvt. Ltd

India

INR100.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 17/F (Gongpyung-
dong), 100, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Ascenta III

Korea, Republic of

KRW Class B Equity shares

The following company has the address of 1 Venture Avenue, 
#07-07 Big Box, 608521, Singapore

Omni Centre Pte. Ltd.

The following company has the address of 3 Jalan Pisang, c/o 
Watiga Trust Ltd, 199070 Singapore

Singapore

SGD Redeemable Convertible 
Preference shares

SCIAIGF Liquidating Trust

Singapore

Interest in trust

The following company has the address of 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, New Castle DE 19808, United States

Paxata, Inc.

United States

$0.0001 Series C2 Preferred Stock

$0.0001 Series C3 Preferred Stock

26

26

31

100

43.96

40.741

10.112

In liquidation

Subsidiary undertakings

Name and registered address 

The following company has the address of Deloitte LLP,  
1 New Street Square, London, EC3A 3HQ, United Kingdom

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

SC Leaseco Limited

United Kingdom

$1.00 Ordinary shares

The following companies have the address of Hill House, 
1 Little New Street, London, EC4A 3TR, United Kingdom

Standard Chartered APR Limited

Compass Estates Limited

United Kingdom

$1.00 Ordinary shares

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Masterbrand Licensing Limited 

United Kingdom

$1.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 2 More London 
Riverside, London SE1 2JT, United Kingdom

Bricks (M) LP

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

100

100

100

100

100

The following company has the address of 51-55 Jalan Sultan, 
Complex Jalan sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan, BS8811, Brunei 
Darussalam 

Standard Chartered Finance (Brunei) Bhd

Brunei Darussalam BND1.00 Ordinary shares

100

The following company has the address of Mourant Ozannes 
Corporate Services (Cayman) Limited, Harbour Centre, 42 
North Church Street, PO Box 1348, Grand Cayman KY1-1108, 
Cayman Islands

Sunflower Cayman SPC

Cayman Islands

$1.00 Management shares

100

The following company has the address of Walkers 
Corporate Limited, Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital 
Road George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9008, Cayman 
Islands

Standard Chartered Principal Finance (Cayman) Limited

Cayman Islands

$0.0001 Ordinary shares

100

The following company has the address of No. 188 Yeshen Rd, 
11F, A-1161 RM, Pudong New District, Shanghai 31201308, China

Standard Chartered Trading (Shanghai) Limited

China

$15,000,000.00 Ordinary shares

100

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40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Subsidiary undertakings continued

Name and registered address 

The following companies have the address of Bordeaux 
Court, Les Echelons, South Esplanade, St. Peter Port, Guernsey

Birdsong Limited

Nominees One Limited

Nominees Two Limited

Songbird Limited

Standard Chartered Secretaries (Guernsey) Limited

Standard Chartered Trust (Guernsey) Limited

The following company has the address of 13/F, Standard 
Chartered Tower, 388 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, 
Hong Kong

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

Guernsey

Guernsey

Guernsey

Guernsey

Guernsey

Guernsey

£1.00 Ordinary shares

£1.00 Ordinary shares

£1.00 Ordinary shares

£1.00 Ordinary shares

£1.00 Ordinary shares

£1.00 Ordinary shares

S C Learning Limited

Hong Kong

HKD Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 8/Floor, 
Gloucester Tower , The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, 
Hong Kong

Leopard Hong Kong Limited 

Hong Kong

$ Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 32/F, Standard 
Chartered Bank Building, 4-4A Des Voeux Road, Central, 
Hong Kong

Standard Chartered Sherwood (HK) Limited

Hong Kong

HKD Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 14th Floor, One 
Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong.

Ori Private Limited

Hong Kong

$ Ordinary shares

$ A Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of Menara Standard 
Chartered, 3rd Floor, Jl. Prof.Dr. Satrio no. 164, Setiabudi, 
Jarkarta Selatan, Indonesia

PT Solusi Cakra Indonesia (dalam likuidasi)

Indonesia

The following company has the address of No. 157 – 157 A, 
Jakarta Barat, 11130, Indonesia

IDR23,809,600.00 Ordinary 
shares

PT. Price Solutions Indonesia (dalam likuidasi)

Indonesia

$100.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of Standard 
Chartered@Chiromo, Number 48, Westlands Road, P. O. Box 
30003 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya

Standard Chartered Management Services Limited

Kenya

KES20.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of 30 Rue 
Schrobilgen, 2526, Luxembourg

Standard Chartered Financial Services (Luxembourg) S.A.

Luxembourg

€25.00 Ordinary shares

The following companies have the address of Brumby Centre, 
Lot 42, Jalan Muhibbah, 87000 Labuan F.T., Malaysia

Pembroke Leasing (Labuan) 2 Berhad

Pembroke Leasing (Labuan) Pte Limited

Malaysia

Malaysia

$ Ordinary shares

$ Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of IQ EQ Corporate 
Services (Mauritius) Ltd , Les Cascades Building, 33, Edith 
Cavell Street Port Louis, 11324, Mauritius

Actis Asia Real Estate (Mauritius) Limited

Mauritius

Class A $1.00 Ordinary shares

Class B $1.00 Ordinary shares

The following company has the address of Jiron Huascar 
2055, Jesus Maria, Lima 15072, Peru

Banco Standard Chartered en Liquidacion 

Peru

$75.133 Ordinary shares

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

90.7

99

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

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Financial statements Notes to the financial statements

40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Subsidiary Undertakings continued

Name and registered address 

The following company has the address of 8 Marina 
Boulevard, Level 27, Marina Bay Financial Centre, Tower 1, 
018981, Singapore

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

Standard Chartered (2000) Limited

Singapore

SGD1.00 Ordinary shares

100

The following company has the address of Abogado Pte Ltd, 
No. 8 Marina Boulevard, #05-02 MBFC Tower 1, 018981, 
Singapore

Standard Chartered IL&FS Management (Singapore) 
Pte. Limited

Singapore

The following company has the address of 6/F, Hewlett 
Packard Building, 337 Fu Hsing North Road, Taipei, Taiwan

$ Ordinary shares

50

Kwang Hua Mocatta Company Ltd. (Taiwan)

Taiwan

TWD1,000.00 Ordinary shares

97.92

The following company has the address of Luis Alberto de 
Herrera 1248, Torre II, Piso 11, Esc. 1111, Uruguay

Standard Chartered Uruguay Representacion S.A. 

Uruguay

UYU1.00 Ordinary shares

100

Significant investment holdings and other related undertakings

Name and registered address 

The following company has the address of Lot 6.05, Level 6, 
KPMG Tower, 8 First Avenue, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling 
Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

House Network SDN BHD

Malaysia

RM1.00 Ordinary shares

25

Liquidated/dissolved/sold

Subsidiary undertakings

Name and registered address 

B.W.A Dependents Limited

Bricks (P) LP

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

United Kingdom

Limited Partnership interest

Standard Chartered Capital Markets Limited

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Chartered Financial Holdings Limited

United Kingdom

£5.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Debt Trading Limited

United Kingdom

£1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered (Canada) Limited

Canada

CAD1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered Saadiq Mudarib Company Limited

Cayman Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

£1.00 Preference shares

Sociedad Fiduciaria Extebandes S.A.

American Express International Finance Corp.N.V. 

Ricanex Participations N.V. 

Majestic Legend Limited

Standard Chartered Global Trading Investments Limited

Pembroke Capital Shannon Limited

Ascenta II

Amphissa Corporation Sdn Bhd

Marina Celsie Shipping Limited

Colombia

Curaçao

Curaçao

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Ireland

COP1.00 Ordinary shares

$1,000.00 Ordinary shares

$1,000.00 Ordinary shares

HKD1.00 Ordinary shares

HKD Ordinary shares

€1.25 Ordinary shares

Korea, Republic of

KRW1,000,000.00 Partnership 
interest

Malaysia

RM1.00 Ordinary shares

Marshall Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered PF Managers Pte. Limited

Standard Chartered Bank (Switzerland) S.A. 

Singapore

Switzerland

$ Ordinary shares

CHF1,000.00 Ordinary shares

CHF100.00 Participation Capital 
shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

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40. Related undertakings of the Group continued

Joint ventures

Name and registered address 

PT Bank Permata Tbk

Country of 
incorporation

Indonesia

Description of shares

IDR125.00 B shares

Significant investment holdings and other related undertakings

Name and registered address 

Country of 
incorporation

Description of shares

Standard Chartered IL&FS Asia Infrastructure (Cayman) Limited Cayman Islands

$0.01 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered IL&FS Asia Infrastructure Growth Fund 
Company Limited

Cayman Islands

$1.00 Ordinary shares

Standard Chartered IL&FS Asia Infrastructure Growth Fund, L.P.

Cayman Islands

Partnership interest

PT Trikomsel Oke Tbk

Standard Jazeera Limited 

Indonesia

Jersey

Standard Topaz Limited

Jersey

IDR50.00 Series B shares

$1.00 Class A Redeemable 
Preference shares

$1.00 Class C Redeemable 
Preference shares

$1.00 Ordinary shares

$1,000.00 Ordinary shares

$1.00 Class C Redeemable 
Preference shares

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

44.6

Proportion 
of shares 
held (%)

50

50

38.6

29.195

20

100

20

20.1

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ªHelping 
families in 
Hong Kongº

Part of our work in 2020 involved helping the 
communities we serve in their fight against COVID-19. 
In April, we launched a joint program with the Hong 
Kong Council of Social Services to help raise money for 
families living in small, subdivided flats. We committed 
HKD10 million, with the scheme raising HKD40 million 
in total and almost 100 employees provided online 
skills training for local children to help them learn 
during the lockdown.

Read more online at sc.com/helpingfamiliesinhk

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Supplementary 
information (unaudited)

428   Supplementary financial information

435   Supplementary people information

437   Supplementary sustainability 

information

442  Shareholder information

444  Major awards

446  Glossary

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Financial statements

Supplementary financial information

Supplementary financial information

Five-year summary1 

Operating profit before impairment losses and taxation

Impairment losses on loans and advances and other 
credit risk provisions

Other impairment

Profit before taxation

Profit/(loss) attributable to shareholders
Loans and advances to banks2
Loans and advances to customers2

Total assets
Deposits by banks2
Customer accounts2

Shareholders’ equity
Total capital resources3

Information per ordinary share

Basic earnings/(loss) per share 

Underlying earnings per share
Dividends per share4

Net asset value per share

Net tangible asset value per share
Return on assets5

Ratios

Statutory return on ordinary shareholders’ equity

Statutory return on ordinary shareholders’ 
tangible equity

Underlying return on ordinary shareholders’ equity

Underlying return on ordinary shareholders’ 
tangible equity

Statutory cost to income ratio (excluding UK Bank Levy)

Statutory cost to income ratio (including UK Bank Levy)

Underlying cost to income ratio (excluding UK Bank levy)

Underlying cost to income ratio (including UK Bank levy)

Capital ratios:
(CET 1)/Tier 1 capital6
Total capital6

2020 
$million

4,374

(2,325)

(98)

1,613

724

44,347

281,699

789,050

30,255

439,339

45,886

67,383

10.4c

36.1c

–

1,409.3c

1,249.0c

0.1%

0.8%

0.9%

2.6%

3.0%

68.1%

70.4%

66.4%

68.7%

14.4%

21.2%

2019 
$million

4,484

(908)

(136)

3,713

2,303

53,549

268,523

720,398

28,562

405,357

44,835

66,868

57.0c

75.7c

22.0c

1,358.3c

1,192.5c

0.3%

4.2%

4.8%

5.6%

6.4%

68.7%

70.9%

65.9%

68.2%

13.8%

21.2%

2018 
$million

3,142

(653)

(182)

2,548

1,054

61,414

256,557

688,762

29,715

391,013

45,118

65,353

18.7c

61.4c

17.0c

1,319.3c

1,167.7c

0.3%

1.4%

1.6%

4.6%

5.1%

76.6%

78.8%

67.7%

69.9%

14.2%

21.6%

2017 
$million

4,008

(1,362)

(179)

2,415

1,219

78,188

282,288

663,501

30,945

370,509

46,505

68,983

23.5c

47.2c

–

1,366.9c

1,214.7c

0.2%

1.7%

2.0%

3.5%

3.9%

70.7%

72.2%

69.3%

70.8%

13.6%

21.0%

2016 
$million

3,849

(2,791)

(612)

409

(247)

72,609

252,719

646,692

32,872

338,185

44,368

68,181

(14.5)c

3.4c

–

1,307.8c

1,163.9c

0.0%

(1.1)%

(1.2)%

0.3%

0.3%

69.9%

72.6%

69.5%

72.2%

13.6%

21.3%

1  The amounts for the two financial years ended 2016 to 2017 are presented in line with IAS 39 and, therefore, not on a comparable basis to the current financial year 

presented in accordance with IFRS 9

2  Excludes amounts held at fair value through profit or loss

3  Shareholders’ funds, non-controlling interests and subordinated loan capital

4  Dividend paid during the year per share

5  Represents profit attributable to shareholders divided by the total assets of the Group

6  Unaudited

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Analysis of underlying performance by key market
The following tables provide information for key markets in which the Group operates. The numbers are prepared on a 
management view. Refer to Note 2 for details.

