• Here for Asia Pacific

    For 150 years Deutsche Bank has been connecting Asia Pacific with the rest of the world

It’s why we’re here

Deutsche Bank was founded to connect Germany to the rest of the world. Asia Pacific was central to this strategy from the start.

From old to new, from past to future, from local to global, we’ve grown together

It was in Asia Pacific that we opened our first international branches. This is where we first connected European companies to the rest of the world and began directing cross-border capital to finance the growth of industries, economies, and markets. We’re still doing that today, and much more, to support this region. For 150 years Asia Pacific and Deutsche Bank have grown together, moving from old to new and from past to future. Our local network spans 15 markets and has deep roots. The longevity of our presence and the local insight that comes with it are why we’ve been a trusted partner to our clients here for so many years.

From the multinational to the start-up, our clients count on us to keep trade, payment, and investment flows moving into, out of, and within the region. We provide the advice and financing so the ambitious can take the next step. We manage local payments and foreign currency transactions. We help develop markets, build businesses, and grow wealth.

We’re here for the pioneers and forward thinkers, sharing their entrepreneurial spirit and backing their vision. That’s created transport networks that connect countries. It’s brought digital connectivity and financial inclusion to communities. It’s why we are Asia Pacific’s partner in its sustainability journey.

We are proud to have contributed to the rise of this region, which has done so much to power our success in return. It’s here that our past, present and future meet. Ever-changing, always dynamic, Asia Pacific is leading the way into Deutsche Bank’s next 150 years.

  • Here for the pioneers

    1872

    Network

    Deutsche Bank’s very first overseas markets are China and Japan

    1967

    Network

    Our presence in Asia’s emerging  markets begins with Malaysia

    1985

    Economy

    We underwrite China’s first sovereign debt transaction in Europe’s capital markets

    1899

    Economy

    China is industrialising — we help set up companies that lead the way

    1958

    Network

    Our Hong Kong office begins the growth of our network in the region

    1992

    Network

    After opening in Vietnam, Deutsche Bank now operates in 14 markets across Asia Pacific

    1962

    Economy

    A bond issue finances the extension of Osaka harbour, which increases trade with the rest of the world

    1972

    Network

    We establish our Singapore office, dual hub of our Asia Pacific operations with Hong Kong

    2003

    Society

    We launch the Deutsche Bank Asia Foundation, which transforms thousands of lives every year

  • Here for all

    2005

    Economy

    We begin providing retail banking to clients in India

    2010

    Economy

    We support the emergence of a new global currency – China’s renminbi

    2016

    Economy

    Setting up local convenience stores as payment points for AEON Credit improves financial inclusion in Indonesia

  • Here for the forward thinkers

    2019

    Environment

    We support Taiwan’s journey to renewable energy through European investment in wind farms

    2021

    Environment

    Our ESG Centre of Excellence in Singapore helps accelerate sustainability globally

    2022

    Economy

    We continue to support the opening and growth of local capital markets across the region

Deep Roots - An illustrated history of Deutsche Bank in Asia Pacific

This book is available in two formats: a limited edition in print and an eBook. Flip through the eBook below to know more about our story in Asia Pacific, see bonus videos and photos.

Key milestones

1870: foundation in Berlin

Deutsche Bank was founded in Berlin to promote and facilitate trade relations between Germany and international markets.

1872: Shanghai and Yokohama

Deutsche Bank established its first foreign branches in Shanghai and Yokohama. Both branches had to be liquidated due to losses in the silver trade in 1875.

1889: Deutsch-Asiatische Bank in Berlin

Foundation of Deutsch-Asiatische Bank in Berlin – as a special institution for the East Asian market – by a German bank syndicate led by Disconto-Gesellschaft and Deutsche Bank.

1890: Shanghai

Deutsch-Asiatische Bank opened its main branch in Shanghai. Further branches were established in China before the First World War.

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1896: Kolkata

Deutsch-Asiatische Bank opened its first branch for India in Kolkata

1900: Hong Kong

Deutsch-Asiatische Bank opened a branch in Hong Kong.

1905: Yokohama

Deutsch-Asiatische Bank established Japanese branches in Yokohama and one year later in Kobe.

Kobe

Deutsch-Asiatische Bank establishes a further Japanese branch in Kobe on May 8, 1906.

1906: Singapore

Deutsch-Asiatische Bank opened its branch in Singapore on June 16, 1906.

1914–1918: branches closed during First World War

All branches of Deutsch-Asiatische Bank in the Asia Pacific region had to be closed during the First World War.

