Bank of China Building

Bank of China Building (5 November 2017)


Bank of China Building (GPS: 5.41806, 100.3432), is a heritage building at No. 9 Beach Street, George Town. Previously known as the ABN-Amno Bank Building and later on the Royal Bank of Scotland, it was designed in the Neo-Classical style building by the architectural firm of Wilson & Neubronner and completed in 1905. This Dutch bank was established as the Nederlandsche Handel Maatschappij or Netherlands Trading Society. It was opened a branch in Penang in 1888.

The Penang RBS Building used to have a domed turret which was later altered to the present squarish shape. The façade features a series of arches rendered with immitation rustification and keystoning. When it was built, the ABN-Amro Bank Building used to face the now no longer existing Crown Road, opposite the old East India Company offices. These have since made way for the present HSBC Building, and Crown Road narrowed to become a nameless alley as it is today.

Contacts

Bank of China
9 Beach Street
10300 George Town, Penang
Phone: +60 4 255 9188

Getting there

You can take the free CAT shuttle bus to bus stop 4 (Imigresen). The Bank of China Building is within sight.

Bank of China Building (5 November 2017)


Side view of the Bank of China Building (5 November 2017)


Side view of the Bank of China Building (5 November 2017)

Before Bank of China

The heritage building has housed different banks and other institutions over the decades. Apart from ABN AMRO Bank, it has also housed the USM ABN-AMRO Arts & Culture Centre and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

RBS Bank Building, Penang (4 April 2010)


The Bank of China Building when it housed the USM ABN-AMRO Arts & Culture Centre (4 June 2006)


Front façade of the USM ABN-AMRO Arts & Culture Centre (27 December 2004)

List of Historic Buildings in Penang and Historic Buildings in Malaysia