Hong Kong 
$million

Korea 
$million

China 
$million

Singapore 
$million

India 
$million

Indonesia 
$million

UAE 
$million

UK 
$million

US 
$million

2020

3,485

(1,959)

1,046

(723)

926

(667)

1,562

(977)

1,245

(680)

309

(176)

579

(409)

946

(673)

273

(128)

9

-

783

(525)

258

(30)

-

-

Operating income

Operating expenses

Operating profit before 
impairment losses and 
taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and 
joint ventures

Underlying profit/(loss) 
before taxation

Operating income

Operating expenses

Operating profit before 
impairment losses and 
taxation

Credit impairment

Other impairment

Profit from associates and 
joint ventures

Underlying profit before 
taxation

1,526

(199)

(55)

-

323

(43)

3

-

1,272

283

259

(112)

(1)

163

309

585

(474)

-

-

565

(227)

(1)

-

133

(84)

-

-

170

(277)

(3)

-

111

337

49

(110)

154

228

Total assets employed

167,080

69,214

41,827

88,246

28,272

4,968

19,856

174,346

63,330

Of which: loans and advances 
to customers1

Total liabilities employed
Of which: customer accounts1

78,398

160,976

135,487

42,636

60,329

44,748

16,877

36,713

26,319

53,444

83,554

63,303

2,212

3,494

2,382

10,316

45,803

14,324

133,862

11,720

81,198

18,103

65,307

36,717

14,258

20,728

15,058

2019

Hong Kong 
$million

Korea 
$million

China 
$million

Singapore 
$million

India 
$million

Indonesia 
$million

UAE 
$million

UK 
$million

US 
$million

3,755

(1,934)

972

(769)

872

(666)

1,639

(986)

1,821

(111)

(5)

–

203

(15)

1

–

1,705

189

206

(81)

–

247

372

1,041

(672)

369

(290)

–

–

79

273

(180)

617

(423)

762

(678)

759

(587)

93

(87)

–

–

6

194

(48)

–

–

146

84

(33)

–

–

51

172

(63)

–

–

109

28,163

4,795

20,301

150,103

60,373

15,674

18,437

13,800

2,098

3,188

2,320

10,406

12,905

10,078

42,179

142,804

82,036

17,038

66,357

34,733

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653

(91)

–

–

562

85,155

45,951

80,006

60,821

Total assets employed

159,725

54,408

30,293

Of which: loans and advances 
to customers1

Total liabilities employed
Of which: customer accounts1

77,277

149,703

123,330

34,469

47,420

38,533

14,772

27,005

21,797

1  Loans and advances to customers includes FVTPL and customer accounts includes FVTPL and repurchase agreements 

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Financial statements

Supplementary financial information

Analysis of underlying performance by Retail Banking and Commercial Banking segments

Retail Banking

Operating income
Operating expenses
Operating profit before impairment losses and taxation
Credit impairment
Other impairment
Underlying profit/(loss) before taxation
Restructuring
Statutory profit/(loss) before taxation
Loans and advances to customers including FVTPL
Customer accounts including FVTPL and repurchase 
agreements

Operating income
Operating expenses
Operating profit before impairment losses and taxation
Credit impairment
Other impairment
Underlying profit before taxation
Restructuring
Statutory profit before taxation
Loans and advances to customers including FVTPL
Customer accounts including FVTPL and repurchase 
agreements

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

2020

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

2,989
(2,036)
953
(211)
–
742
(13)
729
81,542

1,360
(1,057)
303
(376)
–
(73)
(5)
(78)
28,776

635
(586)
49
(125)
(10)
(86)
(32)
(118)
4,745

29
(22)
7
(3)
–
4
–
4
548

Total 
$million

5,013
(3,701)
1,312
(715)
(10)
587
(50)
537
115,611

106,832

37,266

9,674

1,059

154,831

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

Europe & 
Americas 
$million

2019 (Restated)¹

3,018
(2,020)
998
(153)
–
845
(47)
798
73,329

1,432
(1,097)
335
(136)
–
199
(7)
192
27,934

700
(619)
81
(47)
2
36
(9)
27
5,320

36
(23)
13
–
–
13
–
13
557

Total 
$million

5,186
(3,759)
1,427
(336)
2
1,093
(63)
1,030
107,140

99,149

35,959

8,585

1,067

144,760

1    Following a reorganisation of certain clients, there has been a reclassification of balances across client segments

Commercial Banking

Operating income
Operating expenses
Operating profit before impairment losses and taxation
Credit impairment
Other impairment
Underlying profit/(loss) before taxation
Restructuring
Statutory profit/(loss) before taxation
Loans and advances to customers including FVTPL
Customer accounts including FVTPL and repurchase agreements

Operating income
Operating expenses
Operating profit before impairment losses and taxation
Credit impairment
Other impairment
Underlying profit before taxation
Restructuring
Statutory profit before taxation
Loans and advances to customers including FVTPL
Customer accounts including FVTPL and repurchase agreements

2020

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

487
(330)
157
(32)
–
125
(24)
101
14,065
31,055

631
(344)
287
(190)
(1)
96
(7)
89
9,390
14,078

291
(204)
87
(94)
–
(7)
(26)
(33)
3,887
3,445

2019 (Restated)¹

Greater China & 
North Asia 
$million

ASEAN &  
South Asia 
$million

Africa &  
Middle East 
$million

564
(383)
181
(23)
–
158
(8)
150
13,178
22,691

671
(349)
322
(34)
–
288
(1)
287
10,657
12,948

339
(221)
118
(65)
–
53
(2)
51
4,996
3,208

Total 
$million

1,409
(878)
531
(316)
(1)
214
(57)
157
27,342
48,578

Total 
$million

1,574
(953)
621
(122)
–
499
(11)
488
28,831
38,847

1  Following a reorganisation of certain clients, there has been a reclassification of balances across client segments

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Analysis of operating income by product and segment
The following tables provide a breakdown of the Group’s underlying operating income by product and client segment.

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

Retail  
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

Central &  
other items 
$million

2020

Transaction Banking

Trade

Cash Management

Financial Markets 

Foreign Exchange

Rates

Commodities

Credit and Capital Markets

Capital Structuring Distribution Group

DVA

Security services

Other Financial Markets

Corporate Finance

Lending and Portfolio Management

Wealth Management

Retail Products

CCPL and other unsecured lending

Deposits

Mortgage and Auto

Other Retail Products

Treasury

Other

Total underlying operating income

Transaction Banking

Trade

Cash Management

Financial Markets 

Foreign Exchange

Rates

Commodities

Credit and Capital Markets

Capital Structuring Distribution Group

DVA

Security services

Other Financial Markets

Corporate Finance

Lending and Portfolio Management

Wealth Management

Retail Products

CCPL and other unsecured lending

Deposits

Mortgage and Auto

Other Retail Products

Treasury

Other

Total underlying operating income

2,084

634

1,450

3,532

1,121

1,036

196

602

238

13

320

6

1,013

604

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(19)

7,214

Corporate & 
Institutional 
Banking 
$million

2,604

698

1,906

2,923

943

664

138

547

295

(100)

342

94

1,032

540

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(25)

7,074

19

19

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,586

3,401

1,211

1,326

716

148

–

7

5,013

734

340

394

322

170

32

27

37

36

–

–

20

103

244

1

6

–

6

–

–

–

(1)

1,409

2019 (Restated)¹

1

1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

381

159

–

125

34

–

–

(1)

540

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

635

(46)

589

Retail  
Banking 
$million

Commercial 
Banking 
$million

Private  
Banking 
$million

Central &  
other items 
$million

19

19

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,516

3,642

1,251

1,804

475

112

–

9

876

383

493

335

184

32

27

30

34

–

1

27

109

246

1

6

–

6

–

–

–

1

5,186

1,574

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2

–

362

214

–

179

36

(1)

–

(1)

577

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,090

(230)

860

1  Following a reorganisation of certain clients, there has been a reclassification of balances across products and client segments

Total 
$million

2,838

994

1,844

3,854

1,291

1,068

223

639

274

13

320

26

1,116

848

1,968

3,566

1,211

1,457

750

148

635

(60)

14,765

Total 
$million

3,499

1,100

2,399

3,258

1,127

696

165

577

329

(100)

343

121

1,143

786

1,879

3,862

1,251

1,989

511

111

1,090

(246)

15,271

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Financial statements

Supplementary financial information

Average balance sheets and yields and volume and price variances

Average balance sheets and yields
For the purposes of calculating net interest margin the following adjustments are made:

•  Statutory net interest income is adjusted to remove interest expense on amortised cost liabilities used to provide funding to 

the Financial Markets business

•  Financial instruments measured at fair value through profit or loss are classified as non-interest earning

•  Premiums on financial guarantees purchased to manage interest earning assets are treated as interest expense

In the Group’s view this results in a net interest margin that is more reflective of banking book performance.

The following tables set out the average balances and yields for the Group’s assets and liabilities for the periods ended  
31 December 2020 and 31 December 2019 under the revised definition of net interest margin. For the purpose of these tables, 
average balances have been determined on the basis of daily balances, except for certain categories, for which balances  
have been determined less frequently. The Group does not believe that the information presented in these tables would be 
significantly different had such balances been determined on a daily basis.

Average assets

Average assets

Cash and balances at central banks

Gross loans and advances to banks

Gross loans and advances to customers

Impairment provisions against loans and advances to 
banks and customers

Investment securities

Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

Prepayments, accrued income and other assets

Investment associates and joint ventures

Total average assets

Average assets

Cash and balances at central banks

Gross loans and advances to banks

Gross loans and advances to customers

Impairment provisions against loans and advances to 
banks and customers

Investment securities

Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

Prepayments, accrued income and other assets

Investment associates and joint ventures

Average 
non-interest 
earning  
balance 
$million

18,185

27,684

51,322

–

28,313

9,787

116,263

2,122

253,676

Average 
non-interest 
earning  
balance 
$million

17,544

26,639

49,662

–

29,188

11,217

84,965

2,608

Average  
interest  
earning  
balance 
$million

43,210

54,142

291,432

(6,526)

144,112

–

–

–

2020

Interest  
income 
$million

113

801

8,558

–

2,820

–

–

–

Gross yield 
interest  
earning  
balance 
%

Gross yield  
total  
balance 
%

0.26

1.48

2.94

–

1.96

–

–

–

0.18

0.98

2.50

–

1.64

–

–

–

526,370

12,292

2.34

1.58

Average  
interest  
earning  
balance 
$million

29,177

61,040

274,970

(4,786)

134,355

–

–

–

2019

Interest  
income 
$million

329

1,834

10,775

–

3,611

–

–

–

Gross yield 
interest  
earning  
balance 
%

Gross yield  
total  
balance 
%

1.13

3.00

3.92

–

2.69

–

–

–

0.70

2.09

3.32

–

2.21

–

–

–

Total average assets

221,823

494,756

16,549

3.34

2.31

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Average liabilities

Average liabilities

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts:

Current accounts and savings deposits

Time and other deposits

Debt securities in issue

Accruals, deferred income and other liabilities

Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds

Non-controlling interests

Shareholders’ funds

Average 
non-interest 
bearing  
balance 
$million

17,899

43,729

58,789

6,883

122,194

–

319

50,377

300,190

Adjustment for Financial Markets funding costs

Financial guarantee fees on interest earning assets

Total average liabilities and shareholders’ funds

300,190

478,051

Average liabilities

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts:

Current accounts and savings deposits

Time and other deposits

Debt securities in issue

Accruals, deferred income and other liabilities

Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds

Non-controlling interests

Shareholders’ funds

Average 
non-interest 
bearing  
balance 
$million

17,561

38,804

59,094

9,335

95,461

–
2931

50,215

270,763

2020

Interest  
expense 
$million

237

Rate paid 
interest  
bearing  
balance 
%

0.87

478,051

5,440

Average  
interest  
bearing  
balance 
$million

27,178

226,278

154,865

52,391

1,169

16,170

–

–

Average  
interest  
bearing  
balance 
$million

27,619

183,323

167,904

49,351

1,336

15,062

–

–

1,140

2,531

836

59

637

–

–

(173)

104

5,371

2019

Interest  
expense 
$million

739

2,114

4,088

1,120

65

756

–

–

444,595

8,882

Rate paid  
total  
balance 
%

0.53

0.42

1.18

1.41

0.05

3.94

–

–

0.70

0.50

1.63

1.60

5.05

3.94

–

–

1.14

1.12

0.69

Rate paid  
interest  
bearing  
balance 
%

Rate paid  
total  
balance 
%

2.68

1.15

2.43

2.27

4.87

5.02

–

–

2.00

1.64

0.95

1.80

1.91

0.07

5.02

–

–

1.24

Adjustment for Financial Markets funding costs

Total average liabilities and shareholders’ funds

270,763

444,595

(340)

8,542

1.92

1.19

1  Restated from $31 million to $293 million

Net interest margin

Interest income (statutory)

Average interest earning assets

Gross yield (%)

Interest expense (statutory)

Adjustment for Financial Markets funding costs

Financial guarantee fees on interest earning assets

Adjusted interest expense used to fund financial instruments held at fair value

Average interest-bearing liabilities

Rate paid (%)

Net yield (%)

Net interest income adjusted for Financial Markets funding costs and Financial guarantee fees on 
interest earning assets

Net interest margin (%)

2020 
$million

12,292

526,370

2.34

5,440

(173)

104

5,371

478,051

1.12

1.22

2019 
$million

16,549

494,756

3.34

8,882

(340)

–

8,542

444,595

1.92

1.42

6,921

1.31

8,007

1.62

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Financial statements

Supplementary financial information

Volume and price variances
The following table analyses the estimated change in the Group’s net interest income attributable to changes in the  
average volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and changes in their respective interest rates for  
the years presented. Volume and rate variances have been determined based on movements in average balances and 
average exchange rates over the year and changes in interest rates on average interest-earning assets and average  
interest-bearing liabilities.

