MBSB ... Jul11

In 2009, it decided to go big on personal financing and Islamic banking had paid off going by its record earnings in FY2009 and FY2010.

If MBSB’s growth momentum persists, industry observers say it will put it in a good stead to offer a wider range of financial products.

In 2009, it kicked off a two year plan to push the group beyond its traditional base of being a property financier, offering a wider range of facilities to retail and corporate customers including in the Islamic financial products market.

It also planned to issue credit cards and other services targeted at government later in 2011. Market talk has it that it is mulling the acquisition of a stock brokerage however its CEO denied.

Unlike conventional banks which are governed under the BAFIA, MBSB was granted the status of an Exempt Finance Company by the Ministry of Finance, which allow it to undertake financing business in the absence of a banking license.

Its two biggest shareholders are the EPF and PNB which hold a 65.5% and 13.81% stake respectively.

Besides the persona; financing sector, MBSB is making inroads into certain market segments, especially high net worth clientele in the mortgage market. Also MBSB moved into contract financing where it provides financing to companies that have secured government contracts in the oil and gas sector.

As at end March 2011, MBSB had cash and cash equivalents of rm834 million.

Over 90% of its top and bottom line was contributed by its financing segment, while hotel operations brought in a small contribution.

It is also planning to grow its branch network across Malaysia.

MBSB is in a prime position to benefit from a significant vacuum in the personal financing market clampdown on lending by cooperatives.

After cementing its place in offering financing to civil servants, MBSB may even want to ventures out to fight for a slice of the mass retail market.