AFFIN Group (“AFFIN” or “the Group”) and Baiduri Bank, Brunei Darussalam’s largest conventional bank and a member of the Baiduri Bank Group, one of the country’s leading providers of financial products and services, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand banking cooperation between Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam and broaden business opportunities for customers in both markets.
The partnership brings together AFFIN’s banking capabilities and network in Malaysia with Baiduri Bank’s strong domestic franchise and market expertise in Brunei, establishing a more direct financial corridor for businesses pursuing trade, investment and expansion across the two countries.
The MoU was signed by Datuk Wan Razly Abdullah, Ppresident and group CEO of AFFIN Group (seated, left), and Ti Eng Hui, CEO of Baiduri Bank, and witnessed by Ak Nor Muhammad Nizam Pg Haji Tengah, head of institutional banking, Baiduri Bank, and Hasli Hashim, chairman of Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd.
Under the MoU, both institutions will explore collaboration across commercial and retail banking, financing, trade finance and treasury, as well as investment services including investment banking, stockbroking, asset management and unit trusts. The partnership aims to broaden opportunities to facilitate transaction flows, generate new business and expand access to financial solutions for customers in both markets.
The collaboration comes as economic ties between the two neighbouring ASEAN nations continue to deepen. Brunei remains one of Malaysia’s key trading partners, with bilateral trade valued at RM5.8 billion in 2025 and RM2.4 billion in the first half of 2026. Both countries have identified further cooperation across trade and investment, energy, connectivity, agriculture, tourism and the halal economy, alongside closer economic links between Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak, creating a broader commercial landscape for businesses, capital flows and commerce across the region.
AFFIN’s trade finance capabilities were recently recognised with the Malaysia Domestic Trade Finance Bank of the Year award at the Asian Banking & Finance Wholesale Banking Awards 2026, as well as Best Trade Finance Bank Malaysia at the Global Banking & Finance Review Awards 2026. The group was also included in the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 for the third consecutive year, underscoring the strength and credibility of the platform it brings to the partnership.
Datuk Wan Razly Abdullah, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of AFFIN Group, said Malaysia and Brunei share strong economic and commercial ties, with significant potential to deepen business and investment flows between the two markets. “AFFIN brings together conventional and Islamic banking, investment banking, asset management and wealth under one roof. Combined with Baiduri Bank’s established franchise in Brunei Darussalam, this gives us greater breadth to meet our customers’ financing, investment and wealth needs,” he said.
“This MoU creates a platform to expand cross-border connectivity and connect customers to new opportunities. With economic linkages between Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam continuing to grow, including across Borneo, and Visit Brunei Year 2027 on the horizon, we see ample scope to deepen commercial activity and create sustainable value for both institutions,” he added.
Ti Eng Hui, Chief Executive Officer of Baiduri Bank, said Brunei and Malaysia already share deep economic, business and people-to-people ties. “As opportunities across Malaysia, in particular Borneo, continue to expand, AFFIN Group and Baiduri Bank are well placed to strengthen those connections and create greater opportunities for businesses and customers in both markets,” he said.
The collaboration aligns with the AFFIN Axelerate 2028 (AX28) Plan, which is anchored on three strategic pillars: Unrivalled Customer Service, Digital Leadership, and Responsible Banking With Impact, supporting AFFIN’s ambition to deliver innovative customer propositions and capture new growth opportunities.
The MoU was signed by Datuk Wan Razly Abdullah and Ti Eng Hui, and witnessed by Ak Nor Muhammad Nizam Pg Haji Tengah, Head of Institutional Banking at Baiduri Bank, and Hasli Hashim, Chairman of Affin Hwang Investment Bank.
