Retail Banker International – Asia Trailblazer Awards 2024

Innovate, Elevate, Celebrate: APAC’s Banking Visionaries

Join industry titans at the 15th Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards 2024 for an exclusive opportunity to network and explore industry trends and technology shaping APAC’s retail banking sector.

14 March 2024
  • Singapore
  • Free
  • Why enter?
  • Speakers
  • Sponsors
  • Awards
  • Media Centre
  • Special Report
  • Award Winners
  • Articles and Interviews
  • Contact Us

Why enter?

What to expect for 2024?

As we eagerly anticipate the 15th edition of the Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards, get ready for another year of groundbreaking innovations and exceptional achievements in the retail banking industry. Building upon the momentum of previous editions, the 2024 awards will continue to recognise and celebrate the trailblazers who are shaping the future of banking in the Asia Pacific region.

In the upcoming year, we can expect to witness even greater strides in digital transformation, customer experience enhancement, and sustainable banking practices. As technology continues to revolutionise the industry, we anticipate the emergence of cutting-edge solutions such as AI-powered chatbots, personalised digital banking experiences, and the seamless integration of financial services into everyday life.

Furthermore, sustainability and ESG initiatives are expected to take centre stage, with a growing emphasis on responsible banking practices, green finance, and financial inclusion.

Banks will further embrace their role in driving positive social and environmental impact, catering to the evolving preferences and expectations of today’s socially conscious consumers.

50+

Leading banking organisations

69%

Director / C-level attendees

40%

Technical designations and experts

50+

Leading banking organisations

69%

Director / C-level attendees

40%

Technical designations and experts

Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazers Awards 2023 - Highlights Video

Agenda

  • 14 Mar 2024
Expand All

8 AM

Registration*, Networking & Coffee

8:50 AM

Opening Remarks by the Chairman

Speakers

9 AM

Keynote Government Address: Utilising Technology and Innovation to Manage Risks Better and Enhance Efficiency – Strengthening Your Competitiveness in the Financial Sector

9:10 AM

CEOs in Retail Banking Outlook Panel Discussion: Banking in the New Era – Leading the Change

  • Discussing the disruptors and the future to come
  • What are the leading and on-trend technologies are currently being invested in?
  • Navigating digital transformation and the future of sustainable innovation

Speakers

10 AM

Presentation: Open Banking Innovation

10:20 AM

Presentation: AI & Machine Learning

10:40 AM

Fireside Chat: Data Privacy – How to Protect Yourself and your Clients

11 AM

Networking and Refreshment Break

11:30 AM

Presentation: The Future of Digital Payments

11:50 AM

Panel Discussion: Reimagining and Accelerating the CX Journey

 

 

Speakers

12:40 PM

Presentation: Mitigating Cyber Security Risks

1 PM

Lunchtime Sponsor Announcement

1:05 PM

Lunch and Networking Break

2 PM

APAC Retail Banking Outlook: 2023 Market Trends and Analysis

2:20 PM

Presentation: Cloud Enabled Banking Transformation

2:40 PM

Presentation: Integrated Financial Assistance Solutions

3 PM

Panel Discussion: Intelligent Fraud Prevention

  • Staying ahead of the technology curve to combat the surge in fraud - embracing AI, ML and biometrics
  • Discussing alternative and more holistic fraud management strategies – moving from post transaction monitoring to real-time transaction monitoring

Speakers

3:45 PM

Networking and Refreshment Break

4:05 PM

Presentation: Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

4:25 PM

Presentation: Unlocking Market Transformation Through Digital Partnerships Insurance

4:45 PM

Panel Discussion: Disruptors and the Future – The Revolution of Fintech, Web 3.0 Blockchain

Speakers

5:30 PM

Close of Summit

6:30 PM

Drinks Reception & Awards Ceremony

Celebrating the best-in-class retail banking and consumer finance institutions and individuals for their innovative service contributions and commitments to outstanding customer excellence.

Sponsors

Become a valued sponsor of the Asia Trailblazer Awards 2024!

Partnering with us as a sponsor is your opportunity to align your brand with excellence in the retail banking industry. Support the Retail Banker International – Asia Trailblazers Awards by joining a prestigious community of sponsors who share a commitment to celebrating innovation and driving positive change in the APAC banking sector.

Discover how your sponsorship can provide you with unparalleled exposure, networking opportunities, and a chance to showcase your dedication to industry leadership and progress.

