CIMB recently unveiled their first branch with integrated sustainable features located in a Green Building Index certified building at IOI City Towers @ IOI Resort City, Putrajaya. The branch is the first by CIMB to seamlessly incorporate environmental and social inclusion considerations into its design and operations, enabling the Bank to reduce its environmental impact and foster a more inclusive banking environment.
In line with its sustainable finance agenda, CIMB will take an ESG-first approach in promoting its suite of conventional and Islamic banking solutions at the branch, with offerings such as green home financing, electric vehicle (“EV”) financing, solar financing, ESG wealth products, B40 financing and environmentally-focused deposits. As the first bank in Malaysia to offer a complete suite of sustainable finance solutions, CIMB is committed to make it easier for customers to adopt sustainable practices in an accessible and rewarding manner.
The CIMB IOI City Mall branch comes equipped with tailored facilities and services to make the banking experience more inclusive. These include a priority ATM lane with improved accessibility for customers with special needs, the first across the Bank’s Malaysian branch network, as well as wheelchair services and designated low counters for over-the-counter transactions.
In supporting the Bank’s environmental commitments, the branch also incorporates features that will help to reduce energy consumption and emissions. These features include the use of energy-efficient cooling and lighting systems, certified sustainable construction materials with recycled content and reused office furniture.
The integration of sustainable features into its branch network will be core to CIMB’s approach moving forward, as part of its commitment to achieve carbon neutral operations by 2030. The Bank will strive to ensure that any new branches nationwide are designed to minimise environmental impact and emissions. At the same time, it will continue to retrofit and enhance existing branches by implementing energy-efficient lighting and cooling systems, as well as increasing use of renewable energy.
Effendy Shahul Hamid, Chief Executive Officer of Group Consumer and Digital Banking of CIMB Group said: “Banking is not just about a product or service, but also about ensuring we anticipate customer requirements and provide them with the best banking experience across every touchpoint. That is why we are proud to introduce this first of its kind branch in Malaysia that fully exemplifies our commitment to social inclusion and reducing our environmental impact.”
“At CIMB, we strongly believe in ensuring all members of society, including persons with special needs, have seamless and convenient access to financial services. By continuing to digitalise and equip our branch network with enhancements to improve accessibility, we aspire to ensure that all customers feel welcome and included when engaging and banking with us,” he added.
The branch’s energy efficiency features complement the Bank’s wider initiatives to reduce its environmental impact. CIMB Group has committed to achieving carbon neutral operations by 2030, which comes mainly from Scope 1 direct greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions, and Scope 2 emissions from electricity consumption. As part of this commitment, CIMB has already reduced GHG emissions in its Malaysian branch network by 16% from 2019 to 2022, and the Bank aims to double this reduction in the next two years.
On top of that, the bank also aims to further strengthen financial inclusion by improving banking accessibility. This includes for instance its commitment to ensure all branches in its network across Malaysia are equipped with wheelchairs by 2023, and increase the number of branches with wheelchair ramp access by 2024.
