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Bank Muamalat launches ATLAS, Malaysia’s first faith & lifestyle-aligned Islamic digital-only bank
Pioneering Sharia-compliant faith-aligned digital banking transformation in Malaysia enabled by Backbase’s AI-powered Banking platform
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 June 2025 – Backbase, the global leader in AI-powered banking technology, announces that Bank Muamalat has officially launched ATLAS by Bank Muamalat (ATLAS), Malaysia’s first Islamic digital-only bank centered on faith and lifestyle alignment. This milestone represents a transformative leap in Bank Muamalat’s journey to redefine Islamic banking, positioning it as a pioneer in Malaysia’s rapidly expanding digital banking landscape. By harnessing Backbase’s AI-powered Banking Platform, ATLAS delivers a faith-aligned digital experience with seamless onboarding, DuitNow integration, Shariah-compliant financing, and personalized servicing — setting a new benchmark for Islamic financial services in the region.
“ATLAS is more than a digital bank. It is a bold reimagination of Islamic finance for the modern era, built around the values, lifestyles, and aspirations of our customers,” said Khairul Kamarudin, President & Chief Executive Officer of Bank Muamalat. “It reflects our commitment to leading the next era of Islamic banking that is digital, inclusive, and purpose-driven. Our collaboration with Backbase has played a key role in enabling us to deliver an experience that is seamless, secure, and rooted in faith — one that redefines how banking is lived in today’s digital world.”
A faith-driven approach to digital transformation
ATLAS is designed to meet the growing demand for digital financial solutions that align with customers’ faith and lifestyles. Since its pilot phase, the platform has already demonstrated strong early results — enabling faster rollout of new products and improving customer acquisition efficiency through a more streamlined onboarding experience.
In the coming months, ATLAS will expand its product offerings to include digital debit and credit cards, flexible personal financing, and a Shariah-compliant gold investment account. These new products will be seamlessly integrated into the existing platform and will further strengthen ATLAS’s position in the Islamic digital banking landscape.
To enhance customer loyalty, ATLAS introduces a unique rewards program that connects users to exclusive lifestyle offers through curated partners, including well-known brands and services across diverse industries.
A partnership for banking growth in Asia
Prior to launching ATLAS, Bank Muamalat faced the common industry challenge of fragmented legacy infrastructure. The Backbase AI-powered Banking Platform provided a unified and modular foundation, enabling Bank Muamalat to accelerate its digital roadmap with agility and control.
“We’re proud to support Bank Muamalat’s bold vision with our AI-powered Banking Platform,” said Riddhi Dutta, Regional Vice President for Asia at Backbase. “ATLAS is a shining example of how composable banking architecture can deliver tailored, lifestyle-aligned experiences while scaling innovation rapidly across markets. It also reinforces our growing presence in the Islamic banking sector, and exemplifies how Backbase serves as a strategic growth platform for banks seeking to modernize and expand their digital footprint.”
Backbase supports over 150 banks worldwide, including Islamic institutions like Libyan Islamic Bank, ila Bank, Bank Al Bilad, and Saudi National Bank — as well as Asia-Pacific leaders such as BDO Unibank (Philippines), HDFC Bank (India), Techcombank (Vietnam) and MyState Bank (Australia).
Hashtag: #Backbase #digitalbanking #AIPoweredBanking #ArtificialIntelligence #retailbanking #omnichannelbanking #businessbanking #smebanking #corporatebanking
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Backbase
Backbase is on a mission to put bankers back in the driver’s seat — fully equipped to lead the AI revolution and unlock remarkable growth and efficiency. At the heart of this mission is the world’s first AI-powered Banking Platform, unifying all servicing and sales journeys into an integrated suite. With Backbase, banks modernize their operations across every line of business — from Retail and SME to Commercial, Private Banking, and Wealth Management. Recognized as a category leader by Forrester, Gartner, Celent, and IDC, Backbase powers the digital and AI transformations of over 150 financial institutions worldwide. See some of their stories here.
Founded in 2003 in Amsterdam, Backbase is a global private fintech company with regional headquarters in Atlanta and Singapore, and offices across London, Sydney, Toronto, Dubai, Kraków, Cardiff, Hyderabad, and Mexico City.
Learn more at www.backbase.com.
About Bank Muamalat
Bank Muamalat is a leading Islamic bank, established on 1 October 1999, and is governed by Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 (IFSA). As a full-fledged Islamic financial institution, the bank offers its customers a broad range of services, meeting the needs of both individuals and institutions.
