Is CIMB Group profitable in 2026?

Yes. CIMB posted FY25 net profit of RM7.9 billion, up 1.7% YoY, with ROE at 11.3% as of December 31, 2025. FY26 guidance targets ROE of 11.0-11.5% and asset growth of 5-7%, per its February 27, 2026 results release.

CIMB Group Holdings Berhad is publicly listed on Bursa Malaysia (ticker 1023). Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund, is its largest shareholder, alongside major institutional holders like EPF and PNB, as of late 2025 disclosures.

Could AI replace CIMB Group?

No. CIMB is a licensed deposit-taker regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia with 576 branches and 33,000+ staff across 18 countries as of December 31, 2025. Licensing, compliance liability and deposit-taking cannot be replicated by AI; CIMB uses Gen AI to augment KYC and RM workflows, not replace them.

Is CIMB Group cutting jobs in 2026?

No large layoffs are evident. CIMB reported over 33,000 employees as of December 31, 2025 across 18 countries, a figure roughly flat to slightly up versus prior periods, consistent with a mature institution rather than one in retrenchment.

Who is CIMB Group's biggest competitor?

Domestically, Maybank is Malaysia's largest bank by assets and CIMB's closest rival, while new licensed digital banks GX Bank, Boost Bank, AEON Bank and Ryt Bank are contesting retail deposit and loan pricing as of 2026, per CIMB's own competitive disclosures.

Is CIMB Group expanding its wealth management business?

Yes. Under its Forward30 roadmap launched March 5, 2025, CIMB launched CIMB Private Wealth in Indonesia in January 2026, with a Malaysia rollout planned for mid-2026, targeting ASEAN's growing affluent segment, per an April 7, 2026 company announcement.

Insurance companies · Malaysia

CIMB Group

cimb.com ↗

Malaysia's #2 bank by assets, spanning retail, wealth, and ASEAN commercial banking.

Hard to displace

Assessed 25 July 2026 · Evidence as of 25 July 2026

Strong structural protection; the business model survives ai pressure.

On the recordSince 25 July 2026 · Checkable from mid-2026 · Every call on the record Checkpoint: CIMB Private Wealth Malaysia rollout and 1Q26 net interest margin trend under rate cuts

The call

CIMB sits on a license and a deposit base that AI cannot copy, with digital-only banks nibbling at margins rather than taking customers.

CIMB is a major bank in Malaysia that takes deposits, makes loans, and offers wealth management across Southeast Asia. It is hard to replace because banks need government licenses, relationships with Malaysia's central bank, and customer deposits, which take years to build. Even newer digital banks like GX Bank and Boost Bank cannot simply copy these advantages, though they can chip away at retail profits by offering lower fees online. The main thing to watch is whether CIMB's wealth management expansion in 2026 succeeds and whether rate cuts shrink the profit margins on its lending business.

Why

AI pressure: None apparent. Banking licenses and Bank Negara rules keep pure AI players out; AI shows up inside banks as a tool, not a rival. Could AI do the core job? Unlikely.

Bigger players: GX Bank (Grab-backed), Boost Bank (Axiata), AEON Bank. Digital-only banks with deep-pocketed backers chase retail deposits and thin margins, though no material share loss shown yet. Could a giant copy it? No, they are blocked.

What protects it. A banking license, Bank Negara relationships, a large deposit base, and majority stakes in CIMB Niaga and CIMB Thai.

What would change this call

GX Bank or Boost Bank report deposit balances or customer counts up sharply for 2+ quarters in 2026. Would show digital banks are materially capturing retail deposits from incumbents like CIMB.
CIMB's 1Q26 and 2Q26 net interest margin trend versus 4Q25. Would show whether rate-cut pressure is compressing profitability faster than guided.
CIMB Private Wealth Malaysia rollout produces reported revenue or AUM figures by end-2026. Would show whether the wealth initiative is generating real income or remains a press release.

