Tan Sri Azman Hashim, FCB

Chairman
Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers

On behalf of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB), I am deeply honoured once again, to extend my congratulations to all our esteemed members who have achieved the Chartered Banker status. I trust reaching this career milestone was no simple feat, in view of another year of global economic upheaval and challenges each of you has had to overcome during the pandemic

Therefore, I am most delighted to pay tribute to the 177 Chartered Banker conferees this year, as well as take pride in announcing that we now have over 32,000 members who completed various AICB professional qualifications. Not only did we see a membership growth rate of 5% from the previous year, but our retention rate also charted a 2% increase from 2021 and now stands at 92%. I believe this to be a testament to our fellow bankers’ endorsement and recognition of our commitment and contribution as the sole professional body for Malaysia’s banking industry.

Fellow Chartered Bankers, your success and status distinguish you from your counterparts. The reason is not purely because of the competitive advantage you now have to excel in your role in the future of banking; more significantly, it validates your promise to uphold the high standards expected of our profession.

We are in a business where trust is paramount in our relationship with clients, employers and stakeholders. To quote author and business consultant, Patrick Dixon, “In banking or finance, trust is the only thing you have to sell”. Hence, with the digitalisation of banking and collective emphasis on the environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda, we are strengthening our commitment to collaborate with the industry and our partners, to empower bankers with lifelong learning and the integrity to always take the ethical route in their careers — come what may.

Championing these very values is what our flagship programme, the Chartered Banker qualification, remains steadfast in, along with nurturing our banking talent into trailblazers who can help steer our country’s economy onto a more stable footing as we transition to the endemic phase. I am heartened to note that even during such an arduous year, it remained among the top programme choices for members in 2021, raising the total of Chartered Bankers in Malaysia to 630.

During the pandemic, we also worked hand-in-hand with the Asian Banking School (ABS) to ensure that the industry’s top training programmes were made available online. New collaborations with leading business schools yielded a more extensive range of programmes like the Chartered Banker MBA by the renowned Bangor Business School in Wales, UK; allowing AICB Chartered Banker holders to accelerate their knowledge journey. Suffice to say, ABS has greatly contributed towards building a robust pipeline of professional bankers in Malaysia, training close to 150,000 participants to date.

Even as the outlook for the year ahead remains indefinite, I feel hopeful and confident that nothing will stand in the way of your pursuit of excellence in your career goals, as we match your stride by continuing to support you with all the resources and direction you need. As AICB members, let us always aim to abide by our Code of Professional Conduct and observe our oath to serve with the highest standards of professionalism and ethics to the best of our ability. It is your utmost responsibility as a banker.

With that, I would like to congratulate all of you once again. Your dedication and achievement have earned all of you the lasting respect of the banking fraternity.

My heartfelt thanks to the Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, Tan Sri Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus, for the invaluable support; our Council Members and our partners, the Chartered Banker Institute, UK, and the Asian Banking School; and especially to the management and staff of AICB for their continuous hard work and dedication.