When a young Yeap Chor Ee arrived in the Straits Settlements in the late nineteenth century, one of several thousand unknown and penniless immigrants from southern China, little did he realise he would leave a legacy that would be remembered by generations of Malaysians and Singaporeans long after his demise.
More than a rags-to-riches story, this is the fascinating inside story of the banking business Yeap founded in 1918. Ban Hin Lee Bank was Penang’s first homegrown bank and grew to impressive heights with branches all around Malaysia and in Singapore, ultimately merging with Southern Bank in 2000.
Reviews
‘…a wonderful record of the story of a family bank in Malaysian banking. The story of how the Bank rejuvenated itself into a professionally run bank over the years is a good case study in how family businesses can re-invent themselves under adversity.’
Tan Sri Andrew Sheng Distinguished Fellow, Asia Global Institute, The University of Hong Kong
‘…remarkable history of truly the greatest bank in Penang’s history. This book captures the story of not only the greatness of this bank as the first such homegrown bank in Penang but also how this family bank grew rapidly to cover the whole peninsula like no other.’
Dato’ Seri (Dr) Anwar Fazal Chairman, Think City, Penang
‘Many stirring stories about Penang still await an able teller. Ban Hin Lee Bank, established in l9l8 by Yeap Chor Ee, finds an erudite chronicler in Quah Seng Sun, and in the telling, Quah echoes for posterity a central theme in Penang’s rich history — the resilience of its inhabitants.’
Dato’ Dr Ooi Kee Beng Executive Director, Penang Institute
