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FAYBL Launches Autonomous General AI Agent on Iress’s Xplan

SYDNEY, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — FAYBL, a leading innovator in AI-driven financial advisory solutions, proudly announces the launch of its Autonomous General Agent, and successful integration with the API of Iress’s (ASX:IRE) Xplan platform.

Iress’s market-leading Xplan platform has more than 35,000 users and is used by 61% of planners in Australia.

The release of our General Agent marks a significant leap forward for financial advisors,” said Steven Goh, Cofounder and CEO of FAYBL. 

“The General Agent can manage entire complex workflows, completing processes that currently take several hours in mere minutes and transforming the relationship an advisor has with their client base.

“When used correctly, turnaround times for advice may be possible near instantly. We believe advisors can double their business and halve their costs.”

The Autonomous General Agent’s capacity to respond to real time events and independently manage complex workflows differentiates FAYBL from functional AI tools that automate a singular task. Operating with a ‘human-in-the-loop’ approach, and with FAYBL’s patent pending foresight technology, it can draw from integrations via RPA, APIs and MCP; and research, alert, recommend, plan, and execute complex workflows to produce desired results.

“The opportunities for efficiency gains from AI in financial planning are staggering,” said Eric Blewitt, CEO of Investment Trends.

“In Australia, the average time to produce a full statement of advice for even a single-scope client is still five and a half hours, which sets a hard floor for the cost of providing advice. The situation in the UK is similar, where production of a financial plan or suitability report for a typical client still averages 6.7 hours, down less than an hour over the last 15 years.”

Early access FAYBL’s General Agent is currently open for enterprise-level Xplan users and selected key financial advisors. General access is targeted for June 2025.

To learn more about how FAYBL is reshaping the future of financial advice or to schedule a demonstration, visit www.faybl.com.

 

SingWealth Holdings Expands into Hong Kong with New Insurance Brokerage Licence

With the launch of PFPFA HK Limited, SingWealth Holdings reinforces its commitment to regional growth and delivering seamless, high-quality financial solutions through its licensed operations in Singapore and Hong Kong SAR

SINGAPORE, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SingWealth Holdings is pleased to announce its successful acquisition of an insurance brokerage licence in Hong Kong SAR, marking a significant milestone in its regional expansion. With this licence, SingWealth Holdings has established PFPFA HK Limited, further reinforcing its commitment to delivering comprehensive wealth management solutions beyond Singapore while upholding its philosophy of “Think Global, Act Local.”

Celebrating the official launch of PFPFA HK Limited with key leaders from SingWealth Holdings & PFP Group Services—William Ng, Simon Ng, Jeffrey Chow, Peter Huber, Shawn Lim, and Henry Koh!
Celebrating the official launch of PFPFA HK Limited with key leaders from SingWealth Holdings & PFP Group Services—William Ng, Simon Ng, Jeffrey Chow, Peter Huber, Shawn Lim, and Henry Koh!

To celebrate this significant expansion, a grand launch event was held today at Gonpachi Restaurant, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. The exclusive gathering provided a valuable opportunity to connect with industry leaders and key stakeholders from SingWealth Holdings and PFPFA HK Limited, including Mr. Jeffrey Chow, Director of SingWealth Holdings, and Mr. Peter Huber, Non-Executive Chairman of SingWealth Holdings. The event also served as a platform to discuss the broader implications of SingWealth Holdings’ entry into the Hong Kong market for financial professionals and clients within the Greater Bay Area.

“Securing our insurance brokerage licence in Hong Kong is a pivotal step in SingWealth Holdings’ regional growth strategy,” said Mr. Jeffrey Chow, Director of SingWealth Holdings. “This expansion allows us to extend our expertise and provide clients in Hong Kong with seamless, high-quality wealth management solutions.”

Through PFPFA HK Limited, SingWealth will now deliver its comprehensive financial services to clients across the Greater Bay Area. This milestone reflects SingWealth Holdings’ ongoing mission to offer personalized and forward-thinking financial strategies while maintaining the highest standards of service and integrity.

About SingWealth Holdings

SingWealth Holdings is a dynamic holding company with a strategic presence across Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Mainland China, and Hong Kong. Through its subsidiaries, it delivers comprehensive financial advisory, insurance brokerage, and estate planning solutions tailored to the evolving needs of individuals and businesses.

