CIMB Bank Berhad earns Automation - Banking honour at Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards 2026

The bank was recognised for its wide-ranging efforts to improve how the bank serves customers and supports employees

CIMB Bank Berhad has been recognised with the Automation - Banking award at the Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards 2026.

The award highlights CIMB’s successful rollout of 25 automation and innovation projects designed to simplify processes, reduce manual work, and improve overall efficiency. These initiatives are part of the bank’s Forward30 strategy, which focuses on making its services “simpler, better, and faster.”

To bring these ideas to life, CIMB launched a dedicated acceleration programme where selected projects were developed and implemented over six months—from initial concept to full rollout. This programme is driven by the bank’s Innovation Centre, which helps teams across the organisation adopt new technologies and improve the way they work.

Khairul Rifaie, Group Chief Financial & Strategy Officer at CIMB, said the recognition reflects the bank’s continued investment in innovation and digital capabilities.

“This achievement underscores our commitment to improving how we operate through technology, data, and automation. By enabling our teams to lead their own innovation initiatives, we are building a more agile organisation that can better respond to customer needs and changes in the market,” he said.

Many of these initiatives focus on automating repetitive tasks and improving decision-making. For example, one award-winning internal project reduced a process with 154 manual steps into a streamlined, largely automated workflow. This not only saves time but also reduces the risk of human error.

Some projects also incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) to support faster and more accurate decisions. These include tools that help with compliance checks, business verification, and regulatory screening. Allowing employees to complete tasks more efficiently and focus on higher-value work. In some cases, processes that once took hours can now be completed much faster, with significant improvements in turnaround time.

Monica Chee, Head of Innovation Centre, CIMB, added that the SBF lab acceleration programme is not just about delivering innovation, but embedding capabilities and practices across teams to create democratisation of AI and automation knowledge. 
“Our innovation team has to be ahead of the market by 5 years in modernisation of how we work. By that, we ensure that we are constantly disrupting ourselves and delivering best in market experience,” she said.

One key initiative introduced a single digital platform for third-party submissions, replacing previously fragmented processes. The platform features user-friendly digital forms, automated checks, and real-time status updates, making it easier for both clients and employees to track and complete submissions.

Other projects improved how data is managed across different systems within the bank. Tasks that previously required manual updates and coordination between teams are now automated, ensuring smoother workflows and more consistent information across departments.

The Innovation Centre also supported enhancements in transaction banking and cash management services, helping teams work more closely together and improving overall service delivery to clients.

Overall, the programme has delivered strong operational benefits, including freeing up capacity equivalent to around 300 employees and generating projected value uplift of approximately RM225m over four years. By reducing manual processes and improving system integration, CIMB is building a more efficient and future-ready organisation.

The Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards, presented by Asian Business Review, recognises exceptional companies at the forefront of technological innovation and digital transformation, playing a pivotal role in driving Malaysia's rapidly growing economy to greater heights.

The Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards is presented by Asian Business Review Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2027 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's outstanding contributions in pursuit of technological innovation, please contact Danica Avila (+65) 3158 1386 or [email protected].