# Hong Leong Bank Malaysia / HLB Connect

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/hong-leong-bank
> research date 2026-05-30 · extracted at 2026-10-07
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [Hong Leong Bank Malaysia — official](https://www.hlb.com.my/)

## Overview

**Hong Leong Bank Malaysia** is **major Malaysian banking group** + **HLB Connect Online + Mobile Banking App distinctive Malaysian banking** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Malaysia report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/MY)</sup>. **2025 baseline**: **Oct 17 2025 HLB Connect App biometric (face ID or fingerprint) verification mandatory** + **May 1 2025 Android 10 + iOS 15 minimum OS HLB Pocket Connect App** + **HLB ConnectFirst business banking + Apply@HLB digital onboarding**; HLB Connect available on Apple App Store + Google Play Store + Huawei App Gallery.

**Distinctive Hong Leong Bank positioning**:
- **Major Malaysian banking group** + **HLB Connect Online + Mobile Banking App distinctive Malaysian banking**
- **Oct 17 2025 HLB Connect App biometric (face ID or fingerprint) verification mandatory** distinctive Malaysian banking security innovation
- **May 1 2025 Android 10 + iOS 15 minimum OS HLB Pocket Connect App** distinctive Malaysian banking app modernization
- **HLB ConnectFirst business banking** distinctive Malaysian SME banking platform
- **Apply@HLB digital onboarding** distinctive Malaysian banking eKYC innovation
- **HLB Connect available on Apple App Store + Google Play Store + Huawei App Gallery** distinctive Malaysian banking distribution
- **HLB Connect features**: account overviews + fund transfers via QR Code + bill payments + fixed deposits + credit card services
- **1905 Kwong Lee Mortgage and Remittance Company founding** in Singapore (Hong Leong Bank ultimate predecessor) → distinctive Malaysian Chinese banking heritage
- **1993 Hong Leong Group Malaysia + MUI Bank Berhad acquisition → Hong Leong Bank Berhad** post-Malaysian banking consolidation

## History

**1905 — Kwong Lee Mortgage and Remittance Company founded in Singapore** (Hong Leong Bank ultimate predecessor) → distinctive Malaysian Chinese banking heritage.

**1934 — Kwong Lee Bank Limited Malaya founding** in Kuching, Sarawak.

**1989 — Kwong Lee Bank Limited renamed MUI Bank Berhad**.

**1993 — Hong Leong Group Malaysia + MUI Bank Berhad acquisition → Hong Leong Bank Berhad** post-Malaysian banking consolidation.

**2014 — HLB Connect mobile banking app launches**.

**May 1 2025 — Android 10 + iOS 15 minimum OS HLB Pocket Connect App** + **Oct 17 2025 HLB Connect App biometric (face ID or fingerprint) verification mandatory** distinctive Malaysian banking security innovation <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **Hong Leong Bank Berhad (KLSE: HLBANK)**.

**Major shareholders**: **Hong Leong Group Malaysia (HLGM; Quek family Malaysian Chinese business conglomerate; ~64% controlling) + Malaysian institutional + Malaysian + ASEAN retail public float**.

**Regulator**: **BNM (Bank Negara Malaysia)**.

## Technical integration

**HLB Connect Online + Mobile Banking App** (iOS + Android + Huawei App Gallery; **Oct 17 2025 biometric (face ID or fingerprint) verification mandatory**) + **HLB Pocket Connect App** (May 1 2025 Android 10 + iOS 15 minimum OS) + **HLB ConnectFirst** business banking + **Apply@HLB** digital onboarding + hlb.com.my online + Hong Leong Bank cards (Visa + Mastercard + MyDebit) + Hong Leong Bank Malaysian + 4-country international branch network; DuitNow QR + RENTAS Malaysian RTGS + Malaysian ACH; **HLB Connect features**: account overviews + fund transfers via QR Code + bill payments + fixed deposits + credit card services.

## Users & growth

**2025**: HLB Connect Online + Mobile Banking App + Oct 17 2025 biometric verification mandatory + May 1 2025 Android 10 + iOS 15 minimum OS HLB Pocket Connect App.

