Maybank targets economic empowerment for three million people by 2030

Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) is targeting three million people for economic empowerment by 2030 through a new Social Impact Strategy. The bank said it would judge the strategy by longer-term changes in people's lives rather than the output of individual programmes.

Maybank plans to deploy twice as much Social Finance funding to individuals and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It also aims to mobilise RM100 million each year for Social Empowerment, with education, community and the environment as its three pillars.

The bank said the initiatives would emphasise financial literacy and inclusion for vulnerable groups and people on low incomes. Supporting programmes include the Asean-Maybank Scholarship, Reach Independence & Sustainable Entrepreneurship (R.I.S.E.) and Maybank Women Eco-Weavers.

For the first half of financial year 2026, Maybank reported RM12.89 billion mobilised across ASEAN through the two initiatives, reaching over 466,000 people. Social Finance contributed RM12.86 billion, supporting almost 170,000 individuals and MSMEs through financial products that the bank described as affordable and accessible.

The Social Empowerment component channelled RM30.69 million into its initiatives and reached over 296,000 beneficiaries. Maybank said its cumulative social impact efforts from FY14 through the first half of FY26 had mobilised RM87.1 billion and improved the lives of 6.2 million people.

Progress will be assessed through the bank's Social Progress Index. The strategy builds on its earlier M25+ framework and sits within its ROAR30 ambition, with partners and stakeholders involved in developing, funding, evaluating and expanding programmes across ASEAN.