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.
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.
Our Milestone
On 3 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 under Main Market of Bursa Malaysia) on 17 October 1994 and since then has grown by leaps and bounds, organically as well as through mergers and acquisitions. Today the Bank is Malaysia’s fifth largest banking group by assets with over RM254.3 billion in assets as at
30 June 2022, and fourth largest by market capitalisation as at the same date.
Our Achievement on Regional Front
On the regional front, HLB was the first Malaysian bank to enter the Chinese banking sector in 2008 with a strategic investment in Bank of Chengdu Co., Ltd (“Bank of Chengdu”) with an 18% stake in the company. HLB became the first Malaysian and South East Asian bank to be granted a license to incorporate and operate a 100% wholly-owned commercial bank in Vietnam which commenced operations in October 2009 with a branch located in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Since 2010, HLB has investments in the Sichuan JinCheng Consumer Finance Company, a licensed consumer finance firm established in Chengdu while our 100% wholly-owned commercial bank in Cambodia was launched in 2013
Our Innovation
HLB launched a comprehensive suite of online banking platforms for corporate, commercial and SME banking to ensure efficiency and convenience, with comprehensive solutions designed to help clients run their business smoothly. In the same year, the Bank moved its headquarters to Menara Hong Leong in Damansara City and established the first Hong Leong Bank Digital Concept flagship branch, as part of its efforts in digitisation and through continuous optimisation and integration of electronic and digital facilities and processes, to enhance the overall customer banking journey.
Our Innovation
We place customers at the core and leverage the latest digital technology to offer meaningful financial products and services that fulfil customers’ needs. We look for opportunities in the challenges faced by individuals and businesses in their banking needs today to innovate customer experiences tomorrow while embracing opportunities new technologies bring to deliver the best digital and human experiences available in the market. We do this through an extensive network of branches in Asia with one branch each in Labuan Offshore, Singapore and Hong Kong, two branches in Vietnam, and seven branches in Cambodia, as well as a full-service call centre and 1,044 self-service terminals.
Digital at the Core
With the rapidly changing financial landscape, coupled with fast-paced technological changes, staying attuned to our customers’ expectations and aspirations are critical to our ongoing efforts to develop capabilities, banking products and services that are centred on clients’ needs. HLB’s ethos of being Digital at the Core will continue propelling us to innovate and leverage on technology to increase efficiency and productivity, to improve the overall customer experience, and, future proof our workforce by upskilling employees’ competencies and skill sets. Our digital ambition is to continuously provide our customers with a personalised approach and simpler, more efficient and seamless banking experience for them to live life “uninterrupted”.
Awards & Recognition
2022
Asiamoney Best Bank Awards
Best SME Bank Malaysia 2022
The Asian Banker Retail Financial Services Awards 2022
Awards & Recognition
2022
Best SME Bank in Malaysia
Asian Banking and Finance Retail Banking Awards 2022
Anugerah Pembayar Cukai Terbaik Tahun 2021
In recognition of HLB’s Continuous Commitment in Good Tax Governance and Compliance
LHDN –Hari Hasil Ke-26 LHDNM Tahun 2022
Awards & Recognition
2021
Best SME Bank, Malaysia Awards
Malaysia’s Best Digital Bank
Awards & Recognition
2021
Best Social Impact for Jumpstart
Global Good Governance Award 2021
Best Cash Management Bank in Malaysia
Transaction Finance Awards 2021 - The Asian Banker
Awards & Recognition
2020
Best SME Bank Malaysia 2020
Best Payments Bank in Malaysia 2020
Awards & Recognition
2020