  • Unparalleled brand visibility,
  • Establish yourself as a thought leader,
  • Engage with the community,
  • And open doors for substantial business development opportunities.

 

Become a sponsor

Awards

2024 Awards

Entries now open for the 2024 Edition

The awards programme celebrates the best-in-class retail banking and consumer finance institutions and individuals for their innovative service offering and commitment to customer excellence. The programme also delivers an exceptional benchmark bringing together the most senior retail banking executives, vendors, and other key industry stakeholders from across Asia.

Organised in collaboration with Middle East Economic Digest (MEED), UAE, and GlobalData (Singapore), the 15th annual edition of RBI Asia Trailblazers Awards will celebrate retail banks and leaders trailblazing to adapt to the modern customer.

Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards Special Report 2023​

Download RBI Special Report 2023

2024 Awards

  • Categories

    Entry deadline is now extended for the 15th Edition of the RBI Asia Trailblazers Awards 2024.
    Entries will close on 10 November 2023

    Please contact Tahne Alisaje at tahne.Alisaje@meed.com

  • Timelines

    Entries are now open

    • Entries open – 3 July 2023
    • Entries deadline – 25 October 2023
    • Extended deadline – 10 November 2023
    • Judging – 20 November 2023 – 10 January 2024
    • Event Date – March 2024
  • Why participate?
    • Covid-19 accelerated changes in retail banking beyond any predictable horizon.  And the sector continues to innovate rapidly amid extraordinary shifts in consumer behaviour.
    • Navigating this erratic marketplace is challenging and those individuals and organisations doing so successfully deserve to be recognised.
    • The trailblazers of this sector are defining the new normal.

    As we move forward it is essential that we continue to push boundaries and recognize those individuals and institutions who are redefining retail banking.

    By participating in the awards, you can expect to:

    1. Improve employee motivation and partner engagement: awards are a great way to acknowledge the hard work of your employees and recognise your industry partners
    2. Enhance your brand and drive credibility through third party endorsement: the reputational benefits from independent endorsement of your organisation and service offering are immeasurable. Recognition from trusted industry commentators positively influences customers, partners and employees driving trust and loyalty
    3. Profile your team favorably: professional exposure for your teams and corporate super-stars supports your institutions position as the home of the best talent as well as the best retail banking solutions
    4. Benchmark against your industry peers: Awards are the perfect platform to assess your organisations capabilities in a highly competitive market.

Special Report

  • 2023 Special Report

    Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards Special Report 2023​

    Download RBI Special Report 2023

    Editor’s Note

    A huge thank you to all participating banks at the 14th Annual Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards and the warmest of congratulations to all the winners. The quality and quantity of the entries have done the event proud and proven yet again that the region’s leading banks are to be commended for their world-class levels of innovation.

    Overall, 56 financial institutions participated this year, which is a record high, and total entries topped 230, which again is a record for these awards.

    I must say a massive thank you to the judges and my colleagues at MEED for the phenomenal task of administering the entries and running the awards this year.

    Asia Trailblazer of the Year 2023 (Individual): Jimmy Ng, Group Chief Information Officer and Head of Group Technology & Operations, DBS Bank

    Singapore-based DBS Bank’s 2022 performance, highlighted by high returns and a resilient franchise, shows how the optimisation of the lender’s digital transformation strategy is paying off.

    Few major banks around the world can achieve a cost-income ratio of 40 per cent or less, but DBS has achieved just that. Plus, the strength of the bank’s return on equity serves to underscore the significant structural improvements made, such as its deserved world-class reputation for its digital transformation strategy.

    Jimmy Ng leads DBS’ digital transformation strategy and has helped to pioneer the use of artificial intelligence.

    As head of group technology and operations at DBS, Ng manages more than 10,000 technology and operations professionals across the region. Prior to this, he was deputy head of group technology and operations, where he was responsible for running the bank’s first technology development centre outside Singapore.

    Ng has been deservedly recognised in these awards for his outstanding success in leading DBS towards its vision of being the ‘best bank for a better world’.

    Asia Trailblazer of the Year 2023 (Institution): United Overseas Bank Singapore

    Meanwhile, hearty congratulations are due to another deserved winner, Singapore’s United Overseas Bank (UOB). The year 2022 can be recognised as one of the most momentous in the lender’s history, kicking off in January with UOB acquiring US bank Citi’s retail operations in four markets. Once completed, the four deals will double UOB’s existing retail customer base in the four markets to 5.3 million customers and will add 5,000 employees to its team.

