Career : Banking Institutions in Malaysia

As Malaysia’s most prominent financial institution, Maybank strives in its brand philosophy to be part of Malaysian lives. Being the first in many endeavours, it is the largest bank in Malaysia, reaching out to all levels of society. We speak to Datuk Amirsham A Aziz, President and CEO of Maybank, to learn about the branding success behind this financial institution.

Maybank strives in its brand philosophy to be part of Malaysian lives. We are dedicated to progress, innovation and excellence. The Maybank Group has been leading the Malaysian banking industry for over four and a half decades.

Maybank was incorporated in Malaysia in 1960 and was listed on Bursa Malaysia (formerly known as Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange) in 1962. Today it is one of the largest company by market capitalisation on the Malaysian Bourse. Maybank is ranked 153 among the world’s top 1,000 banks (Source: The Banker, July 2007).

Maybank is the largest financial services group in Malaysia. The Maybank Group offers a comprehensive range of financial services and products ranging from commercial banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, offshore banking, leasing and hire purchase, insurance, factoring, trustee services, asset management, stock broking, nominee services, discount-house business, venture capital and Internet banking.

Maybank has the largest service network in Malaysia which is complemented by branches in key international financial centres worldwide. In Malaysia alone, the Group has over 480 branches including trade finance centres, business centres and insurance offices. The Group has 22 branches in Singapore, 45 branches in Philippines, three branches in Brunei and Indonesia, two in Vietnam and Papua New Guinea, one each in Hong Kong SAR, London, New York, Bahrain, Phnom Penh, and Shanghai as well as a representative office in Beijing. It also has four offices in Pakistan and one office in Uzbekistan.




Many organisations pay lip service to being visionary, dynamic and forward looking. For CIMB, the presence of these ingredients is the litmus test of the brand. Its steady growth and far-reaching ambitions attest to its professed brand values and define its approach in new markets.

CIMB Group is Malaysia’s second largest financial services provider and one of Southeast Asia’s leading universal banking groups.

It offers consumer banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, asset management and insurance products and services.

Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, its key regional offices are located in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

CIMB Group operates its business through three main brand entities, CIMB Bank, CIMB Investment Bank and CIMB Islamic. CIMB Group is also the majority shareholder of PT Bank Niaga in Indonesia.

CIMB Group is owned by Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Bhd, which is listed on Bursa Malaysia with a market capitalisation of over US10 billion. The Group has over 20,000 employees located in 12 countries.




Now in its forty-first year, Public Bank is one of Malaysia’s premier commercial banks. Public Bank continues to secure strong market share and customer loyalties in its domestic market, while pursuing aggressive expansion within Southeast Asia, particularly in Hong Kong and China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Sri Lanka.

Public Bank is currently the second biggest domestic bank in Malaysia by shareholders' funds. It focuses on retail customers and small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The Hong Piow, who was then general manager of Malayan Banking, founded the bank in 1966. The bank was listed on the Malaysian Stock Exchange in 1967.

Public Bank has grown to embody both stability and profitability for customers and shareholders through consistent, efficient financial management and unified realizations of group strategies. Public Bank won the Asset Magazine’s 2006 “Best Domestic bank in Malaysia” for the fifth consecutive year and its chairman and founder, Tan Sri Dr The Hong Piow, was named “Asia’s Banker of High Distinction”.

Public Bank Group is selectively expanding its regional operations in Hong Kong, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Sri Lanka. Public Bank’s financial performance in 2006 included a 15% increase in sales with marginally stronger operating profit margin while its market capitalization increased 37% at RM 31,512 million.




A public listed company on the Malaysian Stock Exchange, Hong Leong Bank has been providing financial services to Malaysians since 1905, when it was known then as Kwong Lee Mortgage and Remittance Company. Today, Hong Leong Bank is a well-recognised banking institution known and respected for its extensive banking knowledge and experience and for its entrenched customer base.

Hong Leong Bank is a member of the Hong Leong Group Malaysia (the Group). Headquartered in Malaysia, the Group has been in the financial services industry since 1968 through Hong Leong Finance Berhad and since 1982 through Dao Heng Bank Ltd in Hong Kong. Dao Heng Bank Ltd has since been sold to another banking institution.

Hong Leong Bank is a member of the Hong Leong Group’s global network, which has diversified interests worldwide in financial services, property investments and development including hotels, manufacturing and distribution to global clients, and food-related industries.

