What Asian Banking School does

Asian Banking School (ABS) is a Malaysia-headquartered, ASEAN-focused specialised banking training provider established in 2012 and operating through Asian Banking School Sdn Bhd (and, since 2024, ABS (S) Pte Ltd in Singapore). Its core function is delivering industry-current banking education across compliance, risk management, investment banking, sustainable finance, treasury and capital markets, digital banking, and AI/blockchain-related topics, served to commercial banks, Islamic banks, investment banks, insurers, asset managers, exchanges, regulators, and professional services firms across Malaysia and Singapore. The company's product surface spans four pillars: open-enrolment public programmes delivered in face-to-face, online, and hybrid modes; premium executive education co-delivered with global business schools (Cambridge Judge, Oxford Saïd, Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt Dubai, INSEAD, Frankfurt School, Bangor University); AICB-aligned professional qualification exam preparation; and innovative graduate training pipelines for entry-level banking talent, plus customised in-house corporate programmes.

The underlying technology is a multi-modal training and education delivery platform supporting face-to-face, online, and hybrid formats, with payments processed via iPay88 (capped at MYR 15,000 per transaction) and registration handled through Malaysia and Singapore-specific portals. ABS monetises on a unit-pricing, pay-as-you-go basis with widely varying price points — MYR 1,700 for a public programme such as The Psychology of Finance and Investment Decisions, MYR 50,000 per participant for the Edinburgh Emerging Banking Leaders Programme, and MYR 65,000 per participant for the Oxford Saïd Global Shifts and Risk for Banking Leaders Programme — plus negotiated in-house corporate contracts. Go-to-market is sales-led, with direct engagement to HR and Learning & Development departments at financial institutions, underpinned by regulatory and funding-channel integration (AICB accreditation, STF Credit scheme, HRD Corp claimability under Programme No. 10001443139), and IBF-STS/IBF-FTS accreditation in Singapore.

To date, ABS states it has trained over 200,000 professionals from more than 80 financial institutions across ASEAN, with 25,000+ trained annually and 1,000+ in Singapore. The company holds B Corp certification, is led by CEO Professor Colyn Gardner, and is registered as a private limited company with no disclosed external investors or parent entity.

Name

Asian Banking School

Legal name

Asian Banking School Sdn Bhd (201201039737 (1024215-T))

Website

https://asianbankingschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Asian Banking School is a Malaysian-headquartered specialised banking training provider serving 80+ financial institutions across ASEAN. It delivers public programmes, executive education with global business schools, professional qualifications, and customised corporate training to over 25,000 banking professionals annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Banking Education & Professional Training

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Business and Secretarial Schools (61141), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Banking & Capital Markets (EDABALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Finance, Accounting & Economics Schools (EDAHAHAD), Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA), Banking & Payments (Accounts, Cards, Digital Payments) (EDAAAJAD)

Keywords

• Banking education
• Professional training
• Executive development
• Financial certification
• Talent development

Headquarters

HQ city

Kuala Lumpur

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Programmes: Open enrollment training programs delivered in-person, online or hybrid formats across banking areas including compliance, risk management, investment banking, sustainable finance, treasury & capital markets, and professional development.
2. Executive Education: Premium executive education programs delivered in collaboration with top business schools (Cambridge Judge, Oxford Saïd, Edinburgh Business School, INSEAD, Frankfurt School, Heriot-Watt University) with international cohort experiences and accommodation included in program fees.
3. Professional Qualifications: Training workshops essential to study plans for professional qualification programme exams, aligned with AICB and other certification bodies.
4. Graduate Training: Innovative graduate training programmes designed for young graduates and entry level professionals entering the banking industry.
5. In-House/Customized Training: Tailored training programmes developed specifically aligned with organizational strategic learning requirements, delivered at client premises.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Asian Banking School is a specialized professional training institution that delivers banking and financial services education to industry professionals. It offers executive development programmes, professional certification courses, and public/open-enrolment programmes, serving both corporate clients (banks and financial institutions) and individual professionals across Southeast Asia. The school partners with globally recognized business schools to deliver its curriculum.

Product overview

Asian Banking School (ABS) offers a comprehensive suite of banking training programmes structured into four main categories: Public Programmes (open enrolment courses), Executive Education (residential programmes with global business schools), Professional Qualifications (exam preparation), and Graduate Training. The company partners with leading institutions including Cambridge Judge Business School, Oxford Saïd Business School, University of Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, INSEAD, and Frankfurt School. Programmes cover banking areas including compliance, risk management, investment banking, sustainable finance, treasury, digital banking, and emerging technologies like AI and blockchain. ABS operates across Malaysia and Singapore with both in-person and online delivery options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Development Programmes Advanced leadership and management programmes designed for senior banking and finance professionals to develop strategic, governance, and leadership capabilities. Targeted at banks, financial institutions, and their senior executives across Southeast Asia.
• Professional Certification Programmes Structured certification courses covering specialized banking disciplines (risk, compliance, treasury, credit, etc.) intended for individual practitioners and institutional cohorts seeking industry-recognized credentials.
• Public (Open-Enrolment) Programmes Short-duration, open-enrolment training courses on focused banking topics, available to individual professionals who register independently rather than through a corporate sponsor.
• Custom Corporate Training Bespoke, in-house training solutions tailored to a client bank's specific business needs, curriculum, and cohorts, delivered under contract to financial institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200,000+ professionals trained from 80+ financial institutions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.

• Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) SingaporecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2025Collaborative partnership for sustainable finance masterclass and Singapore market programmes. IBF-ABS Sustainable Finance Masterclass celebrating ABS's 1st anniversary in Singapore.
• Cambridge Judge Business SchoolflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerABS IN Cambridge - Executive Education Cambridge Summer School Programme that equips participants with skills to lead innovative organisations ready for future competition. Residential programme delivered at Cambridge Judge Business School campus.
• Oxford Saïd Business SchoolflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerABS IN Kuala Lumpur & London - Executive Education Global Banking Leaders Programme shaping Post-Pandemic Leadership for Finance Professionals. Also offers Global Shifts and Risk for Banking Leaders Programme delivered at Oxford campus.
• Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerABS IN cambridge - Executive Education with Edinburgh Business School. Programs include Emerging Banking Leaders Programme delivered at University of Edinburgh Business School and Banking Innovation in the Middle East Programme in collaboration with Heriot-Watt University Dubai.
• INSEADmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for executive education programmes in banking and finance. INSEAD is one of the world's largest and fiercest business schools.
• Frankfurt School of Finance & ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for executive education programmes in banking and finance. Frankfurt School is a leading finance-focused business school in Germany.
• Bangor UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for executive education programmes in banking and finance. Bangor University offers specialized banking and finance programs.
• Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAICB is a premier professional body for bankers in Malaysia. ABS operates from AICB premises (Level 3, Bangunan AICB) and offers programmes aligned with AICB professional qualifications. STF Credit scheme managed through AICB.
• STF Resources Sdn Bhd (STFR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTF Credit Utilisation scheme management. STFR notifies financial institutions of their Credit balances monthly and manages credit utilization for training programme purchases.
• Heriot-Watt University DubaimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking Innovation in the Middle East Programme delivered in collaboration with Heriot-Watt University Dubai. Venue at Heriot-Watt University Dubai campus with accommodation at Grand Plaza Movenpick Hotel.
• IBFIM (Islamic Banking & Finance Institute Malaysia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for Islamic banking and finance professional development programmes in Malaysia.
• SIDC (Securities Industry Development Corporation)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for capital markets and securities industry professional development programmes.
• Financial Markets Association Malaysia (FMAM)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for treasury and capital markets professional development. Previously known as Persatuan Pasaran Kewangan Malaysia (PPKM).
• Finance Accreditation Agency (FAA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for financial services professional accreditation and certification programmes.
• International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Islamic finance education and professional development in collaboration with INCEIF University.
• University of Edinburgh Business SchoolflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmerging Banking Leaders Programme delivered at University of Edinburgh Business School. Classes held in MBA Suite with welcome events at Glasshouse Hotel and farewell dinner at National Museum of Scotland.
• JB SEED Sdn Bhd (B Corp)minorOthersJB SEED is a B Corp certified impact investment company. ABS displays JBSEEL-B-Corp-Logo indicating membership/partnership in B Corp community for sustainable business practices.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Bankers Academy: Provider of compliance and professional training courses targeted at retail and commercial banks globally. Comparable as a niche training provider competing for compliance, AML, and risk training budgets in financial institutions.
• Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB): Malaysia's premier professional body for bankers and ABS's host/partner at Bangunan AICB. Comparable as it administers professional banking qualifications and continuing professional development, though its core focus is certification rather than training delivery.

Direct peers

• SEACEN (Southeast Asian Central Banks) Research and Training Centre: Specialised central bank training and research centre serving ASEAN central banks and supervisors. Comparable as a regional banking-focused training provider with similar institutional client base (central banks, regulators, supervisors).
• Fitch Learning: Specialist training arm of Fitch Group delivering banking, risk, and credit-related courses globally. Directly comparable as a premium financial-services training provider competing for bank L&D budgets in ASEAN.
• CISI (Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment): UK-headquartered professional body offering banking and capital markets qualifications and training. Comparable as a specialist financial-services training and credentialing organisation competing for the same banking professional education budgets.
• Frankfurt School of Finance & Management: German-based specialist finance and banking school offering executive education, professional training, and degree programmes. Directly comparable as a banking-focused professional training provider and is also a partner of ABS.
• Cass Business School (Bayes) Executive Education: City University London's business school offering executive education with a strong banking and finance focus. Directly comparable as a business school partner of ABS (delivering the Global Banking Leaders Programme) and a peer in banking executive education.
• Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) Singapore: Singapore's national training and accreditation body for the financial services sector. Direct peer to ABS's Singapore operations, with IBF-STS and IBF-FTS accreditation frameworks that ABS programmes are aligned to.

Broad incumbents

• Moody's Analytics Training: Training arm of Moody's Analytics offering banking, credit risk, and regulatory compliance programmes. Comparable as an established global financial-services training provider serving banks and regulators.
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants): Global professional accountancy body offering qualifications and CPD training widely used by bankers. Comparable as a professional certification and continuing education provider in financial services, though with a broader accountancy focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Asian Banking School