Staff Reporter

CIMB’s net profits up 1.9% to MYR 1.97b in Q1 2025

Operating income and non-interest income both contracted.

HSBC Malaysia penalized $690,000 for customer screening non-compliance

Customers were reportedly onboarded without proper sanctions screening.

HKMA, HKUST Business School ink MoU for applied cybersecurity research

They will explore supervisory tech and regulatory tech.

Malaysia fines Maybank Islamic for info submission lapses

The bank’s failure to ensure info was submitted led to three borrowers’ credit records being impacted.

Indonesian and French central banks ink MOU on central banking cooperation

They will hold policy dialogues, joint studies or research, and data and information exchange.

PAObank names Ronald Iu as chief executive

Iu has previously served as chief executive of two other digital banks in Hong Kong.

PwC’s Wanyi Wong highlights the need for synergy in a converging fintech landscape

She emphasises the value of scalable, risk-aware solutions that bridge startups and traditional finance.

Fintech is now about embedded finance, platforms, and data monetisation – Bain & Co.’s Ben Clemens Balzer

He highlights how investor strategies, regulatory shifts, and digital ecosystems are reshaping the sector’s future.

Malaysia fines two banks for non-compliance with AML/ CFT requirements

BPMB reportedly did not properly screen existing customers for risk.

Weekly Global News Wrap: UniCredit doubles stake in Alpha; US banks eye crypto

And the American banking industry reported $70.6b in profits for Q1 2025.

APAC card payments markets to grow 4.3% to $24.7t in 2025

South Asia and SEA countries are skipping cards for mobile wallets, however.

Alliance Bank’s net profit up 11.1% to $46.6m in Q4

For FY3/26, DPS may rise to MYR0.27 and net profit to $200.6m.

India’s consumer lending growth slows in 2025

Consumer demand for mortgages and personal loans will be dampened, it said.

KakaoPay Corp’s profits may more than double market estimates by 2027

CGS International expects KKP Securities to turn profitable in the current year.

Australia’s digital wallet market to surpass $130b in 2025

Increasing use of QR and NFCC payments are supporting this growth.