KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8, 2025 — CIMB Foundation has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to education and youth development with a RM50 million pledge to fund regional initiatives from 2026 to 2030. The new five-year programme will support scholarships, financial literacy campaigns, and capacity-building initiatives, with a special focus on underprivileged students and low-income communities across ASEAN.
The Foundation said the initiative is designed to promote equitable access to quality education, enhance financial well-being, and nurture future leaders who will contribute to ASEAN’s social and economic progress.
Scholarships to Transform Young Lives
CIMB Foundation has a longstanding record of supporting talented youth. Since inception, its flagship scholarship programme has benefitted 144 scholars, representing an investment of RM82.4 million to date.
In 2025 alone, 11 exceptional students were awarded scholarships from a pool of more than 6,000 applicants. The selection panel prioritised not only academic excellence but also leadership potential, resilience, and the inclusion of candidates from B40 households and underserved communities.
This year’s recipients will further their studies in world-class universities including the University of Sydney, King’s College London, University of Leeds, University of Southampton, London School of Economics, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi MARA, and Singapore Management University.
Broad Academic Scope and Professional Development
The scholarship programme covers a diverse range of disciplines, from Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE), Actuarial Mathematics, Law, Environment and Sustainable Development, Economics, Psychology, Business Administration, Information Technology, to Computer Science.
Beyond funding, scholars will benefit from career mentoring, structured internships with CIMB, and the possibility of entering the bank’s prestigious management trainee pipeline, The Complete Banker™ Programme.
Investing in ASEAN’s Future Talent
CIMB Foundation said this new RM50 million allocation represents a deepening of its mission to uplift communities and customers by providing meaningful opportunities to the next generation.
“This commitment is not just about funding education,” the Foundation said in a statement. “It is about empowering individuals with the essential skills and mindset to thrive in ASEAN’s evolving economic and social landscape, and equipping young talents to take on future leadership roles.”
As ASEAN continues to grow as one of the world’s most dynamic regions, initiatives like these highlight the role of financial institutions in fostering inclusive development, bridging socio-economic divides, and building a stronger regional identity through education.
