Best Islamic bank 2025: Maybank Islamic
Maybank Islamic has firmly positioned itself as Malaysia’s best Islamic bank, leading the charge in revolutionising Islamic financing both locally and across the ASEAN region.
Its dominance is reflected through a commanding market share in Malaysia, boasting 30.8% in Islamic financing and 27.9% in deposits and investment accounts. The bank manages assets exceeding RM351.7 billion ($81.9 billion), marking a robust year-on-year growth of 10.1%. Globally, it stands among the top five Islamic banks, attesting to its international status and extensive influence.
Central to Maybank Islamic’s success is its expansive and innovative product suite, designed to meet the nuanced needs of various customer segments. This includes Shariah-compliant solutions such as HouzKEY, which enabled over 6,453 Malaysians to attain homeownership, and the myimpact range that spans across credit cards to SME supports.
Another noteworthy product, the Shariah-compliant mutually beneficial alternate renting tool (SMART) and the Gold Account-i, which remarkably attracted more than 380,000 new accounts since its 2021 inception, underscore the bank’s commitment to providing inclusive financial products.
The digital innovation front at the bank is equally impressive, featuring the Digital Supplier Financing Programme-i that ensures expedited Shariah-compliant finance solutions, and the Zest-i account, which saw significant traction with 724,281 accounts by 2024.
Additionally, the Salaam Market platform exemplifies Maybank Islamic’s pivotal role in enhancing digital marketplaces geared towards halal products, exemplifying a commitment to technological advancements while strengthening community ties.
In alignment with global priorities, Maybank Islamic is a pioneering force in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. It championed the world’s first sustainability-linked sukuk issuance from the plantation sector and actively mobilised RM26.12 billion in sustainable finance.
The bank’s extensive contributions to social responsibility are evident through its impactful zakat flagship programmes and the myImpact Ride Above initiative, demonstrating a steadfast dedication to community engagement and empowerment.
Its intensive focus on talent development and continuous learning – illustrated through numerous postgraduate sponsorships and knowledge-sharing initiatives – establishes Maybank Islamic not only as a financial institution of choice but also as an empowering hub fostering leaders and innovation in Islamic finance.
Best Islamic bank for ESG 2025: Public Islamic Bank
Public Islamic Bank wins the award for Malaysia’s best Islamic bank for ESG for its steady and results-driven integration of sustainability into its core financing activities.
The bank’s progress in supporting green financing across a wide base of clients is clear and measurable. In 2024, Public Islamic Bank approved RM4.9 billion (£1.14 billion) in financing for energy-efficient vehicles under its Islamic facility, marking a 48% increase from RM3.3 billion in 2023. This reflects rising demand and the bank’s ability to scale its offering in response.
Green housing has been another area of consistent focus. Since launching its green financing facilities in 2022, the bank has enabled more customers to invest in energy-efficient residential and commercial properties. In 2024, RM297.4 million in financing was approved under these packages. While not large by international standards, the total shows a clear commitment to building a sustainable property market at the domestic level.
The bank has also been active in supporting renewable energy adoption. In 2024, it financed RM45.2 million worth of rooftop solar installations, almost doubling the RM23.4 million disbursed in 2023. This growth points to the effectiveness of its approach to product development and accessibility for both individual and business clients.
Public Islamic Bank’s ESG efforts go beyond environmental financing. The bank has been an early and active participant in the iTEKAD initiative, which supports the financial inclusion of underbanked and unbanked communities. This aligns with the principles of Maqasid Shariah, helping to ensure that its ESG agenda reflects both environmental and social priorities.
Public Islamic Bank has focused on building a consistent track record in ESG. Its year-on-year progress in green and inclusive financing, particularly through Islamic structures, makes it a deserving winner of this year’s award.
Best sukuk house 2025: CIMB Islamic
CIMB has distinguished itself as Malaysia’s preeminent sukuk house, setting the benchmark for both market dominance and pioneering financial products within the sukuk market. Holding the largest market share in the nation at 30.36%, with a substantial volume of RM26.101 billion ($6.086 billion) in issuances, CIMB leads its closest competitor by a significant margin.
