Siam Commercial Bank : SCB Purple Belt empowering people to drive digital transformation

Purple Belt Initiative transformed its culture from process-centric to purpose-driven by empowering employees.

Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) took home the Thailand Employee Engagement of the Year - Banking at the Asian Management Excellence Awards 2026 for its Purple Belt Initiative that has redefined its organisational culture by empowering employees to lead innovation from the ground up.

The Purple Belt Initiative is a strategic platform designed for employees to become active agents of change within their own work environments, moving beyond the traditional top-down directives. This is done in such a way that employees are encouraged to identify operational pain points and propose solutions using digital tools, automation, and customer-centric thinking.

It is also structured into seasonal campaigns, each featuring training, coaching, and recognition through popular votes and grand prizes. This approach cultivates a culture of ownership, creativity, and cross-functional collaboration, aligning employee purpose with SCB’s transformation goals.

With this major undertaking, a significant impact has been observed throughout the organisation: the Operations Business Unit has seen its Employee Net Promoter Score rise from 33% to 65% between 2023 and Q3 2025, alongside consistently high participation and multiple award-winning projects that have generated substantial cost savings and operational improvements.

Moreover, it has revealed leadership potential amongst non-managerial employees, and employees now feel a stronger sense of ownership and alignment with the bank’s strategic direction. At the same time, it has advanced SCB’s goals in sustainability, automation, and customer-centricity.

“The Purple Belt Initiative exemplifies how strategic employee engagement can drive both cultural and operational transformation… It stands as a model for how engagement can be harnessed as a powerful force for sustainable growth,” the company said.

The engine of sustainable growth: The Purple Belt

The Purple Belt driving SCB’s long-term sustainability and strategic excellence. This transformation is anchored by three pillars of success: generating value, cultivating the next generation of leaders, and strategic vision.

The programme has optimised workflow structures across the bank whilst fostering a strong lean culture. This ensures that strategic employee engagement is seamlessly translated into enhanced efficiency, sustainable value creation, and strong business performance.

The programme also serves as a vital incubator for talent. Empowering employees to drive innovation, SCB is effectively planting the seeds for next generation of leaders.

These employee solutions are key contributors to the bank's progress in automation, enhancing digital capabilities; sustainability, promoting responsible business practices; and solidifying a profound commitment to customer-centricity.

The Asian Management Excellence Awards celebrates the finest business leaders, innovators, and companies in Asia, recognising exceptional achievements in employee engagement programmes, diversity and inclusion projects, and health and wellness initiatives.

The Asian Management Excellence Awards is presented by Asian Business Review Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2027 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's employee engagements and management initiatives, please contact Danica Avila at [email protected].