We’ve entered the “Do It for Me” era of finance, a world where consumers no longer want tools; they want outcomes. Agentic AI in financial services represents the next logical step in that evolution: intelligence that goes beyond predicting and recommending to acting on behalf of users, learning from their context, and making decisions that once required them in the loop. According to the Financial Times, the global market for agentic AI in financial services is expected to grow by more than 40% annually, reaching over US$80 billion by 2034. That pace of growth points to a fundamental shift in…

In a world where everything from food to finance can be done with a tap, it’s natural to wonder: why is buying a car still so complicated? Despite the rapid rise of digital banks and fintech apps reshaping how we manage money, vehicle financing has stubbornly remained stuck in the slow lane. That’s exactly the gap Tras sets out to close. A proud member of the DRB-HICOM Group, Tras is Malaysia’s first specialised digital automotive financing platform built to modernise how people finance their car purchases. Where most digital financial institutions focus broadly on e-wallets, savings, or investments, Tras focuses…

Private equity firm Creador has appointed Dato’ Syed Yasir Arafat Bin Syed Abd Kadir as Senior Advisor to support its strategic investment initiatives in Malaysia. In this role, he will focus on identifying and facilitating opportunities across the healthcare and pharmaceutical, advanced manufacturing, and B2B services sectors. He will also work closely with Creador’s investment team to provide sector insights, origination strategies, and strategic guidance. Dato’ Syed brings nearly three decades of experience in investment and corporate finance. He previously served as CEO of Ekuiti Nasional Berhad (Ekuinas) for nine years and held senior leadership roles there from 2009 to…

Maybank Asset Management Singapore is moving into tokenised finance, launching its first on-chain Money Market Fund with Marketnode and BNP Paribas. The collaboration marks a significant step in enhancing the accessibility, utility, and transferability of money market funds as the financial industry explores the potential of tokenisation. BNP Paribas’ Securities Services business will act as the transfer agent, supporting the integration of tokenised funds into existing capital markets infrastructure. The initiative leverages Marketnode’s modular gateway platform, which provides the tokenisation architecture to improve efficiency, transparency, and connectivity across the investment value chain. Gateway supports both EVM and non-EVM networks, with…

Indian travellers will soon be able to pay Malaysian merchants directly using India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), with transactions settled instantly in ringgit. Razorpay Curlec has partnered with NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) to introduce UPI payments in Malaysia, marking the first collaboration of its kind. The agreement was signed at India’s Global Fintech Fest 2025. The partnership simplifies cross-border payments for the one million Indian tourists who visited Malaysia in 2024, spending RM6.11 billion, up 71.7% from the previous year. Travellers can pay through familiar UPI apps, while Malaysian merchants receive instant settlements in ringgit via Razorpay Curlec’s platform…

JAGS Money Sdn. Bhd. is once again facing regulatory consequences, with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) imposing RM87,000 in fines for compliance failures detected during an inspection. The penalties comprise a RM17,400 administrative monetary penalty imposed on 19 September 2025 for customer due diligence breaches involving transactions above RM3,000, and a RM69,600 compound issued on 31 July 2025 for failing to issue receipts to customers. The AMP was imposed under the Money Services Business Act 2011 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Countering Financing of Terrorism and Targeted Financial Sanctions Policy Document, while the compound was issued with the consent of the Deputy…

TNG Digital has added an EV charging feature to its e-wallet, allowing drivers in Malaysia and Singapore to find, activate, and pay for charging across multiple charge point operators through one app. Powered by Voltality, a wholly owned subsidiary of Beep, the new feature connects users to various EV charging networks without requiring separate operator apps. Payments are processed directly through TNG eWallet, with automatic deductions and near-instant refunds for any unutilised balance, without the need for card entry, separate top-ups, or multiple accounts. The service currently provides access to more than 6,000 charging points across 1,700 locations in both…

Maybank has facilitated more than RM4 trillion in digital transactions over the past five years, following the launch of its MAE app in 2020. The total transaction value is roughly equivalent to twice Malaysia’s GDP. Maybank also reported that it ranks first in both the number and value of transactions across PayNet services, including DuitNow transfers and QR payments, FPX, and JomPAY. As the first bank in Malaysia to introduce QR payments in 2017, Maybank has expanded its cashless network, enabling instant payments via Scan & Pay at zero transaction fee. Transactions through the MAE app grew 51 times between…

The ASEAN Artificial Intelligence Safety Network (ASEAN AI Safe) will set up its regional headquarters in Kuala Lumpur early next year, the Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo announced. According to Bernama, the ASEAN AI Safe Secretariat will coordinate regional initiatives to strengthen collaboration and advance safe and responsible AI development across member states. The network aims to bring together all ASEAN countries to build a trustworthy, inclusive, and secure AI ecosystem. It will operate in line with regional frameworks such as the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025, the Guidelines on AI Governance and Ethics, and the ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap 2025–2030, while…

AI is changing banking faster than ever, from how banks detect fraud to how customers interact with apps. In this roundtable moderated by Fintech News Network’s Vincent Fong, top leaders from Malaysia’s digital and incumbent banks discuss how they’re applying AI across every layer of operations and what’s next as agentic AI enters finance. Featuring: William Streitberg, Chief Information and Technology Officer, Hong Leong Bank Kaushik Chowdhury, CEO, GXBank Nic Ngoo, CTO, Ryt Bank Chee Mun Foong, Chief Product Officer, Ryt Bank Glen Cha, CTO, AEON Bank Diana Boo, CMO, Boost Gerard Ang, Country Head, Financing & Securities Services, Standard…