With more than 100 years of banking knowledge and experience, Hong Leong Bank has a strong market position and is a well-recognized business franchise. Hong Leong Bank, one of the leading local banks in Malaysia, has also won many recognitions and accolades over the years, including the Finance Asia 2002 Asia’s Best Companies Award, the KPMG 2003 Shareholder Value Award, the CGC Top SMI Supporter Award 2004, the Asian Banker’s Best Credit Card Product Award 2006, the 2006 JPMorgan Chase MT202 Elite Quality Recognition Award and the Top 3 Treasury ranking for market presence & position among the 9 local banks in 2007. Hong Leong Bank has the number 1 fastest growing credit cards brand in the country, is ranked fourth in Mortgages overall and is among the top 3 in Wealth Management Business (the fastest growth brand year-on-year in this segment).

Hong Leong Bank’s financial performance in 2006 included a 12% increase in sales to RM 2,338 million while market capitalization increased 42% at RM 6,192 million.




Convenience. Flexibility. Professionalism. RHB Capital Berhad is all this and more. It is a homegrown financial service group that strives to give only the best to its customers.

The RHB brand only came into being with the incorporation of Rashid Hussain Securities Sdn Bhd in 1983, the RHB Banking Group’s journey actually began in 1913 when Kwong Yik Bank was established as Malaysia’s first local bank.

In 1966, the Development and Commercial Bank (later D&C Bank and subsequently renamed DCB Bank) was established, and in 1990, RHB acquired a stake in the bank. DCB Bank merged with Kwong Yik Bank during the first round of banking consolidation in 1997 to form RHB Bank.

In 1999, it acquired Sime Bank and in 2003 merged with the Utama Banking Group to form the RHB Banking Group.

Today, the RHB Banking Group – majority owned by the Employees Provident Fund – offers the entire range of financial products and services, covering commercial banking, investment banking and insurance, as well as Islamic banking.

It is the fourth largest financial services group in Malaysia.




With its bright colours of red and golden yellow, Malaysians have come to know the AmBank Group as a trusted financial institution. Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Azman Hashim, the founder of the bank who is still very much active in its current progresses, shares his ideals for this progressive brand in an ever-changing Malaysian society.

The AmBank Group is one of Malaysia’s premier financial services group with leadership positions in the retail banking, commercial banking, investment banking and insurance sectors. With an established history and a track record of innovation and customer focus philosophy, the AmBank Group continues to serve its customers with a wide range of innovative products and services.

The Group has also won an impressive amount of awards from international financial press and major rating agencies such as the 8th CCAM Annual Contact Centre Awards 2007, “No. 1 Automobile Lender in Asia Pacific, Gulf States and Central Asia” in the Asian Banker’s Excellence in Automobile Lending Award 2007, “Best Equity House” from FinanceAsia Country Awards for Achievement 2007, and I-REIT and Mudharabah categories in Deals of the Year 2006 Awards from Islamic Finance News.

The Funds Management Division of AmInvestment Bank Group was recognised by the Employee Provident Fund’s External Portfolio Managers Awards with "Best Overall Fixed Income Portfolio Manager" and "Best Three-Year Realized Returns Fixed Income Manager". AmBank Group’s financial performance as at 31 March 2007 includes an increase of RM1.15 billion, or up by 24% in operating revenue while market capitalisation was up by 33% to RM 8,033 billion.




With its rebranding exercise in 2005, Affin Bank has emerged as one of Malaysia’s top banking institutions. Its tagline — Banking Without Barriers — is the best description to the brand’s philosophy, which is allowing its customers to enjoy hassle-free banking services.

Affin Bank Berhad (AFFINBANK) was incorporated in 1975 under the name Perwira Habib Bank Malaysia Berhad. It started as a joint venture between several Malaysian parties including Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT), Syarikat Permodalan Kebangsaan Berhad and Habib Bank Limited of Pakistan.

In 1991, the Bank embarked on a capital restructuring resulting in the emergence of Affin Holdings Berhad as its largest shareholder in 1992. It later changed its name to Perwira Affin Bank Berhad and then AFFINBANK. In August 2000, the Bank merged with the former BSN Commercial (M) Berhad and pursuant to the amendment to the BAFIA Act 1989, in June 2005, it once again merged with the former Affin-ACF Finance Berhad. To date, it has a network of 82 branches nationwide.

AFFINBANK serves both retail and corporate customers. The business units of the Bank comprise Enterprise Banking, Consumer Banking, Treasury and Hire Purchase. Consumer Banking provides credit cards, personal loans, mortgages and deposit taking services to individuals. Meanwhile Enterprise Banking offers corporations, institutional clients and SMEs services in corporate banking, contract financing and trade finance. Enterprise Banking serves as an important feeder to the other business units by way of contacts and opportunities.

Affin Bank’s pre-tax profit increased by 18.7% to RM272.3 million in 2006 while operating income grew by 2.3% to RM862.9 million. Deposits and gross loans grew by 26% and 3.8% respectively while asset quality improved with net NPL ratio recorded at 11.72% as at 31/12/2006.