Amidst a highly volatile macroeconomic environment in 2025 marked by aggressive interest rate fluctuations and intense foreign exchange volatility, CIMB Group Holdings Berhad has demonstrated the efficacy of disciplined execution. At its 69th Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Group announced a record net profit of RM7.9 billion for FY2025, representing a 4.2% increase on a constant currency basis, and a return on average equity (ROE) of 11.3%.
This stellar first-year performance validates the banking group’s Forward30 strategic roadmap, proving that structural capital reallocation and operational modernisation are driving tangible commercial value.
Capital Returns and Digital Dominance
To reward its shareholders, CIMB has declared a record dividend payout of RM5.1 billion (47.1 sen per share) and reinforced its RM2 billion capital return programme slated for completion by 2027. This high-yield strategy rests on the bank’s strong capital position, closing the year with a Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 14.3%.
CIMB Group FY2025 Financial Performance:
┌──────────────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Record Net Profit: RM7.9 Billion │ CET1 Capital Ratio: 14.3% │
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│ Annualised ROE: 11.3% │ Total Dividends Declared: RM5.1 Billion │
└──────────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────┘
The bank is moving aggressively beyond traditional commercial lending, committing more than RM1 billion in capital expenditure annually to modernise core banking infrastructure and accelerate AI adoption. Key operational drivers include:
- The Tokenisation Push: In our previous coverage, we highlighted CIMB as the Sole Principal Adviser for Malaysia’s first tokenised sukuk for Khazanah. This aligns directly with the bank’s active exploration of tokenised settlements and payments in collaboration with Bank Negara Malaysia and Ant International.
- Shariah Banking Spin-Off: Expanding its footprint by planning the spin-off of CIMB Niaga Syariah to cement its status as the number two Shariah bank in Indonesia.
- MSME and Wealth Digitisation: Deepening corporate and consumer touchpoints through digital-first channels, including cashflow-based SME lending via CIMB OCTO Biz.
Strategic Outlook: The “Agile Infrastructure” Premium
The initial success of Forward30 highlights a broader shift in ASEAN corporate strategy. As Malaysia mobilises its RM150 million Shopee Lindung Niaga initiative to uplift the baseline economy, and deploys high-tech advancements like NanoMalaysia’s graphene-enhanced concrete, the banking sector must act as the high-velocity financial transmission layer.
By matching technological infrastructure upgrades with capital discipline, CIMB is driving high shareholder returns. The bank is positioning its operations to navigate a project-driven economy where digital transformation is moving from “experimental pilots” to multi-billion-ringgit industrial scales.
Editor’s Take: The ROI on Operational Discipline
For the Malaysian Business reader, CIMB’s record earnings confirm that modernising the “financial plumbing” pays substantial dividends. The bank’s commitment to spend RM1 billion annually on tech is not a vanity project; it is a calculated effort to out-execute the competition.
In a low-margin environment, banks that extract efficiency through AI and tokenised digital asset solutions will sustain an ROE above the 11% threshold. For businesses operating within the RM426.7 billion approved investment corridor, having a financial partner that prioritises speed, security, and capital efficiency is a vital prerequisite for scaling in 2026.