The growth of Islamic finance is one of the most transformative shifts in global banking. With assets projected to reach $3.8 trillion by 2025 and nearly two billion Muslims still underserved, the opportunity ahead is undeniable. But while demand accelerates, many Islamic banks remain held back — not by principles or potential, but by technology. Islamic finance is driven by principles At its heart, Islamic finance is guided by values — trust, fairness, transparency, and ethical responsibility. These are more than words on a mission statement; they are the foundation upon which every Shari’ah-compliant product is built. Yet in an…

Dato’ Mohd Muazzam Mohamed will step down as Group CEO on 12 December 2025, ending a decade-long tenure at Bank Islam. His resignation will take effect on 7 January 2026. The bank’s Group Chief Business Officer for Retail Banking, Mizan Masram, will assume the role of officer-in-charge from 13 December 2025 to ensure a smooth transition. Dato’ Mohd Muazzam will serve his notice during this period, supporting Mizan throughout the handover. Appointed as Group CEO in 2018, Dato’ Mohd Muazzam led Bank Islam’s digital transformation, including the launch of Be U, a cloud-native mobile banking app, and several e-payment initiatives.…

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is expected to complete its domestic wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) proof of concept (PoC) by the end of the year, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said in a written parliamentary response. According to Bernama, the initiative is being carried out in a controlled environment to assess how a wholesale CBDC could enhance Malaysia’s large-value payment infrastructure. It also aims to build technical expertise in distributed ledger technology (DLT) among the central bank and financial institutions. The MOF said the pilot focuses on strengthening the Real-time Electronic Transfer of Funds and Securities System (RENTAS), the…

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has moved to tighten rules on account closures linked to money laundering cases, requiring banks to issue written explanations and clear appeal procedures to affected customers, Bernama reported. Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying said the new directive ensures financial institutions provide written notices to customers whose accounts are closed under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA). These notices must state the reason for closure without disclosing sensitive details that could compromise investigations. They must also include information on how to file an appeal, the available channels, timelines, and…

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced the 10th anniversary of the Hong Kong Fintech Week x StartmeupHK Festival 2025 (HKFW x SMUF) recently, which will be held from 3 November 2025 to 7 November 2025. The landmark joint celebration will mark a decade of innovation, bringing together two of the city’s flagship events to create an expanded platform spanning the full spectrum of technology, entrepreneurship, and business transformation. The collaboration reaffirms Hong Kong’s commitment to driving the digital economy, leveraging its position as a leading international financial centre and a vibrant start-up hub. As Hong Kong’s premier innovation-focused event, HKFW x…

Bank Negara Malaysia’s former governor, Muhammad Ibrahim, has addressed his position at Cambodia’s Prince Bank following the sanctions placed on the bank’s parent company, Prince Group, by US and UK authorities, according to Free Malaysia Today. He explained that his role is independent and non-executive, centred on governance, risk oversight and regulatory compliance under Cambodian banking regulations. Ibrahim emphasised that the bank functions separately from its shareholders and said he remains focused on upholding transparency and strong governance as the situation unfolds. Prince Bank’s public filings name him as an independent director and show several Malaysians in senior roles overseeing…

TNG eWallet has introduced its new Visa Travel Card, aimed at Malaysians who frequently spend overseas. The card is a Visa-branded prepaid product linked to a user’s e-wallet balance and supports worldwide payments and ATM cash withdrawals via the Visa Plus network. The Travel Card includes one free international ATM withdrawal per month, after which a RM10 fee applies. By comparison, the Basic Card charges RM10 for each international ATM withdrawal. The Travel Card offers up to 3% cashback on overseas spending, versus up to 1% on the Basic Card, which is positioned for everyday local use. Each user can…

Malaysians can now pay for their parcels in seconds as Pos Malaysia brings DuitNow QR to cash-on-delivery (COD) payments. Through a partnership with fintech platform Fiuu and Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet), Pos Malaysia is enabling customers to settle COD payments by scanning a QR code on their smartphones. Powered by Fiuu’s payment platform and leveraging PayNet’s DuitNow QR, the new feature removes the need for cash, allowing faster and more secure doorstep transactions. More than 6,000 Pos Malaysia riders across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak are being equipped to accept DuitNow QR payments. The move also helps reduce issues such…

ShopeePay has partnered with iFAST Capital to launch ShopeePay Invest, a new feature that enables Malaysians to start investing from RM10 as part of its ‘Simple Finance For All’ mission. The service is available on both the Shopee and ShopeePay apps and gives users access to 38 curated funds across international and local markets, sectoral themes, and Shariah-compliant options. For a limited period, users can also enjoy zero sales fees on all fund subscriptions. ShopeePay Invest is being rolled out in phases and will be accessible to all users by 29 October 2025. To mark the launch, ShopeePay is running…

Malaysia was one of only two markets globally to record year-on-year score increases across all three pillars of financial inclusion, government support, financial system support, and employer support, according to the 2025 Global Financial Inclusion Index from Principal Financial Group and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). Employer support in Malaysia rose 0.8 points year-on-year, while government support and financial system support increased by 0.7 points and 0.1 points respectively. Now in its fourth year, the Index evaluates how governments, financial systems, and employers facilitate financial inclusion across 42 markets, ranking them both on absolute scores and relative…