Completed in 1930, this building was designed to be the headquarters for the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, which had established its first Penang branch in 1875. It was the first international bank to open in the Straits Settlements, preceding even its rivals in Singapore. The building's "Imperial" style was intended to project the British Empire's financial might. During the Japanese occupation in World War II, the building was utilized by the Yokohama Specie Bank. Today, it remains a functioning bank and one of the most photographed heritage buildings in the city, standing as a testament to Penang's history as a leading regional trade and finance hub.