Businesses can now enjoy a wide range of digital business solutions with Public Bank PB Enterprise Digital SME Assist programme. This programme is part of the collaboration with several tech companies to offer a sustainable platform for business enterprise to grow by enhancing their digital capabilities in tandem with their business expansion.
 
Launched in mid-April this year, many SME and Corporate customers have benefited from this programme with increased business growth and accelerated digital transformation.
 
The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting Movement Control Order (MCO) have further highlighted how crucial digitalisation is and the need of transition to a more digital-enabled environment for business survival.
 
Public Bank (the Bank) recognises this and that businesses, particularly SMEs, require assistance to transform and digitalise their business operations in the most cost efficient manner in order to thrive in the new normal.
 
The Bank has identified pertinent areas for businesses in the current climate and collaborate with the solution providers in the fields of accounting, human resource, e-commerce, workforce, property management, digital marketing, mobile and network to assist the SME customers.
 
These vital solutions are provided through the several tech companies which the Bank has teamed up with for the benefits of the business customers.
 
The tech companies include Biztory, a cloud accounting system; Kakitangan.com, an online human resources system; EasyStore, an all-in-one e-commerce solution that allow SMEs to sell via online stores; TimeTec, a cloud and app based workforce and property management solutions provider; Exabytes, a digital marketing platform that manages websites for online businesses and Digi, one of the top telco provider in Malaysia offering business mobile plans and virtual business telephone solution to cater to all business needs.
 
Apart from benefitting the business customers, this collaboration with the tech companies will also promote these local champions with viable products to grow exponentially.
 
This is also one of the ways that Public Bank is supporting Malaysia’s local start-up and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
 
Business can look forward to more partnerships, and continues improvement to the tools as the fluids business environment continues to evolve in the new normal.

Public Bank (the Bank) has lined up multiple exciting card promotions to support Malaysia’s local tourism industry in tandem with the opening of interstate travels.
 
“PB Credit and Debit Cards members can enjoy great deals on flights, accommodations, food and beverages and holiday activities in Malaysia in conjunction with the reopening of various economic activities,” said Public Bank’s Managing Director, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Tay Ah Lek.
 
“Public Bank remains supportive of customers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic amidst the economic recovery. The Cuti-cuti Malaysia promotions will support local businesses after one and a half years of living with COVID-19,” Tan Sri Tay said.
 
As a leading bank in Malaysia with strong presence in all towns in Malaysia and having extensive base of merchant businesses, Public Bank is collaborating with BIGLIFE (operator of the BIG Rewards programme) for PB Cardmembers to enjoy up to 100% Bonus BIG Points for redemption of flights, accommodations and tour packages.
 
On top of that, Cardmembers can also enjoy Agoda’s and Klook’s attractive discounts on hotel and activities bookings with no minimum spend.
 
Reputable hotels are open for Cardmembers’ list of places to go to for amazing experiences covering accommodations, spa, food and beverages with great savings and discounts await.
 
With many hidden gems, local delicacies, sumptuous food spread, idyllic beaches and spectacular natural wonders in Malaysia, the Bank’s Cuti-cuti Malaysia promotions will quench the public’s thirst for a long awaited and much deserved holiday break.
 
The practice of new norm in operating environment with compliance with COVID-19 SOPs, as announced by the Ministry of Health sees the re-opening of many business sectors and will assist the upward momentum of the Malaysian economy. The travel bubble to Langkawi Island is one positive example of living in the new normal with SOPs.

PB Journey Mobile Application (PB Journey APP) is a new mobile application launched by Public Bank aimed to assist parents in inculcating savings habit and educating their children on financial planning.
 
The Application complements PB Journey Programmes, focuses on children and parents for a start as part of the Bank’s priority on educating the younger generation in managing wealth.
 
This Application will also provide opportunities for more interaction between parents and children during nation’s Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
 
The PB Journey APP comprises of two modules which consists of first, the Pocket Money module and second, the Goal Setting module.
 
These modules aim to create interactive learning between parents and children on monetary value and also achieving their savings goal.
 
Both parents and children can create tasks with Pocket Money module whereby children will be rewarded with Pocket Money as soon as tasks are completed. Meanwhile for Goal Setting module, the feature allows children to save pocket money and earn interest from it.
 
Parents can assist their children to set their savings goal where it can be done gradually within the goal timeframe and their targeted goal amount. The goal’s interest rate is calculated daily and credited monthly at attractive savings interest rates.
 
