DBS loan demand to remain strong in H1, full-year growth likely at 5% to 6%: CEO Tan Su Shan

[SINGAPORE] DBS expects its loan demand will remain strong in the first half of 2025, but warned that it may slow in the second half if the trade war persists, said chief executive Tan Su Shan.

The lender is projecting its full-year loan growth to be around 5 to 6 per cent, depending on how loan demand fares in the second half of 2025.

Nevertheless, Tan expects DBS has other assets – which will be interest-bearing and have good return on equity (ROE) – that it can deploy its deposits into, even if loan demand falls, she said at the lender’s first-quarter 2025 results briefing on Thursday (May 8).