CIMB Group Holdings Berhad has announced a net profit of RM1.9b for the first quarter ending 31 March 2026, achieving a return on equity of 11.0% and earnings per share of 17.8 sen. The group’s performance, despite foreign exchange and geopolitical challenges, was bolstered by the disciplined execution of its Forward30 strategy.
The group’s operating income remained steady at RM5.4 billion, with non-interest income rising by 11.9% quarter-on-quarter to RM1.7b, driven by stronger trading and foreign exchange income. This increase helped offset a 5.0% decline in net interest income, which fell to RM3.7b due to a slight compression in the net interest margin. However, signs of stabilisation were noted, with net interest margin expanding in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
CIMB’s total assets and gross loans saw marginal growth, whilst its Cash-led strategy improved the current account savings account ratio to 43.3% by March 2026. Operating expenses decreased by 5.5%, enhancing the cost-to-income ratio to 47.2%.
The Forward30 strategy is showing results, with the group maintaining disciplined capital allocation and executing a Cash-led approach to optimise funding costs. Cross-sell initiatives have increased customer income, and the group is expanding its wealth franchise with new propositions in Thailand and Indonesia.
Novan Amirudin, Group CEO, stated, “We are encouraged by the resilience of our performance and the early signs of NIM stabilisation, supported by disciplined balance sheet management and sustained customer activity across our core markets.”
Looking forward, CIMB remains cautiously optimistic, focusing on disciplined capital allocation and robust asset quality to deliver sustainable performance and long-term value for stakeholders.
