Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad

What Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad does

Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad (KFH Malaysia) is a Malaysia-incorporated, Shariah-compliant Islamic commercial bank licensed on 8 May 2005 under the Islamic Banking Act (Malaysia) 1983 — the first foreign Islamic bank to receive that license. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kuwait Finance House K.S.C.P. (Kuwait), with RM1.4 billion in capital and a 101–250 employee base. KFH Malaysia serves four customer segments — Retail/Individual Consumers, Government Employees (specialized), Commercial Businesses/SMEs, and Large Corporates & Multinational Companies — through 11 physical branches, digital banking (KFH Online for consumers; Cash Management Solutions for corporates), and a contact center. Product coverage spans deposit products (Savings-i, Current-i, Super Savings-i, Super Current-i, Libshara prize-linked, International Commodity Murabahah Deposit-i), retail financing (Home Financing-i, Automobile Ijarah-i, Murabahah Personal Financing-i), corporate financing (Trade Financing-i, Working Capital-i, Asset Acquisition-i, Project/Contract Financing-i), treasury and FX (Promissory FX Contract-i), corporate finance advisory, and Islamic capital market access.

Name

Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad

Legal name

Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad

Website

https://kfh.com.my

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad is a Shariah-compliant Islamic bank licensed in 2005, serving retail, SME, corporate, and MNC clients in Malaysia through 11 branches, KFH Online, and Cash Management Solutions, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kuwait Finance House K.S.C.P., Kuwait.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Islamic Banking

NAICS

Finance and Insurance (52)

SIC

Finance Services (6199), Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162)

akta.pro primary industry

Shariah-compliant Financing Products (Murabaha, Ijara, Tawarruq, Istisna, Salam) (FSABAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Islamic Corporate Banking (FSABAGAC), Islamic Transaction Banking (Cash Management & Treasury Services) (FSABAGAF), Islamic Treasury, Liquidity & Interbank (Commodity Murabaha, Sukuk Liquidity) (FSABAGAK), Islamic Trade Finance & Supply Chain (Shariah-compliant) (FSABAGAE), Islamic Investment Banking & Capital Markets Services (FSABAGAG)

Keywords

• Islamic banking services
• Shariah-compliant financing
• Retail banking products
• Corporate banking solutions
• Treasury services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kuala Lumpur

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Financing/Financing Income: Income from various Shariah-compliant financing products including Home Financing-i, Project/Contract Financing-i, Working Capital Financing-i, Asset Acquisition Financing-i, Asset Backed Financing-i, Asset Financing-i, Trade Financing-i, and Automobile Ijarah-i. Revenue generated through profit rates on financing facilities.
2. Deposit Account Services: Revenue from current accounts, savings accounts, and investment accounts including General Investment Account-i, Foreign Currency General Investment Account-i, International Commodity Murabahah Deposit-i
3. Trade Finance Services: Trade Financing-i and related trade services for commercial and corporate clients
4. Treasury and Foreign Exchange: Treasury products including Promissory FX Contract-i for foreign exchange requirements and International Commodity Murabahah Deposit-i for foreign currency investment requirements
5. Corporate Finance Advisory: Corporate Finance and Project Finance advisory services for Large Corporate and MNC clients
6. Debit Card Services: Debit Card-i annual fees and related card services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad is a Shariah-compliant Islamic bank licensed under the Islamic Banking Act (Malaysia) 1983. It provides a full range of retail banking products (savings, current, investment accounts, debit cards, home, auto and personal financing) and corporate banking products (project, working capital, asset acquisition and trade financing, treasury and FX services, cash management, corporate finance advisory) under Shariah contracts such as Qardh, Tawarruq, Murabahah and Ijarah.