Its financial services portfolio comprises PFPFA Pte Ltd (Singapore) and PFPFA HK Ltd (Hong Kong), providing trusted financial expertise and strategic advisory solutions to clients in their respective markets.

SingWealth Holdings also supports PFP Legacy entities across the region, catering to the needs of emerging affluent clients with wills and trust services in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. These services are designed to safeguard wealth and ensure smooth succession planning for individuals and families.

In Singapore, SingWealth Holdings operates Assure Healthcare Holdings, a healthcare brand committed to accessible, patient-centered care. Assure Healthcare offers general practitioner services, preventive medical care, aesthetic treatments, and Advance Medical Directive (AMD) support.

Driven by innovation and excellence, SingWealth Holdings continues to empower communities across Asia with financial stability and enhanced well-being.

For more information, visit https://singwealthholdings.com 

Tesco’s Clubcard Challenges, Powered by Eagle Eye, Wins “Best Global Loyalty Launch or Initiative” at the 2025 International Loyalty Awards

LONDON, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tesco’s Clubcard Challenges, powered by Eagle Eye’s Personalised Challenges solution, has been named the Best Global Loyalty Launch or Initiative at the 2025 International Loyalty Awards.

The award celebrates standout new loyalty initiatives launched in the past 12 months, from around the world, that combine innovation, creativity, and measurable impact – criteria that Clubcard Challenges met and exceeded amid tough competition.

Launched in May 2024, the Clubcard Challenges initiative invited Tesco Clubcard members to complete personalised challenges over a six-week period to unlock up to £50 in points. The challenge thresholds, created by Eagle Eye’s AI-driven personalisation engine, were tailored to each participant to maximise engagement. Tesco ran four campaigns, with the latest campaign being targeted to 10 million customers across the UK.

“This award is testament to the teams at both Tesco and Eagle Eye,” said Tim Mason, CEO, Eagle Eye. “It’s a clear demonstration of how smart technology, paired with a bold retailer vision, can transform loyalty from a transactional experience into something truly engaging – and commercially powerful. Personalisation is the key.”

Clubcard Challenges was met with strong customer engagement and enthusiasm. As the judges noted, “Clubcard Challenges stands out by transforming routine purchases into a fun, engaging experience where customers earn Clubcard points through gamified missions and digital progress tracking. Tesco has achieved remarkable results by leveraging advanced AI personalisation and data-driven insights.”

As evidenced by its success powering the Clubcard Challenges initiative, Eagle Eye’s Personalised Challenges solution has proved itself as an effective next-generation marketing and engagement tool for the grocery sector. While the International Loyalty Awards assessed only the proscribed implementation period of Clubcard Challenges, Eagle Eye remains Tesco’s trusted technology partner, and similar initiatives are likely to manifest in the near future.

“We’re proud of our ongoing relationship with Tesco and of this joint award in particular,” added Mason. “We look forward to building on this success in the months ahead.”

See the Tesco Clubcard Challenges case study here.

Media Contact: Vanessa Horwell at vhorwell@thinkinkpr.com

About Eagle Eye 

Eagle Eye is a leading SaaS and AI technology company that enables retail, travel, and hospitality brands to earn the loyalty of their end customers by powering their real-time, omnichannel, and personalized consumer marketing activities at scale.

Eagle Eye AIR is a cloud-based platform that provides the most flexible and scalable loyalty and promotions capability in the world. More than 1 billion personalized offers are executed through the platform every week, and it currently hosts over 500 million loyalty member wallets for businesses worldwide. Eagle Eye is a certified member of the MACH Alliance and is trusted to deliver a secure service at hundreds of thousands of physical point-of-sale (POS) locations worldwide, enabling the real-time issuance and redemption of promotional coupons, loyalty offers, gift cards, subscription benefits, and more.

The Eagle Eye AIR platform is currently powering loyalty and customer engagement solutions for enterprise businesses worldwide, including Loblaws, Southeastern Grocers, Giant Eagle, Rite Aid, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose, John Lewis & Partners, JD Sports, Pret a Manger and the Woolworths Group. In January 2024, Eagle Eye launched EagleAI, a next-generation data science solution for personalization, which is already being used by leading retailers worldwide, including Tesco, Pattison Food Group, Carrefour and Auchan. Visit www.eagleeye.com to learn more.

