KUALA LUMPUR: Malayan Banking Bhd

(Maybank) aims to economically empower three million lives by 2030 under its newly unveiled Social Impact Strategy, part of the banking group's ROAR30 strategic plan.

“Maybank aims to double its social finance deployment for individuals and MSMEs, while mobilising RM100mil annually for social empowerment, collectively contributing towards economically empowering three million lives through financial inclusion and financial literacy interventions by 2030,” the bank said in a statement.

Maybank said the strategy would shift its focus from the number of initiatives undertaken to measurable outcomes, including improvements in quality of life, social mobility, equity and inclusion, and social cohesion.

For the first half of financial year 2026 (1H26), Maybank said its social impact initiatives benefited more than 466,000 people, with RM12.89bil mobilised across Asean.

Of the total, RM12.86bil was channelled through social financing initiatives, benefiting nearly 170,000 individuals and MSMEs through affordable financing, including housing and vehicle financing, as well as insurance products.

Another RM30.69mil was allocated to social empowerment programmes, benefiting more than 296,000 people.

Maybank said it had cumulatively mobilised RM87.1bil and benefited 6.2 million people through its social impact initiatives between FY2014 and the first half of FY2026.

Maybank chairman Tan Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said the strategy would help the group broaden opportunities for underserved communities by combining financing, resources and partnerships.

“As an intermediary for societal good, Maybank remains committed to building a legacy defined by impact, not just profit, with a focus that goes far beyond financial returns.”

Maybank president and group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Khairussaleh Ramli said the group would place greater emphasis on measuring the outcomes of its social impact programmes.

“Our continued engagement with stakeholders has provided valuable insights into how we can strengthen this approach. The social impact strategy is the next step in that journey, sharpening how we translate ambition into measurable impact.

“This reinforces our belief that social impact is the next key differentiator of our sustainability agenda, driven by our purpose of Humanising Financial Services,” he said.

The bank said its social empowerment initiatives would focus on education, community development and environmental conservation.

These include scholarship programmes, financial literacy education, entrepreneurship support for women and marginalised communities, technical and vocational education and training, and environmental conservation projects.

Maybank said the initiatives would be monitored through its Social Progress Index to assess their effectiveness and long-term impact.