Notably, CIMB has been at the forefront of innovation in the sukuk marketplace. The bank’s role in launching the world’s first sustainability-linked sukuk from the plantation sector underlines its commitment to responsible finance. Through the management of the first rated SRI-linked sukuk issuance under Johor Plantations Group’s framework, CIMB has demonstrated its capability to blend financial acumen with sustainability goals effectively.
CIMB’s year was marked by substantial achievements, including managing multiple high-profile and diverse sukuk deals across various sectors. These included significant issuances such as the RM1.5 billion SDG sukuk for Malaysia Rail Link and a notable $1 billion sukuk for Khazanah Nasional Berhad. Each deal showcases CIMB’s broad capabilities in structuring complex financial instruments that meet the specific needs of its clients across different industries.
Overall, CIMB’s strategic focus on pioneering innovative and sustainable sukuk solutions, coupled with its commanding market share, clearly sets it apart in the Malaysian financial landscape. Its leadership in executing high-value and impactful deals underscores its excellence and distinction as the best sukuk house in the country for 2024.
Best Islamic structured finance house 2025: HSBC Amanah
HSBC Amanah has been distinguished as the best Islamic structured finance house in Malaysia, a recognition well deserved due to its innovative structured finance solutions tailored specifically for diverse investor appetites. Grounded in Islamic financing principles, HSBC Amanah has consistently demonstrated an ability to merge ethical finance with investor needs successfully, particularly in the strategic area of structured products.
Notably, HSBC Amanah has developed a range of products with varying risk profiles and investment horizons, making it a leading player in accommodating diverse market demands.
One of its standout offerings includes a six-month dollar principal-protected structured product linked to Broadcom Inc., which represents a pioneering effort in principal protection coupled with profit potential, where profits are paid upon maturity if conditions are met. This shows HSBC Amanah’s targeted approach to aligning investments with specifically articulated conditions, enhancing the appeal to conservative investors and those seeking short-term placements.
Its three-year Malaysian ringgit principal-protected structured product linked with a basket of US tech equities – including giants like Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and Taiwan Semiconductor – integrates an autocall feature that provides a profit of 5.30% per annum upon the occurrence of an autocall event. This scenario underscores HSBC Amanah’s commitment to creating medium-term investment opportunities that cater to the nuanced needs of its clientele.
HSBC Amanah addresses more aggressive investment strategies through its two-year Malaysian ringgit non-principal-protected structured product linked to ASML Holding. This product offers a potential upside return capped at 25% and introduces an autocall profit of 15% per annum if certain performance criteria are met. This illustrates the bank’s aptitude in crafting offerings that balance higher risk with potential higher returns.
The bank has also ventured into providing tailored solutions aimed at the renewable energy sector with a specific product linked to First Solar Inc. This two-year Malaysian ringgit non-principal-protected structured product pays a competitive 13.00% p.a. profit and represents HSBC Amanah’s strategic push into sector-specific investments, expanding its reach and exemplifying its adaptability to emerging market trends.
Through these distinct structures and its intricate understanding of market dynamics and investor profiles, HSBC Amanah justifiably sets the standard for Islamic structured finance in Malaysia. Its product offerings not only resonate with both conservative and bold investors but also reflect a deep commitment to ethical, Shariah-compliant financial innovations.
Best project finance deal 2025: Berapit Mobility MYR1.3 billion sustainability sukuk wakalah
Berapit Mobility’s RM1.3 billion ($302 million) sustainability sukuk wakalah stood out as Malaysia’s best project financing transaction.
Proceeds are channelled into a hybrid procurement model that will see 44 new diesel-electric locomotives and 246 wagons supplied to Railway Assets Corporation (RAC), allowing the government to avoid heavy upfront capex while tapping private capital through an investment-grade, AA-rated instrument.
Environmental credentials underpin the issue. MARC awarded its “Gold” sustainability label after modelling showed the locomotives will emit less than one-quarter of the greenhouse gases produced by equivalent road haulage, while a parallel programme to remanufacture the ageing fleet conserves materials and embeds newer, more efficient technology.
Cashflow protection is equally novel: RAC has committed to lease the rolling stock at least 24 days a month, supporting a minimum 1.5x finance service coverage ratio, and a bundled maintenance contract guarantees 85% fleet availability.
AmInvestment Bank acted as principal adviser, arranger, manager and sustainability adviser and agent.