    UOB’s innovation highlights include the launch of its greentech accelerator in 2022 for pre-seed and seed startups across five countries. UOB is also empowering its customers to make sustainable choices by offering personalised carbon insights through its UOB TMRW app. The lender also launched SkyArtverse in November 2022, which is a virtual art gallery built within 3D virtual world platform Decentraland.
    Singapore 14 March 2024

    Hearty congratulations again to all of the winners and here’s to the 15th Annual Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards in 2024 and a date for your diaries. We look forward to celebrating the best of the best in consumer finance with you in Singapore.

    Douglas Blakey
    Editor
    Retail Banker International

  • 2022 Special Report

    Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards Special Report 2022​

    Download Now

    Editor’s Note

    A huge thank you to all participating banks in the 13th annual RBI Asia Trailblazer awards and the warmest of congratulations to all of the winners.
    Once again, we received a record number of entries. But that is only part of the story. The quality of the entries received was off the scale.

    Overall, some 44 institutions are recognised as winners, up from 31 last year, with a further four institutions recognised as highly commended.
    To be able to recognise almost 50 banks in the awards this year is hugely encouraging. I must also say a massive thank you to the judges and my colleagues at MEED for the phenomenal task of administering the entries and running the awards this year.

    Asia Trailblazer of the Year 2022 (Institution): ICICI Bank ICICI is a worthy winner of the major award this year, Asia Trailblazer of the year 2022. In fiscal 2022, the bank grew core operating profit by over 22% to INR383.5bn with profits after tax up by a whopping 44%.

    Total deposits grew by 14.2% year-on-year at March 31, 2022 with average savings account deposits ahead by 22.7% year-on-year. The bank’s cost of deposits continues to be truly world class. Retail loans soared by some 20% with the bank’s SME portfolio ahead by over one-third.

    These impressive metrics are all boosted by the bank’s innovative digital offerings and platforms like InstaBIZ and Merchant Stack. Indeed, the bank’s various digital platforms such as iMobile Pay, internet banking platforms, InstaBIZ and Trade Online provide end-to-end seamless digital journeys, personalised solutions and value-added features to customers and enable more data driven cross sell and up sell.

    In line with the bank’s philosophy of open architecture, of its digital platforms, ICICI made its InstaBIZ app interoperable, so all benefits of the app are now available to all merchants including those who do not have a current account with ICICI. This initiative enables merchants to instantly create digital collection solutions like UPI ID and QR code and start collecting money from their customers.

    Asia Trailblazer of the Year 2022 (Individual): Lay Choo Ong

    Standard Chartered appointed Lay Choo Ong as head of retail banking in Hong Kong in June 2020. Prior to assuming this key role within the bank, she held senior positions in group wealth management and retail banking since joining the bank in 20 1. She led the development of the client proposition and strategy for the affluent client segment and was promoted to regional head of wealth management in 2017, in addition to her role as global head of wealth proposition. Ong is deservedly recognised for her outstanding success in driving innovation and transforming the client journey with a human touch and delivering demonstrable success in growing market share and profits.

    StanChart, UOB, RCBC, PT Bank, Emirates NBD: multiple wins-world class innovation

    Standard Chartered is not just recognised for the lead award in the individual category-across the awards as a whole the bank wins a whopping eight categories.

    UOB wins seven categories with RCBC winning five and PT Bank four. Maybank, ICICI, RHB and Emirates NBD all win three awards.

    Other significant multiple awards winners include Taishin, E. Sun, Security Bank, Bank of Ayudhya, Kasikornbank and Siam Commercial.

    Singapore 9 March 2023

    Hearty congratulations again to all of the winners and here’s to the 14th annual Asia Trailblazer Awards in 2023 and a date for your diaries. We are determined to ensure that the 2023 awards are the biggest and best yet-and look forward to celebrating the best of the best in consumer finance in the region in person with the winners in Singapore on 9 March.

    In-depth analysis of winning strategies and the mindsets that drive success inspired by the winning entries for the 13th Annual Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards.

    Douglas Blakey
    Editor
    Retail Banker International

  • 2021 Special Report

    Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards Special Report 2021​

    Download Now

    Editor’s Note

    First off, many thanks to all participating banks in the 12th annual RBI Asia Trailblazer awards. In the most challenging of circumstances, banks across the region are deservedly recognised for the best of the best in retail banking.