Bank Muamalat provides individuals with services ranging from deposit accounts, asset management, financing needs for automobiles, homes and personal use as well as wealth management products such as family and general takaful, investments, Islamic estate planning to non-financial products such as Islamic funeral management, Quranic learning and halal tours. The Bank offers corporate and institutional customers the full product range of a leading corporate and investment bank, from cash management, payment solutions including trade and export finance to international foreign exchange, financing and capital market transactions.
Bank Muamalat has a presence nationwide via a network of 68 branches. In addition, Bank Muamalat also has its electronic channels encompassing i-Muamalat (the Bank’s internet banking solution) and our Self Service Terminals (SST) which are available at almost 141 locations through its network of ATMs, CDMs and CICOs. We also provide corporate internet banking at your convenience.
Bank Muamalat is a member of the DRB-HICOM Berhad Group which owns 70% of the Bank’s shares with the remaining stake held by Khazanah Nasional Berhad.
Bank Muamalat was officially accepted as a member of Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) on 15 November 2017. Signaling a growing appetite for the values-based banking movement, Bank Muamalat is the first Islamic bank in the world and the first in the Southeast Asian region to be accepted as a member of GABV.
Media OutReach
New Documentary A MONA LISA OBSESSION from Discovery to debut December 14 in Southeast Asia
Owned by Frank Huang, an art collector and Taiwanese technology leader from Taiwan, this depiction of the Mona Lisa from his private collection adds a unique perspective to the ongoing conversation surrounding one of Leonardo da Vinci’s most iconic works.
The Mona Lisa has long captivated the world with her enigmatic smile and mysterious gaze – over centuries, many artistic interpretations inspired by the Mona Lisa have emerged, with scholars discovering more hidden details and subtle symbols, fueling the fascination of the original painting.
Catch A Mona Lisa Obsession in Southeast Asia on the Discovery Channel, Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM SGT and on Discovery Asia on Sunday, December 14 at 9:00 PM SGT.
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Note to editors:
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Discovery Channel
Media OutReach
Financial Stress Keeps Singapore Awake, while Overall Well-Being in APAC Lags Behind Global Peers
Promotion of exercise culture and therapy may boost physical and mental health
The Singapore report of the Cigna Healthcare International Health Study 2025, released today encompasses more than 11,000 respondents across 13 markets, including 1,000 in Singapore and 4,000 across the Asia-Pacific region. The study reveals that physical, mental and financial well-being are the three aspects prioritized by Singapore residents. However, financial well-being is ranked the lowest with almost four in 10 (39%) rating their financial health as “fair” or “poor”.
Raymond Ng, CEO & Country Manager, Cigna Healthcare Singapore & Australia said: “Health and vitality are key to building resilient communities. It promises the well-being of our workforce and enables us to grow and prosper as a society. While vitality and well-being levels held firm among Singapore residents, more needs to be done in today’s uncertain environment to tackle stressors that can negatively impact their physical and mental well-being.”
The key indicators of vitality and well-being in Singapore are as follows:
| Vitality Score | Overall Well-Being
(% rating as “excellent” or “very good”)
|
Top Three Areas of Well-Being
(% rating as “excellent” or “very good” in 2025) |
| 2025: 61.2
2024: 61.4 |
2025: 34%
2024: 33% |
Family well-being: 44%
Mental well-being: 36% Physical well-being: 34% |
On a regional level, overall well-being in Asia Pacific lags behind the global average, with less than three in 10 (28%) Asia-Pacific respondents rating their overall well-being as “excellent” or “very good”, compared to four in 10 (41%) globally. While physical and mental well-being are the two most important aspects of well-being for respondents globally, financial well-being is more important for those in Asia Pacific, coming in as the third most important aspect. With financial well-being remaining the weakest aspect across the globe, there is a pressing need for governments and organizations to render support to address financial concerns.
Robert Peat, Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific, Cigna Healthcare said: “Asia Pacific continues to be one of the fastest growing regions in the world. To sustain this momentum, communities and employers need to recognize that healthy people are the foundation of a healthy economy and implement measures to close the gaps in their well-being.”
Sleepless in Singapore: Financial stress as the sleep killer
While mental well-being in Singapore remains stable with more than a third of respondents rating it as “excellent” or “very good” this year, eight in 10 (79%) respondents are stressed. Their greatest stressors are the current cost of living (53%); uncertainty about the future (47%); and personal finance (43%).
Stress affects more than mental and emotional health and can have huge implications on physical well-being. Our study reveals that disrupted sleep is the most common effect of stress among respondents in the nation, with close to half (48%) of respondents who are stressed reporting this effect, compared to 38% regionally.