In addition to its application’s value, educational videos are made available to educate children on financial planning, awareness on the importance of savings and to inculcate savings habit.
 
By going through these modules, the app will serve its purpose where financial literacy among children will be fostered at a young age.

Public Islamic Bank (PIBB) is offering New-to-Bank Cardmembers of the Visa and Mastercard Platinum/Gold Credit Cards-i 50% Cash Back for their first online and grocery transactions using these cards.
 
As part of the Bank’s effort to offer more value to Cardmembers with the latest benefits and features, these newly launched cards are Shariah-compliant under Ujrah concept that complement the lifestyle of today’s Malaysian discerning consumers.
 
En. Syamsul Azuan bin Ahmad Fauzi, Chief Executive Officer of PIBB said, “The Public Islamic Bank Credit Cards-i is part of our initiative to provide a wider range of Shariah-compliant banking products and services to meet the ever changing needs of our customers, both Muslim and non-Muslim.”
 
Adapting to the minimalism concept, the cards have very distinctive ‘wau’ design and other than the interesting design, it also offers cash back features.
 
For Public Islamic Bank Visa Credit Cards-i, it offers up to 4% Cash Back on online and overseas transactions while Public Islamic Banks Mastercard Credit Cards-i gives up to 4% Cash Back on groceries and departmental stores transactions.
 
Another value-added benefit is the 0% management fee for Flexipay and Balance Transfer for the Cardmembers. Cardmembers will also be donating to a good cause while spending as 0.1% of the total dining transactions amount will be donated to Yayasan Waqaf by the Bank.
 
Staff who introduces a friend to apply for the Card who is new to the Bank will get RM50 (Platinum) and RM30 (Gold) under the Staff Incentive Campaign 2021.

Public Bank launched the “PB Golden Fortune 2021 Campaign” in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration. It was opened to all new and existing individual Public Bank customers aged 18 years old and above, the Campaign offer period was from 1 January to 31 March 2021.
 
Two exquisite limited edition auspicious gifts consisting of “24K Gold-Plated Bull of Amazing Glory” and “24K Gold-Foiled Golden Circle of Wealth” were offered under the Campaign, each symbolising prosperity and success.
 
PB Golden Fortune 2021 Campaign was designed for customers who are looking for diversified investment portfolio in achieving their financial goals. Customers could choose from a vast selection of Unit Trust Funds (UT) that cater for various investment strategies and risk tolerance levels in accordance to their risk appetites in order to achieve their financial goals.
 
Customers who purchased UT, PB Smart Link (PBSL), PB Smart Elite (PBSE) or PB ExcelLink-i (PBE-i) bundled with deposit in selected Current / Savings Accounts in were able to participate in the Campaign to get the exclusive gifts.
 
PBSL and PBSE is a Single Premium Investment-Linked Insurance Plan that provides insurance coverage upon death or Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) and investment returns. PBE-i is a Shariah-Compliant Single Contribution Investment-Linked Takaful Plan which offers a combination of Takaful protection i.e. death and TPD coverage and investment in one plan.

On 5 January 2021, Public Bank commenced its distribution and sale of a new unit trust funds, the PB U.S. Eagle Fund (PBUSEF) under the PB Series of Unit Trust Funds which is managed by Public Mutual Berhad (PMB).
 
PBUSEF is the first foreign equity fund under the PB Series of Funds which focuses its investments in the U.S. market. The Fund aims to achieve long-term capital growth by investing 75% to 98% of its net asset value (NAV) in equities comprising blue chip stocks, index stocks and growth stocks primarily in the U.S. market, with the balance invested in fixed income securities and liquid assets.
 
U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to grow by 3.8% in 2021 as consumer and investment spending recovers on the back of economic stimulus packages as well as the Federal Reserve’s monetary easing measures amounting to USD2.7 trillion. The potential rollout of an effective COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 and a gradual normalisation in business activities will also help to support the economic recovery.
 
Meanwhile, corporate earnings in the U.S. are forecast to rebound by 22.1% in 2021 after contracting by 14.5% in 2020. U.S. firms are global leaders in the new growth areas of biotechnology, fintech, cloud computing and autonomous driving. In addition, the U.S. market comprises a large number of multinational companies which have geographically-diversified revenue streams and are leveraged to growth opportunities across the global economy.
 
The initial issue price for PBUSEF is RM0.25 per unit during the 21-day initial offer period from 5 to 25 January 2021. The minimum initial investment amount is RM1,000 while the minimum additional investment amount is only RM100.