CIMB GROUP HOLDINGS BERHAD

CIMB GROUP HOLDINGS BERHAD stands as one of Southeast Asia’s leading banking groups — a financial institution deeply woven into the region’s economic development and financial integration.

With historical roots tracing back to early banking institutions established in the 20th century, the Group was formally established in 1956 and gradually evolved into one of ASEAN’s most influential banking powerhouses. Through decades of mergers, restructurings, and regional expansion, CIMB transformed from a domestic banking institution into a multinational financial group serving millions of customers across Southeast Asia.

Today, CIMB is recognised not only as one of Malaysia’s largest banking institutions, but also as a key regional financial advisor and a global leader in Islamic finance. Its influence spans conventional banking, investment banking, capital markets, Islamic financial services, and regional cross-border banking ecosystems.

Founder Origins:

Bian Chiang Bank (1924)

Ban Hin Lee Bank (1935)

Current Leadership:

Group CEO: Novan Amirudin

The leadership continues guiding the Group with a vision focused on strengthening ASEAN connectivity, accelerating digital transformation, advancing sustainable finance, and supporting inclusive economic growth across regional markets.

Some banks are built on capital — CIMB was built on consolidation and transformation.

The origins of the Group trace back to some of the early Chinese-owned banking institutions in Malaysia, including Bian Chiang Bank and Ban Hin Lee Bank. These banks emerged during periods of significant economic and commercial transition, serving local businesses, communities, and entrepreneurs in an evolving regional economy.

Over the decades, these institutions underwent multiple mergers, restructurings, and strategic consolidations that gradually laid the foundation for what would become CIMB Group. Unlike banks formed from a single origin story, CIMB’s evolution reflected the convergence of multiple financial legacies into a unified regional institution.

A defining transformation occurred during the 2000s when the Group accelerated its regional ambitions through strategic acquisitions and cross-border expansion across Southeast Asia. Rather than remaining solely a domestic financial institution, CIMB adopted a broader vision — positioning itself as an ASEAN-focused universal bank capable of connecting markets, businesses, capital flows, and communities across national boundaries.

This regional strategy fundamentally reshaped the Group’s identity. Investment banking, capital markets, Islamic finance, and regional consumer banking became integrated pillars within a larger financial ecosystem designed around ASEAN growth and connectivity.

From fragmented banking roots to a unified regional powerhouse, CIMB’s journey demonstrated how strategic consolidation, scale, and regional integration could redefine the role of banking within Southeast Asia’s evolving economy.

Core Activities:

• Consumer and commercial banking services

• Investment banking and capital market operations

• Islamic banking and Shariah-compliant financial services

• Asset management and regional financial solutions

The Group focuses on delivering integrated financial services across ASEAN markets through conventional banking, investment advisory, Islamic finance, digital banking platforms, and cross-border financial ecosystems. By combining regional scale with diversified banking capabilities, CIMB positions itself as a universal banking group serving both consumer and institutional segments.

Notable Offerings Include:

• Retail and corporate banking solutions

• Investment banking and financial advisory services

• Islamic banking services through CIMB Islamic

• Regional asset management and treasury solutions

These offerings position CIMB as a comprehensive regional financial institution operating across both conventional and Islamic financial sectors.

1956 – Formation of foundational banking entity

2000s – Major regional expansion across ASEAN markets

2006 – Listed on Bursa Malaysia as CIMB Group Holdings Berhad

2010s – Emerged as one of ASEAN’s leading banking groups

2020s – Acceleration of digital transformation and sustainability-focused banking initiatives

CIMB contributed significantly to Southeast Asia’s financial sector by strengthening regional banking integration and expanding cross-border financial connectivity within ASEAN economies.

The Group played a major role in advancing Islamic finance internationally while also supporting large-scale corporate financing, capital market activities, infrastructure development, and investment advisory services across multiple countries. Through its investment banking and regional expansion strategies, CIMB helped reinforce Malaysia’s position as a leading financial hub within Southeast Asia.

Its continued investments in digital banking, sustainable finance, and inclusive financial services further contributed to the modernisation of regional banking ecosystems and evolving customer expectations within the financial sector.

Today, CIMB GROUP HOLDINGS BERHAD stands as a pillar of regional finance — a testament to how strategic evolution, consolidation, and cross-border vision can build a banking institution capable of shaping economies across an entire region.

From early community banking origins to its emergence as an ASEAN financial powerhouse, the Group’s journey reflects the broader transformation of Southeast Asia’s economic and banking landscape. Its continued evolution demonstrates that modern banking is no longer confined by national borders, but increasingly defined by regional connectivity, financial integration, and the ability to serve economies in motion.