Hong Leong Bank continues its dominance in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) banking sector, claiming the prestigious Euromoney Award for SME Banking for the second consecutive year.
Hong Leong Bank Continues to Lead in SME Banking
Hong Leong Bank (HLB) has cemented its position as a leading player in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) banking sector, with significant growth and accolades in recent years.
In the financial year 2025, HLB's loans and financing to domestic business enterprises exceeded RM70 billion, a testament to its robust growth. The bank's commitment to digital innovation has been instrumental in this success, as it was the first in Malaysia to introduce fully digital eKYC onboarding for sole proprietors.
This digital leadership extended to its business accounts, with full-digital onboarding available for all business customers. As a result, HLB's SME customer base has increased by 18% year-on-year, reaching over 320,000 customers in 2024.
HLB's success in SME banking is not limited to Malaysia. The bank has operations in Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and Hong Kong SAR, reflecting its presence across key regional markets.
The growth of HLB's SME portfolio has been impressive. By the end of the financial year 2025, the community SME banking portfolio had grown to a value of over RM40 billion, representing more than half of the bank's total loans and financing. This growth rate was 10.4% year-on-year, outpacing the growth rate of its loans and financing to SMEs, which was 8.1% year-on-year.
HLB's commitment to empowering SMEs was recognised at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence, where it was named Best SME Bank in Malaysia for the second consecutive year. This achievement is a testament to the bank's dedication to supporting SMEs and contributing to the nation's prosperity.
In 2024, HLB approved over RM280 million for over 360 SMEs through the Government Guarantee Scheme MADANI 1.0, further demonstrating its commitment to supporting SMEs.
Under the leadership of its new Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Lam, who took over on July 1, 2025, HLB continues to strive for growth and innovation in the SME banking sector. Lam commented on the bank's commitment, stating, "We are committed to empowering SMEs and contributing to the nation's prosperity."
With its digital leadership, robust growth, and commitment to SMEs, Hong Leong Bank is well-positioned to continue its success in the SME banking sector.
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