International Business Magazine
Excellence in Leadership in Asia 2020
Awards & Recognition
2020
Red Hat APAC Innovation Awards
Top Financial Institution Partner
Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia
Awards & Recognition
2020
Billion Ringgit Club, Highest Return to Shareholders (FI) Over 3 Years
Billion Ringgit Club, Highest Return to Shareholders (Super Big Cap) Over 3 Years
Awards & Recognition
2020
Best SME Bank in Malaysia
Best Digital Bank Malaysia
Awards & Recognition
2020
Excellence in Leadership in Asia 2020
Awards & Recognition
2019
Best Use of Social Media – Bronze 2019
Malaysian Digital Association
Awards & Recognition
2019
Best Platform Development – Bronze 2019
Malaysian Digital Association
Awards & Recognition
2019
Best Use of Data – Silver 2019
Malaysian Digital Association
Awards & Recognition
2019
Most Innovative Recruitment Strategy (In-House) – Gold 2019
Malaysian Digital Association
Awards & Recognition
2019
Top Financial Institution Partner – Overall Category 2019
Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad
Awards & Recognition
2019
Best SME Bank in Malaysia 2019
Awards & Recognition
2019
Best Bank for Cash Management in Malaysia, Best Treasury & Cash Management Banks And Providers Awards 2019
Awards & Recognition
2018
Highest Return to Shareholders over Three Years, Billion Ringgit Club 2018
Awards & Recognition
2018
Best IR Professional, Malaysian Investor Relations Association Awards 2018
Malaysian Investor Relations Association
Awards & Recognition
2018
Most Improved Service from IR Team, Malaysian Investor Relations Association Awards 2018
Malaysian Investor Relations Association
Awards & Recognition
2018
Best New Entrant for a Malaysian Organisation, Life at Work Awards 2018
Awards & Recognition
2018
Excellence in Workplace Wellbeing - Bronze, HR Excellence Awards 2018
Awards & Recognition
2018
Excellence in Innovative Use of HR Tech – Gold, HR Excellence Awards 2018
Awards & Recognition
2018
Excellence in HR Innovation – Gold, HR Excellence Awards 2018
Awards & Recognition
2018
Omni-Experience Innovator for Malaysia, IDC Digital Transformation Awards 2018
Awards & Recognition
2018
Best Digital Bank, Asiamoney Best Banks Awards for Malaysia 2018
Awards & Recognition
2018
Best Domestic Bank, Asiamoney Best Banks Awards for Malaysia 2018
Awards & Recognition
2018
Fintech Personality Of The Year
Malaysia Fintech Awards 2018
Awards & Recognition
2018
Outstanding Contribution to MyDebit
Malaysian e-Payment Excellence Awards 2018
Best Graduate Recruitment Programme
Bronze Award, HR Asia Recruitment Awards 2018
Awards & Recognition
2018
The Best Cash Management Project in Malaysia
Banker’s Choice Awards 2018
The Best Financial Supply Chain Management in Malaysia
Banker’s Choice Awards 2018
Awards & Recognition
2018
Asia’s Best Brand
Asia’s Best Brand Awards 2018
Best Innovation in Retail Banking Malaysia
The International Banker 2018 Asia & Australasia Awards
Awards & Recognition
2018
Asia’s Best Digital Workforce
IDC Financial Insights Innovation Awards 2018
CEO of the Summit Award
2nd Selangor International Business Summit 2018
Awards & Recognition
2017
Asia/Pacific's Leader in Cashless Collaboration
Financial Insights Innovation Awards 2017
Best FPX Bank
Malaysian e-Payment Excellence Award 2017
Awards & Recognition
2017
Best Instant Transfer Bank
Malaysian e-Payment Excellence Award 2017
Outstanding Contribution to MyDebit
Malaysian e-Payment Excellence Award 2017
Awards & Recognition
2017
Malaysia's Best Bank 2017
Awards for Excellence 2017: Asia results
Best Innovation in Retail Banking Malaysia 2017
International Banker 2017 Banking Awards
Awards & Recognition
2017
Best Use of CEM Technology
Customer Experience Asia Excellence Awards 2017
International Quality and Productivity Centre
Best New Contact Centre (Watson Cognitive Center) - Gold Award
18th Annual Contact Centre Association of Malaysia (CCAM) Awards
Contact Centre Association of Malaysia (CCAM)
Awards & Recognition
2017
Best Social Media for Contact Centre- Gold Award
18th Annual Contact Centre Association of Malaysia (CCAM) Awards
