Singapore – The Asian Banking & Finance Awards 2025 returned with full prestige this July, recognizing the continent’s most forward-thinking banks and financial institutions. Honorees demonstrated outstanding achievements in digital transformation, ESG integration, customer engagement, and innovative financial structuring—driving Asia’s evolving financial sector into a new era.
Held on 3 July 2025 in Singapore, the event honored winners across three main categories: Retail Banking, Wholesale Banking, and Corporate & Investment Banking. The awards brought together leading firms from over 20 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, and China.
Winners were selected by a distinguished panel of financial services experts from EY, PwC, BCG, KPMG, Bain & Company, and Simon-Kucher. One of the judges, Silvio Struebi, remarked, “We prioritized long-term innovation with tangible impact—not just tactical campaigns or tech experiments. These winners are defining how banking will evolve.”
Top awards in the Corporate & Investment Banking segment included:
- BDO Capital & Investment Corp (Philippines) for Corporate & Investment Bank of the Year
- CTBC Bank (Taiwan) for Green Deal, Corporate Client Initiative, and Investment Banking of the Year
- Jefferies (India) and CIMB Investment Bank Berhad (Malaysia) for IPO excellence and mergers & acquisitions
In Wholesale Banking, major players such as DBS Bank Ltd, OCBC, and Bangkok Bank were acknowledged for their leadership in trade finance, SME services, and technology integration. Meanwhile, Maybank, Faysal Bank, and Infrastructure Development Company Limited (Bangladesh) earned recognition for sustainable and green finance initiatives.
The Retail Banking Awards highlighted customer-centric and digital-first strategies, with standout names including:
- Bank Simpanan Nasional (Malaysia) and BDO Foundation (Philippines) for financial inclusion
- Maybank (Malaysia) and UOB (Singapore) for digital innovation and wealth platforms
- Techcombank (Vietnam) and Bank Rakyat Indonesia for SME digitization and consumer banking strategies
Several key themes emerged across the awards:
- Sustainability Takes Center Stage: ESG-linked products, green bonds, and social lending programs were pivotal in differentiating this year’s winners.
- Digital Maturity Accelerates: From AI-backed banking models to fully virtual banks like GX Bank Berhad (Malaysia) and Trust Bank Singapore, institutions showed rapid digital adoption.
- Regional Integration and Cross-Border Growth: Firms such as UOB, OCBC, and HSBC expanded platforms to offer seamless ASEAN-wide financial services.
- Customer Experience as Core Strategy: Tailored offerings, credit product redesigns, and mobile-first platforms were critical factors in both retail and SME segments.
Regional Highlights
- Indonesia saw strong representation with wins by PT Bank CIMB Niaga, Bank Mandiri, and Bank BCA in digital banking and ESG-led transformation.
- Philippines dominated sustainability-linked categories with awards for RCBC, China Bank Capital, and BPI Capital Corp.
- Malaysia‘s CIMB and Maybank secured multiple honors across digital, ESG, and equity deal categories.
- Vietnam, Thailand, and Bangladesh showed growing strength in fintech deployment and regional M&A activity.
The event solidified its reputation as the premier benchmarking platform for the Asian financial sector. As the region adapts to global uncertainties, these award-winning institutions are leading the charge toward more resilient, inclusive, and future-focused banking.
