Hong Leong Bank Secures Euromoney’s Best SME Bank Award Again

Hong Leong Bank (HLB) has achieved a significant milestone by being named the Best SME Bank in Malaysia at the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence for the second consecutive year. This accolade reflects HLB’s sustained leadership and commitment to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country. The recognition follows similar honors from The Asian Banker and Asian Banking & Finance in 2025, underlining HLB’s prominent position within the sector.

In 2024, HLB’s SME customer base grew by 18% year-on-year, surpassing 320,000 customers across both borrowing and non-borrowing segments. This growth was bolstered by the Bank’s dedication to providing innovative financing solutions. Notably, HLB facilitated the approval of over RM280 million for more than 360 SMEs through the Government Guarantee Scheme MADANI 1.0 (GGSM 1.0) program. The bank is set to continue this trend with the introduction of GGSM 2.0 in 2025.

HLB has also pioneered full-digital onboarding for business accounts, including those for sole proprietorships. Enhanced offerings now include improved business and foreign currency accounts tailored for SMEs. According to Kevin Lam, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HLB, the Bank’s purpose is clear: “to empower our customers to grow their wealth.” He emphasized that by supporting SMEs—an essential component of the Malaysian economy—HLB is contributing to broader national prosperity.

The digital transformation of HLB’s services has played a crucial role in its success in SME banking. The Bank became the first in Malaysia to launch a fully digital eKYC onboarding process for sole proprietors, which can be completed in under ten minutes. Additional features, such as tablet-based partnership onboarding and digital foreign currency account setups, have enhanced accessibility for SMEs. HLB also strengthened its advisory services through expanded teams focused on cash management and foreign exchange, as well as regional SME centres.

HLB’s regional footprint extends beyond Malaysia, with operations in Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and Hong Kong SAR. In the Financial Year 2025, which ended on June 30, 2025, the Bank reported a 7.5% year-on-year growth in loans to domestic business enterprises, amounting to over RM70 billion. Loans and financing to SMEs also increased by 8.1% year-on-year, reaching over RM40 billion, with the community SME banking portfolio expanding by 10.4% over the same period.

These accolades and impressive growth figures highlight HLB’s unwavering commitment to fostering a robust SME sector in Malaysia, reinforcing its vision of becoming the Best Run Bank in the country. For more information about HLB’s offerings for SMEs, visit their official website.