## Use cases

Malaysian + Singaporean + Hong Kong + Vietnamese + Cambodian retail + private + corporate + SME + investment + Islamic banking via HLB Connect Online + Mobile Banking App + HLB Pocket Connect App + HLB ConnectFirst business banking + Apply@HLB digital onboarding + hlb.com.my online + cards + branches; DuitNow QR + RENTAS Malaysian RTGS + Malaysian ACH.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: Hong Leong Bank Berhad (KLSE: HLBANK); **Hong Leong Group Malaysia (HLGM; Quek family Malaysian Chinese business conglomerate; ~64% controlling)**.

**Subsidiaries**: **Hong Leong Islamic Bank** (Malaysian Islamic banking subsidiary) + **HLB Vietnam** (post-2009 Vietnamese banking license) + **HLB Cambodia** + **HLB Hong Kong** + **HLB Singapore** + **HLB Bank China** (post-2008 Chinese banking license).

**Major Malaysian banking competitors**: [Maybank Malaysia](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/maybank-malaysia) (Malaysia #1 by assets + Khazanah ~64% controlling + Maybank2U) + [CIMB Group / CIMB OCTO](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/cimb) (Malaysia #2 by assets + Khazanah ~26% controlling + CIMB OCTO 110M+ monthly transactions FY2024 +70% YoY + 18M consumer banking clients across 5 ASEAN markets + 1,080 branches across ASEAN) + [Public Bank Berhad / MyPB](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/public-bank) (Malaysia #3 by assets + Teh Hong Piow founding family + MyPB App + 4.1% MAU growth 2025 + 52.3% mobile banking transactions growth 2025) + RHB Bank (Malaysia #4 by assets; RHB Mobile Banking app + Malaysia's first banking widget) + AmBank Malaysia + Affin Bank Malaysia + Alliance Bank Malaysia.

**Regulator**: BNM.

## Fun facts

- **Major Malaysian banking group** + **HLB Connect Online + Mobile Banking App distinctive Malaysian banking**.
- **Oct 17 2025 HLB Connect App biometric (face ID or fingerprint) verification mandatory** distinctive Malaysian banking security innovation.
- **May 1 2025 Android 10 + iOS 15 minimum OS HLB Pocket Connect App** distinctive Malaysian banking app modernization.
- **HLB ConnectFirst business banking** distinctive Malaysian SME banking platform.
- **Apply@HLB digital onboarding** distinctive Malaysian banking eKYC innovation.
- **HLB Connect available on Apple App Store + Google Play Store + Huawei App Gallery** distinctive Malaysian banking distribution.
- **HLB Connect features**: account overviews + fund transfers via QR Code + bill payments + fixed deposits + credit card services.
- **1905 Kwong Lee Mortgage and Remittance Company founding** in Singapore → distinctive Malaysian Chinese banking heritage.
- **1993 Hong Leong Group Malaysia + MUI Bank Berhad acquisition → Hong Leong Bank Berhad**.

