HONG LEONG Bank has seen significant annual growth for its digital banking platforms – underscoring the bank’s commitment to providing customers with digital services and experiences that empower them to stay fully in charge of their lives.

       As of May 2023, the HLB Connect app registered a 22% year-on-year growth in user base, whereby the volume and value of financial transactions conducted via the app increased by 26% and 39% respectively.

       Sharing this upward trend in conjunction with its annual HLB Connect Day to mark the new financial year and reward customers for using its digital banking platforms, HLB group managing director and CEO Kevin Lam said the growth seen on the HLB Connect digital platforms is a testament to the bank’s brand promise of “Built Around You” – whereby the bank focuses on the evolving needs of customers and the communities not only by simplifying banking through digital innovation but also complementing their lifestyles and life cycles.

       “Expanding our customer base and usage on our digital banking platforms goes beyond building a sophisticated banking app. It starts with having a deep understanding of our customers and the communities we serve – by listening to them and being on the ground to observe how they interact with banking and digital tools.

       “Take wealth management as an example. We want to make wealth management simple and accessible to all customers by empowering them to achieve their personal financial goals.

       “To this end, we recently introduced a wealth management tool within HLB Connect which allows customers to effectively self-manage their financial resources with access to real-time market insights, track investments, and make informed decisions anytime, anywhere,” says Lam.

       Another example of how the bank has reimagined its offerings to expand its digital base came from insights of what parents look for when it comes to savings accounts for their children.

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       “We were able to grow our 3-in-1 Junior Account users by a remarkable 127.6% year-on-year, which also led to the growth of our HLB Connect mobile app users because we reimagined and innovated our offerings to cater to parents of a digital native generation.

       “The account comes with a savings account, fixed deposit and debit card facilities, as well as the HLB Pocket Connect app – Malaysia’s first hyper-personalised, interactive digital banking app designed for young savers that integrates money management, financial literacy, and environmental awareness into an accessible, lifestyle-based ecosystem,” Lam shares.

       Echoing the need to actively engage with customers and communities to build an eco-system of robust digital banking users, HLB Personal Financial Services managing director Andrew Jong says the bank going to the ground helps tremendously in getting customers and communities, especially in underserved areas, to adopt digital banking.

       “During the implementation of our initiative to transform Sekinchan into a ‘cashless kampung’, we noticed that while the microbusiness community understood the importance of having cashless payment options, they were concerned over their ability to handle the necessary digital tools.

       “To help them transition with ease, we deployed our team to help them use our cashless payment solutions with confidence.

       “Since then, we have taken progressive steps to build out different digital capabilities for MSMEs, as well as other non-urban communities which have expressed interest to adopt a more digital lifestyle.

       “For MSMEs, we have rolled out the BizBuddy merchant app which enables them to receive payments via DuitNow, WeChat Pay QR Code and cross-border QR payments from Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia travellers.

       “Our Tap On Phone solution allows small business owners to turn their NFC-enabled Android smartphones into their payment terminal,” says Jong.

       The bank encourages its customers to provide feedback and suggestions on new features for the HLB Connect app through its Designed By You platform, which enables the bank to not only develop offerings that cater to real-world needs and challenges but also to always look at designing experiences from the customer’s perspective.

       For instance, taking into account that customers want immediate access to block their accounts when they suspect they have fallen prey to scams, the bank has placed the Emergency Lock feature visibly at the login screen of HLB Connect.

       “Customer-centricity is not just a buzzword; it is the foundation of our approach to innovation and growth,” says Lam.

       “It is not enough to simply offer what we want to sell; we must listen to our customers, understand their preferences, and tailor our offerings accordingly.

       “By putting the customer at the centre of everything we do, we can create meaningful solutions that address their pain points, enhance their financial lives, and help them stay in charge.”

       HLB Connect Day 2023 on July 7 is to reward customers for embracing digital banking. HLB will have special offers throughout July, including over RM1mil in cashback, rewards and exclusive rates.

       Customers who sign up for HLB Wallet – the bank’s newly launched multi-currency ewallet – will have a chance to win more than RM500,000 in cashback.

       Eligible transactions conducted via the HLB Connect app qualify for over RM300,000 in cashback.

