03/11/2025

MONDAY | NOV 3, 2025

12

BANKING & INSURANCE

SME Bank makes Elsa accessible as mobile app

FWD collaborates with Innoquest to champion health screenings

PETALING JAYA: FWD Takaful Bhd and FWD Insurance Bhd have partnered with Innoquest Pathology Malaysia to champion the importance of preventive and early health screenings among Malaysians, an initiative that shifts the focus from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. “This partnership marks a pivotal moment in our journey to become a true health partner to our customers. By integrating health screenings into our offerings, we’re empowering Malaysians to take charge of their health proactively. This is aligned with our vision of changing the way people feel about takaful, by making it more relevant, personal and supportive throughout every stage of life,” according to FWD Takaful CEO Aman Chowla. “At FWD Insurance, we believe in making insurance simpler and more accessible to people’s everyday lives,” said FWD Insurance CEO Mak See Sen.“This collaboration with Innoquest allows us to deliver on that promise by delivering solutions that go beyond financial protection to support real, tangible health outcomes.” Innoquest brings precision testing and innovative diagnostics technology to the part nership. Its role is to detect risks early and guide interventions that can change outcomes before conditions escalate. “Early detection saves lives and improves health outcome. With advanced diagnostics, we can spot risks years earlier – and that’s a game-changer for families, employers, and the healthcare system,” said Innoquest CEO Adam Hathsey Bronson. The partnership will debut with HealthIQ, a preventive health screening test developed by Nightingale Health and provided by Innoquest. As part of an early access programme, FWD customers will be the first to benefit from HealthIQ at a special introductory rate. HealthIQ is a first-of-its-kind screening test in Malaysia that detects early signs of major health risks, including heart attack, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes, and provides disease risk scores to guide proactive health decisions. Affin Bank is official bank partner for Fiuu’s MRP+ initiative PETALING JAYA: Affin Bank Bhd has been appointed as the official bank partner for the Merchant Recruitment Partner Plus (MRP+) introduced by Fiuu. Fiuu is a fintech platform in Southeast Asia and the largest in Malaysia, recognised in the Malaysia Book of Records for achieving the highest total payment volume and sales volume in a year. Fiuu supports businesses with innovative digital payment solutions. The recent appointment marks a significant step forward in Affin Bank’s mission to strengthen Malaysia’s digital economy and drive the growth of SMEs. Through this partnership, Affin Bank will deliver end-to-end collection and transaction banking solutions that complement Fiuu’s existing payment gateway services, offering enhanced benefits to merchants and SMEs under MRP+. This partnership enables merchants and SMEs within Fiuu’s ecosystem to access a comprehensive suite of financial solutions, providing a stronger foundation for sustainable growth. Affin Group president and group CEO Datuk Wan Razly Abdullah said the collaboration underscores their commitment to supporting corporates and SMEs with innovative, seamless financial solutions. Fiuu CEO Eng Shen Guan said their focus has always been helping businesses grow through simple and reliable payment solutions.

PETALING JAYA: Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia (SME Bank), a subsidiary of Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd Group, has unveiled the Enterprise Lifecycle Scoring Assessment (Elsa) mobile app, an artificial intelligence-powered, mobile-first platform that provides entre preneurs with real-time insights, flexible financing access and a pathway from diagnostics to market opportunities. Beyond empowering SMEs, Elsa reflects Malaysia’s Asean Chair 2025 agenda to drive digital transformation through AI, cyber security, digital payments and inclusive innovation, cementing SME Bank’s role in building a future-ready economy. SME Bank chief digital and technology officer Hairil Izwar Abd Rahman said, “This unveiling marks a bold step in SME Bank’s digital innovation journey. By making Elsa accessible as a mobile app, we are embedding intelligence and accessibility into a single platform, enabling SMEs to move from identifying their challenges to taking decisive action that drives growth. “Elsa is no longer just a diagnostic tool; it is evolving into an inclusive platform for SME empowerment, bridging insights with action across financing, digitalisation, training and market access. Through this initiative, SME Bank is charting an ambitious course to onboard 10,000 SMEs within the next two years, reinforcing our role as a key driver of Malaysia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and economic resilience.” He continued, “In tandem, we will continue to support SMEs in key strategic sectors, particularly technology and digital, through our financing programmes such as the SME Technology Transformation Fund and Bank Negara Malaysia’s High Tech and Established in 1996, KHTP is Malaysia’s first fully integrated high-technology park and a critical engine for economic growth, attracting global and local players in sectors such as semiconductors, electronics, solar and biotech nology. By setting up a community branch in the heart of the park, HLB is positioning itself as a partner to enterprises of all sizes, from multinational corporations to SMEs and startups, offering tailored financial solutions to help them scale, innovate, and thrive. HLB managing director and CEO, Kevin Lam said, “High-value industries such as advanced manufacturing, electronics, and green tech nology are central to Malaysia’s growth ambitions, and financial services have a vital role in helping these businesses succeed. With this new community branch at Kulim Hi-Tech Park, we’re making banking more accessible to companies and entrepreneurs operating in this fast-growing ecosystem, while supporting the employees and residents who power its success.” Building on the bank’s recent strategic partnership with the Kulim Technology Park Corporation and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) that was signed in August, the Meet @ HLB community branch in KHTP will function as a one-stop centre

o Lender aims to onboard 10,000 small and medium businesses to AI-powered platform within next two years

From left: Hairil Izwar, SME Bank relief president/CEO Samad Majid Zain, Entrepreneurs and Cooperatives Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick, SME Bank chairman Datuk Muslim Hussain, BPMB Group CEO Datuk Muzaffar Hisham and Exim Bank chairman Datuk Charon Mokhzani.

Originally introduced in 2021 as a framework to guide SMEs through their business lifecycle, Elsa evolved into a web based platform that has benefited over 5,000 entrepreneurs through national and industry programmes led by SME Bank, including other strategic partners such as Ministry of Entrepreneurs and Cooperatives Develop ment, Petroliam Nasional Bhd, Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and Johor Petroleum Develop ment Corporation.

Green Facility. These initiatives help SMEs and innovative startups expand their businesses and invest in strategic fields including digital, green and biotechnology to drive sustainable growth and support an entrenched economic recovery.” Designed as a mobile-first platform, Elsa empowers SMEs with AI-driven insights and seamless access to financing, training and advisory support, enabling them to assess, act and grow their businesses anytime and anywhere.

HLB opens community branch at Kulim Hi-Tech Park PETALING JAYA: Hong Leong Bank (HLB) recently launched a Meet @ HLB community branch at Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP) in Kedah, in line with its five-year transformation plan, where it looks to tailor-make financial solutions for the communities it serves.

HLB commercial banking head Ivan Liew (centre, left) and KTPC Group CEO Datuk Mohd Sahil Zabidi (centre, right) launching the Meet @ HLB community branch at Kulim Hi-Tech Park.

creating spaces like this, MNCs, SMEs and entrepreneurs can leverage our banking expertise, build financial resilience, and focus on growing their businesses in line with Malaysia’s high-value, innovation-led economy,” said Lam. HLB first launched its Meet @ HLB community branch concept at Eco Majestic, Semenyih earlier this year, and will look to unveil even more reimagined branches across the country in the near future.

empowering the surrounding community including both businesses and residents with the tools needed for success. “This new community branch will also contribute significantly to the bank’s broader strategy to strengthen its support for SMEs and businesses nationwide by combining innovative financing, cash management, and advisory services with convenient access through our branch network and digital platforms. By

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