ROAR30: Maybank's $2.5B AI Bet to Hit 13-14% ROE and Lead Islamic Finance

Maybank officially launched its ROAR30 strategy on January 20, 2026, setting a target return on equity of 13 to 14 percent by 2030. Central to this five-year roadmap is a massive RM10 billion investment in technology, data, and artificial intelligence. This capital commitment represents a significant acceleration of the group's digital transformation compared to previous strategic cycles and aims to future-proof the organization against evolving market demands.

The RM10 billion expenditure, which is approximately $2.5 billion, will be deployed through 2030 to modernize core banking and adopt cloud architecture. Maybank intends to leverage this technology to scale four key business areas: Islamic finance, wealth management, payments, and investment banking. The strategy seeks to capitalize on rising wealth and trade flows across the ASEAN region while reinforcing the bank's regional leadership.

A primary motive for this high-stakes investment is the integration of AI-powered behavioral segmentation to deliver personalized customer experiences. By utilizing machine learning, the bank aims to optimize internal productivity and upskill its workforce through a dedicated Talent Factory initiative. This technological foundation is expected to drive long-term growth and maintain the bank's focus on humanizing financial services through digital-first platforms.

While the official announcement does not name a specific tech company for acquisition, the group is prioritizing strategic partnerships to simplify cross-border trade. Maybank plans to embed halal solutions into regional supply chains via collaborations with global e-commerce platforms. These initiatives are designed to help the bank claim the top spot in global Islamic finance through an innovative banking-as-a-service (iBaaS) model.

President and Group CEO Dato’ Sri Khairussaleh Ramli stated that ROAR30 is integral to driving performance and serving stakeholders beyond the next decade. He noted that the new strategy reinforces Maybank’s purpose while supercharging growth by building businesses at scale. The goal is to ensure meaningful impact and sustainable value creation for customers and the diverse economies they serve across Southeast Asia.

Beyond technology, ROAR30 sets ambitious financial benchmarks, including a cost-to-income ratio of 47 percent or less and a net interest margin above 2.05 percent. The group is also doubling its commitment to sustainable finance, targeting RM300 billion by 2030. This strategy follows the successful completion of the M25+ program, which saw the bank reach its highest profitability levels in nearly a decade. Further details can be found on the Maybank official news page.