History

ABA Bank has a long and established history. Founded in 1996 as the Advanced Bank of Asia limited, ABA Bank was originally set up to provide the limited number of corporate clients with commercial banking services. However, since its incorporation much has happened. Here is a list of the bank's recent key milestones:

  • ABA Bank opened two new bank branches, bringing the total of offices to 79. 
  • ABA launched the network of ABA 24/7 standalone self-banking spots strategically located in high-traffic areas to provide extensive banking services to customers and save their time on branch visits.
  • ABA retained “B+” credit rating with Stable outlook from S&P Global Ratings Agency.
  • ABA’s PayWay platform won the second consecutive Asia eCommerce Award as the Best eCommerce Payment Solution in Cambodia.
  • The Bank launched PayWay Mobile to boost cashless payments acceptance for businesses in Cambodia.
  • The Bank extended its loan repayment facilities via collaboration with Wing.
  • ABA Bank became the member of Bakong to enable domestic transfers and to promote financial inclusion and the use of the local currency. 
  • ABA Mobile app won the prestigious award “Mobile Banking and Payment Initiative of the Year in Cambodia” by Asian Banking and Finance magazine.
  • PayWay gateway from ABA Bank was chosen as the payment solution for the websites of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia and the Single Portal for online business registration developed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
  • ABA received the “Best Bank in Cambodia 2020” title from the Euromoney magazine.
  • ABA Bank joined the SME Co-Financing Scheme 2020, an initiative of the Royal Government of Cambodia aimed at providing affordable interest loans to support SMEs in the country.
  • The Bank enhanced its mobile banking app with numerous features and services, such as Visa Direct, Instant Loan, Ria Money Transfers, Special Account Number, MoneyGram transfers, support of the Chinese language, and others.
  • Asiamoney magazine, regional arm of the international financial magazine Euromoney, named ABA the “Best Digital Bank in Cambodia 2019”.
  • ABA was named the “Best Bank in Cambodia 2020” by Global Finance magazine. 
  • The Bank actively engaged in supporting local communities suffered from the Covid-19 pandemic and floods by donating the total of $194,000 in 14 projects and initiatives.
  • ABA​ opened​ 11​ new​ branches,​ bringing​ the​ total​ number​ of​ branches​ on​ offices​ to​ 77.​ 
  • S&P​ Global​ Ratings​ Agency​ upgraded​ the​ long-term​ credit​ rating​ of​ ABA​ to​ “B+”​ from​ “B”.
  • ABA​ was​ named​ the​ Bank​ of​ the​ Year​ 2019​ in​ Cambodia​ by​ The​ Banker​ magazine.
  • National​ Bank​ of​ Canada​ acquired​ the​ remaining​ 10%​ stake​ in​ ABA​ Bank​ and​ increased​ its​ ownership​ to​ 99.99%.​ 
  • PayWay​ online​ payment​ gateway​ platform​ received​ two​ Asia​ eCommerce​ Awards.
  • ABA​ successfully​ listed​ its​ corporate​ bonds​ in​ the​ total​ amount​ of​ 84.8​ billion​ KHR​ on​ Cambodia​ Securities​ Exchange.
  • Euromoney​ financial​ magazine​ named​ ABA​ the​ “Best​ Bank​ in​ Cambodia​ 2019”,​ making​ it​ the​ sixth​ consecutive​ award.
  • ABA​ together​ with​ UN​ Association​ in​ Canada​ launched​ Financial​ Literacy​ Internship​ Program​ for​ Cambodian​ students.​ 
  • Three​ new​ products​ in​ Khmer​ Riels​ were​ launched​ to​ promote​ the​ use​ of​ the​ national​ currency​ -​ Mobile​ Savings​ Account,​ Mobile​ Riel​ Flexi​ Deposit,​ and​ E-Cash​ service.