Interest earning assets

Cash and unrestricted balances at central banks 

Loans and advances to banks 

Loans and advances to customers 

Investment securities 

Total interest earning assets 

Interest bearing liabilities

Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts:

Current accounts and savings deposits 

Time and other deposits 

Debt securities in issue 

Total interest bearing liabilities 

Interest earning assets

Cash and unrestricted balances at central banks 

Loans and advances to banks 

Loans and advances to customers 

Investment securities 

Total interest earning assets 

Interest bearing liabilities

Subordinated liabilities and other borrowed funds

Deposits by banks

Customer accounts:

Current accounts and savings deposits 

Time and other deposits 

Debt securities in issue 

Total interest bearing liabilities 

2020 versus 2019

(Decrease)/increase  
in interest due to:

Volume 
$million

Rate 
$million

Net increase/ 
(decrease) in 
interest 
$million

37

(102)

442

191

568

44

(4)

233

(213)

49

109

(253)

(931)

(2,659)

(982)

(4,825)

(163)

(498)

(1,148)

(1,409)

(333)

(3,551)

(216)

(1,033)

(2,217)

(791)

(4,257)

(119)

(502)

(915)

(1,622)

(284)

(3,442)

2019 versus 2018

(Decrease)/increase  
in interest due to:

Volume 
$million

Rate 
$million

Net increase/ 
(decrease) in 
interest 
$million

(40)

(141)

333

336

488

(36)

(60)

56

247

28

235

5

192

404

310

911

25

205

391

502

104

1,227

(35)

51

737

646

1,399

(11)

145

447

749

132

1,462

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Supplementary people information

Global

Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Headcount (year end)
Employed workers
Fixed-term workers

Non-employed workers (NEW)

Non-outsourced NEW2
Outsourced NEW3

Headcount (12-month average)

Male
FTE
Headcount

Female
FTE
Headcount

Nationalities

Position type

Executive and non-executive director
Female executive and non-executive director

Management Team and their direct reports4
Female Management Team and their direct reports
Senior leadership5
Female senior leadership

Rest of employees
Female rest of employees

Employment type

Business FTE
Business headcount
Business female headcount

Support services FTE
Support services headcount
Female support services headcount

Region

Greater China & North Asia (GCNA) FTE
GCNA headcount
GCNA female headcount

ASEAN & South Asia (ASA) FTE
ASA headcount
ASA female headcount

Africa & Middle East (AME) FTE
AME headcount
AME female headcount

Europe & Americas (EA) FTE
EA headcount
EA female headcount

2020

 83,601 
 83,657 
 82,084 
 1,573 
 11,632 
5,765
5,867
 84,740 

 45,632 
 45,644 

 37,969 
 38,013 

 131 

2020

 13 
 4 

129
41
 4,196 
 1,236 

 79,461 
 36,777 

2020

 34,883 
 34,905 
 18,016 

 48,717 
 48,752 
 19,997 

2020

 20,045 
 20,057 
 12,779 

 48,312 
 48,328 
 18,831 

 10,694 
 10,695 
 4,652 

 4,550 
 4,577 
 1,751 

2019

% change1

 84,332 
 84,398 
 82,494 
 1,904 
 11,104 
 6,102 
 5,002 
 83,938 

 45,504 
 45,518 

 38,828 
 38,880 

 129 

2019

 13 
 4 

132
41
4,076
 1,162 

 80,322 
 37,718 

 (0.9)
 (0.9)
 (0.5)
 (17.4)
 4.8 
 (5.5)
 17.3 
 1.0 

 0.3 
 0.3 

 (2.2)
 (2.2)

 1.6 

% change

 –   
 –   

(2.3)
–
 2.9 
 6.4 

 (1.1)
 (2.5)

2019

% change

 37,091 
 37,117 
 19,254 

 47,241 
 47,281 
 19,626 

 (6.0)
 (6.0)
 (6.4)

 3.1 
 3.1 
 1.9 

2019

% change

 20,842 
 20,857 
 13,244 

 47,597 
 47,619 
 18,909 

 11,579 
 11,581 
 4,966 

 4,314 
 4,341 
 1,761 

 (3.8)
 (3.8)
 (3.5)

 1.5 
 1.5 
 (0.4)

 (7.6)
 (7.7)
 (6.3)

 5.5 
 5.4 
 (0.6)

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Supplementary information

Supplementary people information

Age

< 30 years FTE
< 30 years headcount
< 30 years female headcount

30-50 years FTE
30-50 years headcount
30-50 years female headcount

> 50 years FTE
> 50 years headcount
> 50 years female headcount

Talent management

Global voluntary turnover rate (%)
Global turnover rate (%)

Male (%)
Female (%)

GCNA (%)
ASA (%)
AME (%)
EA (%)

< 30 years (%)
30-50 years (%)
> 50 years (%)

Average tenure (years) – Male
Average tenure (years) – Female

Roles filled internally (%)

of which filled by females (%)

New female employees (%)

Employees with completed performance appraisal (%)
Absenteeism rate6 (%)

Learning7

Employees receiving training (%)
Employees receiving training (excluding mandatory learning) (%)

Senior leadership (%)5

Average number of training days per employee (including mandatory learning)
Average cost of training per employee8

Work-related health and safety
Fatalities9
Major injuries10

2020

 15,979 
 15,984 
 8,409 

 60,881 
 60,912 
 26,641 

 6,741 
 6,761 
 2,963 

2020

7.3%
9.8%

9.9%
9.7%

9.8%
9.8%
9.6%
10.7%

14.1%
8.2%
12.7%

 7.0 
 7.6 

39.6%
41.1%

2019

% change

 19,079 
 19,087 
 10,163 

 59,027 
 59,063 
 25,965 

 6,226 
 6,248 
 2,752 

2019

12.7%
16.1%

16.8%
15.3%

15.1%
17.0%
14.7%
15.4%

23.6%
13.6%
15.3%

6.7
7.0

34.2%
42.6%

 (16.2)
 (16.3)
 (17.3)

 3.1 
 3.1 
 2.6 

 8.3 
 8.2 
 7.7 

% change

 (42.8)
 (39.0)

 (40.9)
 (36.6)

 (35.0)
 (42.3)
 (35.0)
 (30.6)

 (40.3)
 (39.9)
 (17.1)

 5.6 
 8.2 

 15.5 
 (3.4)

39.6%

45.2%

 (12.3)

97.7%
1.3%

2020

98.0%
97.9%
99.7%

 3.6 
 567 

2020

 1 
 23 

99.9%
1.6%

2019

97.8%
97.6%
99.8%

 3.2 
773

2019

 3 
 46 

 (2.2)
 (16.8)

% change

 0.2 
 0.3 
 (0.04)

 10.8 
 (26.6)

% change

 (66.7)
 (50.0)

1   For all metrics expressed as a percentage, percentage change means percentage point change

2   Non-outsourced NEWs are resources engaged on a time and materials basis where task selection and supervision is the responsibility of the Group, such as 

agency workers. References to colleagues in this report is FTE plus non-outsourced NEWs

3   Outsourced NEWs are arrangements with a third-party vendor where the delivery is based on a specific service or outcome at an agreed price, irrespective of the 

number of resources required to perform the service. These resources are not considered as the Group’s headcount

4  Management Team and colleagues who report to them, excluding administrative or executive support roles (personal assistants, business planning managers). 

Includes Group Head of Internal Audit and Company Secretary.

5   Senior leadership is defined as Managing Directors and Bands 4 (including Management Team)

6   Represents health-related absence including quarantine in respect of COVID-19. The metric has been updated to include disability-related leave and 2019 has 

been refreshed for comparison. Excludes Korea

7   Learning metrics have been updated to reflect only active employees at year end rather than active and terminated employees. 2019 has been updated for 

comparison

8   Average cost of training per employee includes cost of learning management system

9   Includes commuting 

10  Per UK Health and Safety Executive definition. 2019 has been updated due to recategorisation

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Supplementary sustainability information

Business: sustainable finance 

Employees trained in environmental and social risk management

Employees trained1

1   Employees targeted for training are those in client-facing roles and relevant support teams. 

Environmental and social risk management

2020

1,604

2020

1,090

2019

1,149

2019

1,127

2018

1,308

2018

827

Number of transactions reviewed

Equator Principles

Total 2018

Total 2019*

Total 2020

Project finance mandates

Project-related corporate loans 

Cat A1

Cat B2

Cat C3

Cat A

Cat B

Cat C

4

6

4

7

7

8

–

 – 

 – 

–

1

2

–

1

1

–

2

 – 

Project 
advisory 
mandates

3

 – 

 – 

*  To align with the Equator Principles reporting requirements, the data in this document has been restated since our 2019 Annual Report. The information restated 

includes the change of 1 financial product, 1 country and 1 industry.

2020

Sector

Mining

Infrastructure

Oil and gas

Renewables

Telecoms

Power

Other

Region

GCNA

ASA

AME

EA

Designation4

Designated

Non-designated

Independent review

Yes

No

–

–

1

2

–

1

–

1

–

2

1

1

3

4

–

–

–

2

5

–

1

–

–

3

4

1

1

7

8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1

–

–

–

1

1

–

1

–

–

2

2

–

–

1

–

–

–

–

–

–

1

1

–

1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1 

2 

’Cat A’ or Category A are projects with potential significant adverse environmental and social risks and/or impacts that are diverse, irreversible or unprecedented

’Cat B’ or Category B are projects with potential limited adverse environmental and social risks and/or impacts that are few in number, generally site-specific, 
largely reversible and readily addressed through mitigation measures

3 

’Cat C’ or Category C are projects with minimal or no adverse environmental and social risks and/or impacts

4 

’Designation’ is split into designated and non-designated countries. Designated countries are deemed by the Equator Principles to have robust environmental 
and social governance, legislation systems and institutional capacity designed to protect their people and the natural environment. Non-designated countries 
are countries that are not found on the list of designated countries. The list of countries can be found at www.equator-principles.com

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Supplementary information

Supplementary sustainability information

Responsible company

Environment

Offices reporting
Net internal area of occupied property (m2)

Green lease clause inclusion (%)

Occupied net internal area where data is collected (%)

Full-time employees (FTE)

Annual operating income from 1 October to 30 September 
($m)

Greenhouse gas emissions – absolute (tonnes CO2eq/year)
Scope 1 emissions (combustion of fuels)

Scope 2 emissions (purchased electricity)

Scope 1 and 2 emissions

Scope 3 emissions with distance uplift (air travel)

Scope 3 emissions (Global Data Centre)

Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions – intensity
Scope 1 and 2 emissions/m2 (kg CO2eq/m2/year)
Scope 1 and 2 emissions/FTE (tonnes CO2eq/FTE/year)
Scope 3 emissions/FTE with distance uplift (tonnes CO2eq/
FTE/year)
Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions/m2 (kg CO2eq/m2/year)
Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions/FTE (tonnes CO2eq/FTE/year)
Scope 1 and 2 emissions/$m operating income (tonnes 
CO2eq/$m/year)
Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions/$m operating income (tonnes 
CO2eq/$m/year)
Environmental resource efficiency

Energy

Indirect non-renewable energy consumption (GWh/year)

Indirect renewable energy consumption (GWh/year)

Direct non-renewable energy consumption (GWh/year)

On-site renewable energy consumption (MWh/year)

Energy consumption (GWh/year)

Energy consumption/FTE (kWh/FTE/year)
Energy consumption/m2 (kWh/m2/year)

Water

Water consumption (ML/year)
Water consumption/FTE (m3/FTE/year)
Water consumption/m2 (kL/m2/year)

Paper

Print paper consumption (ktonnes/year)

Print paper consumption/FTE (kg/FTE/year)

