At the heart of MyFintech Week 2025, industry titans and trailblazing startups unveiled transformative models for scaling financial services across Southeast Asia’s diverse and complex landscape. Leaders from CIMB Bank, Ant International, Visa Inc., and Nexea Ventures joined forces to spotlight three distinct strategies that are reshaping regional growth and fintech innovation.
CIMB’s Digital-First Playbook: Banking Where Customers Already Are
CIMB Bank’s unconventional entry into the Philippines—via a partnership with leading e-wallet GCash—has become a blueprint for digital-first expansion. By bypassing traditional wholesale banking and embedding services into daily financial habits, CIMB gained nearly 10 million customers in a market with low banking penetration but high mobile wallet usage.
“Regionalisation for us means having both physical presence and cross-border digital operations,” said Gurdip Singh Sidhu, CIMB’s Country Head Malaysia and Group Head of Digital Business.
Today, CIMB serves over 50 million customers across ASEAN, offering competitive financial products without relying on brick-and-mortar branches.
Platform Power: Ant International & Visa Inc. Use Malaysia as a Launchpad
Global players Ant International and Visa Inc. are leveraging Malaysia as a strategic hub for ASEAN operations. Ant International’s innovation centre in Kuala Lumpur employs over 800 local talents, delivering AI-powered financial services and cross-border payment solutions for SMEs.
“Malaysia is our regional innovation and operations centre,” said Jake Xue, General Manager of Global Business Services at Ant International.
Visa Inc. echoed this sentiment, positioning itself as a digital finance enabler through its “Visa as a Service” model. By integrating payment infrastructure into mobile wallets and embedded finance platforms, Visa is bridging financial access gaps across underserved markets.
Startup Multiplier Effect: Nexea Ventures Fuels Growth Through Corporate Alliances
Venture capital firm Nexea Ventures showcased how startups can scale exponentially through strategic partnerships. Lapasar, a B2B e-commerce platform, achieved 1,600% growth in one year after collaborating with a major Malaysian corporate. Similarly, ParkIt expanded its services by integrating insurance offerings through a partnership with Alliance Bank.
“Startups grow exponentially when they partner with giants,” said Ben Lim, CEO of Nexea Ventures.
Navigating ASEAN’s Regulatory Maze with Agility and Innovation
With ASEAN’s fragmented regulatory frameworks, adaptability is key. CIMB’s Octo platform exemplifies agile compliance, with cross-functional squads tackling regulatory challenges in real time. Meanwhile, the Fintech Association of Malaysia (FAOM) is building bridges for Malaysian fintechs to scale regionally through alliances across 15 countries.
“We see our regional network as a bridge for Malaysian fintechs,” said Anil Singh Gill, President of FAOM
MyFintech Week 2025 underscored a shared commitment to innovation, inclusion, and regional collaboration. Whether through digital-first banking, platform-driven scalability, or startup-corporate synergies, the future of ASEAN finance is being built today—with Malaysia at its core.