 

NX China Acquires GDP Certification for Shanghai and Lianyungang Facilities

– Establishing High-quality Pharmaceutical Logistics Service Systems –

TOKYO, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nippon Express (China) Co., Ltd. (hereafter “NX China”), a group company of NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC., has received Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification for air and ocean freight forwarding of pharmaceutical products at facilities in Shanghai and Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, effective Friday, February 21, 2025.

Logo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dqm0cxpYamnvMUra1AGXMuGlX932Z353/view?usp=drive_link 

Photo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nDWZ-Rpzg7OG2q2CuypRZOqX3gu6XQDR/view?usp=drive_link 

China’s pharmaceutical market is second only to the U.S.’s in scale, and it is expected to see further growth due to an aging population and rising per capita income. To serve this rapidly expanding pharmaceutical market by providing high-quality and uniform pharmaceutical logistics services that accord with quality standards, NX China opened a Healthcare Branch in Shanghai in 2022. Two of that branch’s business locations recently obtained GDP certification to provide high-quality pharmaceutical logistics services to more customers.

The facility in Lianyungang, a city hosting one of China’s largest concentrations of pharmaceutical companies, enjoys a special geographical advantage in being able to ship ocean freight directly from a local port. Acquiring GDP certification enables NX China to offer its customers air and ocean freight forwarding services that meet the strictest security standards for pharmaceutical shipments. The two facilities’ locational advantages and the establishment of quality assurance systems in the process of acquiring GDP certification bolster the NX Group’s competitiveness in pharmaceutical supply chains across China and worldwide, enabling the Group to provide safer and more efficient pharmaceutical transport to its customers.

The NX Group currently operates a total of 37 GDP-certified locations in 24 countries/regions and is working to further extend its GDP network. The Group will continue stepping up its efforts in the healthcare industry, positioned as a priority industry in its management plan, and expanding and developing services globally to meet ever-more sophisticated and diverse pharmaceutical logistics needs.

Related release

– Nippon Express (China) opens new healthcare branch in Shanghai

https://www.nipponexpress-holdings.com/en/press/2022/25-Jul-22-2.html 

About the NX Group: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g1Rtb9Mie5yhenpOr8A007kKolh1gBJ6/view?usp=drive_link 

NX Group official website: https://www.nipponexpress.com/ 

NX Group’s official LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/ 

Source: NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC.

US Suspends Student Visa Processing as Harvard Protests Cuts

US Suspends Student Visa Processing as Harvard Protests Cuts
People hold up signs during the Harvard Students for Freedom rally in support of international students at the Harvard University campus in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 27, 2025 (Photo by Rick Friedman / AFP)

By Gregory WALTON, with Sebastian SMITH in Washington / AFP  On 28 May, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered a suspension of student visa processing in the latest swipe at foreign students in the country.

EpiVax Appoints Dr. Vibha Jawa to Lead Scientific Strategy as CSO

PROVIDENCE, R.I., May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EpiVax, Inc., a leader in preclinical immunogenicity assessment for biologic therapeutics and vaccines, is pleased to announce the appointment of Vibha Jawa, PhD, FAAPS as Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Jawa succeeds EpiVax founder and Executive Chairwoman Annie De Groot, MD, who has transitioned from CSO to Chief Medical Officer. 

Dr. Jawa brings over two decades of leadership in biologics, vaccine, and gene therapy development and immunogenicity strategy to EpiVax. Most recently, she served as Executive Director of Translational Medicine at Bristol Myers Squibb, where she led bioanalytical strategy, supporting PK- and immunogenicity-related preclinical and clinical assessments across the development pipeline. She has held senior roles at Merck and Amgen where she led immunogenicity assessment efforts, supporting discovery to development. Dr. Jawa has contributed to more than 20 successful IND, BLA, and MAA filings across many therapeutic modalities, and was part of the team at the Institute of Human Gene Therapy (UPENN) that supported the first approved gene therapy product.

