Maybank, Southeast Asia’s fourth-largest bank by assets, is the first and only Malaysian bank to open a branch in Myanmar. The Central Bank of Myanmar had on 1 October 2014 awarded a banking licence to Maybank as part of its move to liberalise the banking sector in the country.
The Maybank Yangon branch has a registered capital of US$75 million and will operate with a team comprising of mainly Myanmar nationals. Located in the commercial district of Yangon, the new branch will strengthen the Group’s international footprint which comprises some 2,400 offices in 20 countries worldwide, including all 10 ASEAN nations.
The opening of the branch was officiated by the Myanmar Central Bank Governor, H.E. U Kyaw Kyaw Maung and Chief Minister of Yangon Division, H.E. U Myint Swe, together with the Malaysian Ambassador to Myanmar, H.E. Mohd Hanif Abd Rahman and Maybank Group Chief Strategy Officer, Michael Foong. Among others present at the event were the Myanmar Central Bank Deputy Governors, U Set Aung and U Soe Min, Minister of Finance, Yangon Region, H.E. U Daw San San Nwe, Maybank CEO Indochina, Soon Su Long and Maybank Managing Director, Transaction Banking, John Wong.
Maybank Yangon branch will serve wholesale and corporate clients as well as domestic banks in Myanmar with a range of services such as deposit accounts, working capital financing, cash management, treasury and capital market solutions. In particular, it will leverage on its expertise in financing of power, utilities, oil and gas as well as the telecommunications sectors, which are also priority growth areas to cater to Myanmar’s immediate needs.
Speaking at the event, Maybank Group Chief Strategy Officer Michael Foong said, “Since 1994, Maybank has operated a representative office in Myanmar and supported Myanmar in infrastructure building by leveraging upon our regional presence and project financing strength. We also helped arrange financing for key infrastructure projects such as airports, telecommunications and gas pipelines.”
In 2012, Maybank Malaysia established a Malaysia-Myanmar remittance service jointly with five Myanmar banks under its Maybank Money Express service which was aimed at facilitating the remittance of funds from Myanmar nationals in Malaysia to their families in Myanmar.
Foong said that with the foreign banking licence, Maybank will now be able to play a bigger role in Myanmar and participate in previously restricted financial services, including providing loans to foreign companies as well as domestic banks.
“We intend to build strong partnerships with domestic banks in the areas of international trade, interbank and capital markets, as well as draw on our regional assets and capabilities to help Myanmar’s growth leapfrog in the region. In addition, we can help support Myanmar’s priorities in developing its banking infrastructure and financial system,” he said.
“We are positive on Myanmar’s economic outlook and hope to facilitate greater cross-border trade between Myanmar and our core markets as well as the Greater Mekong sub region.”
He added that Maybank will also continue to play its role in the area of community building. “We believe in contributing to the country’s economic prosperity and growing our business responsibly through ethical and sustainable financial services and products. We remain committed to improving the lives of the communities that we serve and giving back to the community – which is what we term as humanising financial services.”
In conjunction with the opening, Maybank Yangon announced a community-driven initiative for Myanmar, Project H.E.A.R.T. (Helping Every Asian Rise Together). This project aims to empower and bring light into needy communities across Asia, providing them with solar-powered light bulbs – a free, sustainable light source. Project H.E.A.R.T. is a key community initiative that forms part of Maybank Group’s larger mission to humanise financial services.
