OCBC Bank Launches 'Women Unlimited' with Female Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders

• OCBC Women Unlimited was formally launched, uniting women entrepreneurs and business leaders
• One of the guests was Hartini Halim, founder of Tini's Spa Beauty Slimming
• Inthira Kalanjiam, founder and chief executive of Lafre Global, was also present during the launch

OCBC Bank has launched OCBC Women Unlimited, an initiative to empower women entrepreneurs in Malaysia through financing, networking and learning opportunities.

As part of the initiative, the Bank will be offering collateral-free financing of up to RM600,000 on special terms and with the support of a RM100 million Islamic Portfolio Guarantee-i ("PG-i") facility between OCBC Al-Amin Bank Bhd, its Islamic banking subsidiary and Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Bhd ("CGC").

"Access to capital is one of the biggest challenges of women entrepreneurs, due to the lack of collateral. This prevents them from seeking innovative and expansion opportunities. Women Unlimited addresses this fundamental issue by providing collateral free financing options to create new opportunities for growth," said Tan Chor Sen, CEO of OCBC Malaysia.

He emphasized that women now account for 21 percent of the bank's SME portfolio, from only 13 percent in 2020, with most diversifying into tech-enabled businesses in addition to other areas such as retail and healthcare.

The programme also has an emphasis on building a strong support system through networking platforms, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities, which allow women SMEs to network, learn, and develop.

Entrepreneurs such as Inthira Kalanjiam, Lafre Global's Johor-based founder and CEO, supported the move, describing it as a "game changer" for female-led SMEs that are still struggling despite making some 20 percent to Malaysia's GDP.

OCBC Women Unlimited was launched in Singapore for the first time in 2024 and forms part of OCBC Group's broader regional effort to promote leadership, resilience, and economic contribution by women.

OCBC has also been awarded several accolades, such as Asia's Best Bank for SMEs (Euromoney 2025), Best SME Bank in Malaysia (Alpha Southeast Asia), and Best Commercial Bank for SMEs (Finance Asia 2024 & 2025).