RHB Bank

Corporate brand

A Malaysian integrated banking group serving consumers, businesses and corporations through conventional and Islamic financial services. A Malaysian banking brand and the principal banking subsidiary of RHB Banking Group, serving retail, commercial, corporate, investment and Islamic-finance customers across Southeast Asia.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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Overview

RHB Bank Berhad is a Malaysian banking group headquartered in Kuala Lumpur. Established in its present form in 1997, the institution developed through the consolidation of several earlier Malaysian banks and became part of the broader RHB Banking Group. Its name reflects the initials of Rashid Hussain Berhad, the group associated with the bank's formation. The bank operates as a broad-based financial-services institution rather than a specialist retail bank. Its activities cover personal and retail banking, small-business and commercial banking, corporate banking, investment banking, and Islamic banking. Through RHB Islamic Bank Berhad, the group offers products structured to comply with Shariah principles, making Islamic finance a significant part of its Malaysian offering. The group serves individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, larger companies and institutional clients through branches, automated teller machines and other banking channels. RHB Bank's modern corporate history is closely linked to a sequence of mergers. In 1997, Kwong Yik Bank merged with Development & Commerce Bank, creating the platform that became RHB Bank. The group then absorbed Sime Bank in 1999 and Bank Utama in 2003. These transactions brought together institutions with different historical origins, including Kwong Yik Bank, founded in Kuala Lumpur in 1913, and United Malayan Banking Corporation, established in 1959 and opened as a commercial bank in independent Malaya in 1960. Bank Utama, incorporated in 1976, also became part of the group after earlier combinations involving Kewangan Utama. The group's investment-banking capabilities were expanded in 2012 when RHB Capital acquired all of OSK Investment Bank through a share-swap arrangement. OSK received a minority interest in the enlarged RHB group as part of that transaction. In 2016, RHB Bank Berhad assumed the listing status previously held by RHB Capital Berhad, reinforcing the bank's role as the listed financial holding entity of the group. A proposed combination with AmBank Group was announced in 2017 but was ultimately abandoned after the parties failed to reach mutually acceptable terms. RHB Bank is one of Malaysia's major fully integrated financial-services groups and has a substantial domestic branch and ATM network. Its competitive proposition combines a broad Malaysian banking franchise with commercial and investment-banking capabilities and a dedicated Islamic-banking subsidiary. The bank's regional orientation is reflected in its Southeast Asian operating footprint, although Malaysia remains its principal market. As a listed company on Bursa Malaysia, RHB Bank is subject to public-company reporting and governance requirements. The available reference material does not establish a current chief executive, founder, ownership breakdown, or official website URL, so those fields are left unspecified.

