For a home-grown Bruneian bank, this is a milestone we are truly proud of.
 
What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is how the ranking was determined. Banks are compared against similar-sized institutions over a rolling three-year period across profitability, growth and earnings quality, capital and funding resilience, and asset quality and efficiency. Unlike a conventional award submission, the Forbes ranking is based on an independent, KPI-based assessment by Statista.
 
Building on strong foundations

The three-year period assessed by Forbes has been one of continued growth for Baiduri Bank, alongside stronger capital and improving asset quality.

Net profit reached a record BND97.17 million in 2025, up from BND90.29 million in 2023. Over the same period, Tier 1 capital increased by more than 20%, while the net non-performing loan ratio improved from 3.47% to 1.84%. These gains strengthened the Bank’s financial position as the business continued to grow.

This progress continued in 2025 despite lower global interest rates. Loans and advances grew by around a third from the previous year, supported by growth across the Bank’s businesses, while customer deposits also increased. The result is a stronger base from which the Bank can continue to grow, invest and pursue new opportunities.

Growth across the business

The Bank also saw encouraging growth across its businesses and markets.

Institutional Banking increased its participation in syndicated and trade-related transactions in 2025, supported by a wider network of institutional relationships. The opening of Baiduri Bank’s first overseas Representative Office in Singapore strengthened this regional connectivity, providing a platform to deepen relationships with financial institutions and support cross-border opportunities.
 
Corporate Banking continued to support businesses through tailored financing while expanding its capabilities in syndicated and sustainable financing. This included support for Brunei’s first large-scale 30-megawatt solar photovoltaic project and a further 12MWp solar development.

Retail Banking also continued to grow across personal and home financing, cards and investments, with overall card spending up 11.3% in 2025. Securities trading volumes rose 89% from the previous year, while the number of Baiduri Invest trading accounts increased by 25%, reflecting growing customer interest in investing and building long-term financial confidence.

Deepening customer relationships

Growth in Retail Banking has also been accompanied by a stronger focus on financial wellness and financial empowerment.

The Financial Wellness Centre, launched in 2025 as the first facility of its kind in Brunei and open to all Bruneians, provides personalised guidance, practical tools and access to financial planners to help individuals make more confident financial decisions.

In 2026, the Home Loan Centre at Amber Hills extended this approach to the home ownership journey, with dedicated guidance around affordability, financing options and long-term planning. These initiatives strengthen the Bank’s role in supporting customers through different stages of their financial journey.

Strengthening how we operate
 
At the same time, the Bank has continued to strengthen its technology infrastructure, risk frameworks, governance and operating model. This includes advancing the core banking transformation, digitising corporate lending, expanding automation, strengthening data governance and building capabilities in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

The ongoing transition towards a cloud-native core banking platform, supported by the Bank’s internally developed Athena middleware, is intended to create a more scalable foundation for growth, faster innovation, improved customer experience and greater operational efficiency.

Developing our people

Our people remain central to the Bank’s growth and transformation. Employee engagement reached a new high of 81% in 2026, above the global benchmark of 71%.
 
This reflects continued investment in leadership, career development, employee wellbeing and listening to what matters to our people. Programmes such as STEP UP, the Leadership Academy, the Emerging Leaders Mentoring Programme and the International Banking Programme are helping to build digital readiness and leadership capability.

Looking ahead

Being ranked #43 among 149 comparable banks globally and standing as the only Bruneian bank recognised is a significant milestone for Baiduri Bank. It reflects how far the Bank has come, with stronger regional connections and a steadfast commitment to Brunei.

As we go forward, we will continue to focus on deepening regional relationships, diversifying the business and investing in the capabilities needed for long-term growth, while continuing to strengthen financial wellbeing, support local businesses, and contribute to national development.

This recognition affirms the progress we have made and the strength of our foundations for future growth.