Hong Leong Bank secures Euromoney Award for Small and Medium Enterprise Banking for the second consecutive year.
Hong Leong Bank Empowering SME Growth with Innovative Solutions
Hong Leong Bank (HLB), under the leadership of Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Lam, continues to make strides in the financial industry, particularly in supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Based in Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and Hong Kong SAR, HLB has been named the Best SME Bank in Malaysia for the second consecutive year at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence. The Bank's commitment to SME growth is evident in its various initiatives.
HLB aims to empower customers to grow their wealth and champions the growth of SMEs. To this end, the Bank has expanded its SME cash and FX teams and regional SME centres to improve advisory. This focus on expert guidance has been a key factor in HLB's success.
In 2024, HLB provided innovative financing solutions, approving over RM280 million for over 360 SMEs through the Government Guarantee Scheme MADANI 1.0. The Bank will continue to provide more financing via MADANI 2.0 in 2025 and beyond.
HLB has also made significant strides in digital transformation. The Bank has enabled full-digital onboarding for business accounts, including sole proprietorships, and has become the first bank in Malaysia to introduce fully digital eKYC onboarding for sole proprietors.
To further enhance accessibility and convenience for SMEs, HLB has introduced tablet-based partnership onboarding, digital onboarding for foreign currency accounts, and the integration of Weixin Pay.
These efforts have paid off, as HLB's SME customer base has increased 18% year-on-year, reaching over 320,000 customers in 2024. The Bank's community SME banking portfolio also grew by 10.4% y-o-y.
HLB's loan portfolio to SMEs expanded by 8.1% y-o-y to over RM40 billion. The Bank ended Financial Year 2025 with a 7.5% y-o-y growth in loans to domestic business enterprises, reaching over RM70 billion.
HLB positions itself as a value-adding partner to the SME community, offering a combination of innovative digital tools and expert advisory. The Bank forges strategic partnerships with clients and key industry players to bridge the gap between opportunity and solution.
For more information about HLB's SME banking services, please visit HLB's official website.
In conclusion, under the leadership of Kevin Lam, HLB continues to lead the way in supporting SME growth in Malaysia and beyond. With its commitment to innovative solutions, expert advisory, and digital transformation, HLB is a trusted partner for SMEs seeking to grow and succeed.
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