History

RHB Bank's history is rooted in the development of Malaysia's domestic banking sector and in a series of combinations that assembled several historical institutions into one integrated financial group. The present-day bank was formed in 1997, when Kwong Yik Bank Berhad merged with Development & Commerce Bank Berhad, also known as D&C Bank. The transaction was described in the reference material as the largest Malaysian banking merger of its time and created the institutional platform for the RHB Bank brand. Kwong Yik Bank supplied an especially long local banking lineage. It had been established in Kuala Lumpur in 1913, with Chan Wing, Cheong Yoke Choy and Loke Yew among its co-founders. The bank was regarded as the first local bank established in Malaya. The other principal heritage strand came from United Malayan Banking Corporation, which was founded in 1959 and officially opened in 1960 as the first commercial bank established in independent Malaya. After becoming part of Sime Darby Berhad in 1996, UMBC was renamed Sime Bank Berhad. Sime Bank joined RHB Bank in 1999 through a further merger, broadening the group's branch network and banking operations. Another important predecessor was Bank Utama, incorporated in 1976. Bank Utama had combined its business operations with Kewangan Utama Berhad in 1998, before merging with RHB Bank in 2003. The sequence of transactions gave RHB a larger domestic franchise and helped establish it as a major Malaysian banking group. The group continued to broaden its financial-services capabilities beyond traditional deposit-taking and lending. In 2012, RHB Capital Berhad purchased all of OSK Investment Bank through a share-swap arrangement. OSK received a 10.27% stake in the enlarged RHB group. The transaction strengthened the group's investment-banking and capital-markets presence and complemented its retail, commercial and corporate banking activities. RHB marked the centenary of the bank's oldest predecessor in 2013, reflecting the connection between the modern group and Kwong Yik Bank's 1913 foundation. In 2016, RHB Bank Berhad assumed the listing status of RHB Capital Berhad as the group's financial holding company. This change placed the RHB Bank entity more directly at the center of the listed group structure. The bank also developed a dedicated Islamic-finance platform through RHB Islamic Bank Berhad. That subsidiary provides Shariah-compliant banking products and services and operates alongside the group's conventional banking businesses. RHB's combination of conventional and Islamic offerings has been an important feature of its Malaysian market position. In 2017, RHB Bank and AmBank Group explored a merger. The proposal was not completed because the two sides could not settle on mutually acceptable terms and conditions. The failed transaction left RHB operating as an independent listed banking group. Based on the available reference material, RHB Bank remains an active Malaysian financial institution with more than 200 Malaysian branches and a regional Southeast Asian orientation. The supplied sources do not provide enough information to document later leadership changes, financial results, ownership changes or current strategic initiatives.

2022
Mohd Rashid Mohamad becomes group chief executive
[3]RHB Banking Group: Our Leadershiprhbgroup.com
Mohd Rashid bin Mohamad assumed the role of Group Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer.
2017
Proposed AmBank combination was discontinued
[1]RHB Banken.wikipedia.org
The proposed merger with AmBank Group was abandoned after the parties failed to agree on acceptable terms.
2016
RHB Bank assumed the group's listing status
[1]RHB Banken.wikipedia.org
RHB Bank Berhad assumed the listing status of RHB Capital Berhad as the financial holding company.
2013
RHB celebrated the centenary of its oldest banking predecessor
[1]RHB Banken.wikipedia.org
The group marked 100 years since the establishment of Kwong Yik Bank in 1913.
2012
OSK Investment Bank was acquired
[1]RHB Banken.wikipedia.org
RHB Capital completed the acquisition of OSK Investment Bank, strengthening investment banking, stockbroking and capital-markets capabilities.
2007
RHB Capital becomes the principal listed holding structure
[2]RHB Banking Group: Our Historyrhbgroup.com
RHB Capital acquired a controlling interest in RHB Bank and became the listed holding structure for the wider banking group.
2003
Bank Utama merged with RHB Bank
[1]RHB Banken.wikipedia.org
The merger with Bank Utama further expanded RHB's Malaysian banking franchise.
1999
Sime Bank joined RHB Bank
[1]RHB Banken.wikipedia.org
Sime Bank merged with RHB Bank after its earlier development from United Malayan Banking Corporation, creating a larger banking platform during Malaysia's post-crisis financial-sector consolidation.
1999
Merger with Sime Bank
[2]RHB Banking Group: Our Historyrhbgroup.com
Rashid Hussain Bank merged with Sime Bank, creating a larger banking platform during Malaysia's post-crisis financial-sector consolidation.
1997
RHB Bank was formed through a major merger
[1]RHB Banken.wikipedia.org
Kwong Yik Bank merged with Development & Commerce Bank, creating the modern RHB Bank platform.
1994
Rashid Hussain Bank is established
[2]RHB Banking Group: Our Historyrhbgroup.com
Rashid Hussain Bank was established in Malaysia by businessman Rashid Hussain, providing the foundation for the later RHB Bank brand.
1976
Bank Utama was incorporated
[1]RHB Banken.wikipedia.org
Bank Utama was incorporated and later became part of the RHB group through the 2003 merger.
1959
United Malayan Banking Corporation was established
[1]RHB Banken.wikipedia.org
United Malayan Banking Corporation was established before officially opening as a commercial bank in independent Malaya in 1960.
1913
Kwong Yik Bank was established
[1]RHB Banken.wikipedia.org
Kwong Yik Bank was founded in Kuala Lumpur and became one of the principal historical institutions in the lineage of RHB Bank.