Waste

Waste (ktonnes/year)

Waste/FTE (kg/FTE/year)

Waste reused or recycled (%)

Retired IT equipment reused or recycled (ktonnes/year)

See 
footnote:

2020

2019

2018

Measured

Scaled up Measured Scaled up Measured Scaled up

756

164

 – 

174

 –

 933,132   1,050,414 

 825,088   1,154,999 

822,623 1,185,929

1

2

3

4

5

5

5

5

5

6

7

8

9

85

89

82

71

 – 

 – 

78

69

 –

 –

74,316

83,657

73,094

84,398

62,420

85,402

15,233

 – 

15,200

 –

14,958

 3,589 

 3,988 

 3,435 

 4,542 

4,467

8,584

 102,477 

 113,870 

 98,383 

 141,771 

104,267

139,366

 106,066 

 117,858 

 101,818 

 146,313 

108,734

147,950

31,617

33,811

87,295

94,043

106,636

121,464

–

29,562

 – 

 46,362 

 –

21,523

 137,683 

 181,231 

189,113  286,718 

215,370  290,937 

 114 

 1.43 

 112 

 1.41 

 0.40 

 0.40 

 148 

 1.85 

 – 

 – 

164

13

15

707

192

 173 

 2.17 

 7.74 

 11.90 

184

14

16

796

216

2,260

2,544

205

205

363

4

0.39

0.93

11.2

3.67

43

23

0.25

483

6

0.46

–

–

–

123

1.39

1.11

 229 

2.59

 – 

 – 

154

16

14

537

184

2,522

223

425

6

0.51

1.41

16.96

4.8

66

35

0.33

127

1.73

1.11

 248 

 3.40 

9.63

 18.86 

223

17

19

555

258

3,061

224

654

8

0.57

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

125

1.73

1.42

 245 

 3.41 

9.89

 19.45 

224

17

31

458

272

3,187

230

916

11

0.77

1.49

–

132

1.74

1.42

 262 

3.45

–

–

162

17

18

458

198

3,167

240

605

10

0.74

1.05

17.70

5.1

81

46

0.19

1  Percentage of green lease clause inclusion in all new and renewed leases within the reporting year. Refer to the eco-efficiency criteria for more information

2  For environmental reporting purposes, full-time employees (FTE) refers to the Group’s headcount as at 31 December 2020

3  Scaled up figures for prior periods, and derivatives of this figure, have been restated.

4  Scope 3 emissions calculated from total energy consumption from our outsourced global data centres

5  From 2020 we have consolidated scope 3 emissions from data centres into our total scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions figure. Prior periods, and derivatives of this figure, 

have been restated

6 

Indirect non-renewable energy refers to purchased electricity from non-renewable sources

7 

Indirect renewable energy refers to purchased electricity from off-site renewable sources

8  Direct renewable energy refers to the gross calorific values of renewable fuels consumed on-site

9  Measured waste produced overall has reduced year-on-year mainly due to COVID-19. However more non-recycled personal protective equipment (PPE) was 

disposed of, reducing our recycling rate accordingly. We currently do not measure waste in properties < 10,000 square feet so the scaled-up value allows for this

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Additional notes on environment data
The emissions within our inventory correspond to a reporting period of 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020. This is to allow 
sufficient time for independent assurance to be gained prior to the publication of results. Accordingly, the operating income 
used in this inventory corresponds to the same period rather than the calendar year used in financial reporting. This is consistent 
with international carbon-reporting practice.

We use measured data to calculate our energy and water use from across our properties, which we then scale up to reflect  
the portion of the portfolio we do not gather measurements from. For 2020, we significantly increased the proportion of our 
property portfolio from which we gathered measured data, which is measured on a square footage basis. For paper and 
business travel, it is defined per full-time employee. 

Total energy use is normalised to reflect periods of vacancy in certain sites during the reporting period.

Net internal areas used for water use intensity do not include sites that have reported zero water consumption in  
demised areas.

Warehouses, empty land, car parks, unoccupied sites for business continuity purposes, residential properties, space occupied  
by automated teller machines, vaults and space sub-let to tenants are excluded from this extrapolation.

Scope 3 emissions are drawn from reliable data collected from 33 countries, based on seating class and distance flown.

As we operate largely outside of the UK, all flights domestic or international with flight distance of less than 463km, labelled  
by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (DBEIS) as domestic flights, have been classified as short haul. 
All flights with distance flown ranging from 463 to 1,108km, labelled by DBEIS as short haul have been classified as medium haul.

We use an independent third-party assurance provider to verify our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2020, our measured 
Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions were assured by Global Documentation Ltd, ensuring the accuracy and credibility of our 
reporting. 

Read our carbon emission criteria at  
sc.com/environmentcriteria

Read our independent assurance report at  
sc.com/environmentalassurance

Financial crime prevention

Staff completing External Financial Crime Risk e-learning  
(which includes AML, Sanctions, ABC and Fraud Risks) 

Staff completing Internal Financial Crime Risk e-learning 
(which includes AML, Sanctions, ABC and Fraud Risks)

Staff completing Sanctions e-learning

Staff completing Anti-Money Laundering (AML) e-learning

Staff completing Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC) e-learning

2020 
%

99.9

99.9

99.9

2019 
%

2018 
%

99.9

99.9

99.9

99.9

99.9

99.9

In 2020, the Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) e-learning courses have merged into External and Internal Financial Crime Risk courses (with the stand-alone 
Sanctions course scheduled to drop in 2021); fraud content was newly introduced in both the External and Internal Risks Courses in 2020

Computing method : (Completed + Due)/(Total Population – Untagged) = rate of completion

Data excludes Korea which manages its learning on a different system/platform

Data is the “Tagged” population

Communities: Inclusive communities

Community expenditure

Total ($million)

Cash contributions

Employee time (non-cash item)
Gifts in kind (non-cash item)1

Management costs

Total (direct investment by the Group)

Leverage2

Total (incl. leverage)

Percentage of prior year operating profit (PYOP)

1   Gifts in kind comprises all non-monetary donations 

2   Leverage data relates to the proceeds from staff and other fundraising activity 

2020

71.5

11.6

1.1

4.4

88.6

7.1

95.7

2.58

2019

27.5

16.9

0.3

4.5

49.2

1.9

51.1

2.01

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22.9

18.8

0.1

4.5

46.3

2.9

49.2

2.04

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Supplementary information

2021 Sustainability Aspirations

2021 Sustainability Aspirations

Pillar one: sustainable finance

Theme

Aspiration: We will:

Infrastructure
Everyone should have access to safe, 
reliable and affordable power and 
infrastructure which transforms lives 
and strengthens economies 

Climate change
Climate change is one of today’s 
greatest challenges and addressing 
it is essential to promote sustainable 
economic growth

Facilitate project financing services for $40 billion of infrastructure 
projects that promote sustainable development that align to our 
verified Green and Sustainable Product Framework

Facilitate $35 billion worth of project financing services, M&A advisory, 
debt structuring, transaction banking and lending services for 
renewable energy that aligns to our verified Green and Sustainable 
Product Framework

Only provide financial services to clients who are:
•  By Jan 2021, less than 100% dependent on earnings from thermal 

coal (based on % EBITDA at group level)

•  By Jan 2025, less than 60% dependent on earnings from thermal coal 

(based on % EBITDA at group level)

•  By Jan 2027, less than 40% dependent on earnings from thermal coal 

(based on % EBITDA at group level)

•  By Jan 2030, less than 5% dependent on earnings from thermal coal 

(based on % EBITDA at group level)

Commit to measuring, managing and reducing emissions associated 
with our financing of clients to support our objective to achieve  
net zero by 2050.  We will develop and consult with shareholders, 
investors, clients and civil society on a definition, methodology, targets 
and timeline.

Target date

Jan 2020 – Dec 2024

Jan 2020 – Dec 2024

Jan 2020 – Jan 2030

Jan 2021 – Dec 2021 

Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs are the heart of  
local economies, creating jobs  
and empowering people

Provide $15 billion of financing to small business clients (Business 
Banking)

Jan 2020 – Dec 2024

Provide $3 billion of financing to microfinance institutions

Jan 2020 – Dec 2024

Retail Banking
Enabling individuals to contribute to 
sustainable development through 
core banking products

Commerce
Trade creates jobs and contributes 
to economies by enabling people to 
connect across borders 

Launch a suite of five core sustainability-focused Retail Banking 
products in selected markets across our footprint

Jan 2021 – Dec 2022

Bank 10,000 of our clients’ international and domestic networks of 
suppliers and buyers through banking the ecosystem programmes

Jan 2020 – Dec 2024

Digital
Everyone should have access to 
digital banking products enabling 
safe, efficient and inclusive banking

Roll out digital-only bank in a total of 12 markets

Double the number of clients we bank in Africa and the Middle East  
to 3.2 million

Jan 2020 – Dec 2021

Jan 2020 – Dec 2021

Impact Finance
Innovative financial products and 
partnerships can help us solve  
global development challenges  
and improve the lives of millions  
in our markets

Develop a tailored Impact Profile for all Private Banking clients 
providing a framework that enables them to understand their passions 
and harness capital market solutions to support the UN Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGs)

Triple the percentage of sustainable investing assets under 
management1

Roll out environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores for 
single-holding investments and funds where applicable ESG scores  
are available from third-party data providers

Jan 2020 – Dec 2024

Jan 2021 – Dec 2024

Jan 2021 – Dec 2021

1  This Aspiration has been updated for 2021 to reflect a measurement basis of assets under management instead of portion of solutions

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Pillar two: responsible company

Theme

Aspiration: We will:

People
Our people are our greatest  
asset, and our diversity drives our 
business success 

Environment
Reducing our own impact on the 
environment will protect our planet 
for the benefit of our communities

Embed an integrated health and wellbeing strategy to support 
building and re-skilling a future-ready, diverse workforce

Support all employees to develop a personalised growth plan to reflect 
the future skills needed to respond to the changing and digitised 
nature of work

Increase gender representation: 35% women in senior roles 

Increase our ‘Culture of Inclusion’ score to 84.5% with an interim target: 
•  Dec 2021: 80%

Reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) to net zero by 
2030 with interim targets: 
•  Dec 2021: 106,000 tCO2e 
•  Dec 2025: 60,000 tCO2e
Source all energy from renewable sources 

Join the Climate Group ‘RE100’ 

Achieve and maintain flight emissions 28% lower than our 2019 baseline 
of 94,000 tonnes

Reduce waste per colleague to 40kg/FTE/year 

Recycle 90% of waste 

Develop a methodology to measure Scope 3 emissions from our  
supply chain

Target date

Jan 2020 – Dec 2021

Jan 2020 – Dec 2021

Sep 2016 – Dec 2025

Jan 2020 – Dec 2024

Jan 2019 – Dec 2030

Jan 2020 – Dec 2030

Jan 2021 – Dec 2021

Jan 2021 – Dec 2023

Jan 2020 – Dec 2025

Jan 2020 – Dec 2025

Jan 2021 – Dec 2021

Conduct
Good conduct and high ethical 
standards are essential in achieving 
fair outcomes for our clients

Offset all residual emissions from our operations (Scope 1 and 2, Scope 
3 flights, waste and data centres)

Jan 2021 – Dec 2021

Learn from risks identified through concerns raised via our Speaking Up 
Programme and Conduct Plans and publish an annual Threats and 
Themes Report

Ongoing

Develop enhanced internal policies and guidelines on privacy, data 
ethics and algorithmic fairness, and embed a new governance 
framework for all data-related risks

Jan 2020 – Dec 2021

Financial Crime Compliance
Financial crime has serious social and 
economic consequences, harming 
individuals and communities

Tackle financial crimes by contributing to developing typologies and 
red flags for financial flows, training frontline staff to identify potential 
suspicious transactions and participating in public-private partnerships 
to share intelligence and good practices

Ongoing

Deliver at least 50 correspondent banking academies

Jan 2021 – Dec 2023

Pillar three: inclusive communities

Theme

Aspiration: We will:

Target date

Community engagement
Everyone deserves economic 
opportunities that enable them  
to learn, earn and grow

Invest 0.75% of prior year operating profit (PYOP) in our communities

Ongoing

Raise $75m for Futuremakers by Standard Chartered

Jan 2019 – Dec 2023

Education: reach one million girls and young women through Goal

Jan 2006 – Dec 2023

Employability: reach 100,000 young people

Entrepreneurship: reach 50,000 young people, and micro and small 
businesses

Jan 2019 – Dec 2023

Jan 2019 – Dec 2023

Increase participation for employee volunteering to 55%

Jan 2020 – Dec 2023

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Supplementary information

Shareholder information

Shareholder information

Dividend and interest payment dates
Ordinary shares
Results and dividend announced
Ex-dividend date 
Record date for dividend
Last date to amend currency election instructions for cash dividend
Dividend payment date

Preference shares
73∕8 per cent non-cumulative irredeemable preference shares of £1 each
81∕4 per cent non-cumulative irredeemable preference shares of £1 each
6.409 per cent non-cumulative redeemable preference shares of $5 each

7.014 per cent non-cumulative redeemable preference shares of $5 each

1st half yearly dividend
1 April 2021
1 April 2021
30 January and 
30 April 2021
30 January 2021

Final dividend
25 February 2021
4 (UK) 3 (HK) March 2021
 5 March 2021
21 April 2021
 20 May 2021

2nd half yearly dividend
1 October 2021
1 October 2021
30 July and 
30 October 2021
30 July 2021

Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on 
Wednesday 12 May 2021 at 11.00am UK time (6.00pm Hong 
Kong time). Further details regarding the format, location and 
business to be transacted at the meeting will be disclosed  
within the 2021 Notice of AGM.

