By S BIRRUNTHA

AFFIN Bank Bhd aims to increase its new debit and credit card consumers by 15% next year as the lender sets the goal to cross the one-million mark for its card user base.

Group CEO Kamarul Ariffin Mohd Jamil said the bank has more than 900,000 debit and credit cardholders presently.

He said in 2018, Affin Bank registered a 30% increase for its debit and credit card users.

“We are currently aiming to break the one-million milestone by next year. Next year, we are optimistic of achieving a 15% growth for new credit and debit cardholders as our business grows.

“We will be running various interesting initiatives and campaigns to encourage more customers to make Affin Bank their bank and card of choice,” he said after the bank’s “Scootvaganza” campaign prize-giving ceremony in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Kamarul Ariffin said the bank is focusing on the growth of this business segment as it is relatively new in the sector.

“For now, our card base and outstanding loans are developing well. We will also be focusing on and investing more in terms of digital transformation.

“Last year, we launched our new digital segments such as the Affin-Online and AffinPay, in which customers can make their payment online using their mobile phone.

“Next year, we will be launching our corporate Internet banking site,” he said, adding that the bank started its digital transformation back in 2017.

“To this date, we have invested over RM100 million for the advancement of our digital segment,” he said.

During the event, Affin Bank presented prizes to winners of “Scootvaganza is Back” campaign, in which the winners walked home with a Vespa Primevera 150 ABS each.

There were also eight monthly prize winners who brought home a specialised Allez E5 Road Bike each.

The campaign ran from May 16 to Sept 16, 2019. Affin Bank cardholders earned entries automatically when they used Affin Bank cards.

The bank is also partnering Enrich to reward Affin Bank card members with 2.5 million Enrich Miles.

From Nov 1, 2019, to Feb 29, 2020, the cardholders will automatically earn entries by spending with their Affin cards.

New members who have successfully applied for an Affin Bank credit card during the campaign period will gain extra entries.

Kamarul Ariffin said these campaigns are among the initiatives to strengthen its relationships with its customers.

For the nine months period, Affin Bank’s net profit rose 2% to RM365.66 million from RM359.34 million in the same period a year ago.