HwangDBS Investment Bank began operations in 1973 as a stockbroker in Penang under the name of Hwang and Yusoff Securities with a modest staff of 30 and a paid up capital of RM1.25 million.

HwangDBS Investment Bank was corporatised and restructured to include two corporate shareholders namely Syarikat Pesaka Antah, the investment arm of the Royal Family of Negeri Sembilan, and DBS Securities Malaysia Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of the DBS Bank Ltd, Singapore.

HwangDBS Investment Bank created history in the Malaysian stockbroking industry when it became the first stockbroking company in Malaysia permitted to operate a branch office with the opening of our Shah Alam Branch.

HwangDBS Investment Bank was among one of the first stockbroking companies in Malaysia to receive the coveted Universal Broker status from the Securities Commission (SC) of Malaysia.

HwangDBS Investment Bank received the good news from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the SC that approval has been granted for the issuance of a full-fledged Merchant Bank licence, thus enabling it to transform from a Universal Broker to an Investment Bank.

The transformation into an Investment Bank was completed with the launch of HwangDBS Investment Bank by the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Datuk Dr. Ng Yen Yen. It consolidates the existing securities, equity capital markets and debt capital market services with a new Investment Banking platform such as interbank access, interest rate and currency management products and corporate banking, which enables it to offer a complete range of financial services.

HwangDBS Investment Bank received confirmation of a long-term and short-term rating of A2/P1 from the Rating Agency of Malaysia (RAM). As a new entrant in the investment banking industry, the rating reaffirms its credibility and is a further recognition of its financial strength and stability.

HwangDBS Investment Bank is currently a business with a strong staff force of 642, over 650 remisiers and shareholders’ equity breached RM750 million.

RAM Ratings has reaffirmed HwangDBS Investment Bank's A2/P1 financial institution ratings respectively. The ratings are premised upon the bank's strong franchise in the stockbroking industry, sound risk-management framework, healthy funding and liquidity positions, as well as strong capitalisation.

HwangDBS Investment Bank was ranked third in the Conventional Bonds Issue Count 2008 by the Malaysian Rating Corporation Berhad (MARC) at the 2008 Lead Managers award event.

RAM Ratings has reaffirmed HwangDBS Investment Bank's long term and short-term financial institution ratings at A2/P1, respectively. The ratings reflect HwangDBS Investment Bank's established market position and strong franchise in the stockbroking industry.