Details of voting at the Company’s AGM and of proxy votes cast 
can be found on the Company’s website at sc.com/agm

Interim results
The interim results will be announced to the London Stock 
Exchange, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and  
put on the Company’s website.

Country-by-country reporting
In accordance with the requirements of the Capital 
Requirements (country-by-country reporting) Regulations 
2013, the Group will publish additional country-by-country 
information in respect of the year ended 31 December 2020, 
on or before 31 December 2021. We have also published our 
approach to tax and tax policy.

This information will be available on the Group’s website at sc.com

ShareCare
ShareCare is available to shareholders on the Company’s UK 
register who have a UK address and bank account. It allows 
you to hold your Standard Chartered PLC shares in a nominee 
account. Your shares will be held in electronic form so you will 
no longer have to worry about keeping your share certificates 
safe. If you join ShareCare, you will still be invited to attend the 
Company’s AGM and you receive any dividend at the same 
time as everyone else. ShareCare is free to join and there are 
no annual fees to pay.

If you would like to receive more information, please visit our 
website at sc.com/shareholders or contact the shareholder 
helpline on 0370 702 0138.

Donating shares to ShareGift
Shareholders who have a small number of shares often find  
it uneconomical to sell them. An alternative is to consider 
donating them to the charity ShareGift (registered charity 
1052686), which collects donations of unwanted shares until 
there are enough to sell and uses the proceeds to support UK 
charities. There is no implication for capital gains tax (no gain 
or loss) when you donate shares to charity, and UK taxpayers 

442

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

may be able to claim income tax relief on the value of  
their donation.

Further information can be obtained from the Company’s registrars 
or from ShareGift on 020 7930 3737 or from sharegift.org

Bankers’ Automated Clearing System (BACS)
Dividends can be paid straight into your bank or building 
society account.

Please register online at investorcentre.co.uk or contact our 
registrar for a mandate form.

Registrars and shareholder enquiries
If you have any enquiries relating to your shareholding and 
you hold your shares on the UK register, please contact our 
registrar Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, 
Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6ZZ or call the shareholder 
helpline number on 0370 702 0138. 

If you hold your shares on the Hong Kong branch register and 
you have enquiries, please contact Computershare Hong 
Kong Investor Services Limited, 17M Floor, Hopewell Centre,  
183 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. 

You can check your shareholding at computershare.com/hk/investors

Substantial shareholders
The Company and its shareholders have been granted partial 
exemption from the disclosure requirements under Part XV of 
the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO). As a result of this 
exemption, shareholders no longer have an obligation under 
Part XV of the SFO (other than Divisions 5, 11 and 12 thereof) to 
notify the Company of substantial shareholding interests, and 
the Company is no longer required to maintain a register of 
interests of substantial shareholders under section 336 of the 
SFO. The Company is, however, required to file with The Stock 
Exchange of Hong Kong Limited any disclosure of interests 
made in the UK.

Taxation
Information on taxation applying to dividends paid to you  
if you are a shareholder in the UK, Hong Kong or the US will  
be sent to you with your dividend documents. Shareholders 
and prospective purchasers should consult an appropriate 
independent professional adviser regarding the tax 
consequences of an investment in shares in light of their 
particular circumstances, including the effect of any national, 
state or local laws.

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Previous dividend payments (unadjusted for the impact of the 2015/2010/2008 rights issues)

Dividend and 
financial year
Final 2008
Interim 2009
Final 2009
Interim 2010
Final 2010
Interim 2011
Final 2011
Interim 2012
Final 2012
Interim 2013
Final 2013
Interim 2014
Final 2014
Interim 2015
Final 2015
Interim 2016
Final 2016
Interim 2017
Final 2017
Interim 2018
Final 2018
Interim 2019
Final 2019
Interim 2020 No dividend declared

Payment date
15 May 2009
8 October 2009
13 May 2010
5 October 2010
11 May 2011
7 October 2011
15 May 2012
11 October 2012
14 May 2013
17 October 2013
14 May 2014
20 October 2014
14 May 2015
19 October 2015
No dividend declared
No dividend declared
No dividend declared
No dividend declared
17 May 2018
22 October 2018
16 May 2019
21 October 2019
Dividend withdrawn

Dividend per ordinary share
42.32c/28.4693p/HK$3.279597
21.23c/13.25177p/HK$1.645304
44.80c/29.54233p/HK$3.478306
23.35c/14.71618p/HK$1.811274/INR0.9841241
46.65c/28.272513p/HK$3.623404/INR1.99751701
24.75c/15.81958125p/HK$1.928909813/INR1.137971251
51.25c/31.63032125p/HK$3.9776083375/INR2.66670151
27.23c/16.799630190p/HK$2.111362463/INR1.3498039501
56.77c/36.5649893p/HK$4.4048756997/INR2.9762835751
28.80c/17.8880256p/HK$2.233204992/INR1.68131
57.20c/33.9211444p/HK$4.43464736/INR3.3546261
28.80c/17.891107200p/HK$2.2340016000/INR1.6718425601
57.20c/37.16485p/HK$4.43329/INR3.5140591
14.40c/9.3979152p/HK$1.115985456/INR0.861393721
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
11.00c/7.88046p/HK$0.86293/INR0.6536433401
6.00c/4.59747p/HK$0.46978/INR0.36961751
15.00c/11.569905p/HK$1.176260/INR0.9576916501
7.00c/5.676776p/HK$0.548723/INR0.4250286001
N/A
N/A

Cost of one new ordinary share 
under share dividend scheme
£8.342/$11.7405
£13.876/$22.799
£17.351/$26.252
£17.394/$27.190
£15.994/$25.649
£14.127/$23.140
£15.723/$24.634
£13.417/$21.041
£17.40/$26.28792
£15.362/$24.07379
£11.949/$19.815
£12.151/$20.207
£9.797/$14.374
£8.5226/$13.34383
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
£7.7600/$10.83451
£6.7104/$8.51952
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

1  The INR dividend is per Indian Depository Receipt

Chinese translation
If you would like a Chinese version of the 2020 Annual Report 
please contact Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services 
Limited, 17M Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, 
Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

二〇二〇年年報之中文譯本可向香港中央證券登記有限公司索取, 
地址:香港灣仔皇后大道東183號合和中心17M樓。

Shareholders on the Hong Kong branch register who have 
asked to receive corporate communications in either  
Chinese or English can change this election by contacting 
Computershare. 

If there is a dispute between any translation and the English 
version of this Annual Report, the English text shall prevail.

Electronic communications
If you hold your shares on the UK register and in future you 
would like to receive the Annual Report electronically rather 
than by post, please register online at: investorcentre.co.uk. 
Then click on ‘register’ and follow the instructions. You will 
need to have your Shareholder or ShareCare reference 
number when you log on. You can find this on your share 
certificate or ShareCare statement. Once registered you  
can also submit your proxy vote and dividend election 
electronically and change your bank mandate or address 
information.

Forward-looking statements 
This document may contain ‘forward-looking statements’ 
that are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as 
assumptions about future events. These forward-looking 
statements can be identified by the fact that they do not 
relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking 
statements often use words such as ‘may’, ‘could’, ‘will’, ‘expect’, 
‘intend’, ‘estimate’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘plan’, ‘seek’, ‘continue’ 
or other words of similar meaning. By their very nature, such 
statements are subject to known and unknown risks and 

uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could 
cause actual results, and the Group’s plans and objectives,  
to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the 
forward-looking statements.

Recipients should not place reliance on, and are cautioned 
about relying on, any forward-looking statements. There are 
several factors which could cause actual results to differ 
materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking 
statements. The factors that could cause actual results to 
differ materially from those described in the forward-looking 
statements include (but are not limited to) changes in global, 
political, economic, business, competitive, market and 
regulatory forces or conditions, future exchange and interest 
rates, changes in tax rates, future business combinations or 
dispositions and other factors specific to the Group. Any 
forward-looking statement contained in this document is 
based on past or current trends and/or activities of the Group 
and should not be taken as a representation that such trends 
or activities will continue in the future.

No statement in this document is intended to be a profit 
forecast or to imply that the earnings of the Group for the 
current year or future years will necessarily match or exceed 
the historical or published earnings of the Group. Each 
forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the 
particular statement. Except as required by any applicable 
laws or regulations, the Group expressly disclaims any 
obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement 
contained within this document, regardless of whether those 
statements are affected as a result of new information, future 
events or otherwise.

Nothing in this document shall constitute, in any jurisdiction, 
an offer or solicitation to sell or purchase any securities  
or other financial instruments, nor shall it constitute a 
recommendation or advice in respect of any securities  
or other financial instruments or any other matter.

Standard Chartered – Annual Report 2020

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Supplementary information Awards

Main awards and accolades in 2020

Major awards 2020

FX-Markets

AsiaRisk 
FX Markets Asia Awards 2020
•  Currency Derivatives House of 

the Year

Euromoney

Euromoney Cash Management 
Survey 2020
(Non Financial Institutions)

•  Best Service Provider – Malaysia

World’s Best Private Banks 2020
•  Global Award, Best Private Bank  

for Millennials

•  Regional Award – Best Private Bank 

for Business Owners in Africa

The Asset

Triple A Sustainable Investing Awards 
for Institutional Investor, ETF, and Asset 
Servicing Providers 2020
•  Best Fund Administrator, Retail Funds 

•  Country Award – Best Private Bank  

– Vietnam, Malaysia

for Kenya

Global Trade Review

GTR Leaders in Trade
•  Best Export Finance Bank

•  Best Service Provider – The Philippines

Project Finance International

FImetrix

FImetrix 2020 Distinguished Provider
•  Distinguished  Provider 2020 – EUR

Global Custodian

Leaders in Custody
•  Multi-market Excellence, APAC

Project Finance International Awards 
2020
•  Changfang Xidao Offshore Wind 

Project 
Asia Pacific Renewables Deal of  
the year

•  SB Energy Six Solar Project 
India Green Deal of the year 

•  Al Dhafra in Abu Dhabi 

•  Relationship Management and  

Middle East Solar Deal of the year 

Client Service, APAC

Global Finance

World’s Best Treasury & Cash  
Management Bank and Providers 
Awards 2020
•  Best Bank for Cash Management 

(Global Winner)

•  Fujairah 3  

Middle East Power Deal of the year 

•  DEWA 5 

Middle East Renewables Deal of  
the year

•  Galaxy 

Middle East Infrastructure Deal of  
the year

•  Best Bank for Cash Management  

•  Nigeria LNG 

•  Best Domestic Custodian – 

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam 
Thailand

•  Best Subcustodian in North Asia – 

South Korea

•  Best Subcustodian in ASEAN/Australia 

– Singapore

•  Best Subcustodian in South Asia – 
Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

•  Best Subcustodian in Middle East – 

Jordan, Bahrain, Oman

•  Best in Asset Servicing in China –  
Best Custodian, Bond Connect

Triple A Treasury, Trade, Sustainable 
Supply Chain and Risk Management 
Awards 2020
•  Best Working Capital & Trade Finance 

Service Provider 

•  Best Fintech Partner

•  Best Renminbi Bank

•  Best Renminbi Bank: Hong Kong

•  Best Renminbi Bank: Japan

•  Best Renminbi Bank: Nigeria

•  Best Renminbi Bank: Pakistan

Asia Pacific

•  Best Bank for Cash Management 

Bangladesh, Botswana, Hong Kong, 
South Korea

World’s Best Trade Finance Provider 
Awards 2020
•  Best Trade Finance Provider  

Asia Pacific

•  Best Trade Finance Provider  

Middle East

•  Best Trade Finance Provider  

Bangladesh

World’s Best Supply Chain Finance 
Providers Awards 2020
•  Best Supply Chain Provider  

Middle East

African LNG Deal of the year

•  Best Renminbi Bank: Philippines

•  Dogger Bank 

Global Green Deal of the year

Treasury Management 
International (TMI)

•  Best Renminbi Bank: Singapore

•  Best Renminbi Bank: South Africa

•  Best Renminbi Bank: Thailand

•  Best Renminbi Bank: UAE

TMI Awards for Innovation & Excellence 
2020
•  Best Bank for Cash & Liquidity 
Management – Asia Pacific

•  Best Service Provider: E-Solutions 

Partner (China)