A recognized thought leader in bioanalysis and immunogenicity from discovery through commercialization, Dr. Jawa has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and holds prominent roles in various renowned scientific societies and consortiums, including AAPS, IQ, SC, and EIP. She was named an AAPS fellow in 2022 for her significant contributions. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome Vibha to the team,” said Dr. Rich-Henry Schabowsky, CEO of EpiVax. “Her depth of experience in biologics, especially novel modalities, combined with her expertise in evaluating and mitigating immunogenic risk will be instrumental as we continue evolving our methods to meet the complex needs of the industry.”

Dr. Annie De Groot, EpiVax co-founder and CMO, added: “Dr. Jawa is the perfect scientific leader for EpiVax 2.0: the transformation of our company that began in 2024. She brings the exact energy that EpiVax needs at this juncture. I’m thrilled to be handing the baton to Dr. Jawa, who will ensure that EpiVax remains at the cutting edge of immunogenicity science— pushing boundaries, validating new ideas, building bridges between in vitro data, immunoinformatics and AI, and setting higher standards for translational immunology.”

Dr. Jawa will have outward and inward facing responsibilities as CSO. She will represent EpiVax at key meetings, while leading internal research and validation efforts. Her leadership will help expand the company’s reach into new therapeutic areas and reinforce EpiVax as a trusted partner in biologic and vaccine development.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the EpiVax team,” said Dr. Jawa. “This is an extraordinary company with a long history of scientific leadership in immunogenicity assessment. I look forward to building on that legacy and continuing to refine the team’s approaches, ensuring that we deliver the most accurate, insightful support.”

About EpiVax: EpiVax is a leader in preclinical immunogenicity assessment and sequence optimization for peptide therapeutics, biologic therapeutics, gene/cell therapies, and vaccines. EpiVax partners with a global roster of companies, agencies, and academics to accelerate immunogenicity risk assessment, immune modulation, and rapid vaccine design. EpiVax.com

Press Contact:
Sarah Moniz
Smoniz@epivax.com

Hollywood-Bound: Local Family-Owned Wellness Brand Takes Centre Stage in Hollywood’s Coveted Mother’s Day Gift Bag

GOLD COAST, Australia, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Australian family-owned and operated, Biosota Organics has officially gone Hollywood. The brand’s award-winning high MGO-rated Manuka honey was featured in the highly anticipated 2025 Hollywood Moms Mother’s Day Gift Bag, curated by the legendary Distinctive Assets—renowned for assembling luxury gift experiences for the GRAMMYs®, Oscars®, and today’s most influential celebrities.

Hollywood meets health and wellness! Celebrated actress Elisabeth Röhm and wellness influencers alike are buzzing over Biosota’s premium Australian Manuka honey. Featured in this year’s exclusive Hollywood Mother’s Day gift bag, our award-winning, high-MGO honey — including our beloved Koala Jar and convenient travel straws — is winning hearts from yoga mats to movie sets.
Hollywood meets health and wellness! Celebrated actress Elisabeth Röhm and wellness influencers alike are buzzing over Biosota’s premium Australian Manuka honey. Featured in this year’s exclusive Hollywood Mother’s Day gift bag, our award-winning, high-MGO honey — including our beloved Koala Jar and convenient travel straws — is winning hearts from yoga mats to movie sets.

The curated gift set includes Biosota’s signature MGO 2200+ Manuka honey, a luxurious, high-potency jar that has already earned multiple international awards retailing for $1,033 for a 500g jar. It’s one of the most powerful honeys available globally, and now it’s earning a spot in medicine cabinets and kitchen pantries of Hollywood’s A-list moms.

Celebrity moms receiving the gift include Jennifer Lawrence, Olivia Munn, Mindy Kaling, Priyanka Chopra, Megan Fox, Kaley Cuoco, Holly Robinson Peete and Elisabeth Rohm, among others.

While garnering fame among Hollywood’s elite, Biosota stays true to its roots—delivering natural, evidence-based Manuka honey solutions for families everywhere, with a range of products to suit every need and budget.