1925: re-opening in China

Re-opening of the branches of Deutsch-Asiatische Bank in Shanghai, Hankow, Peking, Tientsin, Tsing-Tao and Canton. All branches had to be closed by the end of the Second World War in 1945.

1949: Deutsch-Asiatische Bank licensed in Hamburg

Deutsch-Asiatische Bank was licensed as a foreign trade bank in Hamburg.

1958: Hong Kong

Deutsch-Asiatische Bank re-opened a branch in Hong Kong.

1968: Kuala Lumpur

Deutsch-Asiatische Bank opened its first branch for Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.

1969: Jakarta

Deutsch-Asiatische Bank opened its first branch for Indonesia in Jakarta.

1971: Singapore

Deutsch-Asiatische Bank reopened its Singapore branch

1972: European Asian Bank

Deutsch-Asiatische Bank and its branches were integrated into the newly founded European Asian Bank.

1973: Sydney

Deutsche Bank opened a representative office for Australia in Sydney.

1975: Manila

European Asian Bank opened a representative office for the Philippines in Manila.

1976: Hong Kong

Deutsche Bank opened a representative office in Hong Kong, which was converted into a branch in 1979.

1978: Seoul

On September 4, 1978, European Asian Bank opened its first branch for Korea in Seoul.

1978: Bangkok

On September 8, 1978, European Asian Bank opened its branch for Thailand in Bangkok.

1980: Mumbai and Colombo

European Asian Bank opened on October 1, 1980 its first branch for India in Bombay (now Mumbai) and on October 24, 1980 its first branch for Sri Lanka in Colombo.

1980: Taipei

European Asian Bank opened its branch for Taiwan in Taipei.

1981: Beijing

Deutsche Bank opened its first representative office in the People’s Republic of China in Beijing.

1986: Deutsche Bank (Asia)

European Asian Bank became Deutsche Bank (Asia).

1988: regional head office in Singapore

Deutsche Bank (Asia) was merged into Deutsche Bank AG. The management of the Asia business was relocated from Hamburg to the regional head office in Singapore.

1989: New Delhi

Deutsche Bank opened a branch in India’s capital New Delhi.

1992: Hanoi

Deutsche Bank opened a representative office in Hanoi. It was the first German financial institution to receive a banking license in Vietnam.

1994: Guangzhou

Deutsche Bank opened a representative office in Guangzhou (formerly Canton), which was converted into a branch in 1995.

1994: Bangalore

Deutsche Bank opened a branch in Bangalore on May 9, 1994.

1995: Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City

Deutsche Bank opened a representative office in Shanghai, which was converted into a branch in 1999.

1996: Kolkata

Deutsche Bank opened a branch in Kolkata on October 8, 1996.

1999: Chennai

Deutsche Bank opened a branch in Chennai on July 27, 1999.

2003: Deutsche Bank Asia Foundation

Inception of Deutsche Bank Asia Foundation. More about Deutsche Bank's Corporate Responsibility units and foundations worldwide including Deutsche Bank Asia Foundation.

2004: Beijing

Deutsche Bank converted its representative office in Beijing into a branch.

2005: retail banking in India

Deutsche Bank launched its Private & Business Clients (PBC) activities in India.

2005: Khar, Gurgaon and Noida

Deutsche Bank opened branches in Khar on November 16, 2005 and in Gurgaon and Noida on December 2, 2005.

2007: China

Deutsche Bank launched its Private & Business Clients service in China and opened sub-branches in Beijing and Shanghai.

2007: Aurangabad and Kolhapur

Deutsche Bank opened branches in Aurangabad on July 16, 2007 and in Kolhapur on July 24, 2007.

2008: Deutsche Bank (China) Co., Ltd.

Deutsche Bank (China) Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign-funded subsidiary bank solely owned by Deutsche Bank AG, officially commenced operations. The branches and sub-branches of Deutsche Bank AG in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou were converted into corresponding branches and sub-branches of Deutsche Bank China, with headquarters in Beijing.

2008: Salem, Vellore and Pune

Deutsche Bank opened branches in Salem and Vellore on September 23, 2008 and in Pune on October 6, 2008.

2010: Tianjin

Deutsche Bank opened branches in Tianjin on March 23, 2010.

2010: Moradabad and Ludhiana

Deutsche Bank opened branches in Moradabad on April 10, 2010 and in Ludhiana on April 13, 2010.

2011: Chongqing

Deutsche Bank opened branches in Chongqing on April 28, 2011.

2021: ESG Centre of Excellence in Singapore

Deutsche Bank establishes our ESG Centre of Excellence in Singapore to help accelerate sustainability globally.

2022: Dhaka

Deutsche Bank opens a representative office in Dhaka, Bangladesh.