    Over 300 separate entries were received – a record for the event – from 25 countries. In all, 31 separate banks are recognised as winners, up from 17 last year. A further nine banks are recognised as highly commended this year.

    To be able to recognise 40 banks in the awards this year, set against the background of the most challenging of business circumstances, is hugely encouraging. Not only must it be noted that the quantity of the entries truly did the event proud-the quality of the submissions this year was quite phenomenal.

    So, a huge thank you to all of the banks for taking the time to participate in the 12th annual RBI Asia Trailblazer awards. And a massive thank you to the judges and my colleagues at MEED for the Herculean task of administering the entries and running the awards this year.

    Union Bank of the Philippines: world class digital innovation

    Not only are Maybank and Union Bank of the Philippines multiple winners, collecting six and four awards respectively, but they win the two highest profile awards.

    Union Bank is recognised as the Asia Trailblazer of the Year 2021 for institutions. The bank has in many notable ways, been blazing a trail for innovation in a number of areas for many years. For example, the bank’s migration to the cloud began as long ago as 2016 as it started out on its first major digital transformation journey. The Union Bank cloud first strategy means that the bank is ahead of the curve in the drive to have a cloud-only infrastructure.

    The bank’s cloud strategy has also come to the fore during the pandemic. In addition to enjoying an international reputation for putting the customer first and being at the forefront of innovation, the bank is recognised for its third-party partnerships. For example, it became the first bank in the country to join the Banking Industry Architecture Network (BIAN). And with ongoing success of its much admired fintech subsidiary UBX, Union Bank is truly a thoroughly deserved winner of the winner of the Asia Trailblazer of the year for institutions.

    Dato John Chong: Asia Trailblazer of the Year

    It is a pleasure to be able to recognise the contribution to the sector of Dato John Chong, winner of the individual award. He has led by example in a number of senior roles

    since joining Maybank in 1993. Notably, his leadership resulted in establishing Maybank Group’s DCM business and leading it to its current top-ranking position in Malaysia, Asean and globally for sukuk.

    Since October 2018 he has served as Group CEO Community Financial Services for the Maybank Group in which he spearheads Maybank’s community financial services business across all geographies offering products and services for wealth management, business banking, retail SME, digital, consumer, branch banking, sales and distribution. The range of product and services he oversees includes investment, bancassurance, mortgages and automobile loans, credit cards, deposits and business loans.

    Take a bow DBS

    For DBS to carry off ten award wins is a huge achievement including key categories for excellence in mobile banking, best innovation programme and best digital bank initiative.

    Other significant multiple awards winners include Emirates NBD, Taishin International Bank, UOB, RHB Bank, Affin Bank, ICICI, RCBC and Alliance Bank.

    Hearty congratulations again to all of the winners and here’s to the 13th annual Asia Trailblazer Awards in 2022, when hopefully we will able to celebrate with the winners in person.

    Hearty congratulations again to all of the winners and here’s to the 12th annual Asia Trailblazer Awards in 2021.

    In-depth analysis of winning strategies and the mindsets that drive success inspired by the winning entries for the 12th Annual Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Summit and Awards.

    Douglas Blakey
    Editor
    Retail Banker International

  • 2020 Special Report

    Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards Special Report 2020​

    Download Now

    Editor’s Note

    First off, many thanks to all participating banks in the 11th annual RBI Asia Trailblazer awards. In the most challenging of circumstances, banks across the region are deservedly recognised for the best of the best in retail banking. Over 300 separate entries were received and in all – a record for the event – with 17 separate banks in the region recognised as winners. The quality and the quantity of the entries truly did the event proud. And a huge thank you to all of the winners featured in this supplement for their support.

    Take a bow Maybank

    For Maybank to carry off nine award wins is a huge achievement, including the headline win of Asia Trailblazer of the year for institutions. It is also richly deserved with some notable award wins.

    A number of the award categories across the event were hotly contested with so many strong entries. But in Maybank’s case, it also scored some runaway wins such were the strength of the entries. For example, Maybank scored with its first-of-its-kind e-wallet enabling new or existing customers to open an account via their smartphones. Another especially strong initiative is its Maybank2u Reimagine project, successfully overhauling Malaysia’s number one internet banking service. In addition, Maybank’s Head, Group Virtual Banking, Kalyani Nair deservedly collects the individual award for Asia Trailblazer of the year.

