Beyond digital: How Alliance Bank is humanizing the future of finance

Dr. Aaron Sum, Group Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer at Alliance Bank, will take the stage as a keynote speaker at the Qorus Reinvent Forum Dubai on 19–20 November 2025. Ahead of the event, we caught up with him to discuss how the Malaysian bank is tackling today’s biggest challenges—and the bold transformations driving its success.


Can you introduce yourself and also give a brief overview of Alliance Bank for those who may not be familiar with banks in the ASEAN region?

I'm Aaron Sum, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer of Alliance Bank. I’m responsible for shaping and executing the Group's overall strategic and transformation plans, including strengthening the Group's brand positioning and forming strategic alliances to expand growth.

Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad is a mid-sized financial institution headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, offering a broad range of banking services including consumer, business, and Islamic banking. Alliance Bank has built a solid reputation for its focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and its commitment to digital innovation. The bank’s streamlined structure allows it to be nimble and responsive to customer needs, particularly in a fast-evolving financial landscape.

Our approach is grounded in simplicity, service, and sustainability, with a growing emphasis on digital-first solutions and inclusive banking. We aim to make a meaningful impact through thoughtful partnerships, customer-centric offerings, and a culture of continuous improvement.

Over the past three years, Alliance Bank has made remarkable strides under its Acceler8 transformation strategy, delivering record-breaking financial performance, and expanding its market presence across key segments.

For the financial year ended 31 March 2025 (FY2025), the Bank achieved an all-time high net profit after tax of RM750.7 million, marking a 31% increase from RM572.8 million three years ago in FY2022. Revenue hit RM2.3 billion, up 23% from RM1.87 billion three years ago, driven by strong growth in both net interest and non-interest income.

The Bank’s loan portfolio for FY2025 expanded to RM62.4 billion, a 12% increase year-on-year—more than double the industry average of 5.2%. Growth was broad-based across all segments: SME (10.6%), Commercial (15.8%), Corporate (8.4%), and Consumer (12.6%).

This sustained momentum reflects the disciplined execution of Acceler8’s eight growth pillars, which include SME expansion, digital innovation, and supporting business customers through their life cycle.