       For more information, go to www.hlb.com.my/hlbconnectit

       HONG LEONG Bank has seen significant annual growth for its digital banking platforms – underscoring the bank’s commitment to providing customers with digital services and experiences that empower them to stay fully in charge of their lives.

       As of May 2023, the HLB Connect app registered a 22% year-on-year growth in user base, whereby the volume and value of financial transactions conducted via the app increased by 26% and 39% respectively.

       Sharing this upward trend in conjunction with its annual HLB Connect Day to mark the new financial year and reward customers for using its digital banking platforms, HLB group managing director and CEO Kevin Lam said the growth seen on the HLB Connect digital platforms is a testament to the bank’s brand promise of “Built Around You” – whereby the bank focuses on the evolving needs of customers and the communities not only by simplifying banking through digital innovation but also complementing their lifestyles and life cycles.

       “Expanding our customer base and usage on our digital banking platforms goes beyond building a sophisticated banking app. It starts with having a deep understanding of our customers and the communities we serve – by listening to them and being on the ground to observe how they interact with banking and digital tools.

       “Take wealth management as an example. We want to make wealth management simple and accessible to all customers by empowering them to achieve their personal financial goals.

       “To this end, we recently introduced a wealth management tool within HLB Connect which allows customers to effectively self-manage their financial resources with access to real-time market insights, track investments, and make informed decisions anytime, anywhere,” says Lam.

       Another example of how the bank has reimagined its offerings to expand its digital base came from insights of what parents look for when it comes to savings accounts for their children.

       “We were able to grow our 3-in-1 Junior Account users by a remarkable 127.6% year-on-year, which also led to the growth of our HLB Connect mobile app users because we reimagined and innovated our offerings to cater to parents of a digital native generation.

       “The account comes with a savings account, fixed deposit and debit card facilities, as well as the HLB Pocket Connect app – Malaysia’s first hyper-personalised, interactive digital banking app designed for young savers that integrates money management, financial literacy, and environmental awareness into an accessible, lifestyle-based ecosystem,” Lam shares.

       Echoing the need to actively engage with customers and communities to build an eco-system of robust digital banking users, HLB Personal Financial Services managing director Andrew Jong says the bank going to the ground helps tremendously in getting customers and communities, especially in underserved areas, to adopt digital banking.

       “During the implementation of our initiative to transform Sekinchan into a ‘cashless kampung’, we noticed that while the microbusiness community understood the importance of having cashless payment options, they were concerned over their ability to handle the necessary digital tools.

       “To help them transition with ease, we deployed our team to help them use our cashless payment solutions with confidence.

       “Since then, we have taken progressive steps to build out different digital capabilities for MSMEs, as well as other non-urban communities which have expressed interest to adopt a more digital lifestyle.

       “For MSMEs, we have rolled out the BizBuddy merchant app which enables them to receive payments via DuitNow, WeChat Pay QR Code and cross-border QR payments from Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia travellers.

       “Our Tap On Phone solution allows small business owners to turn their NFC-enabled Android smartphones into their payment terminal,” says Jong.

       The bank encourages its customers to provide feedback and suggestions on new features for the HLB Connect app through its Designed By You platform, which enables the bank to not only develop offerings that cater to real-world needs and challenges but also to always look at designing experiences from the customer’s perspective.

       For instance, taking into account that customers want immediate access to block their accounts when they suspect they have fallen prey to scams, the bank has placed the Emergency Lock feature visibly at the login screen of HLB Connect.

       “Customer-centricity is not just a buzzword; it is the foundation of our approach to innovation and growth,” says Lam.

       “It is not enough to simply offer what we want to sell; we must listen to our customers, understand their preferences, and tailor our offerings accordingly.

       “By putting the customer at the centre of everything we do, we can create meaningful solutions that address their pain points, enhance their financial lives, and help them stay in charge.”

       HLB Connect Day 2023 on July 7 is to reward customers for embracing digital banking. HLB will have special offers throughout July, including over RM1mil in cashback, rewards and exclusive rates.

       Customers who sign up for HLB Wallet – the bank’s newly launched multi-currency ewallet – will have a chance to win more than RM500,000 in cashback.

       Eligible transactions conducted via the HLB Connect app qualify for over RM300,000 in cashback.

       For more information, go to www.hlb.com.my/hlbconnectit