Products and positioning

A Malaysian full-service banking group combining conventional retail, commercial and corporate banking with investment banking and Islamic finance. A diversified Malaysian universal-banking brand with a strong domestic base, regional ASEAN reach and significant Islamic-finance, corporate-banking and capital-markets capabilities.

Retail banking
Retail and personal banking
RHB's retail banking business serves individual customers through personal banking products and services. The reference material identifies the bank as offering a broad range of products for individuals and operating an extensive Malaysian branch and ATM network. Specific account, card, mortgage and wealth-product names are not documented in the supplied sources. RHB's retail banking business serves individual customers through personal banking products and services, including current and savings accounts, deposits, payment cards, personal financing, home financing, vehicle financing, insurance-related products and wealth solutions. The proposition is distributed through branches and digital channels and includes both conventional and Islamic offerings in Malaysia. The reference material identifies the bank as operating an extensive Malaysian branch and ATM network.
Commercial banking
Commercial and small-business banking
The group provides banking services to small businesses and commercial customers. This area forms part of RHB's integrated financial-services model and complements its consumer and corporate franchises. The available material does not specify individual lending products, eligibility requirements or product launch dates. The group provides banking services to small businesses and commercial customers, including working-capital facilities, term financing, deposits, trade finance, cash management, merchant and payment services, foreign exchange and relationship-based advisory. This area forms part of RHB's integrated financial-services model and complements its consumer and corporate franchises.
Corporate banking
Corporate banking
RHB serves larger companies and corporate clients through banking and financing services. Corporate banking is presented as one of the group's core business areas, alongside retail, commercial, investment and Islamic banking. Detailed sector coverage and individual corporate products are not identified in the supplied reference. RHB's corporate and investment-banking activities serve large companies, financial institutions and public-sector clients. Services include loans and structured finance, debt and equity capital markets, mergers and acquisitions advice, transaction banking, treasury, securities and institutional-market services. RHB serves larger companies and corporate clients through banking and financing services, including loans and structured finance, transaction banking, treasury and institutional-market services. Corporate banking is presented as one of the group's core business areas, alongside retail, commercial, investment and Islamic banking.
Investment banking · 2012
Investment banking
RHB's investment-banking capability was strengthened by the 2012 acquisition of OSK Investment Bank. It forms part of the group's wider capital-markets and financial-services platform. The supplied material does not provide a complete list of advisory, underwriting, brokerage or asset-management offerings. RHB's investment-banking capability was strengthened by the 2012 acquisition of OSK Investment Bank. Services include debt and equity capital markets, mergers and acquisitions advice, securities, brokerage and institutional-market services. It forms part of the group's wider capital-markets and financial-services platform.
Islamic banking
RHB Islamic Bank services
RHB Islamic Bank Berhad is the group's dedicated Islamic-banking subsidiary. It provides banking products and services structured around Shariah principles and operates with a Malaysian branch and ATM presence. The reference material identifies Islamic banking as a distinctive part of RHB's integrated offering but does not enumerate individual products. RHB Islamic Bank Berhad is the group's dedicated Islamic-banking subsidiary. It provides Shariah-compliant deposits, consumer and business financing, cards, wealth products, sukuk and other Islamic capital-markets services, and operates with a Malaysian branch and ATM presence. Islamic banking is a distinctive part of RHB's integrated offering.
Retail banking
Retail and consumer banking
RHB's retail business serves individual customers with current and savings accounts, deposits, payment cards, personal financing, home financing, vehicle financing, insurance-related products and wealth solutions. The proposition is distributed through branches and digital channels and includes both conventional and Islamic offerings in Malaysia.
Digital banking
RHB Digital Banking
RHB provides mobile and online banking services for account access, payments, transfers, card management, financing applications and other routine banking needs. Digital channels form part of the group's wider effort to simplify customer onboarding and servicing while maintaining branch and relationship-manager support.
Business banking
RHB Business and SME Banking
The business-banking franchise supports SMEs and commercial customers with working-capital facilities, term financing, deposits, trade finance, cash management, merchant and payment services, foreign exchange and relationship-based advisory. It is intended to support businesses across operating, investment and cross-border needs.
Islamic banking
RHB Islamic Banking
RHB Islamic Banking offers Shariah-compliant deposits, consumer and business financing, cards, wealth products, sukuk and other Islamic capital-markets services. Islamic finance is integrated into the group's Malaysian banking proposition and complements its conventional products.
Wealth management
Wealth management and premier banking
RHB's wealth and premier-banking services target affluent and high-net-worth customers with priority service, deposits, investment products, insurance-related solutions, financing and financial planning. The offering is supported by relationship managers and the group's broader investment and markets capabilities.

