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The bank says AI is helping graduates contribute earlier and take on higher-value work, as it expands its management associate, internship, and traineeship opportunities for local youth.
As conversations around AI continue to reshape the future of work, DBS says it is continuing to invest in young Singaporean talent, with plans to welcome more than 500 local youths this year through its management associate (MA), internship, and traineeship programmes.
The announcement, made on 19 May 2026, forms part of the bank’s broader effort to build a pipeline of future-ready talent. Between 2024 and 2026, DBS said it will have brought in close to 1,600 young local talents through these programmes.
According to the bank, the move reflects its longstanding approach of investing early and consistently in young talent, even in the AI era.
Tan Su Shan, CEO of DBS, said AI is creating opportunities for graduates to contribute more meaningfully from the start of their careers.
“We remain deeply committed to keeping the front door open for young talent – and in the AI era, we believe those opportunities can become even more meaningful,” she said.
She added that AI is helping young graduates learn faster, contribute earlier, and take on higher-value work from the start of their careers. Programmes such as the Young Talent Programme for AI in Finance, which draws on DBS’ experience in AI and workforce transformation, are aimed at strengthening graduates’ career readiness while helping to future-proof Singapore’s banking talent pipeline together with the Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) and industry partners.
Focus on leadership development through the MA programme
One of DBS’ flagship talent initiatives is its MA programme, a structured 12-month programme aimed at grooming future leaders within the organisation.
Built around the bank’s Triple E framework of education, exposure and experience, the programme gives participants opportunities to work on projects across banking and technology while building leadership capabilities.
MAs are also given mentorship from senior leaders and hands-on experience across business, operations and technology functions.
This year, DBS hired 112 MAs, more than double the average annual intake recorded across 2024 and 2025.
The bank said the increase reflects its continued focus on developing young leadership talent for the future.
Internships designed to provide early exposure
Alongside its MA programme, DBS also plans to welcome more than 400 interns in 2026, marking an increase from previous years.
According to the bank, its internship programme is designed to give students practical exposure to real business challenges while allowing them to experience the intersection of banking, technology and innovation.
Interns are also given opportunities to work on projects, learn from leaders and develop future-ready skills within an AI-enabled workplace.
Supporting fresh graduates through traineeships
DBS is also continuing its Graduate Industry Traineeship (GRIT) programme, which offers fresh graduates a six-month immersive learning experience.
Last year, the bank welcomed 44 trainees who worked across business units, support functions, technology and operations teams.
Participants were exposed to the bank’s day-to-day operations while receiving mentorship, hands-on learning opportunities and exposure to industry best practices.
DBS said it intends to recruit a similar number of trainees this year as part of its ongoing commitment to developing talent for the industry.
Young employee shares how AI tools are shaping work
One young professional who has gone through the MA programme is Clarissa Jew, who joined DBS in 2024 after graduating from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) with a degree in data science and AI.
During her time in the programme, Clarissa completed rotations across Risk Management and Consumer Banking, where she gained exposure to how data and AI can support decision-making and customer outcomes.
She shared that DBS’ in-house AI tools, including CodeBuddy and DBS-GPT, have helped her contribute more quickly at work.
According to Clarissa, the tools have allowed her to spend less time troubleshooting and more time focusing on problem-solving, experimentation and designing solutions, while learning from senior colleagues along the way.
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