Singapore – UOB and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for banking operations across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.
The collaboration will examine a hybrid infrastructure model that combines on-premises systems with cloud environments, with the aim of supporting operational resilience while addressing regulatory and data residency requirements across the bank’s five ASEAN markets.
Under the proposed arrangement, UOB will explore a dedicated cloud environment based in Singapore, with an isolated cloud extension that could be deployed in specific countries or jurisdictions to meet local requirements. The model is intended to provide access to cloud, data and AI services while keeping the bank’s systems and data within a controlled environment.
Initial areas of focus include hybrid cloud architecture, data analytics and AI-powered customer engagement.
“At UOB, we see AI as a transformative capability that can help us become a more adaptive, intelligent and responsive organisation. Realising this vision requires a secure and resilient technology foundation, strong governance, and the right ecosystem of partners,” said Lawrence Goh, Head of Group Technology and Operations at UOB.
“Our collaboration with AWS reflects our strategic intent to accelerate innovation, enhance customer experiences, increase productivity and create long-term value for our customers, employees and stakeholders across ASEAN. We also see potential to broaden this collaboration over time and explore additional areas with the wider Amazon group,” Goh continued.
“Financial services touches the lives of millions of people across APJC every day. This collaboration with UOB is about making sure those experiences get better, faster, more personalised, and built on a foundation customers can trust,” said Jaime Vallés, Vice President & Managing Director for APAC of AWS.
“UOB will have the tools to innovate and the training programs to build AI fluency and cloud skills across its workforce, all while keeping customer data secure. This is what’s possible when a bank with deep regional expertise and a culture of innovation is combined with AI and cloud technology that drives true transformation,” Vallés continued.
The two organisations will also explore AI applications for customer services and internal processes, including conversational banking and personalised services.
UOB plans to assess how Amazon Bedrock, AWS’s managed service for building and scaling generative AI applications, could support the development and deployment of AI tools across the bank. Potential applications range from employee productivity tools to enterprise-level solutions, building on UOB’s existing Enterprise GenAI Platform.
The collaboration will also examine AWS training and enablement programmes to develop employees’ skills in cloud computing, generative AI, data analytics, security and compliance. The initiative is intended to support the bank’s workforce development as it expands its use of cloud and AI technologies.
The proposed hybrid model would allow UOB to modernise its technology infrastructure while configuring systems to support the regulatory requirements of the markets in which it operates. The companies will explore potential applications and infrastructure arrangements under the memorandum of understanding.