  • The​ Bank​ opened​ a​ dedicated​ Business​ Banking​ Center​ in​ its​ Head​ Office​ to​ provide​ quality​ banking​ services​ to​ the​ growing​ segment​ of​ SMEs,​ multinational,​ and​ emerging​ local​ corporations.​ 
  • ABA​ Bank​ received​ the​ “Best​ Bank​ in​ Cambodia”​ award​ from​ Global​ Finance​ for​ the​ five​ times​ in​ a​ row.
  • The​ Bank​ extended​ its​ loan​ repayment​ facilities​ via​ partnership​ with​ TrueMoney.
  • ABA opened 18 new branches and extended operation hours at 6 branches
  • ABA officially introduced Customer Acquisition Officers for off-site account opening
  • ABA received “The Best Bank in Cambodia 2018” award by Global Finance magazine
  • The Bank relaunched its Head Office building and opened its Operation Hall
  • Global Finance named ABA Bank “Best Trade Finance Provider 2018”
  • ABA received Euromoney’s Best Bank title for the fifth time in a row
  • UnionPay (UPI) Platinum extended the lineup of privileged cards offered by ABA Bank
  • The Bank extended its loan repayment facilities via cooperation with TrueMoney, Speed Pay and SmartLuy
  • Standard & Poor’s reaffirmed ‘B' long-term and short-term issuer credit ratings of ABA with “Positive” outlook
  • ABA partnered with Visa and other Cambodian commercial banks to officially introduce QR payments in Cambodia
  • Logo of ABA updated to denote membership in National Bank of Canada Group
  • ABA Mobile app ranked #1 free financial app on iOS in Cambodia
  • Global Finance magazine recognized ABA as “Best Trade Finance Provider 2017”
  • Eight new branches and a money exchange outlet entered ABA’s branch network
  • PayWay e-commerce gateway launched to boost online businesses in Cambodia
  • Online Account Opening web service introduced to ease client onboarding process
  • ABA named “The Best Bank in Cambodia 2017” by Euromoney and Global Finance magazines
  • ABA became the first bank in Cambodia to receive two international credit ratings
  • ABA joined IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program to enhance support of Cambodian businesses
  • Long-term exclusive partnership agreement signed with Manulife Cambodia
  • ABA​ Bank​ becomes​ the​ Bank​ of​ the​ Year 2016
  • ABA​ Bank​ now​ offers​ Platinum​ cards
  • ABA​ Bank​ supports​ the 1st tennis​ tournament​ for​ juniors
  • Branch network extends to four new locations (Kandal Steung, Bati, Memot​ and Peam Ro)
  • ABA Bank’s Central branch has moved to new premises, opposite the old building on Monivong Boulevard in Phnom Penh.
  • ABA Bank has been awarded the “Relationship Award 2015” by Commerzbank.
  • Global Banking and Finance Review magazine proudly named ABA Bank the “Fastest Growing Trade Finance Bank in Cambodia”.
  • ABA in cooperation with National Bank of Cambodia and 13 financial institutions officially launched “FAST Payment”, a new service that enables customers to receive funds immediately in response to their liquidity need.
  • ABA Bank received the "Best Bank in Cambodia 2016" award from Euromoney magazine.
  • ABA Bank officially sponsored the National Judo Federation in the frameworks of the National Judo Championship 2016.
  • National Bank of Canada increased its share in ABA to 90%.
  • ABA receives second “Best Bank in Cambodia” award from Global Finance magazine.
  • ABA Bank and Manulife Cambodia officially struck a deal for distributing life insurance products in the Bank's branches.
  • ABA Bank and Agoda.com, Asia’s leading hotel booking site signed an agreement to offer special booking rates (up to 7%) to ABA cardholders.
  • As a response to the growing demand for depositing cash within the self-banking outlets, ABA Bank installs advanced cash deposit machines.