Product overview

Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad operates as a Shariah-compliant Islamic banking institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of deposit, financing, investment, and banking services. The product architecture follows a dual-segment approach: Personal Banking includes savings and current accounts (Savings Account-i, Current Account-i, Super Savings Account-i, Super Current Account-i, Libshara Account-i) based on Qardh and Tawarruq contracts; financing products (Home Financing-i, Automobile Ijarah-i, Murabahah Personal Financing-i); and investment products (Gold Account-i, International Commodity Murabahah Deposit-i, General Investment Account-i). Corporate Banking provides business financing solutions (Trade Financing-i, Working Capital Financing-i, Asset Acquisition Financing-i, Project/Contract Financing-i), Treasury Services including FX contracts, Cash Management Solutions, and advisory services for corporate finance and Islamic capital market access. Digital access is enabled through KFH Online platform and Cash Management Solutions portal, supported by debit card services (Debit Card-i) and various calculators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Savings Account-i Shariah-compliant savings account based on the Qardh contract for individual Muslim customers seeking daily banking and safekeeping of funds.
• Basic Savings Account-i Entry-level Shariah-compliant savings account for retail customers seeking basic savings functionality.
• SURE Savings Account-i Shariah-compliant savings account offering targeted retail features under the Personal Banking deposit suite.
• Current Account-i Shariah-compliant current account based on Qardh contract for retail customers' everyday banking needs.
• Basic Current Account-i Entry-level Shariah-compliant current account for retail customers requiring everyday transactional banking.
• Sure Current Account-i Targeted Shariah-compliant current account for retail customers.
• Super Savings Account-i Enhanced Shariah-compliant savings account offering higher returns based on the Tawarruq contract.
• Super Current Account-i Premium Shariah-compliant current account offering enhanced features based on the Tawarruq contract.
• Libshara Account-i Prize-linked Shariah-compliant savings account based on the Tawarruq contract, offering periodic prize draws for retail customers.
• International Commodity Murabahah Deposit-i Foreign currency investment product based on the Tawarruq/Murabahah contract offering competitive returns for retail customers.
• Senior ICM Deposit-i Senior-citizen variant of the International Commodity Murabahah Deposit-i foreign currency investment product.
• Junior International Commodity Murabahah Deposit-i Junior variant of the International Commodity Murabahah Deposit-i foreign currency investment product for children.
• Gold Account-i Shariah-compliant gold investment account that has been discontinued by the bank.
• Junior Gold Account-i Shariah-compliant junior gold investment account for children.
• Debit Card-i Shariah-compliant debit card for ATM withdrawals and point-of-sale transactions for retail customers.
• Automobile Ijarah-i Shariah-compliant auto financing product for purchasing vehicles, structured under the Ijarah contract for individual customers.
• KFH Murabahah Personal Financing-i for Government Employees Personal financing based on the Murabahah (cost-plus-profit) contract targeted at government employees and general consumers.
• Ijarah Muntahiah Bi Tamlik Asset Acquisition Financing-i Asset acquisition financing structured under the Ijarah Muntahiah Bi Tamlik contract for retail customers acquiring assets.
• Ijarah Mausufah Fi Zimmah Asset Acquisition Financing-i Asset acquisition financing structured under the Ijarah Mausufah Fi Zimmah contract for retail customers acquiring assets.
• Home Financing-i Shariah-compliant home financing product for purchasing residential property by individual customers.
• Trade Financing-i Shariah-compliant trade finance solutions for import and export transactions of commercial and corporate clients.
• Working Capital Financing-i Shariah-compliant financing solutions for day-to-day operational capital needs of businesses.
• Asset Acquisition Financing-i Shariah-compliant corporate financing for the acquisition of business assets.
• Asset Backed Financing-i Asset-backed Shariah-compliant financing for corporate clients.
• Project/Contract Financing-i Shariah-compliant financing solutions for specific projects or contract executions by corporate clients.
• Treasury Services Foreign exchange and treasury solutions for corporate clients, including the Promissory FX Contract-i product.
• Cash Management Solutions (CMS) Digital banking platform providing corporate clients with cash management and treasury operational tools.
• Corporate Finance and Project Finance Advisory Advisory services covering corporate finance and project finance transactions for Large Corporate and Multinational clients.
• Islamic Capital Market Access Provision of access to Islamic capital market products and instruments for corporate clients.
• KFH Online Online banking platform enabling retail customers to access accounts, perform transactions, and manage finances digitally.