    On a personal level, I am delighted that the event also recognises Suvo Sarkar, Senior Executive Vice President and Group Head of Retail Banking, Private Banking and Wealth Management, Emirates NBD. Sarkar is recognised with a rare RBI Lifetime Achievement Award. In my 15 years covering the global retail banking sector on RBI I have been honoured to interview and share a stage with a number of world class retail bankers: Sarkar undoubtedly falls into the highest echelon of his peers.

    DBS, UOB, Standard Chartered, Emirates NBD notable multiple winners

    A big well done also to multiple winners such as DBS scooping seven awards ahead of UOB with six and Standard Chartered with five. Other multiple winners include Cathay United, Alliance Bank, Kasikornbank, Union Bank of the Philippines and Taishin International Bank. So many banks think that they are delivering an improved customer experience but few banks truly optimise customer centricity as successfully as UOB. It is fitting that UOB is prominent within this supplement for the combined efforts of five different teams across its Singaporean and Thai offices implementing a number of different successful projects that collectively proved their excellence in customer centricity.

    Another personal favourite among the award winners is the best rewards/loyalty programme delivered by Bank of Ayudhya. The bank transformed its customer loyalty progamme to create an enhanced Krungsri gift digital loyalty offering. Not only is the programme seamless across the channels-it is demonstrably delivering a return on investment with many lesser users converted into regular main bank users, all the while ensuring that engagement levels rise sharply across all customer segments.

    And a word also for RCBC. Just about every bank is attempting to grow its market share among the millennial segment. RCBC’s winning entry, highlighted in this supplement, explains how the bank has grown customer numbers in this crucial segment with a new credit card and linked bank account aimed at millennials.

    Hearty congratulations again to all of the winners.

    In-depth analysis of winning strategies and the mindsets that drive success inspired by the winning entries for the 11th Annual Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Summit and Awards.


    Douglas Blakey
    Editor
    Retail Banker International

Award Winners

  • 2023 Award Winners
    • Winners
    • Highly Commended
  • 2022 Award Winners

    RBI Asia Trailblazer Awards Special Report 2022

    An in-depth analysis of winning strategies and the mindsets that drive success inspired by the winning entries for the Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards.

    Download Now



    RBI Asia Trailblazer Awards Winners Announcement

  • 2021 Award Winners

    Our mission at the Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazers Awards is to recognise and showcase the best in class retail banking and consumer finance companies from across the Asian continent.

    And in 2021, while the world continues to recover from and look beyond the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entries summited are a testament to the remarkable efforts and commitment by the regional banking industry to the principles of customer centricity, innovation in product and service offering and ultimately creating meaningful value for their customers,

    The awards recognised and celebrated the most impressive and successful initiatives from retail banking and consumer finance companies over the past 12 months across 12 category groups namely:

    • Asia Trailblazer of the Year 2021
    • Human Capital and Society
    • Institutional Awards
    • Trailblazers in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Analytics
    • Trailblazers in Customer Experience and Segmentation
    • Trailblazers in Digital Distribution
    • Trailblazers in Digital Payments
    • Trailblazers in Marketing & Communication
    • Trailblazers in Omnichannel
    • Trailblazers in Physical Channels
    • Trailblazers in Process Innovation
    • Trailblazers in Product Innovation

    Click here to view the complete list of 2021 Winners!

    By entering the awards, you can expect to:

    • Improve employee motivation and partner engagement: awards are a great way to acknowledge the hard work of your employees and recognise your industry partners
    • Enhance your brand and drive credibility through third party endorsement: the reputational benefits from independent endorsement of your organisation and service offering are immeasurable. Recognition from trusted industry commentators positively influences customers, partners and employees driving trust and loyalty
    • Profile your team favorably: professional exposure for your teams and corporate super-stars supports your institutions position as the home of the best talent as well as the best retail banking solutions
    • Benchmark against your industry peers: Awards are the perfect platform to assess your organisations capabilities in a highly competitive market.

    For support on the entry process, selecting categories or the entry criteria, please contact Tahne Alisaje tahne.alisaje@meed.com

Articles and Interviews

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Sponsorship Enquiries

Sabrina Nawaz

Sponsorship Advisor

Awards Enquiries

Tahne Alisaje

Account Manager

Sponsorship Enquiries

To enquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact:

Sabrina Nawaz

Sponsorship Advisor

AWARDS ENQUIRIES

To enquire about awards & entry guideline, please contact:

Tahne Alisaje

Account Manager