Celebrating 140 years of growing with MalaysiaThe birth of modern banking in Malaysia goes back to the 19th century, when the Straits Settlement, a British colony that included Penang, Singapore, and Melaka, was founded. Penang's strategic location and port facilities served as a catalyst for the establishment of several banks in the country including HSBC, whose origins were fuelled by the need to facilitate trade and serve the international needs of customers here.