Standard Chartered Bank Building, George Town

Back in the day, the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China set the banking scene in George Town, making history as the first bank in town. Before the sleek Standard Chartered Bank Building came along, that spot was home to a chunk of the Central Police Station, centered inside the current Penang State Assembly Building.

When it sprang up in 1930, the edifice was a real head-turner, dominating the cityscape at four stories tall. Mixing it up with Palladian, Classical, and Art Deco styles, and decked out with granite, it screamed reliability and solidity – just what you want from a bank.

Over the years, the upper floors became prime real estate, housing some big-shot firms. Nowadays, you'll find the likes of Presgrave & Matthews, one of Penang's oldest legal eagles, and Kennedy, Burkill & Company, the number-crunching pros.

In 1969, the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China joined forces with the Standard Bank of British South Africa, birthing the Standard Chartered Bank. These days, they're big shots on the global banking scene, with a whopping 1,200 branches worldwide.