Hong Leong Bank Secures Second Euromoney Award for SME Banking

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 comes on the heels of similar recognitions from both The Asian Banker and Asian Banking & Finance in 2025, further solidifying HLB’s position as a leading player in the SME banking sector.

The bank has reported an impressive 18% year-on-year growth in its SME customer base, surpassing 320,000 customers in 2024. This growth has been bolstered by HLB’s commitment to providing innovative financing solutions. Notably, the bank approved over RM280 million for more than 360 SMEs through the Government Guarantee Scheme MADANI 1.0 (“GGSM 1.0”) program in 2024. HLB plans to continue its support for SMEs with the introduction of GGSM 2.0 in 2025.

Innovative Services and Digital Leadership

HLB has embraced digital transformation, offering full-digital onboarding for business accounts, including sole proprietorships. The bank also provides enhanced business and foreign currency accounts tailored to the needs of SMEs. Kevin Lam, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HLB, emphasized the bank’s focus on empowering customers to grow their wealth. He stated, “At HLB, our core purpose as a financial institution is simple: to empower our customers to grow their wealth. We believe that by championing the growth of SMEs, who form the backbone of the Malaysian economy, we are directly contributing to the nation’s prosperity.”

Lam highlighted the bank’s strategic vision, which aims to position HLB not merely as a service provider but as a true value-adding partner. The bank combines innovative digital tools with expert advisory services to help SME customers navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing economic landscape.

Growth and Expansion Across the Region

HLB’s digital leadership has been a crucial element in its success. The bank became the first in Malaysia to launch fully digital eKYC onboarding for sole proprietors, a process that can be completed in under ten minutes. Additional enhancements, such as tablet-based partnership onboarding and digital onboarding for foreign currency accounts, have improved accessibility for SMEs. HLB has also expanded its advisory services through increased SME cash and foreign exchange teams, as well as regional SME centres.

The bank’s operations extend beyond Malaysia, with a presence in Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and Hong Kong SAR. As of the end of the Financial Year 2025, which concluded on 30 June 2025, HLB reported a 7.5% year-on-year increase in loans to domestic business enterprises, with total loans reaching over RM70 billion. The bank’s loans and financing to SMEs also grew by 8.1% year-on-year, amounting to over RM40 billion, while its community SME banking portfolio expanded by 10.4% year-on-year.

As HLB continues to innovate and strengthen its offerings, the bank’s recent accolades serve as a testament to its dedication to the SME community and its ambition to become the best-run bank in Malaysia. For more information, please visit the HLB website.