Brand decisions

2017
Proposed merger with AmBank GroupM&A
Background
RHB Bank and AmBank Group explored a possible combination in the context of Malaysia's competitive banking sector.
Action taken
The parties ended the proposal after failing to agree on mutually acceptable terms and conditions.
Aftermath
The transaction did not proceed, and RHB continued as an independent listed banking group.
Source
2016
RHB Bank became the listed financial holding entityStrategy
Background
The group reorganized its listed-company structure after operating under RHB Capital as its financial holding company.
Action taken
RHB Bank Berhad assumed the listing status previously held by RHB Capital Berhad.
Aftermath
The RHB Bank entity became the listed center of the group's financial holding structure.
Source
2012
Acquisition of OSK Investment BankM&A
Background
RHB sought to expand its capital-markets and investment-banking capabilities and create a more integrated financial-services group.
Action taken
RHB Capital acquired 100% of OSK Investment Bank through a share-swap agreement.
Aftermath
OSK received a 10.27% interest in the wider RHB group, while the acquisition strengthened RHB's investment-banking position.
Source
1999
Merge with Sime BankM&A
Background
Malaysia's banking sector was consolidating after the Asian financial crisis, creating pressure for institutions to achieve greater scale and resilience.
Action taken
Rashid Hussain Bank merged with Sime Bank to form a larger banking platform.
Aftermath
The merger broadened the institution's domestic banking franchise and contributed to the emergence of the RHB Bank platform.
Source
Increase emphasis on digital and sustainable bankingStrategy
Background
Customer expectations, competition from digital financial providers and climate-related risks have encouraged banks to modernize distribution and strengthen responsible-finance practices.
Action taken
RHB has invested in digital channels and incorporated sustainability and responsible-finance priorities into its group strategy.
Aftermath
Digital banking, sustainable finance and customer-experience improvement remain continuing strategic themes in RHB's public materials.
Source

Recent events

2017
RHB Bank and AmBank Group merger proposal was abandoned[1]RHB Banken.wikipedia.org
M&A · Other
A proposed merger between RHB Bank and AmBank Group did not proceed because the parties were unable to agree on mutually acceptable terms and conditions.
2012
RHB Capital completed the acquisition of OSK Investment Bank[1]RHB Banken.wikipedia.org
M&A
RHB Capital acquired 100% of OSK Investment Bank through a share-swap agreement. OSK received a 10.27% interest in the wider RHB group as part of the transaction.
RHB strengthens its digital banking proposition[4]RHB Banking Group: Digital Bankingrhbgroup.com
Other
The group has continued to develop mobile and online banking channels, digital customer journeys and technology-enabled service delivery as part of its broader modernization strategy.
RHB expands sustainable-finance and responsible-banking activities[5]RHB Banking Group: Sustainabilityrhbgroup.com
Regulation
RHB has incorporated sustainability, climate considerations and responsible-finance objectives into its group strategy and financing activities.

Sources12 sources

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