Contact Centre Association of Malaysia (CCAM)
Best Innovative Technology/Adoption Award - Gold Award
18th Annual Contact Centre Association of Malaysia (CCAM) Awards
Contact Centre Association of Malaysia (CCAM)
Awards & Recognition
2017
Best Contact Center over 100 seats - Merit Award
18th Annual Contact Centre Association of Malaysia (CCAM) Awards
Contact Centre Association of Malaysia (CCAM)
Gold Award for Highest Returns to Shareholders Over 3 Years
The Edge - Billion Ringgit Club 2017
Awards & Recognition
2017
Silver Award for Highest Return on Equity Over 3 Years
The Edge - Billion Ringgit Club 2017
Outstanding Achiever – Product Due Diligence, Affluent Banking Product
Affluent Banking Malaysia 2017
BENCHMARK Wealth Management Awards
Awards & Recognition
2016
Interest Rates Research #1 (Malaysia & Local Currency), Overall Best For Interest Rates #1, Interest Rates Product & Sales #1, Interest Rates Derivatives #1
Asiamoney Fixed Income Poll 2016
Best Domestic FX Providers #2, Best of FX Products and Services #2, Best of FX Options #2, Best of FX Research & Market Coverage #2
Asiamoney FX Poll 2016
Awards & Recognition
2015
Best Internet Bank Malaysia
Global Banking and Finance Review 2015
Global Banking and Finance
Best Bank for Digital Innovation
The Asset Triple A Islamic Finance Awards 2015
Awards & Recognition
2015
Next Generation IT Infrastructure
IDC Financial Insights Innovation Award 2015
International Data Corporation (IDC)
Silver for Best Crisis Management
PR Asia Awards 2015
Awards & Recognition
2015
Growth: PEx mobile payment solution
CIO Awards 2015
Best Retail Payment Project
The Asian Banker Achievement Awards 2015
Awards & Recognition
2015
Most Improved Service from IR Team
Malaysia Investor Relations Award 2015
Malaysia Investor Relations Association
Awards & Recognition
2014
Best Sukuk Deal, Al Bayan
Global Islamic Finance Award 2014
Best Islamic Banking Team Malaysia
CFI.co Islamic Finance Awards 2014
Capital Finance International
Awards & Recognition
2014
Deal of the Year
World’s Best Islamic Financial Institutions 2014
Category: MT 103 Elite Quality Recognition Award & MT 202 Elite Quality Recognition Award
J.P Morgan Quality Recognition Award 2014
Awards & Recognition
2014
3rd Place for Best In House Inbound Contact Centre (above 100 seats)
15th National Customer Experience Industry Award 2014
Contact Centre Association of Malaysia
3rd place for Best In House Inbound Contact Centre (above 100 seats)
ACE Malaysia Corporate Award 2014
Contact Centre Association of Malaysia
Awards & Recognition
2013
Bronze Category – Finance
Putra Brand Awards 2013
The Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia
The Most Improved Service from an Investor Relations Team 2013
Mira (Malaysian Investor Relations Association)
Awards & Recognition
2012
The Most Improved Service from an Investor Relations Team 2012
Mira (Malaysian Investor Relations Association)
The Most Astute Investors in Asian G3 Denominated Bonds
The Asset Benchmark Research Awards 2012
Asset Publishing and Research Limited
Awards & Recognition
2012
The Bank of New York Mellon
MT202 and MT103 Elite Quality Recognition Award for Excellence in Funds Transfer Operations Management 2012
Awards & Recognition
2010
Most innovative VISA Debit Launch 2010
Best Straight-Through Processing Payment 2010
Awards & Recognition
2010
Shareholder Value Award 2010
Top 5 for Finance Highest PBT CAGR, ROE and S/H Returns over 3 years 2010
Awards & Recognition
2010
The Bank of New York Mellon
Best Domestic Provider of FX Services in Malaysia as Voted by Fls 2010 (2nd Place)
Awards & Recognition
2010
Best Class STP Award 2010
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Announcements
Relocation of Hong Leong Bank Branch at Cheng, Melaka
13 Jun 2025
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Media Release
HLB and DCAP Digital Collaborate to Boost SME Lending and Financial Inclusion with Cutting-Edge AI
13 Jun 2025
Read More
Announcements
SST downtime at Hong Leong Bank Bintulu Branch (BTU), Sarawak on 14th June 2025
13 Jun 2025
Read More
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