“We’re thrilled to see Biosota included in this iconic gift collection,” said Andrey Zubko, CEO of Biosota Organics. “This isn’t just honey—it’s a medicinal-grade superfood with benefits that go far beyond the spoon. From immune support to wound care and daily wellness, our honey is the result of three generations of beekeeping expertise paired with the pristine environment of Australia’s native bushland.”

Biosota’s premium Manuka honey is available online at www.biosota.com.au and www.biosota.com/en-us (USA), with fast shipping and no duties for North American customers.

About Biosota Organics
Biosota Organics is an Australian family business producing high-grade, certified organic Manuka honey. Known for its exceptional MGO ratings and therapeutic properties, Biosota’s honey is trusted by customers worldwide for its quality, purity and potency.

9MFY25 Results: Hong Leong Bank Delivers Solid Business Performance

The Bank is confident that the Malaysian economy will remain resilient amidst the ongoing external headwinds


KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 May 2025 – Hong Leong Bank Berhad (“Bank” or “HLB”), (BM: HLBANK) today announced its results for the nine months ended 31 March 2025 (“9MFY25”).

  • New milestones achieved with total asset and gross loans/financing crossing the RM300 billion and RM200 billion mark for the first time respectively.
  • Operating profit before allowances for 9MFY25 grew 13.2% y-o-y to RM2,924 million.
  • Non-interest income for 9MFY25 improved by 34.1% year-on-year (“y-o-y”) to RM1,115 million.
  • Upholding solid asset quality metrics as reflected by low Gross Impaired Loan (“GIL”) ratio of 0.57%.

Kevin Lam, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HLB commented, “We are confident that the Malaysian economy will remain resilient amidst the ongoing external headwinds, whilst at HLB, we focus on the execution of the 3-5 Year Transformative Plan to deliver sustainable results to our stakeholders. With that, we are pleased to announce that our business performance thus far has been commendable underpinned by solid loans/financing growth, strong non-interest income contribution and healthy asset quality.

For 9MFY25, we have recorded a healthy profit before associates’ contribution of RM3,311 million underpinned by topline expansion, disciplined cost management and release of management overlay allowance (“MOA”). Excluding the release of MOA, our financial performance is still robust with normalised profit before associates’ contribution increasing 9.2% y-o-y, demonstrating the positive outcomes of the building blocks that were put in place.

The strong growth momentum of gross loans and financing continues with 7.2% y-o-y expansion to RM201.2 billion, achieving a new milestone of crossing RM200 billion. This was contributed by expansion in our mortgage, auto loans, SME and commercial banking segments as well as key overseas markets. In view of the persistent global uncertainties, it is our utmost priority to maintain the solid asset quality with a healthy GIL ratio of 0.57%. In addition, we remain resilient and are well-positioned to continue support our customers in their personal and business endeavours.”

Commendable Underlying Performance

  • Total income for 9MFY25 continued to see promising growth of 11.3% y-o-y to RM4,778 million, driven by expansion in loans/financing portfolio and improved non-interest income contribution.
  • Net interest income for 9MFY25 was recorded at RM3,663 million, increasing 5.8% y-o-y, underpinned by strong loans/financing growth and effective funding cost management. Accordingly, net interest margin (“NIM”) was up 5bps y-o-y to 1.90%.
  • Non-interest income for 9MFY25 maintained the notable improvement of 34.1% y-o-y to RM1,115 million. This was attributed to the encouraging performance in the wealth management business and GM franchise sales alongside the higher treasury and foreign exchange gain.
  • Operating expenses for 9MFY25 remained well managed at RM1,854 million with positive JAWS being attained contributed by strategic cost management initiatives. Accordingly, CIR was sustained at 38.8%.
  • Profit contribution from associates for 9MFY25 stood at RM1,099 million. During the financial period, there was also a one-off non-cash loss of RM408 million, largely attributed to the natural dilution of HLB’s stake in its associated company, Bank of Chengdu Co., Ltd (“BOCD”) following the completion of its convertible bonds conversion into new ordinary shares, which resulted in an increase in BOCD’s total issued share capital.
  • Correspondingly, profit before tax and profit after tax stood at RM4,002 million and RM3,185 million respectively. Excluding the release of MOA and dilution loss, profit after tax would have improved 4.0% y-o-y to RM3,289 million.

