At the 2025 Asian Banking & Finance Wholesale Banking Awards, OCBC Malaysia stood out as a leader in digital transformation, winning Malaysia International Cash Management Bank of the Year and Malaysia International Trade Finance Bank of the Year. These recognitions reflect the bank's commitment to solving real-world financing challenges with practical, scalable innovations.

Digital Cash Management, Tailored for a Fast-Moving Economy

In response to shifting client expectations and the rising tide of real-time finance, OCBC Malaysia has built a comprehensive digital transaction banking ecosystem. API-powered tools—such as Virtual Account, Credit Notification, Balance Inquiry, and DuitNow—offer seamless integration into business workflows and enhanced cash visibility.

Shariah-compliant needs aren't left behind. The OCBC eBiz Account-i, launched for SMEs, enables remote onboarding via eKYC and syncs with platforms like Velocity, OneCollect, and FX Online. Meanwhile, Direct Debit/eMandate simplifies recurring collections—a critical feature for growing enterprises.

By the end of 2024, the vast majority of OCBC Malaysia's corporate clients were actively using digital channels, with mobile-based transactions seeing strong growth.

Trade Finance, Reimagined for the Digital Age

Trade finance often lags behind in digitization. OCBC Malaysia aims to change that. In 2024, it launched OCBC CashNow, the country's first paperless trade-based financing solution, allowing clients to fund supplier payments digitally, without submitting physical documents.

For smaller firms lacking traditional credit credentials, the bank introduced embedded finance via procurement platforms. This lets SMEs access sales invoice financing based on receivables from reputable buyers—no audited financials or hard copies required. Within a year, both assets and SME users doubled.

To ease global trade entry for resource-constrained firms, OCBC enabled transferable letters of credit—offering payment assurance without the need for collateral.

A standout partnership with the Export-Import Bank of Malaysia helped relaunch the Export Credit Refinancing (ECR) scheme. OCBC executed the largest new drawdown in 2024, giving Malaysian exporters a competitive edge in working capital access.

The bank also offers non-recourse receivables discounting, allowing clients to shift from managing their own credit insurance to OCBC's umbrella policy—reducing cost and complexity.

Local Innovation, Regional Impact

Innovation at OCBC Malaysia is not limited to backend systems—it extends to user-facing tools that improve efficiency. Its OneCollect merchant app now supports major Chinese e-wallets, helping retailers tap into inbound tourist spending. Meanwhile, Digital Board Resolution (DBR) and InvoiceNow e-invoicing streamline governance and billing, responding to clients'24/7 service expectations.

For large-scale infrastructure and EPC firms, project-level Virtual Accounts help track payments more clearly and manage liquidity by project segment. Meanwhile, cross-border solutions support Chinese SOEs expanding into ASEAN, easing settlement and compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

As hybrid work and digital tax systems mature, OCBC collaborated with Singapore's CPFB to automate MediSave contributions for the self-employed using PayNow-linked IDs—a model that could be adapted across ASEAN.

A Banking Partner That Builds Around the Client

Whether supporting regional supply chains or enabling next-gen fintech collaborations, OCBC Malaysia has anchored its strategy around practicality, digital maturity, and local insight.

In the words of the award jury: “OCBC's solutions are not just tech-enabled—they're rooted in real business pain points. That's what sets them apart.”

For foreign companies operating in or entering Malaysia, OCBC's one-stop cash and trade platforms, strong digital rails, and policy-aligned Islamic offerings provide more than infrastructure—they offer an entryway to sustainable, scalable regional growth.