KUALA LUMPUR: Hong Leong Islamic Bank’s (HLISB) innovation and in shaping the Islamic digital retail banking landscape in Malaysia saw it winning the prestigious global Islamic Retail Banking Awards (IRBA) Excellence Award 2020 recently.
HLISB chief executive officer Jasani Abdullah said the bank embraced a “digital-at-the-core” ethos that puts customers at the centre of its products and services offerings.
“We are very honoured to win this award of excellence. It validates the trajectory and effort of our entire team aimed at achieving our goal of providing an unrivalled Shariah compliant digital Islamic banking experience, combined with a human touch and empathy, which we believe adds value to the interaction and relationship we have with our customers”, he said.
Jasani said throughout this digital journey, HLISB achieved many significant milestones in Islamic digital retail banking aimed at increasingly digital and mobile first customers.
HLISB launched its digital Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB) initiatives which allowed customers to purchase ASNB funds through HLB Connect, the bank’s online platform in addition to upgrading the ASB financing process at branches to make it easier for customers to submit applications via in-branch tablets.
HLISB also made history by becoming the first bank in Malaysia to offer a truly digital onboarding experience that is simple and convenient for Malaysians wanting to open a bank account through the Apply@HLB mobile app anytime.
It said this was timely due to the ongoing Covid-19 health concerns and corresponding shift to digital “everything”.
HLISB was the first Islamic bank to enable term investment account-i via a digital channel.
The bank also collaborated with Pusat Pungutan Zakat Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (PPZ-MAIWP) to enable a simpler and faster way for customers to fulfil tithe payment obligations by reducing the complexity of the online zakat payments process.
The bank expanded the same collaboration with Zakat bodies in Selangor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, and Sarawak.
Additionally, HLISB was approved as an official collection agent for Pusat Wakaf MAIWP, where customers can contribute cash Wakaf via HLB Connect.
Other key digital initiatives include reimagining and innovating the Pay&Save-i, all-in-one high profit savings account proposition with a built-in multi-currency feature. The new feature provides account holders with the ability to instantly convert and save in 11 foreign currencies.
The bank enhanced its website by expanding capabilities with financing and Zakat calculators.
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