Bank Rakyat bantu usahawan tembusi pasaran Arab Saudi, Jepun, China

Bank Rakyat, celebrating its 72nd anniversary, now boasts 148 branches nationwide and has recorded a pre-tax and zakat profit of RM1.9 billion. The country's largest cooperative bank is expanding its BizMatch initiative to Saudi Arabia, Japan, and China this year, aiming to assist local entrepreneurs in gaining access to a global business network.

Through BizMatch: "Making Malaysian Businesses Great," Bank Rakyat clients will be connected with partners from the three relevant markets as part of an effort to open up more opportunities for local businesses. Ahmad Shahril Mohd Shariff, Executive Director of the Bank Rakyat Group, stated that the company's success is not solely measured by financial performance.

"Bank Rakyat's achievement is not measured solely by financial growth, he said, while explaining that it includes fostering business development. The initiative to expand BizMatch aligns with the #ForAll aspiration, which guides Bank Rakyat in developing products, exploring innovative technology, and expanding business networks and channels.

The development was shared in conjunction with Bank Rakyat's 72nd anniversary, which now has over nine million customers with assets exceeding RM131 billion. Established in 1954, the institution was originally founded to expand access to financing for rural communities, particularly farmers and artisans who found it difficult to obtain financial services at the time.

Despite the continuous evolution of Bank Rakyat's products and services in response to technological advancements and customer needs, its core role in expanding financial access remains unchanged. "After 72 years, Bank Rakyat's financial products and services continue to evolve with technological progress and changing customer requirements and desires," Ahmad Shahril said.

Founded under its original name in 1973 when membership expanded to individuals, Bank Rakyat began serving non-members, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives in 1978. In 2003, the bank fully transitioned to Sharia-compliant operations following the introduction of the system and Ar-Rahnu services shortly before.

As of the end of 2025, Bank Rakyat has 148 branches across the nation and recorded a pre-tax and zakat profit of RM1.9 billion. This achievement enabled the bank to announce an 18% dividend, the highest in 10 years, paying RM534.7 million to over 783,000 members. Shahril emphasized that as a cooperative bank, profits must translate into benefits that can be shared with members, customers, and society.

"Profit is not the ultimate goal but rather a catalyst to strengthen members, support customers, and open up more inclusive economic opportunities," he said.