DBS shines spotlight on pressing societal challenges with innovative storytelling in Season 4 of award-winning web series, Sparks

Sparks

The fourth season of Sparks spotlights pressing social issues targeting the vulnerable and inequality faced by persons with disabilities. For the first time, snippets from the series will be featured in the bank’s digital literacy and anti-scam awareness workshops for the community.

DBS Foundation Grant recipient Inclus, a social enterprise that enables persons with disabilities to access meaningful employment opportunities

DBS’ anti-scam team, which monitors suspicious transactions and intervenes in real time to protect customers

A coordinated response by DBS relationship managers and legal staff to shield an elderly client from financial exploitation

Season 4 is accompanied by new episodes of Behind the Spark, a companion series that delves into the true stories and behind-the-scenes moments that inspired each episode. This edition includes a feature on DBS Hong Kong’s retiree rehiring programme, which supports seniors through gainful re-employment in their golden years.

For the first time, DBS is also incorporating Sparks into its community programmes. Snippets from the series will be featured in the bank’s digital literacy and anti-scam awareness workshops, and in DBS Foundation’s Nutrition and Social Connection programme. Clips from the series will be screened during the sessions, followed by guided discussions with participants to help them better recognise and respond to scams.

Karen Ngui, Head, DBS Foundation and DBS Group Strategic Marketing and Communications, said: “As a bank rooted in purpose, DBS firmly believes that banking is about being immersed in everyday life and doing real things for real people. This new season of Sparks surfaces some of the most urgent issues facing society today – from scams to the realities of rapidly ageing societies. At DBS and DBS Foundation, we are now integrating Sparks into our community programmes to better inform, protect and empower. It reaffirms our commitment to standing with our customers and underserved communities – and shows how we deliver impact beyond banking.”

Shaun Tan, Co-Founder, Inclus, said “We’re honoured to be part of Sparks and Behind the Spark. The stories reflect what we believe – that inclusion is about seeing potential in every person and removing the barriers that hold them back. At Inclus, we recognise that addressing societal challenges like inequality starts with action. With the support of the DBS Foundation, we’ve been able to enhance our systems and services and scale up our impact. We hope our story will help inspire others that even small steps – when taken together – can build something much greater.”

Season 4 features a blend of returning favourites and fresh faces. Familiar names include Adrian Pang (“Chester Teo”), Jamie Xia (“Claire Lee”), Andrew Marko (“Rex Tan”) and Chew Wei Shan (“Alethia Wong”), while new characters are brought to life by Loke Meng Chue (“Madam Mui”), Asher Su (“Eddie”), Aaron Mossadeg (“Andy”), Dione Tan (“Megan Teo”) and Jason Goldwin Chang (“Ken”).

Since its debut in 2016, Sparks has run for three seasons and 24 episodes. Collectively, these have garnered more than 1.5 billion views and over 86 million digital engagements across the region. The series has also received multiple international accolades including Gold for ‘Financial Services’ in the Shorty Impact Awards 2024 and ‘Best in Singapore’ in the YouTube Works Award SEA 2023. Most recently, it won Silver for ‘Branded Content’ in the Telly Awards 2025.

Watch the web series inspired by true stories here: www.DBS.com/sparks[END]About DBSWorld’s Best BankWorld’s Best BankGlobal Bank of the YearWorld’s Best Digital BankMost Innovative in Digital BankingSafest Bank in Asiawww.dbs.com