Robust Growth in Loans/Financing

  • Gross loans, advances and financing grew 7.2% y-o-y to RM201.2 billion, driven by expansion in our key segments of mortgage, auto loans, SME and commercial banking as well as key overseas markets.
  • Domestic loans/financing increased 7.1% y-o-y, ahead of the industry growth rate of 5.3%.
  • Residential mortgages expanded 5.8% y-o-y to RM99.1 billion, led by a healthy loans/financing pipeline. Transport vehicle loans/financing growth remained robust at 10.9% y-o-y to RM23.5 billion, underpinned by the Bank’s strategic initiatives to strengthen dealer coverage.
  • Loans to domestic business enterprises increased 6.5% y-o-y to RM65.6 billion. Fuelled by our dedicated efforts in customer acquisition and cross-selling, loans/financing to SMEs were higher by 6.8% y-o-y to RM38.2 billion, while our community banking initiative within the SME segment increased 10.1% y-o-y. In this uncertain environment, we remain proactive in engaging our clients and provide the necessary personalised support.
  • Loans from overseas operations grew 8.1% y-o-y, on the back of solid growth of 12.6% and 11.1% in Singapore and Vietnam respectively.

Solid Funding and Liquidity Positions

  • The Bank remains prudent in its funding and liquidity positions to strengthen resilience and stability, with loans to deposits ratio (“LDR”) of 87.9% as at 31 March 2025. Both the daily average for the quarter and rolling 12 months average liquidity coverage ratio (“LCR”) stood at 133%, sufficiently above regulatory requirements.
  • Customer deposits for 9MFY25 rose 5.9% y-o-y to RM225.0 billion with CASA expanding 5.0% y-o-y to RM68.3 billion. The Bank’s CASA ratio stood at 30.4% supported by the Banks’ strategic focus in community deposit acquisition and customer centric cash management solutions.
  • The Bank’s individual deposit portfolio expanded 7.5% y-o-y to RM118.2 billion as of 31 March 2025 with a consistently solid individual deposit mix of 52.5%, reflecting the Bank’s effort to maintain a stable funding base.

Healthy Asset Quality and Capital Positions

  • The Bank continues to place significant emphasis on maintaining solid asset quality position with a low GIL ratio of 0.57%.
  • LIC ratio stood at 95.0% as at 31 March 2025, as we maintain sufficient coverage through securities and regulatory reserves. Inclusive of the value of securities held on our GIL, the Bank’s LIC ratio is well positioned at 165.0%, whilst with regulatory reserve, the coverage ratio is higher at 250.0%.
  • Capital position of the Bank remained healthy with CET 1, Tier 1 and Total Capital ratios at 12.8%, 13.7% and 15.7% respectively as at 31 March 2025.

HLB’s Landmark Strategic Alliance with Lombard Odier

  • In a move that underscores a shared vision for responsible and forward-thinking wealth management for generations ahead, HLB is entering into a Strategic Alliance with Lombard Odier, a leading global wealth and asset manager with over 220 years of heritage.
  • Under this strong alliance, HLB Regional Wealth Management will offer clients a sophisticated and personalised experience, combining Lombard Odier’s global perspectives from its Chief Investment Officer with the Bank’s local market insights. This will include enhancing the bespoke wealth management solutions offered by HLB Private Bank, providing a comprehensive understanding of investment opportunities and tailored strategies for generational growth.
  • Beyond investment expertise, HLB clients are able to access comprehensive wealth architecture and bespoke advisory services focused on their individual goals, ensuring tailored solutions for wealth preservation and transfer, including succession planning and sustainable investments.

Redefining Branch Banking with New Community Branch Concept

  • In line with its vision of being a “Digital Bank Plus Much More” and creating a powerful synergy of digital convenience and genuine human connection, HLB has launched its innovative Meet @ HLB branch concept in Eco Majestic, Semenyih.
  • This initiative is a vital part of the Bank’s broader branch transformation strategy, where it looks to strategically evolve its physical network to better serve its diverse customer base.
  • Meet @ HLB provides customers with convenient access to ATMs, retail banking, and cash deposit machines in areas which are further away from HLB’s branches. The branch is open from 12:30 pm to 7:00 pm, including weekends, which allows customers to conveniently integrate their banking needs around their busy schedules.