Key numbers

FY25 net profit RM7.9 billion, up 1.7% YoY (2025-12-31)
FY25 ROE 11.3% (2025-12-31)
Market capitalisation RM89.0 billion (2025-12-31)

Named risks

Net interest margin compression under rate-cut pressure in FY26. Severity: medium
Digital banks eroding retail deposit and loan pricing margins. Severity: medium
Forward30 wealth and blockchain/tokenisation initiatives stay press releases without revenue impact through 2026. Severity: medium
Regional subsidiary underperformance in Indonesia or Thailand. Severity: medium
Ongoing brokerage-related litigation exposure at CGS-CIMB Securities arm. Severity: low

Rivals, as read in July 2026

Rival	Direction	Evidence
Maybank	contesting	Maybank remains Malaysia's largest bank by assets; CIMB is #2, both reporting FY25 results in early 2026
GX Bank, Boost Bank, AEON Bank, Ryt Bank	gaining on	Licensed digital banks nibbling at retail deposit and loan pricing margins through 2026, per CIMB's own competitive positioning
DBS, OCBC, HSBC	contesting	CIMB competes in ASEAN wholesale, treasury and cross-border corporate banking against larger regional and global banks

Questions people ask

Is CIMB Group profitable in 2026?: Yes. CIMB posted FY25 net profit of RM7.9 billion, up 1.7% YoY, with ROE at 11.3% as of December 31, 2025. FY26 guidance targets ROE of 11.0-11.5% and asset growth of 5-7%, per its February 27, 2026 results release.
Who owns CIMB Group?: CIMB Group Holdings Berhad is publicly listed on Bursa Malaysia (ticker 1023). Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund, is its largest shareholder, alongside major institutional holders like EPF and PNB, as of late 2025 disclosures.
Could AI replace CIMB Group?: No. CIMB is a licensed deposit-taker regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia with 576 branches and 33,000+ staff across 18 countries as of December 31, 2025. Licensing, compliance liability and deposit-taking cannot be replicated by AI; CIMB uses Gen AI to augment KYC and RM workflows, not replace them.
Is CIMB Group cutting jobs in 2026?: No large layoffs are evident. CIMB reported over 33,000 employees as of December 31, 2025 across 18 countries, a figure roughly flat to slightly up versus prior periods, consistent with a mature institution rather than one in retrenchment.
Who is CIMB Group's biggest competitor?: Domestically, Maybank is Malaysia's largest bank by assets and CIMB's closest rival, while new licensed digital banks GX Bank, Boost Bank, AEON Bank and Ryt Bank are contesting retail deposit and loan pricing as of 2026, per CIMB's own competitive disclosures.
Is CIMB Group expanding its wealth management business?: Yes. Under its Forward30 roadmap launched March 5, 2025, CIMB launched CIMB Private Wealth in Indonesia in January 2026, with a Malaysia rollout planned for mid-2026, targeting ASEAN's growing affluent segment, per an April 7, 2026 company announcement.

Timeline

2026-04-29CIMB reports Forward30 delivered 11.3% ROE in its first year
2026-04-07CIMB announces ASEAN affluent wealth push, Malaysia Private Wealth rollout for mid-2026
2026-02-27CIMB reports FY25 net profit RM7.9 billion, ROE 11.3%, record dividend
2026-01-31CIMB Private Wealth launched in Indonesia
2025-11-28CIMB reports 9M25 PBT of RM8.12 billion, announces up to RM2 billion capital return programme
2025-11-14Euromoney names CIMB Malaysia's best transaction bank 2025
2025-10-09CIMB launches CIMB OCTO Biz SME digital banking app
2025-03-05CIMB unveils six-year Forward30 strategic roadmap

Head to head

CIMB Group vs Public Bank Berhad CIMB Group vs Maybank

Revision history

25 July 2026

First assessed. Hard to displace. The text above is fixed as of this date and is not edited afterwards.

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