•  Best Service Provider: E-Solutions 

Partner (Hong Kong)

•  Best Bank for Trade Finance & 

Financial Supply Chain – Asia Pacific 

•  Best in Treasury and Working Capital 

– SMEs (South Korea)

•  Best COVID-19 Response – Highly 

Commended: Hong Kong Council  
of Social Service

•  Best API Project – Highly Commended: 

Bharti Airtel Kenya

•  Best Trade Finance (South Korea)

•  Best Digital Solutions: Best Payments 

and Collection Solution in Bangladesh 
(for Cloudwell Limited)

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•  Best Digital Solutions: Best Payments 
and Collection Solution in Hong Kong 
(for Hong Kong Jockey Club)

•  Best Digital Solutions: Best Payments 
and Collection Solution in Hong Kong 
(for Manulife)

•  Best Digital Solutions: Best Payments 
and Collection Solution in India (for 
Castrol India)

The Banker

2020 Innovation in Digital Banking 
Awards
•  2020 Innovation in Digital Banking 

Awards – Payments

Trade Finance Global

International Trade Awards 2020 in 
cooperation with BAFT
•  Best Trade Financier

Asia Money

2020 Asiamoney New Silk Road 
Finance Awards
•  Best International Bank in the  
Region for BRI (Southeast Asia)

•  Best Bank for Infrastructure/ 
Project Finance in the Region  
(Middle East & Africa)

The Digital Banker

Digital CX Awards 2020
•  Winner: Best Private Bank for 

Customer Experience

•  Winner: Best Digital Customer 
Experience in Private Banking

Financial Times
•  Listed among 2020 Europe  

Diversity Leaders

American Universities China 
Association
•  Most attractive employer to  

overseas-study students

HR, diversity & inclusion 
awards 

China

Top Human Resources  
Management Awards
•  Top graduate employer

•  Top human resources management

Universum 2020

•  Most attractive employer

Vietnam

HR Asia
•  Listed in Best Companies to  

Work For in Asia

UAE

UAE Government Gender Balance 
Council
•  Best financial institution in  
supporting gender balance

Global Views Monthly Magazine
•  CSR Award in Happy Enterprise

CommonWealth Magazine
•  Foreign companies for  

Excellence in CSR

Taiwan Enterprise Sustainability Award 
of Taiwan Corporate Sustainability 
Academy (TCSA)
•  The Most Prestigious  

Sustainability Award –  
Foreign Corporate

USA

Indonesia

Great Place to Work
•  Great Place to Work Certification 

(85% say we’re a great place to work)

TOP CSR Awards 2020 # Star 4
•  TOP CSR Awards 2020

India

India Workplace Equality Index
•  SILVER Employer

Singapore

HR Excellence Awards
•  Excellence in HR Innovation,  

Gold award

Sustainability indices

We are listed in the FTSE4Good Index. 
The FTSE4Good measures the 
performance of companies that  
meet globally recognised corporate 
responsibility standards.

We participate in the CDP Climate 
questionnaire.

Sustainability and 
community engagement 
awards

China

Singapore

National Volunteer and Philanthropy 
Centre (NVPC)
•  Champion of Good

Community Chest
•  Charity Silver Award

•  Community Spirit Platinum Award

Thailand

American Chamber of Commerce in 
Thailand
•  AMCHAM CSR Excellence Recognition 

Award (Platinum level)

Jordan

International Business Magazine
•  Best CSR Bank

Pakistan

Diversity Hub Pakistan’s Global 
Diversity and Inclusion Benchmarks 
Awards 2020
•  Progressive – Connecting Diversity 
and Inclusion and Sustainability

UAE

14th Middle East Financial Markets & 
Public Companies Excellence awards
•  CSR Program for the year

International Investor magazine 2021
•  Excellence In CSR – Start-up Program 

Of The Year/Africa & Middle East  2021

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Society Value Co-creation Committee
•  Outstanding CSR Program Award 

Global Finance Magazine
•  Outstanding Crisis Leadership – 

Healthcare

Jinrongjie.com 
•  Outstanding Charity  

Program Award 

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Supplementary information Glossary

Glossary

AT1 or Additional Tier 1 capital
Additional Tier 1 capital consists of 
instruments other than Common  
Equity Tier 1 that meet the Capital 
Requirements Regulation (CRR)  
criteria for inclusion in Tier 1 capital.

Additional value adjustment
See Prudent valuation adjustment.

Advanced Internal Rating Based  
(AIRB) approach
The AIRB approach under the Basel 
framework is used to calculate credit  
risk capital based on the Group’s own 
estimates of prudential parameters.

Alternative performance measures
A financial measure of historical or 
future financial performance, financial 
position, or cash flows, other than a 
financial measure defined or specified  
in the applicable financial reporting 
framework.

ASEAN
Association of South East Asian  
Nations (ASEAN) which includes the 
Group’s operations in Brunei, Indonesia, 
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, 
Thailand and Vietnam.

AUM or Assets under management
Total market value of assets such as 
deposits, securities and funds held by 
the Group on behalf of the clients.

Basel II
The capital adequacy framework  
issued by the Basel Committee on 
Banking Supervision (BCBS) in June 
2006 in the form of the International 
Convergence of Capital Measurement 
and Capital Standards.

Basel III
The global regulatory standards on 
bank capital adequacy and liquidity, 
originally issued in December 2010 and 
updated in June 2011. In December 2017, 
the BCBS published a document setting 
out the finalisation of the Basel III 
framework. The latest requirements 
issued in December 2017 will be 
implemented from 2022.

BCBS or Basel Committee on Banking 
Supervision
A forum on banking supervisory matters 
which develops global supervisory 
standards for the banking industry. Its 
members are officials from 45 central 
banks or prudential supervisors from  
27 countries and territories.

Basic earnings per share (EPS)
Represents earnings divided by the 
basic weighted average number  
of shares.

Basis point (bps)
One hundredth of a per cent (0.01 per 
cent); 100 basis points is 1 per cent. 

CRD or Capital Requirements Directive 
A capital adequacy legislative  
package adopted by EU member states. 
CRD comprises the recast Capital 
Requirements Directive and the  
Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR). 
The package implements the Basel III 
framework together with transitional 
arrangements for some of its 
requirements. CRD IV came into force  
on 1 January 2014. CRR II and CRD V 
amending the existing package  
came into force in June 2019 with  
most changes starting to apply from  
28 June 2021.

Capital-lite income
Income derived from products with low 
RWA consumption or products which 
are non-funding in nature.

Capital resources
Sum of Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital after 
regulatory adjustments.

CGU or Cash-generating unit
The smallest identifiable group of assets 
that generates cash inflows that are 
largely independent of the cash inflows 
from other assets or groups of assets.

Cash shortfall
The difference between the cash flows 
that are due in accordance with the 
contractual terms of the instrument and 
the cash flows that the Group expects  
to receive over the contractual life of  
the instrument.

Clawback
An amount an individual is required to 
pay back to the Group, which has to be 
returned to the Group under certain 
circumstances.

Commercial real estate
Includes office buildings, industrial 
property, medical centres, hotels, malls, 
retail stores, shopping centres, farm 
land, multi-family housing buildings, 
warehouses, garages, and industrial 
properties. Commercial real estate  
loans are those backed by a package  
of commercial real estate assets.

CET1 or Common Equity Tier 1 capital
Common Equity Tier 1 capital consists  
of the common shares issued by the 
Group and related share premium, 
retained earnings, accumulated other 
comprehensive income and other 
disclosed reserves, eligible non-
controlling interests and regulatory 
adjustments required in the calculation 
of Common Equity Tier 1.

CET1 ratio
A measure of the Group’s CET1 capital 
as a percentage of risk-weighted assets.

Contractual maturity
Contractual maturity refers to the  
final payment date of a loan or other 
financial instrument, at which point all 
the remaining outstanding principal 
and interest is due to be paid.

Countercyclical capital buffer
The countercyclical capital  
buffer (CCyB) is part of a set of 
macroprudential instruments, designed 
to help counter procyclicality in the 
financial system. CCyB as defined in  
the Basel III standard provides for an 
additional capital requirement of up to 
2.5 per cent of risk-weighted assets in a 
given jurisdiction. The Bank of England’s 
Financial Policy Committee has the 
power to set the CCyB rate for the 
United Kingdom. Each bank must 
calculate its ‘institution-specific’ CCyB 
rate, defined as the weighted average 
of the CCyB rates in effect across the 
jurisdictions in which it has credit 
exposures. The institution-specific  
CCyB rate is then applied to a bank’s 
total risk-weighted assets.

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Counterparty credit risk
The risk that a counterparty defaults 
before satisfying its obligations under  
a derivative, a securities financing 
transaction (SFT) or a similar contract.

CCF or Credit conversion factor
An estimate of the amount the Group 
expects a customer to have drawn 
further on a facility limit at the point  
of default. This is either prescribed by 
CRR or modelled by the bank. 

CDS or Credit default swaps
A credit derivative is an arrangement 
whereby the credit risk of an asset (the 
reference asset) is transferred from the 
buyer to the seller of protection. A credit 
default swap is a contract where the 
protection seller receives premium or 
interest-related payments in return  
for contracting to make payments to 
the protection buyer upon a defined 
credit event. Credit events normally 
include bankruptcy, payment default  
on a reference asset or assets, or 
downgrades by a rating agency.

Credit institutions
An institution whose business is to 
receive deposits or other repayable 
funds from the public and to grant 
credits for its own account.

Credit risk mitigation
Credit risk mitigation is a process to 
mitigate potential credit losses from any 
given account, customer or portfolio by 
using a range of tools such as collateral, 
netting agreements, credit insurance, 
credit derivatives and guarantees.

CVA or Credit valuation adjustments
An adjustment to the fair value of 
derivative contracts that reflects the 
possibility that the counterparty may 
default such that the Group would  
not receive the full market value of  
the contracts.

Customer accounts
Money deposited by all individuals  
and companies which are not credit 
institutions including securities sold 
under repurchase agreement (see repo/
reverse repo). Such funds are recorded 
as liabilities in the Group’s balance sheet 
under customer accounts.

Days past due
One or more days that interest and/or 
principal payments are overdue based 
on the contractual terms.

DVA or Debit valuation adjustment
An adjustment to the fair value of 
derivative contracts that reflects the 
possibility that the Group may default 
and not pay the full market value  
of contracts.

Debt securities
Debt securities are assets on the Group’s 
balance sheet and represent certificates 
of indebtedness of credit institutions, 
public bodies or other undertakings 
excluding those issued by central banks.

Debt securities in issue
Debt securities in issue are transferable 
certificates of indebtedness of the 
Group to the bearer of the certificate. 
These are liabilities of the Group and 
include certificates of deposits.

Deferred tax asset
Income taxes recoverable in future 
periods in respect of deductible 
temporary differences between the 
accounting and tax base of an asset or 
liability that will result in tax deductible 
amounts in future periods, the carry-
forward of tax losses or the carry-
forward of unused tax credits.

Deferred tax liability
Income taxes payable in future periods 
in respect of taxable temporary 
differences between the accounting 
and tax base of an asset or liability  
that will result in taxable amounts in 
future periods.

Default
Financial assets in default represent 
those that are at least 90 days past  
due in respect of principal or interest 
and/or where the assets are otherwise 
considered to be unlikely to pay, 
including those that are credit-impaired.

Defined benefit obligation
The present value of expected future 
payments required to settle the 
obligations of a defined benefit scheme 
resulting from employee service.

Defined benefit scheme
Pension or other post-retirement  
benefit scheme other than a defined 
contribution scheme.

Defined contribution scheme
A pension or other post-retirement 
benefit scheme where the employer’s 
obligation is limited to its contributions 
to the fund.

Delinquency
A debt or other financial obligation  
is considered to be in a state of 
delinquency when payments are 
overdue. Loans and advances are 
considered to be delinquent when 
consecutive payments are missed.  
Also known as arrears.

Deposits by banks
Deposits by banks comprise amounts 
owed to other domestic or foreign  
credit institutions by the Group including 
securities sold under repo.

Diluted earnings per share (EPS)
Represents earnings divided by the 
weighted average number of shares 
that would have been outstanding 
assuming the conversion of all dilutive 
potential ordinary shares.

Dividend per share
Represents the entitlement of each 
shareholder in the share of the profits  
of the Company. Calculated in the 
lowest unit of currency in which the 
shares are quoted.

Early alert, purely and non-purely 
precautionary
A borrower’s account which exhibits  
risks or potential weaknesses of a 
material nature requiring closer 
monitoring, supervision, or attention  
by management. Weaknesses in such a 
borrower’s account, if left uncorrected, 
could result in deterioration of 
repayment prospects and the likelihood 
of being downgraded to credit grade 12 
or worse. When an account is on  
early alert, it is classified as either  
purely precautionary or non-purely 
precautionary. A purely precautionary 
account is one that exhibits early alert 
characteristics, but these do not present 
any imminent credit concern. If the 
symptoms present an imminent credit 
concern, an account will be considered 
for classification as non-purely 
precautionary.

