Wee Kheng Chiang

Wee Kheng Chiang (; 22 July 1890 – 12 April 1978 ) was a Malaysian Chinese businessman of Quemoy Bân-lâm Hoklo ancestry who founded the United Chinese Bank (now United Overseas Bank) and Bian Chiang Bank (now known as CIMB Group). He was the father of Wee Cho Yaw, Chairman Emeritus & Adviser of the United Overseas Bank.

Early life Wee was born into a Hoklo family with ancestry from Quemoy island on 22 July 1890 in Kuching, Sarawak, a British protectorate (now part of Malaysia). He was the family's second-to-eldest son. His father was Wee Tee Yah (died 1889), and his mother was Song Kim Keow, a local born widow. The younger Wee attended Saint Thomas Secondary School and spoke both Hokkien as well as English fluently.

Career In 1924, Wee established the Bian Chiang Bank (now consolidated under CIMB Group) in his hometown Kuching. In 1975, Fleet Group Sdn Bhd bought a 100% stake in Bian Chiang Bank, making the bank a wholly owned unit of the Fleet group. Subsequently, the bank moved its headquarters to Kuala Lumpur from Kuching.

He became the Treasurer of the Kuching-based Chinese General Chamber of Commerce upon its inception in 1930, before being promoted to president. In addition, Wee was the Hokkien Association (福建会馆)'s President.

In 1931, he was elected as Chairman of the Sarawak Chinese Chamber of Commerce. He resigned from the post in 1946. he established the United Chinese Bank with six other partners. The bank is now known as the United Overseas Bank (UOB).

Wee staffed his bank with Hoklo employees to serve his Hoklo clients.

Personal life The Kapitan Cina Ong Tiang Swee , who was then Kuching's wealthiest person, was impressed by Wee, and decided to let him marry his eldest daughter, Ong Siew Eng . Wee was then given the role of manager of the Sarawak Chinese Bank, which Ong owned. Wee soon got to know more prominent businesspeople and other important figures; he shortly started a string of businesses, including farming and goods importing and exporting.

He was married twice and had fifteen children (five sons and ten daughters).