Hong Leong Bank Story
Our Background
Hong Leong Bank Berhad is a regional financial services company based in Malaysia, with presence in Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia and China. The Bank is technology-focused and emphasises the development of financial capabilities to serve its clients across the five geographies. Hong Leong Bank Berhad (“HLB” or “the Bank”) is listed on Bursa Malaysia and forms part of the Hong Leong Group. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Bank has a strong Malaysian entrepreneurship heritage.
Year 1905
Our Humble Beginnings
HLB was originally incorporated as Kwong Lee Mortgage and Remittance Company in 1905 in Kuching, Sarawak and later as Kwong Lee Bank Limited in 1934, bearing heritage of the oldest local financial institution in Malaysia. Kwong Lee Bank Berhad was acquired by the MUI Group in May 1982 and renamed Malayan United Bank Berhad on 2 February 1983. In 1989, it was renamed as MUI Bank. Under the MUI Bank banner, it grew from 11 to 35 branches nationwide.
Year 1994
Our Milestone
On 3rd January 1994, Hong Leong Group acquired MUI Bank Berhad through Hong Leong Credit Berhad (now known as Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad) and renamed it Hong Leong Bank Berhad. The Bank was listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (now known as Bursa Malaysia Berhad) on 17th October 1994 and since then has grown by leaps and bounds, organically as well as through mergers and acquisitions. Its merger with EON Bank Group in 2011 placed Hong Leong Bank as Malaysia’s fifth largest banking group; with over RM180 billion in assets as at 30 June 2016.
Year 2008
Our Achievement on Regional Front
On the regional front, HLB became the first Malaysian bank in 2008 to enter the Chinese banking sector with a 20% strategic shareholding in Bank of Chengdu Co., Ltd. In December of the same year, HLB became the first Malaysian and Southeast Asian bank to be granted a license to incorporate and operate a 100% wholly-owned commercial bank in Vietnam. In 2013, Hong Leong Bank launched its 100% wholly-owned commercial bank in Cambodia and in November, set up a representative office in Nanjing.
Year 2008
Our Achievement on Regional Front
Building on strong entrepreneurial roots and its firm foundation of values, HLB is committed to embedding itself in the communities within which it operates to meet the needs of its customers. Under the umbrella of the Hong Leong Financial Group, the Group’s ability to harness cutting-edge technologies to provide a comprehensive suite of conventional and Islamic financial products and services under one roof truly makes it a leading integrated financial services organisation in Malaysia and Asia.
Year 2012
Our Innovation
The Bank reaches out to its customers within the communities in which it operates through various channels. This includes a distribution network of approximately 300 branches locally; sales and business centres in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Cambodia as well as a comprehensive range of complementary and electronic channels which include self service terminals, the Hong Leong Call Centre, Hong Leong Online Banking and Hong Leong Mobile Banking.
Year 2012
Our Innovation
HLB launched ‘Mach by Hong Leong Bank’ in 2012, a sub-brand that brings together “bricks and clicks” to offer a range of life starter products and services targeted to meet the needs of the Gen-Y community. The Bank has also stepped up its efforts on digitisation through continuous optimisation and integration of electronic and digital facilities and processes, to enhance the overall customer banking journey.
