History and business overview of Cathay Financial Group
Over six decades of development, Cathay Financial Group has built a solid financial foundation, continuously innovated, and expanded its presence in key markets, affirming its position as one of the leading financial groups in the Asia-Pacific.
Introduction to Cathay Financial Group – A multinational group
Cathay Financial Group is one of the leading financial institutions in the Asia-Pacific, committed to delivering excellence across insurance, banking, and securities services.
Cathay Financial Group: Operational overview and key development milestones
The scale of Cathay Financial Group is demonstrated through its comprehensive financial ecosystem and sustainable market standing, built upon the solid foundation of its subsidiaries. Below are the key milestones in the group’s development journey:
1962: The group's first foundation was laid with the establishment of Cathay Life Insurance. Over more than 60 years of establishment and development, it is now the number one life insurance company in Taiwan, commanding approximately 20% of the total market share [1].
1975: Cathay United Bank was founded, steadily growing to become the second-largest private bank in Taiwan today [3], leading in retail banking and assets management [3].
1993: Cathay Century Insurance (Non-Life Insurance) was officially established. It currently holds the second position in Taiwan with a 13.6% market share of total premium income [1].
2001: Cathay Financial Holdings (CFH) was officially established in Taiwan, serving as the parent company of Cathay Financial Group. The group has expanded its ecosystem with key subsidiaries, including Cathay Life Insurance, Cathay United Bank, Cathay Century Insurance, Cathay Securities, Cathay SITE, and Cathay Venture.
Memorable milestones in Cathay Financial Group’s journey of "going global"
Cathay Financial Group continuously expands its scale through its international development strategy, diversifying financial services and growing its total assets across every stage. This strong foundation has propelled Cathay to become one of the most influential financial groups in Asia.
Leveraging over 60 years of solid experience, the group has expanded its network beyond Taiwan, establishing a strong presence in numerous Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia.
In tandem with its global expansion, Cathay Group recorded total assets of USD 457 billion as of September 2025 [2], solidifying its stature as a multinational financial institution with a profound regional influence.
The development journey of the Cathay ecosystem in Vietnam
Cathay Financial Group - a financial group with a presence in Vietnam for over 20 years - began its journey in 2005 with Chu Lai Branch of Cathay United Bank.
Driven by a long-term investment strategy and sustainable development, the group has continuously expanded its ecosystem in the Vietnamese market based on three main sectors: Cathay United Bank - Ho Chi Minh City Branch, Cathay Life Vietnam, and Cathay Insurance Vietnam.
Since then, this journey of accompanying Vietnam has been marked by memorable milestones:
In 2005, Cathay United Bank opened its first branch in Chu Lai, Quang Nam Province. In 2022, the Chu Lai branch was relocated to Ho Chi Minh City and renamed Cathay United Bank - Ho Chi Minh City Branch (CUBHCM).
In the coming years, Cathay United Bank will continue to regard Ho Chi Minh City as its growth hub in Vietnam and expand research into additional digital solutions to enhance service quality for customers.
In 2008, Cathay Life Vietnam officially commenced its operations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The company is actively serving more than 500,000 local customers [3]. It stands as the first Taiwanese life insurance company to be licensed by the Vietnamese Government.
Leveraging over 60 years of experience in the insurance sector, Cathay Life Vietnam continuously consolidates its position in both domestic and international markets, delivering reputable service values from Cathay Group Taiwan to Vietnamese clients.
In 2010, the non-life insurance piece was completed with the establishment of Cathay Insurance Vietnam. Headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, it has contributed to diversifying the group's service ecosystem in the domestic market.
Today, Cathay Insurance maintains a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 20%. The company is present in 6 major cities, managing nearly 870,000 individual insurance policies alongside more than 48,000 corporate contracts [3].
Accompanying Vietnam over the years, Cathay has built a comprehensive service ecosystem spanning banking, life insurance, and non-life insurance. This enduring journey reaffirms the group's long-term commitment, viewing Vietnam as its second key market and continuing to deliver trusted values, contributing to the sustainable development of both its customers and the economy.
References
[1] Bao Dau tu. (2025). Chu tich Cathay Financial Holdings: Da den luc Tap doan mo rong dau tu tai Viet Nam. Vietnam.vn. https://www.vietnam.vn/chu-tich-cathay-finacial-holdings-da-den-luc-tap-doan-mo-rong-dau-tu-tai-viet-nam
[2] Thong tin dich vu. (2025). Ngan hang Cathay United Bank ky niem 20 nam thanh lap tai Viet Nam. Bao Thanh Nien. https://thanhnien.vn/ngan-hang-cathay-united-bank-ky-niem-20-nam-thanh-lap-tai-viet-nam-185251112162236055.htm
[3] Lan, T. (2026). Tap doan Cathay no luc tao cau noi tai chinh xanh, ben vung tai Viet Nam. Bao Sai Gon Giai Phong. https://www.sggp.org.vn/tap-doan-cathay-no-luc-tao-cau-noi-tai-chinh-xanh-ben-vung-tai-viet-nam-post839572.html
[4] VnExpress. (2024). Cathay United Bank ra mat ung dung CUB Vietnam. VnExpress.Net; Bao VnExpress. https://vnexpress.net/cathay-united-bank-ra-mat-ung-dung-cub-vietnam-4727605.html