CIMB Commits RM200 Million to Inclusive Growth With “Kita Bagi Jadi Komuniti”

• Centres on three pillars: economic empowerment, community wellbeing and enhanced financial literacy.
• US$ 29.39 million already channelled into community investments from 2021 to 2024

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd has pledged US$47.07 million (RM200 million) [US$ 1 = RM 4.25] from 2026 to 2030 to widen economic empowerment, community wellbeing and financial inclusion across ASEAN, rolling the commitment into a new platform branded “Kita Bagi Jadi Komuniti.”

Announced in Kuala Lumpur, the initiative was unveiled alongside Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and CIMB’s top leadership. Gobind said the ministry “commends CIMB for taking a proactive role in empowering communities through its targeted financing for entrepreneurs, low-income communities and the underbanked. By providing greater access to financing, financial education and capacity-building initiatives, the Bank is enabling everyone to participate meaningfully in the economy. These efforts not only promote socioeconomic mobility but also support national productivity and long-term resilience. We encourage more industry players to emulate CIMB’s commitment and work collaboratively to ensure all Malaysians are part of the country’s digital transformation.”

Group chief executive officer Novan Amirudin added that “countries with high income inequality tend to experience slower, less sustainable growth. In contrast, a thriving, inclusive society which leaves no one behind, benefits all its members. At CIMB, our purpose to advance customers and society is simple but powerful. By enabling broader financial access, we help our customers succeed, and in turn, help society move forward with us. By equipping individuals and small businesses with the right tools—whether it is digital literacy, access to financing or practical skills—we will enable them to participate meaningfully in the economy. That benefits our customers, our communities, and the broader market we operate in.”

The bank’s five-year plan centres on three pillars: long-term economic empowerment, community wellbeing and enhanced financial literacy for youth, the unbanked and underserved segments. Flagship programmes include a Women Entrepreneur Empowerment Programme aimed at 300 women-led businesses over three years and Jaga Duit financial-literacy workshops that have reached more than 1,500 employees of corporate clients across six states.

CIMB said pre- and post-programme assessments of Jaga Duit show improvements in participants’ debt management, savings habits and financial resilience, with many reporting greater confidence in meeting daily needs, saving for retirement and handling emergencies. For micro- and small enterprises, the bank has disbursed more than US$ 11.76 billion in financing to low-income customers and SMEs since 2021 and is rolling out a straight-through digital platform to speed up micro-SME loan approvals with minimal documentation.

The commitment builds on US$ 29.39 million already channelled into community investments from 2021 to 2024, keeping CIMB on track for a cumulative US$ 35.27 million by the end of next year. Over the same period, nearly US$ 235 million in salary disbursements has been facilitated for 40,000 migrant workers through TNG Digital.

CIMB’s 33,000 employees are expected to contribute more than 120,000 volunteer hours each year to support the initiative. The bank said the hours will be split between structured corporate-responsibility programmes and staff-led efforts. Corporate drives include mentoring sessions on financial literacy, meal-packing with social enterprise Kembara Kitchen—whose retort machines funded by CIMB produced 80,000 ready-to-eat “Hero Meals” for rapid disaster relief last year—and ongoing support for Teach For Malaysia, which has reached over 3,000 students nationwide. Staff-driven projects range from health-screening drives and tree-planting activities to on-the-ground disaster-relief deployments

Additional reporting by Henry Chang Jie Shen