Bank Julius Baer has expressed support for Singaporean mountaineer Jane Lee in her first attempt to be the first South East Asian female to scale the highest summit in each of the seven continents in the world.

The Swiss private bank said it is particularly supportive of Asians achieving key milestones, with the region being its second home market. The venture is also an example of the kind of sponsorship and marketing moves private banks are making in the Asian region. UBS, for example, sponsored the Singapore Grand Prix last year.

"We are glad to be able to support a fine lady who is extremely passionate and dedicated to always excel and reach new heights to embark on this expedition. We wish her every success," Dr Thomas Meier, board member and chief executive for Asia and the Middle East for Bank Julius Baer, said in a media release.

Lee has already succeeded with Mount Everest in Asia, Mount Kosciuszko in Australia and Mount McKinley in North America and is expected to complete her expedition by the middle of 2011. She will be scaling summits in Antarctica, South America, Africa and Europe in the coming months.