## Comparison

| Feature | Hong Leong Bank Malaysia / HLB Connect | [Maybank Malaysia](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/maybank-malaysia) (Malaysia #1 by assets rival; Khazanah ~64% controlling; Maybank2U) | [CIMB Group / CIMB OCTO](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/cimb) (Malaysia #2 by assets rival; Khazanah ~26% controlling; CIMB OCTO 110M+ monthly transactions FY2024) | [Public Bank Berhad / MyPB](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/public-bank) (Malaysia #3 by assets rival; Teh Hong Piow founding family; MyPB App) | RHB Bank (Malaysia #4 by assets rival; RHB Mobile Banking app + Malaysia's first banking widget) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **Hong Leong Bank Berhad (KLSE: HLBANK; Hong Leong Group Malaysia HLGM Quek family ~64% controlling)** | Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank; KLSE: MAYBANK; Khazanah ~64% controlling) | CIMB Group Holdings Berhad (KLSE: CIMB; Khazanah ~26% controlling) | Public Bank Berhad (KLSE: PBBANK; Teh Hong Piow founding family controlling) | RHB Bank Berhad (KLSE: RHBBANK) |
| Type | **Major Malaysian banking group + HLB Connect Online + Mobile Banking App + Oct 17 2025 biometric verification mandatory + May 1 2025 Android 10 + iOS 15 minimum OS HLB Pocket Connect + HLB ConnectFirst business banking + Apply@HLB digital onboarding + Huawei App Gallery distribution** | Malaysia #1 by assets + Maybank2U Malaysian banking flagship + 18 ASEAN + global countries + Maybank Indonesia + Maybank Singapore + Maybank Philippines + Maybank Cambodia | Malaysia #2 + regional ASEAN universal bank + 18M consumer banking clients across 5 ASEAN markets + 11M digitally active Mar 2025 + 1,080 ASEAN branches + CIMB OCTO 110M+ monthly transactions FY2024 (+70% YoY) | Malaysia #3 by assets + Teh Hong Piow founding family + MyPB App + 4.1% MAU growth 2025 + 52.3% mobile banking transactions growth 2025 + Aug 15 2025 PB engage MY app retirement + 6-country international footprint | Malaysia #4 by assets + RHB Mobile Banking app + Malaysia's first banking widget + targeting 1M users by end of year (from 500K) + "Progress 27" digitalisation strategy + Jun 18 2025 smarter mobile banking experience launch |
| Country | MY + SG + HK + VN + KH | MY + 17+ countries | MY + 5+ ASEAN countries | MY + 6+ countries | MY + 9+ countries |
| Distinctive | **1905 Kwong Lee Mortgage and Remittance Company founding in Singapore (Malaysian Chinese banking heritage); 1934 Kwong Lee Bank Limited Malaya founding in Kuching, Sarawak; 1989 Kwong Lee Bank renamed MUI Bank Berhad; 1993 Hong Leong Group Malaysia + MUI Bank Berhad acquisition → Hong Leong Bank Berhad; 2014 HLB Connect launch; May 1 2025 Android 10 + iOS 15 minimum OS HLB Pocket Connect; Oct 17 2025 biometric verification mandatory** | 1960 Maybank founding; Khazanah ~64% controlling | 1924 Bian Chiang Bank founding (Sarawak); Jan 1 2006 Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings + CIMB merger → CIMB Group; 2008 CIMB Niaga + Bank Lippo Indonesian merger | Aug 6 1966 Public Bank founding by Teh Hong Piow (Malaysian banking pioneer); Aug 15 2025 PB engage MY app retired | 1913 RHB Bank founding heritage + multiple Malaysian banking consolidations |

## Status

**Active, major Malaysian banking group + HLB Connect Online + Mobile Banking App distinctive Malaysian banking** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3]</sup>:
- **Hong Leong Bank Berhad (KLSE: HLBANK; Hong Leong Group Malaysia HLGM Quek family ~64% controlling)** since 1905 Kwong Lee Mortgage and Remittance Company founding in Singapore + 1934 Kwong Lee Bank Limited Malaya founding + 1989 MUI Bank Berhad renaming + 1993 Hong Leong Group Malaysia + MUI Bank Berhad acquisition → Hong Leong Bank Berhad + 2014 HLB Connect launch.
- **Oct 17 2025 HLB Connect App biometric (face ID or fingerprint) verification mandatory + May 1 2025 Android 10 + iOS 15 minimum OS HLB Pocket Connect App + HLB ConnectFirst business banking + Apply@HLB digital onboarding**.
- **BNM regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.hlb.com.my/en/personal-banking/hlb-connect.html "Online Banking and Mobile Banking App | HLB Connect — HLB"
[2]: https://www.hlb.com.my/en/connect/faq-en.html "HLB Connect FAQ — HLB"
[3]: https://ringgitplus.com/en/blog/online-banking/hong-leong-bank-releases-new-hlb-connect-mobile-banking-app.html "Hong Leong Bank Releases New HLB Connect Mobile Banking App — RinggitPlus"
[my-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/MY

- [1] [Online Banking and Mobile Banking App | HLB Connect — HLB][1]
- [2] [HLB Connect FAQ — HLB][2]
- [3] [Hong Leong Bank Releases New HLB Connect Mobile Banking App — RinggitPlus][3]
- <sup>[Malaysia report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/MY)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/MY-malaysia.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [hong-leong-bank.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/hong-leong-bank). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.