RHB Enhances Multi-currency Debit Card For Seamless Overseas Transactions
By Durratul Ain Ahmad Fuad
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- RHB Banking Group plans to enhance its multi-currency debit card by adding two or three more foreign currencies by the second quarter of 2026, said its consumer finance head, Sien Vee Loc.
Introduced in 2019 to serve customers with regular overseas needs such as salary crediting, education, investments and business remittances, the RHB Multi Currency Debit Card initially supported fewer than 20 currencies.
Sien said the bank has since expanded the offering to 34 currencies, including the Korean won, Saudi riyal and Indonesian rupiah, with plans to add more.
“We are assessing opportunities to introduce additional currencies while closely monitoring evolving customer travel behaviour and emerging destinations for both business and personal travel.
“At least two or three additional currencies are in the pipeline. We are finalising the details and hope to announce them by the second quarter of next year,” he told Bernama recently.
According to Sien, RHB Bank remains committed to strengthening the travel ecosystem and serving the growing Muslim-friendly market.
Its core customer segments include travellers, parents and students pursuing overseas education, as well as investors in gold, silver and term deposits, he said.
“We offer the RHB Multi Currency Debit Card and the RHB Premier Multi Currency Debit Card, both with no currency conversion fees, although overseas ATM withdrawals incur a RM12 fee.
“Even so, customers still save on conversion costs. For example, when withdrawing money abroad, the card uses the currency already funded, making it highly convenient,” he said.
Available across conventional and Islamic banking, the cards provide flexibility to transact in multiple currencies, making international payments seamless and cost-effective for frequent travellers, students and business customers, he added.
Sien also said customers can lock in exchange rates at any time using the cards.
“For instance, given current market conditions, the Japanese yen is at a favourable level, allowing customers to secure it now if they are planning a future trip to Japan or for investment purposes,” he said.
On security, he said the cards use Europay, Mastercard and Visa (EMV) chip technology and can be linked to digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, which require Face ID, fingerprint authentication or passcodes for each transaction.
Customers can also immediately block their card via the RHB Mobile Banking app if it is lost, stolen or suspected of misuse, he said.
“These are among the measures we provide to help customers protect their transactions. However, the most important step is for customers not to share their PIN with anyone,” he added.
The RHB Multi-Currency Debit Card recorded a 70 per cent year-on-year growth in customer acquisition, with more than 130,000 cards issued as of October 2025.
RHB Bank is targeting stronger expansion next year, aiming for up to 80 per cent penetration within its premier customer segment, and is also exploring the introduction of a virtual card.
The foreign currencies offered include the US dollar, Swiss franc, British pound, Qatari riyal, Jordanian dinar, Vietnamese dong, euro, Chinese yuan, South African rand, Hong Kong dollar, Bangladeshi taka, Danish krone, Cambodian riel and Turkish lira.
Other supported currencies are the Korean won, Saudi riyal, Indonesian rupiah, Singapore dollar, United Arab Emirates dirham, Canadian dollar, Pakistani rupee, Norwegian krone, Bahraini dinar, Mexican peso, New Zealand dollar, Australian dollar, Brunei dollar, Thai baht, Philippine peso, Swedish krona, Indian rupee, Japanese yen and Polish zloty.
The RHB Multi Currency Debit Card and RHB Premier Multi Currency Debit Card can be applied for online or at any RHB branch.
Online applications typically take about a week for delivery to the customer’s home.
For branch applications, customers may receive the card immediately or opt for home delivery if they choose a personalised card with their name embossed.
-- BERNAMA
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