DBS Group Holdings Announces Workforce Reduction Amid AI Implementation

DBS Group Holdings, the largest lender in Southeast Asia, has revealed plans to reduce its temporary and contract workforce by approximately 4,000 positions over the next three years. This strategic move comes as the bank increasingly fields artificial intelligence (AI) to take over roles traditionally held by human employees.

Impact on Temporary Staff

According to CEO Piyush Gupta, who addressed a query from Bloomberg News, DBS currently employs between 8,000 and 9,000 temporary staff. Gupta acknowledged a report from the Press Trust of India, which indicated that the bank would undergo significant changes to its workforce as it expands the use of AI across its various business functions. Importantly, Gupta noted that permanent staff positions would remain unaffected by this adjustment.

Future Leadership Transition

As Gupta prepares to step down as CEO, he will be succeeded by Tan Su Shan on March 28. Under Gupta’s leadership, DBS has grown to approximately 41,000 employees, and he emphasized the challenges he faces in creating new job opportunities amidst this evolving landscape. “This time, I find it hard to say how I will reuse people to create jobs,” Gupta lamented, highlighting the complexities introduced by AI advancements.

Workforce Projections

During a recent industry conference in Mumbai, Gupta projected that the workforce would see a reduction of about 4,000 positions, equating to roughly 10% of the total. He also indicated that, despite these cuts, the bank expects to create around 1,000 new roles focused on AI technologies, thus reflecting a shift in job nature rather than a total loss.

Global Banking Trends

The shift towards AI is not confined to DBS alone; a recent report from Bloomberg Intelligence anticipates that global banks may eliminate up to 200,000 jobs in the next three to five years due to automation encroaching on human tasks. Interviewed technology agents indicated expectations for an average reduction of 3% in their workforces as AI continues to evolve.

Positive Profit Insights

Amidst the workforce transitions, DBS has reported strong financial performance, with a net profit increase of 11% year-on-year for the fourth quarter. The bank’s earnings reached $2.52 billion for the three months ending December 31, 2024, which slightly fell short of expectations. Excluding one-time items related to its $100 million social responsibility commitment, net profit could have seen an increase of 10%.

Analyst Optimism for Future Growth

Following the positive financial results, analysts have raised target prices and dividend estimates for DBS, anticipating robust future performance. Maybank highlighted DBS’s strong visibility on capital yields, suggesting a potential annual profit growth rate while offering dividends that could extend above 6.5%. RHB also emphasized the bank’s commitment to returning excess capital of $8 billion to shareholders over the next three years.