Malaysia

The central bank had preliminary talks with internet-only bank operators overseas.

Sector earnings grew at a slower pace due to higher MFRS9 provisions.

Its loans could grow 6% in FY20 and NIMs could expand 5bp.

Users can now maintain one device to manage multiple accounts.

Corporates and households drove yearly lending demand.

It marks its 20th branch in the state.

Lumpy recoveries of Maybank, AmBank, and Hong Leong Bank boosted the sector’s earnings.

It has tied up with mobile payment app Pi Pay.

The RHB Purchasing Charge Card-i is a Shariah compliant charge card.

Liquidity coverage ratio stood at 144.3% which is above the required 100%.

Earnings were boosted by net fund based income which hit $1.2b. RHB Bank Berhad enjoyed a better year in 2018 as net profit rose 18.2% YoY to $570m (MYR2.31b), an announcement revealed. The firm attributed the better net profits to increase in net fund based income which grew 8.5% YoY to $1.21b (MYR4.94b). Moreover, the growth in non-fund based income by 1.8% to $460m (MYR1.86b) contributed largely by higher net foreign exchange gain and trading and investment income. RHB saw its gross fund based income inch up 7.8% in 2018 on the back of a 5.5% increase in gross loans and financing, whilst funding and interest expense rose 7.3% YoY. The firm also recorded a higher NIM of 2.24% in 2018 from 2.18% in 2017 thanks to loan growth and continued prudence in the management of funding cost. The firm’s retail banking business saw a 4.4% increase in pre-tax profit to $250m (MYR1.2b) amidst higher net fund based income and non-fund based income. As of end December, the bank’s retail loans and financing rose 11.1% to $20.77b (MYR84.6b) buoyed by growth in mortgages (14%) and personal financing. Meanwhile, Group Business Banking saw a marginal increase of 1.3% YoY increase in pre-tax profit to $97.63m (MYR397.7m) on the back of higher net fund based income. Gross loans and financing expanded 5.7% to $6.21b (MYR25.3b) driven primarily by Retail SME portfolio. RHB’s Group Wholesale Banking recorded a pre-tax profit of $440m (MYR1.8b), an increase of 2.7% from 2017. Its. However, gross loans and financing slipped 3.8% YoY to $10.70b (MYR43.6b) dragged by several large corporate repayments. The firm’s Singapore unit rebounded from a pre-tax loss of $102.3m to a pre-tax profit of $42m thanks to lower expected credit losses as substantial allowances were provided for corporate bonds and loans in the oil and gas industry in the previous financial year. Moreover, Singapore loans and advances rose 3.3% to $960m (S$3.9b) whilst customer deposits declined 11.7 YoY% to $1.08b (S$4.4b). For the bank’s Islamic business, pre-tax profit climbed 20.7% YoY to $142.19m (MYR579.2m) amidst higher net fund based and non-fund based income. Gross financing jumped 21.6% YoY to $12.84b (MYR52.3b).

Earnings were hit by sluggish loan growth and a decline in asset management income.

The rollout started in Singapore last month.

Working capital, construction, home and auto loans weakened.

Banking is still the most trustworthy profession for Malaysians.

CIMB Preferred customers can get up to $24.31 per day.