Quantifiable outcome

• KFH Group achieved 64% increase in net profit to KD 243.4 million in 2021
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KFH Asset Management Sdn Bhd (In Liquidation)minorOthersSubsidiary engaged in Islamic Fund Management activities, maintaining Capital Market Services License under Capital Market and Services Act 2017 in Malaysia. Currently in liquidation.
• KFH Nominees (Tempatan) Sdn BhdminorOthersSubsidiary acting as nominees' agent or trustees for distribution of third parties Unit Trust
• KFH BahraincoreTechnology or IntegrationKuwait Finance House Bahrain - subsidiary of KFH Kuwait (100% ownership). KFH Malaysia collaborates with regional subsidiaries for global Islamic banking operations.
• Kuveyt Turk Participation Bank (Turkey)coreTechnology or Integration62.2% owned by KFH Bahrain. Represents KFH Group presence in Turkey, contributing to global Islamic banking network.
• Saudi Kuwaiti Finance HousecoreTechnology or Integration100% owned by KFH Kuwait. Represents KFH Group presence in Saudi Arabia for investment activities. Initial capital: S.R. 500 million.
• Bank Negara MalaysiacoreOthersCentral bank of Malaysia providing regulatory oversight. KFH Malaysia operates under Islamic Banking Act (Malaysia) 1983 and is subject to BNM regulations.
• Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia (PIDM)coreOthersMalaysia Deposit Insurance Corporation providing deposit insurance protection up to RM250,000 for each depositor of KFH Malaysia.
• Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKFH signed agreement with KRCS to implement relief and medical projects in collaboration with Jordan Red Crescent. Also partnership for cancer patient treatment.
• King Hussein Cancer FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership agreement signed with King Hussein Cancer Foundation and KRCS to treat cancer patients among refugees in Jordan.
• Kuwait Society for the HandicappedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst-of-its-kind partnership in Kuwait banking sector to support people with special needs.
• Association of Banks in Malaysia / Association of Islamic Banks in MalaysiaminorOthersIndustry associations for banking sector collaboration and compliance.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Kuwait International Bank: Kuwait International Bank (KIB) is another Kuwaiti Islamic bank offering a full range of Shariah-compliant retail, corporate, and investment banking. While operating primarily in Kuwait, it is a useful regional peer for understanding the KFH Group's competitive landscape and home-market positioning.
• Al Rajhi Banking Group: Al Rajhi Banking Group is the largest Islamic bank in the world by assets and a leading Saudi Arabian Islamic bank. It serves as a relevant regional peer for KFH Malaysia's parent group, illustrating the scale and competitive dynamics of the broader Islamic banking sector that KFH Malaysia is part of through its KFH Group affiliation.

Broad incumbents

• AmBank Islamic Berhad: AmBank Islamic is the Islamic banking arm of AMMB Holdings (AmBank Group), offering Shariah-compliant consumer, SME, and wholesale banking services. It competes with KFH Malaysia in the Malaysian Islamic banking market, with broader parent-group distribution.
• CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad: CIMB Islamic is the Islamic banking arm of CIMB Group, one of the largest banking groups in ASEAN. It offers a broad range of Shariah-compliant products across consumer, commercial, and wholesale banking, and is a major competitor to KFH Malaysia in corporate and investment banking.
• Maybank Islamic Berhad: Maybank Islamic is the Islamic banking arm of Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank), the largest banking group in Malaysia. It operates the largest Islamic banking network in the country and competes with KFH Malaysia across retail, commercial, and corporate Islamic banking, but at substantially greater scale.
• HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad: HSBC Amanah is HSBC's Islamic banking subsidiary in Malaysia, serving retail, commercial, and corporate clients with Shariah-compliant products. As a foreign-owned Islamic bank with international reach, it is comparable to KFH Malaysia in ownership profile and cross-border capabilities.
• Public Bank Islamic: Public Bank Islamic is the Islamic banking arm of Public Bank Berhad, one of Malaysia's largest retail-focused banks. It is a major competitor in retail Islamic banking (savings, current, home, and personal financing) where KFH Malaysia also operates, with a much larger parent-group distribution footprint.
• RHB Islamic Bank Berhad: RHB Islamic is the Islamic banking arm of RHB Banking Group, offering Shariah-compliant retail, SME, and corporate banking. It competes with KFH Malaysia in similar customer segments and is part of a larger diversified banking group with broader distribution.

Direct peers

• Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad: Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad is the largest standalone Islamic bank in Malaysia, offering a full suite of Shariah-compliant retail, commercial, and corporate banking products. It is the most directly comparable peer to KFH Malaysia in terms of business model, target market, and product mix within the Malaysian Islamic banking landscape.
• Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad: Bank Muamalat Malaysia is another standalone Islamic bank in Malaysia with a similar scale profile to KFH Malaysia and a comparable focus on retail and small-business Shariah-compliant banking. It is the closest direct peer in terms of size, branch network, and competitive positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kfhgroup_eng

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad