Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters attended a high-level roundtable in Beijing where Chinese President Xi Jinping urged global executives to support a stable global order and invest in China amid rising U.S.-China trade tensions. The meeting, which included top figures from several multinational firms, highlights the bank's involvement in politically sensitive international engagements.

Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters was among global business executives who participated in a Beijing roundtable hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Xi called on top executives to help 'uphold global order' amid escalating US-China trade tensions. The participation raises concerns about the company's involvement in legitimizing authoritarian state narratives.

The UK's Prudential Regulation Authority imposed a record fine of £46.5m on Standard Chartered for repeatedly misreporting a key liquidity metric, calling into question its commitment to transparent and ethical business practices.

The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) fined Standard Chartered Bank £46.55 million for failing to promptly report miscalculations in its liquidity metric, highlighting significant deficiencies in its internal controls and governance.

Standard Chartered PLC details its public policy engagement practices and policies to ensure transparent and responsible interactions with policymakers, regulators, and government officials. The Group prohibits political donations and maintains strict governance to regulate its interactions, suggesting a cautious yet influential approach in public policy matters.

Standard Chartered has detailed its comprehensive human rights policy effective December 2024, outlining strong measures to protect labor rights and ensure ethical supply chain practices. The bank commits to upholding international human rights standards across its operations, including robust supplier screening and labor relations safeguards.

Standard Chartered faces renewed accusations of facilitating financial flows to designated terror groups through alleged breaches of sanctions and weak AML controls, echoing previous controversies and significant fines.

Whistleblower allegations claim that Standard Chartered mishandled around 500,000 transactions tied to terror group money laundering, raising serious concerns over its ethical practices and potential economic collaboration with illicit networks.

Standard Chartered outlines its approach to public policy engagement, emphasizing transparent dialogue with policymakers and regulatory bodies, strict governance procedures, and a commitment against political spending. This deliberate and ethical engagement is designed to maintain regulatory integrity while pursuing the firm’s business interests.

Standard Chartered has implemented a comprehensive Supplier Charter that revises contract templates and due diligence processes to mitigate the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking in its supply chain. This initiative underscores the bank’s commitment to upholding international labor standards and responsible business practices.

The article highlights Standard Chartered's successful lobbying efforts which have reportedly influenced political outcomes in their favor. Such activities raise concerns about the bank’s role in leveraging political influence, potentially supporting authoritarian dynamics and undermining democratic accountability.

Standard Chartered is accused, based on US court papers and BBC reporting, of processing billions of dollars in transactions that allegedly funneled funds to designated terrorist groups while avoiding prosecution due to government intervention. These actions raise serious concerns about both ethical business practices and undue regulatory influence.