In 1884, after the establishment of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong, the bank established its third office in Penang, one of the Strait Settlements in present-day Malaysia, with permission to issue currency notes. The bank later opened its office in Malacca in 1909 and by the end of 1912, offices had opened in Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Kota Bharu. During the 1920s and 1930s, the bank opened more branches in several states, Sungai Petani branch in 1922, Kuantan in 1929, Muar in 1930, and Kuala Terengganu in 1936.