KUALA LUMPUR: OCBC Malaysia has launched OCBC Women Unlimited, a programme to support women entrepreneurs across Malaysia with financing, networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
OCBC Malaysia comprises OCBC Bank (M) Bhd and its Islamic subsidiary OCBC Al-Amin Bank Bhd.
In a statement, the bank said the initiative reflects its commitment to support women in business with tailored financing while recognising their role in the economy and society.
As part of the programme, OCBC Malaysia is offering collateral-free financing of up to RM600,000 at preferential rates.
The initiative is backed by a RM100mil Islamic Portfolio Guarantee-i (PG-i) agreement between its Islamic banking arm, OCBC Al-Amin Bank Bhd, and Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Bhd (CGC).
OCBC Malaysia CEO Tan Chor Sen said the bank recognises the challenges women entrepreneurs face and developed the Women Unlimited programme to help address these barriers.
“One of the key challenges women entrepreneurs face is securing funding, often due to limited collateral. This restricts their ability to expand or innovate. Through Women Unlimited, we’re tackling this issue head-on by offering collateral-free financing to unlock new growth opportunities,” he said.
Tan noted that women now account for about 21% of OCBC’s SME portfolio, up from 13% in 2020, with more venturing into technology-driven businesses beyond traditional sectors such as retail and healthcare. He said this trend highlights the growing role of women in shaping Malaysia’s economic future.
For details on the OCBC Women Unlimited programme, visit www.ocbc.com.my/womenunlimited.
