News
RHB signs bancassurance deals with Tokio Marine Life, Takaful Malaysia
RHB signs bancassurance deals with Tokio Marine Life, Takaful Malaysia
RHB will distribute life insurance, family takaful, and general takaful products.
SMBC’s profits down 1.5% to $2.5b in Q1 FY3/2026
Net interest income rose, but net trading and other operating income declined.
Mizuho’s profits up 1.2% to $1.93b in Q1 FY2025
MFG has revised its full-year earnings outlook upward.
HSBC’s profits down 30.6% to $11.51b in H1 2025
Revenue declined by 9% to $34.1b during the six-month period.
HSBC GPS names Edmund Lo as regional head of investment counsellors
He first joined HSBC in 2011.
SMBC appoints Joy Kwek to lead capital markets & solutions in APAC
Kwek joins from Morgan Stanley.
Hong Kong’s stablecoin bill boosts wealth management, pressures payments
Stablecoins issued in Hong Kong could increase competition particularly in wholesale payments.
KASIKORNBANK’s K PLUS now a payment method in Google Play
K PLUS has over 14 million users on Android devices.
Hang Seng Bank’s credit risks rise, but capital buffers remain strong
Credit losses rose to HK$4.86b in H1 versus HK$1.5b a year earlier.
Security Bank establishes wealth segment, announces new CFO
New CFO Allen Reyes previously worked at Singlife and Deutsche Bank.
Chinabank’s net income up 14% to $222.83m in H1 2025
Both net interest income and net interest margin rose during the period.
SMBC sets up VC fund to invest in US fintech startups
It has a fund size of $300m.
Malaysia fines Bank Islam Malaysia MYR3.44m for service disruptions and AML/CFT screening
BIMB had multiple unplanned downtimes between June 2023 and December 2024.
Hang Seng Bank’s profits down 30% to HK$6.88b in H1 2025
Fees and other income rose 34% during the period.
Citi Markets to grow Asia rates and prime business headcount by up to 10%
IPO activity has rebounded and Citigroup traders posted their best Q2 period in 5 years.
Chocolate Finance raises $19.4m in Series A+ funding
It has also received a license to start its operations in Hong Kong.
VPBank clinches $350m loan to fund sustainable finance strategy
It will be allocated for green projects, SMEs, and infrastructure projects in underserved areas.
Commentary
From automation to agency: Asia’s wealth leaders can reinvent, not just streamline
Singapore aced its FATF evaluation — now comes the hard part
Are Asia’s digital banks prepared for the stablecoin era?
Why APAC is building home-currency stablecoins
Why Southeast Asian wealth managers must design the business before buying the technology
Why trust in Asian banking increasingly gets built off the record
Hong Kong cleared stablecoins for take-off. Getting them to work across Asia is the hard part
The financing challenge behind Asia’s wealth transfer