Cambodia

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced Cambodian banks to recognize the importance of developing their digital banking capabilities. But one bank has been at the forefront of the local banking industry’s digitization efforts and it is now reaping the fruits of its earlier digital makeover.

The Malaysian bank set up in Cambodia in 1993 and now provides a full range of financial services, from internet and mobile banking to foreign currency exchange services. The bank increased its total assets and customer deposits by 27.4% and 15.7% respectively in 2019. The bank also scored an above-industry return on equity of 15.2%, while pre-tax profit jumped 72.2%.

SBI Royal Securities has snapped up the Best Corporate and Investment Bank award for the past two years. Time for a change? Don’t bet on it. The Japanese-owned securities house has once again proved its leadership in Cambodia’s capital market by bringing in fresh issuers and new deal structures.

Cambodia’s banking sector has become increasingly competitive over the last few years, but ABA Bank has once again managed to stand out from the crowd. The bank’s strong balance sheet, its stable funding positions and its relentless effort to innovate all impressed Asiamoney.

Acleda Securities

Even on a busy day, you can hear a pin drop at the Cambodia Securities Exchange, but with a handful of new share listings and more bond issues expected in 2020, investors can hope for a slightly livelier scene.

Central Asian expertise and North American money made for a powerful mix: together they have turned ABA Bank into a digital entrepreneur and propelled it to the top tier of Cambodia’s banking industry.