HSBC in Malaysia

Our services

HSBC Bank Malaysia offers personal financial services, Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets and Islamic financial solutions.

HSBC Bank Malaysia introduced the nation's first automated teller machine (ATM), and launched Electronic Touch Banking and Hexagon - the Group's global PC-based banking financial services platform - in the early 1980s.

HSBCnet has Malaysia's first security technology, Virtual Keyboard, and HSBC customers were among the earliest to use online cheque-image enquiry technology.

Customers of HSBC Bank Malaysia were also the first to benefit from account updates via text messages and since September 2000, customers have been able to trade shares listed on Bursa Malaysia online with selected stockbroking companies. In July 2001, HSBC launched ChequeScan to make deposits faster and simpler.

In 2020, HSBC Malaysia became the first bank in Malaysia to launch a digital account opening journey with 24/7 Self-Service Machine for identification and verification process.

Our history in Malaysia

HSBC's presence in Malaysia dates back to 1884 when the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited established its first office in the country, on the island of Penang, with permission to issue currency notes. In 1959 it bought the Mercantile Bank, which started operations in Malaysia in 1860.

HSBC opened its office in Malacca in 1909 and by the end of 1912, offices had opened in Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Kota Bharu.

During the 1920s and 1930s, the bank opened more branches in several states - Sungai Petani branch in 1922, Kuantan in 1929, Muar in 1930, and Kuala Terengganu in 1936.

In Sabah, the first branch opened in Kota Kinabalu in 1947. Branches were set up in Sandakan and Tawau a year later, followed by Labuan in 1957. In Sarawak, branches opened in Kuching in 1958 and 1964 and in Sibu in 1959. In 2006, HSBC was the first foreign bank to be awarded a licence to operate a Takaful (Islamic insurance) business in Malaysia. HSBC Amanah Takaful (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd - a joint venture between HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Holdings Limited (49 per cent shareholding), Jerneh Asia Berhad (31 per cent shareholding) and Employees Provident Fund Board of Malaysia (20 per cent shareholding) - commenced operations in August 2006.

In March 2019, HSBC exited the Takaful manufacturing business to focus on its banking and wealth operations in Malaysia.

In 2007, HSBC Bank Malaysia was the first locally incorporated foreign bank to be awarded an Islamic banking subsidiary licence in Malaysia, and HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad, an Islamic bank wholly owned by HSBC Bank Malaysia, commenced operations in August 2008. HSBC in Malaysia has a network of more than 50 branches.

Roaring into our 140th year anniversary in Malaysia with Stitt

Read the transcript (1-page PDF 61KB)

2024 marks HSBC’s 140th year anniversary in Malaysia. To kick-start the celebrations for the year, the HSBC lion; Stitt, which stands for protection, security, and good fortune, has been installed at our head office at the new international hub for finance and business at Tun Razak Exchange.

Local incorporation

In 1984, HSBC was the first foreign bank to locally incorporate in Malaysia, forming Hongkong Bank Malaysia Berhad and renamed HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad in 1999. And in 2007, HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad was the first locally incorporated foreign bank to be awarded an Islamic banking subsidiary licence in Malaysia, and HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad, an Islamic bank wholly owned by HSBC Bank Malaysia, commenced operations in August 2008.

The subsidiary companies of the Bank

• HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad
• HSBC (Kuala Lumpur) Nominees Sdn Bhd
• HSBC Nominees (Tempatan) Sdn Bhd
• HSBC Nominees (Asing) Sdn Bhd

Careers

If you would like to find out about job opportunities at HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad, please e-mail: recruitment@hsbc.com.my. Further information about careers  at HSBC is available on our corporate website.

Awards

Find details of the awards and recognition earned by HSBC in Malaysia on our Awards page

Financial information

To find financial reports for HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad and other subsidiaries of HSBC Holdings plc, please visit the Subsidiary company reporting page  of our corporate website.

HSBC Bank Malaysia history timeline