Effective tax rate
The tax on profit/ (losses) on  
ordinary activities as a percentage  
of profit/(loss) on ordinary activities 
before taxation.

Encumbered assets
On-balance sheet assets pledged or 
used as collateral in respect of certain  
of the Group’s liabilities.

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Supplementary information Glossary

EU or European Union
The European Union (EU) is a political 
and economic union of 27 member 
states that are located primarily  
in Europe.

Eurozone
Represents the 19 EU countries that  
have adopted the euro as their  
common currency.

ECL or Expected credit loss
Represents the present value of 
expected cash shortfalls over the 
residual term of a financial asset, 
undrawn commitment or financial 
guarantee.

Expected loss
The Group measure of anticipated  
loss for exposures captured under  
an internal ratings-based credit risk 
approach for capital adequacy 
calculations. It is measured as the 
Group-modelled view of anticipated 
loss based on probability of default,  
loss given default and exposure at 
default, with a one-year time horizon.

Exposures
Credit exposures represent the amount 
lent to a customer, together with any 
undrawn commitments.

EAD or Exposure at default
The estimation of the extent to which 
the Group may be exposed to a 
customer or counterparty in the event of, 
and at the time of, that counterparty’s 
default. At default, the customer may 
not have drawn the loan fully or may 
already have repaid some of the 
principal, so that exposure is typically 
less than the approved loan limit.

ECAI or External Credit Assessment 
Institution
External credit ratings are used to assign 
risk-weights under the standardised 
approach for sovereigns, corporates 
and institutions. The external ratings  
are from credit rating agencies that are 
registered or certified in accordance 
with the credit rating agencies 
regulation or from a central bank  
issuing credit ratings which is exempt 
from the application of this regulation.

FCA or Financial Conduct Authority
The Financial Conduct Authority 
regulates the conduct of financial  
firms and, for certain firms, prudential 
standards in the UK. It has a strategic 
objective to ensure that the relevant 
markets function well.

Forbearance
Forbearance takes place when a 
concession is made to the contractual 
terms of a loan in response to an 
obligor’s financial difficulties. The Group 
classifies such modified loans as either 
‘Forborne – not impaired loans’ or ‘Loans 
subject to forbearance – impaired’.  
Once a loan is categorised as either of 
these, it will remain in one of these two 
categories until the loan matures or 
satisfies the ‘curing’ conditions described 
in Note 8 to the financial statements.

Forborne – not impaired loans
Loans where the contractual terms  
have been modified due to financial 
difficulties of the borrower, but the  
loan is not considered to be impaired. 
See ‘Forbearance’.

Funded/unfunded exposures
Exposures where the notional amount 
of the transaction is funded or 
unfunded. Represents exposures where 
a commitment to provide future funding 
is made but funds have been released/ 
not released.

FVA or Funding valuation adjustments
FVA reflects an adjustment to fair value 
in respect of derivative contracts that 
reflects the funding costs that the 
market participant would incorporate 
when determining an exit price.

G-SIBs or Global Systemically 
Important Banks
Global banking financial institutions 
whose size, complexity and systemic 
interconnectedness mean that their 
distress or failure would cause significant 
disruption to the wider financial system 
and economic activity. The list of  
G-SIBs is assessed under a framework 
established by the FSB and the BCBS.  
In the EU, the G-SIB framework is 
implemented via CRD and G-SIBs  
are referred to as Global Systemically 
Important Institutions (G-SIIs).

G-SIB buffer
A CET1 capital buffer which results from 
designation as a G-SIB. The G-SIB buffer 
is between 1 per cent and 3.5 per cent, 
depending on the allocation to one  
of five buckets based on the annual 
scoring. In the EU, the G-SIB buffer is 
implemented via CRD as Global 
Systemically Important Institutions 
(G-SII) buffer requirement.

Hong Kong regional hub
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) 
Limited and its subsidiaries including  
the primary operating entities in China, 
Korea and Taiwan. Standard Chartered 
PLC is the ultimate parent company  
of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong 
Kong) Limited.

Interest rate risk
The risk of an adverse impact on the 
Group’s income statement due to 
changes in interest rates.

IRB or internal ratings-based approach
Risk-weighting methodology in 
accordance with the Basel Capital 
Accord where capital requirements  
are based on a firm’s own estimates  
of prudential parameters.

Internal model approach
The approach used to calculate market 
risk capital and RWA with an internal 
market risk model approved by the PRA 
under the terms of CRD/CRR.

IAS or International Accounting 
Standard
A standard that forms part of the 
International Financial Reporting 
Standards framework.

IASB or International Accounting 
Standards Board
An independent standard-setting  
body responsible for the development 
and publication of IFRS, and approving 
interpretations of IFRS standards  
that are recommended by the IFRS 
Interpretations Committee (IFRIC).

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IFRS or International Financial 
Reporting Standards
A set of international accounting 
standards developed and issued by the 
International Accounting Standards 
Board, consisting of principles-based 
guidance contained within IFRSs and 
IASs. All companies that have issued 
publicly traded securities in the EU are 
required to prepare annual and interim 
reports under IFRS and IAS standards 
that have been endorsed by the EU.

IFRIC
The IFRS Interpretations Committee 
supports the IASB in providing 
authoritative guidance on the 
accounting treatment of issues not 
specifically dealt with by existing IFRSs 
and IASs.

Investment grade
A debt security, treasury bill or similar 
instrument with a credit rating 
measured by external agencies  
of AAA to BBB.

Leverage ratio
A ratio introduced under CRD that 
compares Tier 1 capital to total 
exposures, including certain exposures 
held off-balance sheet as adjusted by 
stipulated credit conversion factors. 
Intended to be a simple, non-risk- 
based backstop measure.

Liquidation portfolio
A portfolio of assets which is beyond  
our current risk appetite metrics and is 
held for liquidation.

LCR or Liquidity coverage ratio
The ratio of the stock of high-quality 
liquid assets to expected net cash 
outflows over the following 30 days. 
High-quality liquid assets should be 
unencumbered, liquid in markets during 
a time of stress and, ideally, be central 
bank eligible.

Loan exposure
Loans and advances to customers 
reported on the balance sheet held  
at amortised cost or FVOCI, non-
cancellable credit commitments and 
cancellable credit commitments for 
credit cards and overdraft facilities.

Loans and advances to customers
This represents lending made under 
bilateral agreements with customers 
entered into in the normal course of 
business and is based on the legal form 
of the instrument.

Loans and advances to banks
Amounts loaned to credit institutions 
including securities bought under 
Reverse repo.

LTV or loan-to-value ratio
A calculation which expresses the 
amount of a first mortgage lien as a 
percentage of the total appraised  
value of real property. The loan-to- 
value ratio is used in determining the 
appropriate level of risk for the loan  
and therefore the correct price of the 
loan to the borrower.

Loans past due
Loans on which payments have been 
due for up to a maximum of 90 days 
including those on which partial 
payments are being made.

Loans subject to forbearance – 
impaired
Loans where the terms have been 
renegotiated on terms not consistent 
with current market levels due to 
financial difficulties of the borrower. 
Loans in this category are necessarily 
impaired. See ‘Forbearance’.

Loss rate
Uses an adjusted gross charge-off rate, 
developed using monthly write-off and 
recoveries over the preceding 12 months 
and total outstanding balances.

LGD or Loss given default
The percentage of an exposure that a 
lender expects to lose in the event of 
obligor default.

Low returning clients
See ‘Perennial sub-optimal clients’.

Malus
An arrangement that permits the  
Group to prevent vesting of all or part  
of the amount of an unvested variable 
remuneration award, due to a specific 
crystallised risk, behaviour, conduct or 
adverse performance outcome.

Master netting agreement
An agreement between two 
counterparties that have multiple 
derivative contracts with each other 
that provides for the net settlement of 
all contracts through a single payment, 
in a single currency, in the event of 
default on, or termination of, any  
one contract.

Mezzanine capital
Financing that combines debt and 
equity characteristics. For example,  
a loan that also confers some profit 
participation to the lender.

MREL or minimum requirement for  
own funds and eligible liabilities
A requirement under the Bank Recovery 
and Resolution Directive for EU 
resolution authorities to set a minimum 
requirement for own funds and eligible 
liabilities for banks, implementing the 
FSB’s Total Loss Absorbing Capacity 
(TLAC) standard. MREL is intended to 
ensure that there is sufficient equity and 
specific types of liabilities to facilitate  
an orderly resolution that minimises any 
impact on financial stability and ensures 
the continuity of critical functions and 
avoids exposing taxpayers to loss.

Net asset value (NAV) per share
Ratio of net assets (total assets less  
total liabilities) to the number of 
ordinary shares outstanding at the  
end of a reporting period.

Net exposure
The aggregate of loans and advances 
to customers/loans and advances to 
banks after impairment provisions, 
restricted balances with central banks, 
derivatives (net of master netting 
agreements), investment debt and 
equity securities, and letters of credit 
and guarantees.

NII or Net interest income
The difference between interest 
received on assets and interest paid  
on liabilities.

NSFR or Net stable funding ratio
The ratio of available stable funding  
to required stable funding over a 
one-year time horizon, assuming a 
stressed scenario. It is a longer-term 
liquidity measure designed to restrain 
the amount of wholesale borrowing  
and encourage stable funding over  
a one-year time horizon.

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Supplementary information Glossary

NPLs or non-performing loans
An NPL is any loan that is more than  
90 days past due or is otherwise 
individually impaired. This excludes 
Retail loans renegotiated at or after  
90 days past due, but on which there 
has been no default in interest or 
principal payments for more than 180 
days since renegotiation, and against 
which no loss of principal is expected.

Non-linearity
Non-linearity of expected credit loss 
occurs when the average of expected 
credit loss for a portfolio is higher than 
the base case (median) due to the fact 
that bad economic environment could 
have a larger impact on ECL calculation 
than good economic environment.

Normalised items
See ‘Underlying’ on page 307.

Operating expenses
Staff and premises costs, general and 
administrative expenses, depreciation 
and amortisation. Underlying operating 
expenses exclude expenses as 
described in ‘Underlying earnings’.  
A reconciliation between underlying 
and statutory earnings is contained in 
Note 2 to the financial statements.

Operating income or operating profit
Net interest, net fee and net trading 
income, as well as other operating 
income. Underlying operating income 
represents the income line items  
above, on an underlying basis.  
See ‘Underlying earnings’.

OTC or Over-the-counter derivatives
A bilateral transaction (e.g. derivatives) 
that is not exchange traded and that is 
valued using valuation models.

OCA or Own credit adjustment
An adjustment to the Group’s issued 
debt designated at fair value through 
profit or loss that reflects the possibility 
that the Group may default and not pay 
the full market value of the contracts.

Perennial sub-optimal clients
Clients that have returned below 3% 
return on risk-weighted assets for the 
last three years

Physical risks
The risk of increased extreme weather 
events including flood, drought and sea 
level rise.

Pillar 1
The first pillar of the three pillars of the 
Basel framework which provides the 
approach to calculation of the minimum 
capital requirements for credit, market 
and operational risk. Minimum capital 
requirements are 8 per cent of the 
Group’s risk-weighted assets.

Pillar 2
The second pillar of the three pillars of 
the Basel framework which requires 
banks to undertake a comprehensive 
assessment of their risks and to 
determine the appropriate amounts  
of capital to be held against these  
risks where other suitable mitigants  
are not available.

Pillar 3
The third pillar of the three pillars of  
the Basel framework which aims to 
provide a consistent and comprehensive 
disclosure framework that enhances 
comparability between banks and 
further promotes improvements in  
risk practices.

Priority Banking
Priority Banking customers are 
individuals who have met certain  
criteria for deposits, AUM, mortgage 
loans or monthly payroll. Criteria varies 
by country.

Private equity investments
Equity securities in operating companies 
generally not quoted on a public 
exchange. Investment in private equity 
often involves the investment of capital 
in private companies. Capital for private 
equity investment is raised by retail or 
institutional investors and used to  
fund investment strategies such as 
leveraged buyouts, venture capital, 
growth capital, distressed investments 
and mezzanine capital.

PD or Probability of default
PD is an internal estimate for each 
borrower grade of the likelihood that  
an obligor will default on an obligation 
over a given time horizon.

Probability weighted
Obtained by considering the values the 
metric can assume, weighted by the 
probability of each value occurring.

Profit (loss) attributable to ordinary 
shareholders
Profit (loss) for the year after non-
controlling interests and dividends 
declared in respect of preference  
shares classified as equity.

PVA or Prudent valuation adjustment
An adjustment to CET1 capital to reflect 
the difference between fair value and 
prudent value positions, where the 
application of prudence results in a 
lower absolute carrying value than 
recognised in the financial statements.

PRA or Prudential Regulation Authority
The Prudential Regulation Authority is 
the statutory body responsible for the 
prudential supervision of banks, building 
societies, credit unions, insurers and a 
small number of significant investment 
firms in the UK. The PRA is a part of the 
Bank of England.