Therapy remains underused by Singapore respondents. Despite nearly half (49%) of respondents reporting being negatively impacted by poor mental health, nearly nine in 10 (89%) say they did not receive counselling or therapy in the past 12 months, with 77% believing they do not need it. Given the impacts of stress and poor mental health on physical and overall well-being, more efforts are needed to raise awareness about the benefits of therapy and destigmatize seeking help.
Exercise culture runs strong in Singapore
More than a quarter (26%) of respondents in Singapore rate their exercise habits as “excellent” or “very good”.
When asked how they manage their weight, two-thirds (66%) said they exercise regularly, higher than the Asia-Pacific average of 61%; with only 4% of Singapore respondents turning to medication for weight management. The findings underscore a relatively strong exercise culture and the prioritization of healthy habits among those living in the nation. Communities and organizations may leverage the growing fitness trend to enhance physical well-being.
Cautious optimism around AI in healthcare
Close to half (47%) of Singapore respondents are positive about the impact of AI on healthcare, with 45% expecting it will reduce wait times within three years. This could have an outsized impact in Singapore, as respondents here are 29% more likely to have delayed or avoided getting care due to concern with wait times than their regional counterparts.
Additionally, almost half of Singapore respondents (48%) mention a reduction in human interaction as an expected change with the advent of AI. The challenge ahead is striking the right balance between efficiency and empathy.
The full findings of the report are available here.
Hashtag: #CignaHealthcare #CignaHealthcareInternationalHealthStudy #Health #Wellness #Wellbeing
https://www.cigna.com.sg/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cigna-singapore/
https://www.facebook.com/cignasg/
https://www.instagram.com/cignasg/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Cigna Healthcare Singapore
Cigna Healthcare is a division of The Cigna Group, a global health company committed to creating a better future built on the health and vitality of every individual and every community. Cigna Healthcare is a health benefits provider that advocates for better health through every stage of life. We guide our customers through the healthcare system, empowering them with the information and insight they need to make the best choices for improving their health and vitality.
Cigna Healthcare Singapore is a strong believer of total health and wellness and prides itself on delivering personalized solutions for the health of our clients and customers. To achieve this, Cigna Healthcare Singapore works as one global team and in close partnership with its customers, network providers and communities to understand and address their diverse needs. Learn more at
www.cigna.com.sg
Media OutReach
SWISS REJU wins “JESSICA Best AI Body Slimming Award” with INDIBA
The JESSICA Beauty and Wellness Awards celebrate excellence across luxury beauty, healthcare and wellness. It is one of the most recognized beauty industry awards in Hong Kong. The organizer, JESSICA, is a major lifestyle and media company. For over 25 years, JESSICA has been reporting on fashion, lifestyle and business, as one of the most trustworthy and influential media sources in Hong Kong.
“We’re incredibly fortunate to win this new, Best AI Slimming Award with JESSICA,” said the spokesperson for SWISS REJU. “Our goal was to provide our guests with top medical aesthetic technologies. Platforms like BTL EXION and INDIBA, are exactly the type of top medical technologies which SWISS REJU is heavily investing in. The breathtaking results powered by AI, reflect the endless possibilities new technologies can bring to the beauty and slimming field”
The JESSICA Beauty and Wellness Awards is extremely selective and has a rigorous nominations and editorial selection process. Only brands that have been proven to provide genuine service and excellent results are eligible to compete. Amongst the Winners this year, are Australian organic brand “CANVAS” and Japanese household name “Panasonic VITALIFT” beauty appliances.
SWISS REJU, with its heavy investment in new and prestigious technologies such as INDIBA (recently approved in Europe under the Medical Device Regulation), offers a seamless blend of traditional wellness and innovation, allowing guests to experience what many considered to be one of the most effective slimming treatments in Hong Kong. INDIBA with its trademark Proionic 448khz technology, is loved by the Top 1% most influential users in the world, amongst them European royalties, celebrity footballers and international singers.
The recognition of this major annual Award, reaffirms SWISS REJU’s commitment to exceptional technology. It is the 12th annual award won by the brand, representing a new record.
SWISS REJU and integrative power of cutting edge technologies
SWISS REJU’s trademarked “K-Lipolysis” body contouring program offers winning technologies including INDIBA, BTL EXION, Winback, ATP LIPO X, amongst others. It is the unique contouring solution beauty lovers are craving for.
Hashtag: #SWISSREJU #熱光溶脂
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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