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MBSB Bank, the result of a merger between Malaysia Building Society and Asian Finance Bank, starts afresh as a full-fledged Islamic bank. According to group CEO Datuk Seri Ahmad Zaini Othman, the bank intends to differentiate itself in the area of transactional banking, as well as in digital capabilities. One of the key targets in MBSB Bank’s three-year business plan is to have fee-based income account for at least 25% of its total income by the end of 2020. The bank hopes that its approach towards customers will also set it apart from other lenders. MBSB Bank is starting out with total assets of RM43.7 billion, making it the second largest standalone Islamic bank after Bank Islam Malaysia (RM57.7 billion). Personal financing constitutes the biggest portion of the bank's gross financing and is extended mainly to civil servants. MBSB plans to make a stronger push in the industrial hire purchase segment, which involves SME financing. Zaini plans to offer a lot more products and services for SMEs, especially in the area of current accounts.

Qatar Islamic Bank is hunting for acquisition targets in Indonesia to strengthen its presence in Asia and tap demand for Shariah banking products in the world’s most populous Muslim nation.
Qatar Islamic is studying several potential candidates in Indonesia that have been identified by Asian Finance Bank, which is 62 percent-owned by the Gulf lender.

Qatar Islamic Bank is searching for acquisitioning targets in Indonesia in order to boost its presence in Asia and tap demand for sharia banking products in the world's most populous Muslim nation.
Qatar Islamic is studying several potential candidates in Indonesia that have been identified by Asian Finance Bank.

Loh Li Lian reported on 4 February on Reuters that Malaysian Asian Finance Bank may halve the size of its planned aviation fund to RM 500 mn (USD 138.2 mn) according to Mohamed Azahari Kamil, the chief executive officer of the bank.