Regulatory consolidation
The regulatory consolidation of 
Standard Chartered PLC differs from  
the statutory consolidation in that it 
excludes Standard Chartered Assurance 
Limited and Standard Chartered 
Insurance Limited and includes the full 
consolidation of PT Bank Permata Tbk.

Repo/reverse repo
A repurchase agreement or repo is a 
short-term funding agreement, which 
allows a borrower to sell a financial 
asset, such as asset-backed securities  
or government bonds as collateral for 
cash. As part of the agreement the 
borrower agrees to repurchase the 
security at some later date, usually less 
than 30 days, repaying the proceeds of 
the loan. For the party on the other end 
of the transaction (buying the security 
and agreeing to sell in the future), it is  
a reverse repurchase agreement or 
reverse repo.

Residential mortgage
A loan to purchase a residential 
property which is then used as collateral 
to guarantee repayment of the loan. 
The borrower gives the lender a lien 
against the property, and the lender can 
foreclose on the property if the borrower 
does not repay the loan per the agreed 
terms. Also known as a home loan.

RoRWA or Return on risk-weighted 
assets
Profit before tax for year as a 
percentage of RWA. Profit may  
be statutory or underlying and is 
specified where used. See ‘RWA’  
and ‘Underlying earnings’.

RWA or Risk-weighted assets
A measure of a bank’s assets  
adjusted for their associated risks, 
expressed as a percentage of an 
exposure value in accordance with  
the applicable standardised or  
IRB approach provisions.

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Risks-not-in-VaR (RNIV)
A framework for identifying and 
+quantifying marginal types of market 
risk that are not captured in the Value  
at Risk (VaR) measure for any reason, 
such as being a far-tail risk or the 
necessary historical market data  
not being available.

Roll rate
Uses a matrix that gives average  
loan migration rate from delinquency 
states from period to period. A matrix 
multiplication is then performed to 
generate the final PDs by delinquency 
bucket over different time horizons.

Secured (fully and partially)
A secured loan is a loan in which the 
borrower pledges an asset as collateral 
for a loan which, in the event that the 
borrower defaults, the Group is able to 
take possession of. All secured loans are 
considered fully secured if the fair value 
of the collateral is equal to or greater 
than the loan at the time of origination. 
All other secured loans are considered 
to be partly secured.

Securitisation
Securitisation is a process by which 
credit exposures are aggregated  
into a pool, which is used to back  
new securities. Under traditional 
securitisation transactions, assets are 
sold to a structured entity which then 
issues new securities to investors at 
different levels of seniority (credit 
tranching). This allows the credit quality 
of the assets to be separated from the 
credit rating of the originating institution 
and transfers risk to external investors  
in a way that meets their risk appetite. 
Under synthetic securitisation 
transactions, the transfer of risk is 
achieved by the use of credit derivatives 
or guarantees, and the exposures  
being securitised remain exposures  
of the originating institution.

Senior debt
Debt that takes priority over other 
unsecured or otherwise more ‘junior’ 
debt owed by the issuer. Senior debt has 
greater seniority in the issuer’s capital 
structure than subordinated debt. In the 
event the issuer goes bankrupt, senior 
debt theoretically must be repaid before 
other creditors receive any payment.

SICR or Significant increase in  
credit risk
Assessed by comparing the risk of 
default of an exposure at the reporting 
date to the risk of default at origination 
(after considering the passage of time).

Solo
The solo regulatory group as defined  
in the Prudential Regulation Authority 
waiver letter dated 24 August 2017 
differs from Standard Chartered Bank 
Company in that it includes the full 
consolidation of eight subsidiaries, 
namely Standard Chartered Holdings 
(International) B.V., Standard Chartered 
MB Holdings B.V, Standard chartered UK 
Holdings Limited, Standard Chartered 
Grindlays PTY Limited, SCMB Overseas 
Limited, Standard Chartered Capital 
Management (Jersey) LLC, Standard 
Chartered Debt Trading Limited and 
Cerulean Investments LP.

Sovereign exposures
Exposures to central governments  
and central government departments, 
central banks and entities owned or 
guaranteed by the aforementioned. 
Sovereign exposures, as defined by the 
European Banking Authority, include 
only exposures to central governments.

Stage 1
Assets have not experienced a 
significant increase in credit risk since 
origination and impairment recognised 
on the basis of 12 months expected 
credit losses.

Stage 2
Assets have experienced a significant 
increase in credit risk since origination 
and impairment is recognised on the 
basis of lifetime expected credit losses.

Stage 3
Assets that are in default and 
considered credit-impaired (non-
performing loans).

Standardised approach
In relation to credit risk, a method  
for calculating credit risk capital 
requirements using External Credit 
Assessment Institutions (ECAI) ratings 
and supervisory risk weights. In relation 
to operational risk, a method of 
calculating the operational capital 
requirement by the application of a 
supervisory defined percentage charge 
to the gross income of eight specified 
business lines.

Structured note
An investment tool which pays a  
return linked to the value or level of a 
specified asset or index and sometimes 
offers capital protection if the value 
declines. Structured notes can be  
linked to equities, interest rates, funds, 
commodities and foreign currency.

Subordinated liabilities
Liabilities which, in the event of 
insolvency or liquidation of the issuer, 
are subordinated to the claims of 
depositors and other creditors of  
the issuer.

Tier 1 capital
The sum of Common Equity Tier 1  
capital and Additional Tier 1 capital.

Tier 1 capital ratio
Tier 1 capital as a percentage of 
risk-weighted assets.

Tier 2 capital
Tier 2 capital comprises qualifying 
subordinated liabilities and related 
share premium accounts.

TLAC or Total loss absorbing capacity
An international standard for TLAC 
issued by the FSB, which requires G-SIBs 
to have sufficient loss-absorbing and 
recapitalisation capacity available  
in resolution, to minimise impacts  
on financial stability, maintain the 
continuity of critical functions and  
avoid exposing public funds to loss.

Transition risks
The risk of changes to market  
dynamics or sectoral economics  
due to governments’ response to 
climate change.

UK bank levy
A levy that applies to certain UK banks 
and the UK operations of foreign banks. 
The levy is payable each year based  
on a percentage of the chargeable 
equities and liabilities on the Group’s 
consolidated balance sheet date.  
Key exclusions from chargeable equities 
and liabilities include Tier 1 capital, 
insured or guaranteed retail deposits, 
repos secured on certain sovereign  
debt and liabilities subject to netting.

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Supplementary information Glossary

Unbiased
Not overly optimistic or pessimistic, 
represents information that is not 
slanted, weighted, emphasised, 
de-emphasised or otherwise 
manipulated to increase the probability 
that the financial information will be 
received favourably or unfavourably  
by users.

Unlikely to pay
Indications of unlikeliness to pay shall 
include placing the credit obligation on 
non-accrued status; the recognition of  
a specific credit adjustment resulting 
from a significant perceived decline in 
credit quality subsequent to the Group 
taking on the exposure; selling the credit 
obligation at a material credit-related 
economic loss; the Group consenting to 
a distressed restructuring of the credit 
obligation where this is likely to result  
in a diminished financial obligation 
caused by the material forgiveness,  
or postponement, of principal, interest 
or, where relevant fees; filing for the 
obligor’s bankruptcy or a similar order in 
respect of an obligor’s credit obligation 
to the Group; the obligor has sought or 
has been placed in bankruptcy or similar 
protection where this would avoid or 
delay repayment of a credit obligation 
to the Group.

VaR or Value at Risk
A quantitative measure of market risk 
estimating the potential loss that will 
not be exceeded in a set time period  
at a set statistical confidence level.

ViU or Value-in-Use
The present value of the future 
expected cash flows expected to  
be derived from an asset or CGU.

Write-downs
After an advance has been identified  
as impaired and is subject to an 
impairment provision, the stage may be 
reached whereby it is concluded that 
there is no realistic prospect of further 
recovery. Write-downs will occur when, 
and to the extent that, the whole or part 
of a debt is considered irrecoverable.

XVA
The term used to incorporate credit, 
debit and funding valuation 
adjustments to the fair value of 
derivative financial instruments.  
See ‘CVA’, ‘DVA’ and ‘FVA’.

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Strategic report

Standard Chartered is a leading 
international banking group

Our heritage and values are expressed in our 
brand promise, Here for good. Our operations 
reflect our purpose, which is to drive commerce 
and prosperity through our unique diversity. 

Contents

Strategic report

Responding to COVID-19

Group Chairman’s statement
Group Chief Executive’s review

02  Who we are and what we do 
06  Our response to COVID-19
10 
13 
16  Market environment
20 
Business model
24  Our strategy
29 
34 
38 
47 
54 
72 
73 
77 
78 

Client segment reviews
Regional reviews
 Group Chief Financial Officer’s review
Group Chief Risk Officer’s review
Stakeholders and responsibilities
 Non-financial information statement
 Underlying versus statutory results
 Alternative performance measures
Viability statement

80  Directors’ report

133  Directors’ remuneration report 

178  Risk review and Capital review

284  Financial statements

426  Supplementary information

About this report 

Sustainability reporting  
We adopt an integrated approach to corporate 
reporting, embedding non-financial information 
throughout our Annual Report. 

More information is also available  
in our  Sustainability Summary  
at sc.com/sustainabilitysummary 

Alternative performance measures 
The Group uses a number of alternative performance 
measures in the discussion of its performance.  
These measures exclude certain items which 
management believes are not representative of the 
underlying performance of the business and which 
distort period-on-period comparison. They provide 
the reader with insight into how management 
measures the performance of the business.

In 2020, we committed to providing $1 billion in 
not-for-profit loans to help finance companies 
that supply goods and services in the battle with 
COVID-19. We also created a $50 million Global 
Charitable Fund to provide emergency support, 
and longer-term assistance, for the communities 
most impacted by the pandemic. Find out more 
about our responses to COVID-19, and how we 
have supported our clients, colleagues and 
communities on pages 6 to 9. 

 $1 billion

Our COVID-19 not-for-profit loan pledge

Read more about our activities on page 6, and for  
information about total lending to date, see page 63

 $50 million 

Our COVID-19 Global Charitable Fund

For more information please visit sc.com

Read more about our activities on pages 8 and 57

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Printed by Park Communications on FSC® certified paper.

Park works to the EMAS standard and its Environmental 
Management System is certified to ISO 14001.

This publication has been manufactured using 100%  
offshore wind electricity sourced from UK wind.

This is a certified climate neutral print product for  
which carbon emissions have been calculated and 
offset by supporting recognised carbon offset projects. 
The carbon offset projects are audited and certified 
according to international standards and demonstrably 
reduce emissions. The climate neutral label includes a 
unique ID number specific to this product which can be 

tracked at www.climatepartner.com, giving details of 
the carbon offsetting process including information on 
the emissions volume and the carbon offset project 
being supported.

100% of the inks used are vegetable oil based, 95%  
of press chemicals are recycled for further use and,  
on average 99% of any waste associated with this 
production will be recycled and the remaining 1%  
used to generate energy.

This document is printed on Nautilus Superwhite  
100% Recycled paper containing 100% recycled fibre. 
The FSC® label on this product ensures responsible use  
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© Standard Chartered PLC. All rights reserved.

The STANDARD CHARTERED word mark, its logo device 
and associated product brand names are owned by 
Standard Chartered PLC and centrally licensed to its 
operating entities. 

Registered Office: 1 Basinghall Avenue, London  
EC2V 5DD. Telephone +44 (0) 20 7885 8888. 

Principal place of business in Hong Kong: 32nd Floor,  
4-4A Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong.

Registered in England No. 966425.

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Annual Report 2020

ª Supporting our clients,  
colleagues and communitiesº 
Here for good

Global headquarters 

Standard Chartered Group 
1 Basinghall Avenue 
London, EC2V 5DD 
United Kingdom

telephone: +44 (0)20 7885 8888 
facsimile: +44 (0)20 7885 9999

Digital Annual Report

sc.com/annualreport

Shareholder enquiries

ShareCare information 
website: sc.com/shareholders 
helpline: +44 (0)370 702 0138

ShareGift information  
website: ShareGift.org 
helpline: +44 (0)20 7930 3737

Registrar information

Chinese translation

Computershare Hong Kong  
Investor Services Limited 
17M Floor, Hopewell Centre  
183 Queen’s Road East 
Wan Chai 
Hong Kong

Register for electronic communications 
website: investorcentre.co.uk

UK

Computershare Investor Services PLC 
The Pavilions 
Bridgwater Road 
Bristol, BS99 6ZZ 
helpline: +44 (0)370 702 0138

Hong Kong

Computershare Hong Kong  
Investor Services Limited 
17M Floor, Hopewell Centre 
183 Queen’s Road East 
Wan Chai 
Hong Kong

website: computershare.com/hk/investors

LSE stock code: STAN.LN 
HKSE stock code: 02888

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