In recent years, digital finance and online transactions have become intrinsically embedded in the lives of Malaysian consumers, as evidenced by Bank Negara Malaysia’s recent Annual Report 2025. According to the report, 86% of e-payment transactions in 2025 were conducted via e-money or e-wallet online banking and digital payment cards.
Despite the high transaction volume, consumers’ financial habits behind all that activity paint a fragile story. A past survey by BNM also revealed that 61% of Malaysians struggled to secure RM1,000 in emergency cash, so much so that a majority of Malaysians are not able to cope with financial shocks or emergency situations that require a good amount of cash on hand.
Be it online or in-store, paying digitally has become very convenient and seamless, yet the basic understanding of our own financial habits and managing a budget seems to be lacking in the monthly planning of many Malaysians.
That is one of the financial literacy gaps and practical needs that AEON Bank is aiming to address with its Financial Purr-sona, a new feature accessible via its digital banking app.
What is the Financial Purr-sona?
Financial Purr-sona is a fresh new interactive feature, available for free via the AEON Bank app, accessible under Neko Sensei, its AI-powered personal financial coach.
Developed to meet the growing demand among consumers for intuitive, lifestyle-aligned banking, the Financial Purr-sona and Neko Sensei offer personalised financial insights to help customers manage their finances more effectively, with practical tips and actionable insights that adds value to customer’s life.
Upon activation, Neko Sensei will analyse the financial activity and data within the AEON Bank app across four core financial habits, namely; saving, spending, planning, and settling financing or payments.
Based on this analysis, Neko Sensei will then match that profile to a relevant Financial Purr-sona (persona).
Meet the Four Vibrant Financial Purr-sonas
Currently, four Financial Purr-sonas are available in the app, reflecting each customer’s financial profile:
Tauke Tabung: Savings are prioritised, and healthy financial habits are the ultimate goal. It is all about you being the boss of your own tabung (Savings Pot).
Planner Pro Max: A purr-sona that takes a proactive approach to financial planning and investment. Managing financial goals is its signature move; hence, every Ringgit earned and spent are purposeful.
Boss Anti-Bazir: Shopping and splurging may bring joy for a customer with this purr-sona, but each spending is done mindfully, with a focus on smart financial decisions. Wastage? Not on this boss’ watch, target jangan membazir!
Hutang Slayer: Customers with this purr-sona manage their financial commitments like a duit champ, keeping monthly instalments on track, with a zeroed-in focus on clearing outstanding payments and debts. Hutang, consider yourself warned!
How Neko Sensei Synthesises Your Financial Purr-sona
It only takes a few easy steps to unlock your Financial Purr-sona, and the more active you are in using the app, the more comprehensive your personalised financial profile will be.
Products and features such as Savings Account-i, Savings Pots, Debit Card-i for online and in-store purchases, DuitNow QR, Personal Financing-i, Term Deposit-i, Zakat, Takaful, JomPay, utility bill payments and other features in the app can easily be optimised daily.
Each purr-sona is meant to be agile, keeping up with the customer’s lifestyle, while reflecting the changes as their financial habits evolve. Customers can update their profile with their latest information, so that their Financial Purr-sona stays accurate and relevant over time.
You can also refer to the detailed step-by-step guide in this Financial Purr-sona video:
Level-Up For Free Coaching and Budgeting Tips
Beyond that, there is also the “Level-Up” option, where customers can get free personalised financial coaching, smart actionable insights and budgeting tips by Neko Sensei, thus helping you build smarter financial habits.
If you’re ready to discover your Financial Purr-sona, simply follow these four easy steps:
1. App access: Log in to the AEON Bank app and tap the Neko Sensei icon on the Home screen
2. Discovery: Complete a quiz to discover your ‘Financial Purr-sona’
3. Level-up: Tap ‘Level-up’ to start free personalised coaching with Neko Sensei and start your journey to be a Ringgit savvy hero
4. Rewards collection: Redeem the rewards that you have earned by tapping on the ‘Rewards’ icon on the Home screen and selecting My Voucher*.
Unlock Exclusive Rewards Through Neko Missions Gamification
Bringing excitement to the digital banking user experience, AEON Bank is offering gamified rewards via ‘Neko Missions’ through simple interactions in the app, as a delightful way to incentivise customers in kickstarting their celik Ringgit smart financial journey.
If Neko Missions is new to you, it is AEON Bank’s gamified rewards programme. You just need to tap on the ‘Rewards’ icon on the ‘Home’ screen of the app, start a Neko Missions, collect Neko Paws as you progress, and redeem fabulous rewards once you fulfill the Neko Missions.
Those that are familiar with any retailers or e-commerce platform’s coins or stamp programme would certainly enjoy this gamification feature!
16 – 31 October 2026: Activate and Sip Your Way to Fresh Juices
Activate your Financial Purr-sona during the campaign period, and you’ll instantly receive a *RM10 Boost Juice voucher, limited to one voucher per customer.
1 January 2027 – 31 March 2027: Activate and Redeem Your Vouchers
Complete selected ‘Neko Missions’ to collect 20 Neko Paws and redeem for a *RM10 FamilyMart voucher. Customers can earn one Neko Paw per qualifying mission (maximum two Nekos Paws per day) by activating their Financial Purr-sona, clicking topic chips in Neko Sensei, or transferring funds to Savings Pots.
A Dynamic Digital Banking Experience
Since its official launch in May 2024, AEON Bank has continued to expand its suite of Shariah-compliant products and services to complement the banking needs and lifestyles of its customers. It will continue to grow Neko Sensei, Financial Purr-sona and Neko Missions, alongside various other digital banking capabilities for its Personal Banking customers.
Furthermore, for the SMEs, AEON Bank Biz offers dynamic business banking solutions, anchored on the streamlined integrated cash management capabilities of Business Current Account-i, as well as Biz Term Deposit-i, DuitNow Biz QR, Term Financing-i and Working Capital Financing-i. AEON Bank Biz focuses on streamlined processes for account onboarding, credit assessments and financial services, thus enabling businesses to scale their operations sustainably.
If you are curious about which of the Financial Purr-sona, either Tauke Tabung, Planner Pro Max, Boss Anti-Bazir, or Hutang Slayer, will match your duit habits, download the AEON Bank app and start your Ringgit savvy journey.
Find out more by browsing the website and discover a better banking experience with AEON Bank and AEON Bank Biz, and scan the QR code to download the app.
For eligible deposit-based products under AEON Bank and AEON Bank Biz, such as the Savings Account-i, Savings Pot, Term Deposit-i, Business Current Account-i and Biz Term Deposit-i, the deposits are protected up to RM250,000 per depositor. AEON Bank is a member of Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia (PIDM), and the deposit protection is automatic and free. For further information, click here.
*Terms and conditions apply.
Featured image edited by Fintech News Malaysia based on images by AEON Bank.
