HONG LEONG BANK BERHAD

HONG LEONG BANK BERHAD stands as one of Malaysia’s most enduring financial institutions — a bank whose history stretches across more than a century of economic transformation.

From its origins in Sarawak to its presence across Asia, the bank has evolved alongside the nation itself, supporting trade, enterprise, and personal growth through every phase of development.

Today, it operates as a key pillar within the Hong Leong Financial Group, reflecting a legacy built not merely on banking, but on continuity, adaptability, and trust.

Its journey reflects a powerful truth — that financial institutions do not simply manage money, but enable the movement of opportunity.

Founders:

Lam Tee Chew and Lam Song Khee

Current Leadership:

Chairman: Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan

Group Managing Director and CEO: Kevin Lam

The leadership continues to guide the bank with a focus on digital transformation, regional expansion, and sustainable financial growth.

Some banks are built on capital — HONG LEONG BANK was built on community.

In 1905, the institution began in Kuching, Sarawak, as the Kwong Lee Mortgage and Remittance Company, serving traders, merchants, and overseas communities who needed trusted financial channels to sustain their livelihoods.

Its early role was deeply personal, facilitating remittances, supporting commodity trade, and enabling businesses to grow even in uncertain times.

Over the decades, the bank evolved through multiple identities, including Kwong Lee Bank, Malayan United Bank, and MUI Bank, each reflecting Malaysia’s changing financial landscape.

A defining turning point came in 1994, when the Hong Leong Group acquired the bank and transformed it into HONG LEONG BANK BERHAD, positioning it for a new era of modern banking.

From a remittance house to a regional financial network, its journey reflects a powerful truth — that trust, once established, can outlast generations.

HONG LEONG BANK BERHAD operates through a diversified banking and financial services model.

Core Activities include:

• Consumer and retail banking services

• Corporate and commercial financing

• Treasury, capital markets, and trade finance

• Wealth management and private banking

• Islamic banking and digital financial solutions

HONG LEONG BANK BERHAD offers a wide range of financial products and services for individuals, SMEs, corporations, and institutional clients.

Notable offerings include:

• Personal banking products such as loans, deposits, and credit cards

• SME and corporate financing solutions

• HLB Connect digital banking platform

• Wealth management and investment services

• Hong Leong Islamic Bank financial offerings

1905 — Establishment as Kwong Lee Mortgage and Remittance Company

1934 — Formation of Kwong Lee Bank

1982 — Acquisition by MUI Group and transformation into Malayan United Bank

1994 — Acquisition by Hong Leong Group and rebranding to HONG LEONG BANK BERHAD

2001 — Major consolidation strengthening the banking group

2011 — Acquisition of EON Bank, expanding nationwide presence

2020s — Expansion into regional markets and acceleration of digital banking transformation

HONG LEONG BANK BERHAD is one of Malaysia’s oldest and most established banking institutions.

Across its long history, the bank has played a central role in supporting trade, SMEs, and national economic growth. It has also contributed to the expansion of Malaysia’s banking footprint into regional markets.

In recent decades, HONG LEONG BANK BERHAD has advanced digital banking adoption within the local financial sector, strengthening access, convenience, and innovation in financial services.

Some banks move money — HONG LEONG BANK moves generations.

From remittances sent across oceans to digital transactions completed in seconds, its legacy is not measured only in balances, but in trust.

It stands as a testament that the true foundation of banking is not capital alone, but confidence that endures through time.