26th February 2025 - 3 min read
Bank Islam is strengthening financial inclusion in East Malaysia with the expansion of its agent banking services to four new locations, starting 24 February 2025. The Ejen Bank Berdaftar (EBB) Bank Islam initiative aligns with the Bank’s ongoing commitment to providing accessible and Shariah-compliant banking solutions to underserved communities.
The new EBB Bank Islam locations are strategically placed within Ar-Rahnu YaPEIM outlets in Semporna, Sipitang, and Kota Belud in Sabah, as well as Lawas in Sarawak. These additional service points will provide local communities with greater banking accessibility, reducing the need to travel distances of between 50 and more than 100 km to reach the nearest Bank Islam branch or self-service terminal. Through Ar-Rahnu YaPEIM, which has been appointed as the Bank’s banking agent, customers will be able to conduct essential banking transactions such as cash deposits, withdrawals, and mobile reloads.
Bank Islam Group Chief Operating Officer and Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Mohamed Iran Moriff Mohd Shariff, highlighted that this expansion underscores the Bank’s commitment to bringing banking services closer to communities that lack easy access to traditional financial institutions.
“Our strategic collaboration with Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia (YaPEIM) under Koperasi YaPEIM Berhad (KYB) via its Ar-Rahnu YaPEIM (ARY) branches and MESRA RETAIL & CAFÉ SDN. BHD. (MESRA) (a subsidiary of PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad) through its Kedai Mesra outlets, allows us to bring essential banking services closer to communities with limited access to traditional banking facilities.”
He added that transactions at these banking agent locations are designed to be efficient, secure, and seamlessly integrated with the Bank’s systems.
“Transactions at our banking agent premises are conducted in real-time, recorded electronically, and securely managed, ensuring the interests of all stakeholders, namely the customers, agents, and Bank. Customers can visit EBB Bank Islam outlets to enjoy seamless banking services without incurring additional costs.”
Since its launch in 2019, EBB Bank Islam has provided thousands of customers, particularly those in rural areas, with greater financial accessibility. With the addition of these four new locations, the Bank now has 37 banking agents nationwide and aims to increase this number to 50 by the end of 2025. The focus remains on expanding further within Sabah and Sarawak to better serve communities in remote areas.
Iran said the expansion into East Malaysia is a key milestone in improving financial access and supporting local economic growth. He emphasised that the initiative complements the Bank’s digital banking efforts, providing customers with the flexibility to choose between physical and online banking services.
“In line with the Bank’s digital transformation efforts, Bank Islam has recently launched a new mobile banking platform, BIMB Mobile, replacing the older GO by Bank Islam mobile app and the new Internet Banking platform, BIMB Web. Almost 1 million customers have already migrated to the new system,” he said.
For further details on EBB Bank Islam services and locations, customers can visit www.bankislam.com or contact the Bank Islam Contact Centre at 03-26 900 900.
Samuel writes about personal finance and financial news, focusing on how banking updates, policies, and promotions affect everyday money decisions. He enjoys making complicated financial topics easier to follow. Outside of writing, he spends his time watching TV shows and occasionally convincing himself he will only watch one episode.
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