Alliance Bank Becomes First Malaysian Bank To Champion Pickleball, Sponsoring KL Open 2025

RinggitPlus

3rd March 2025 - 3 min read

Alliance Bank has announced its role as the first bank in Malaysia to support pickleball, one of the country’s fastest-growing sports. In a move to encourage the sport’s development, the bank has entered into strategic partnerships with Pickle Social Club and Courtsite, reinforcing its commitment to engaging with new and emerging communities.

As part of this initiative, Alliance Bank will be the title sponsor of the inaugural KL Open Pickleball Championship 2025, which will take place from 25 to 27 April 2025 at Pickle Social Club, The Courts at KLGCC Resort. The tournament is expected to attract more than 600 players, making it one of the largest pickleball events in Malaysia.

Additionally, the Pickleball Summit 2025, organised by Courtsite with support from the Malaysia Pickleball Association, will be held on 25 April 2025 at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club. The summit will bring together over 300 stakeholders, including pickleball facility owners, investors, and suppliers, to discuss industry trends, investment opportunities, and the expansion of the sport nationwide.

Group Chief Consumer Banking Officer of Alliance Bank, Gan Pai Li, highlighted the increasing popularity of pickleball in Malaysia and the opportunity it presents for broader community engagement. “As the first financial institution to champion pickleball, the bank is committed to empowering players with greater access, exclusive benefits, and new opportunities to expand the sport,” she said, adding that the bank’s collaboration with Pickle Social Club and Courtsite offers an effective platform to reach a diverse audience and contribute to the sport’s next phase of development.

Gan also outlined the alignment between the partnership and Alliance Bank’s broader business strategy. “The collaboration also aligns with our efforts to accelerate the growth of the emerging affluent segment by introducing tailored financial solutions that support their lifestyle and aspirations. Additionally, we see Alliance Bank Visa Virtual Credit Card (VCC) as a game changer for this community, which provides seamless and rewarding experiences, especially when booking courts or purchasing pickleball equipment,” she said.

To further support the sport, the bank will introduce exclusive privileges for its credit cardholders. These include priority court bookings at Pickle Social Club, allowing cardholders to secure slots 10 days in advance instead of the usual seven, as well as cashback incentives for court bookings made via Courtsite, which currently connects 60,000 pickleball players to a growing network of over 130 centres nationwide. New applicants for Alliance Bank credit cards will also receive an exclusive sports brand voucher.

By becoming the first bank in Malaysia to support pickleball, Alliance Bank has positioned itself as an early corporate supporter of the sport, contributing to its growing presence in the country. The KL Open Pickleball Championship 2025 and the Pickleball Summit 2025 are expected to further drive interest in the sport and create new opportunities for players, investors, and sports facility operators.

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