Behind closed doors, people are asking: Can digital banks really be profitable? I get asked this because I have been CEO of two banks and overseen two digital bank initiatives, as well as been deeply involved in FinTech and AI for Financial Services. This has led me to insights and views that are different that traditional espoused. People look at digital bank CEOs leaving—a theme particularly pronounced in Malaysia at the moment—and they notice that whilst Revolut commands a $75 billion valuation following its November 2025 secondary share sale, it took nearly a decade to achieve consistent profitability. Revolut reported…
Author: Arsalaan (Oz) Ahmed, ex-CEO HSBC Amanah and Al Rajhi Bank Berhad
Author
Arsalaan (Oz) Ahmed, ex-CEO HSBC Amanah and Al Rajhi Bank Berhad
Arsalaan (Oz) Ahmed is a banker with over two decades of leadership experience in banking and financial services. He has served as CEO of HSBC Amanah Malaysia, CEO of Al Rajhi Bank Malaysia, and CEO of Berjaya Capital, and is the founder of mmob FinTech. He currently serves as an Advisor to Syngentix Pte Ltd. Oz holds credentials from Harvard Business School, London Business School, University College London, and the University of Bristol. He writes regularly on the intersection of AI innovation and financial services. He attained chartered banker and chartered Islamic Finance professional qualifications.