Delivering Memorable Experiences and Supporting Creative Industries

  • HLB is delighted to be the presenting sponsor for G-Dragon’s highly-anticipated Übermensch world tour in Kuala Lumpur, exclusively organised by Tencent Music Entertainment (“TME”), which will take place on 19 & 20 July 2025 at Axiata Arena.
  • This is aligned with the Bank’s commitment to offer its valued cardholders with unparalleled experiences and rewards, providing HLB cardholders with early access privileged and VIP opportunities.
  • On a separate note, HLB has also announced a three-year strategic partnership with the Malaysian International Film Festival (MIFFest), underscoring its commitment to supporting and developing the creative industries, while fostering unity and understanding through a diverse range of films and narratives.
  • With MIFFest being a pivotal platform for showcasing cinematic excellence and fostering cultural exchange, HLB aspires to not only connect with a diverse tapestry of audiences, but also serve as a catalyst for the continued growth of creative industries.

Best in Malaysia for Sustainable Energy Financing

  • As HLB strengthens its focus on sustainability and supporting Malaysia’s transition towards a robust circular economy, the Bank has received the award for Best Domestic and Islamic Bank for Sustainable Energy Financing 2024 at the National Energy Awards, a third win for HLB at these awards.
  • This comes as HLB recently launched its Sustainable Finance Framework (SFF), which aims to mobilise RM20 billion in support of projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency, green building, affordable housing, clean transportation, and waste management over the next five years.
  • HLB has made significant progress in its sustainable financing portfolio. As of December 2024, the Bank has recorded RM15.4 billion in outstanding green building and affordable property financing, RM3.6 billion in approved renewable energy financing, and RM1.4 billion in outstanding green car loans.
  • The Bank has also achieved a 23% decrease in operational carbon emissions since 2019, as it works towards achieving total net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Driving Excellence in Islamic Banking

  • Hong Leong Islamic Bank (“HLISB”) has been named Best Islamic Retail Bank in Malaysia at the Islamic Finance News (“IFN”) Best Banks Poll 2024, solidifying its position as Malaysia’s premier retail bank for Islamic and Shariah-compliant banking.
  • In FY2024, HLISB recorded a 13% y-o-y increase in profit (before zakat and taxes), boosted by a 17% rise in individual deposits. HLISB also recorded an 11% y-o-y growth in its retail financing portfolio, leading to a 10% increase in retail deposits.
  • HLISB’s recent growth in retail banking can be attributed largely to its seamless and comprehensive digital banking experience, which includes its fully-digital account onboarding experience and an end-to-end digital banking ecosystem.
  • The Bank has also launched its HLB Wallet-i e-wallet, which allows customers to save, spend, and manage their finances across different currencies and geographies, including allowing customers to withdraw money across different currencies using the same debit card.

Business Outlook

Kevin Lam commented, “We maintain a cautiously balanced outlook for the Malaysian economy this year, driven by sustained private consumption amid a still healthy labour market, and anticipation for further realisation of investment projects. Nonetheless, we acknowledge the presence of global uncertainties, particularly those stemming from evolving tariffs policies and negotiations, as well as policy responses from major central banks that could potentially influence the final growth outcome, even as resilient domestic demand is expected to provide a buffer against external headwinds.

In our journey to be the best-run bank in Malaysia, we have found our rhythm and remain focused on executing the strategic initiatives of our 3-5 Year Transformative Plan. This journey of continuous improvement is fundamentally about our unwavering commitment to support our customers for the long term. By leveraging our strengths in technology and AI, we will create innovative banking solutions that resonate with our customer across all touchpoints, solidifying our brand promise of “Built Around You”.

To drive growth in our core business and build a strong ASEAN franchise, we will continue to enhance our digital capabilities, leverage strategic alliance with best-in-class global partners, as well as empower our people to reach their greatest potential and excel in this dynamic business environment. Driven by our carbon-neutral ambition, the Bank will proactively integrate environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) strategies and practices into our own business operations, while actively collaborating with stakeholders to achieve significant, positive impact.”

Hashtag: #HongLeongBank #HLB

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.