  • National Bank of Canada increased its share in ABA up to 42%
  • Eight new branches launched with five of them on the district level in rural areas
  • Cooperation with Booking.com offered an exclusive 6% discount to ABA card holders
  • Global Finance magazine named ABA “Best Emerging Markets Bank in Cambodia 2015”
  • Euromoney magazine awarded ABA as “The Best Bank in Cambodia 2015”
  • ABA started issuing UnionPay International (UPI) cards and became the largest issuer of UPI cards in Cambodia
  • ABA successfully launched ABA Mobile, the first full-scale mobile banking app in Cambodia.
  • ABA joined Easy Cash, the largest ATM network in Cambodia. This initiative gives ABA VISA cardholders access to their ABA accounts through ATMs shared by partnering banks
  • The branch network of ABA has exceeded 25 outlets after opening eight new branches (Sothearos and Central Market branches in Phnom Penh, Kampot, Kampong Thom, Pursat, PoiPet, Svay Rieng, and Kampong Chhnang). This is the biggest expansion of ABA’s branch network within a year.
  • National Bank of Canada became ABA Bank’s shareholder in July 2014. This engagement brings ABA a new bunch of advantages and opportunities.
  • ABA bank receives the Performance Excellence Award from Standard Chartered Bank for its excellent Straight Through Processing (STP) rate in USD payment in 2013.The award is given to the very selected bank clients who manage to be precise and accurate in terms of processing payments via SCB as its correspondent bank.
  • ABA Bank ties up the relations with IME, international money transfer provider from Malaysia, to offer its customers an additional channel of sending and receiving money outside the country.
  • ABA and Pay&Go, in partnership with Globe GCash (the Philippines), launched GCash - the most affordable, convenient and secure money remittance service for Filipinos living and working in Cambodia.
  • The financial magazine Euromoney named ABA Bank as the Best Bank in Cambodia 2014. We were awarded thanks to the strength of our market position and the outstanding growth of our branch network over the year and other performances, such as implementing new technological solutions.
  • ABA Bank was praised by The Banker as Bank of the Year in Cambodia 2014. The publication particularly emphasized our technological advance, financial strengths in the local market, strong management, and sound business model.
  • In December 2014, ABA Bank signed the agreement with China’s UnionPay International. The cooperation authorizes ABA Bank to issue and accept China UnionPay cards under the license of UnionPay International. That, in turn, will help us to become the largest issuer of UnionPay cards in Cambodia.
  • ABA Bank launched its new premium service ABA Priority, committed to providing an exclusive relationship banking relevant to the high net worth customers.
  • A new project with Pay&Go payment system implemented. The application platform lets clients top-up their accounts for various service providers through our ATMs and branches. Another benefit is that cash-in machines give additional possibility to repay the loans and replenish deposit accounts with cash.
  • For the second consecutive year ABA Bank awarded "Cambodia’s Domestic Technology and Operation Bank of the Year" by Asian Banking and Finance magazine (Singapore).
  • A new brand promotion campaign was launched. Along with the campaign, the slogan “ABA Bank. A partnership you can trust” was presented.
  • New cash-in machines for 24/7 deposits & services payment presented for the first time on the Cambodian market. The main advantage of cash-in machines is that customers can now replenish deposits, make transactions to ABA Bank accounts at their convenience and even make repayments on loans without having to visit Bank offices.
  • ABA Bank announces official opening of six full service branches in Takhmao, Takeo, Sihanoukville, Chom Chao, Chbar Ampov and Kampong Speu. All the branches are now representing ABA to the best of their abilities.
  • ABA Bank is the first Cambodian bank to launch 3D-SECURE service for its VISA & Master Cardholders. The 3D-Secure system provides an extra layer of protection when making transactions online.
  • Following the plans to expand its branches and ATM network, ABA Bank opened another branch in the capital - Stung Mean Chey.
  • Significant attention was paid to renovation of the Bank’s Head Office Branch, increasing presence in Siem Reap by moving to bigger premises.
  • ATM presence expanded by 30%, bringing the total number of ATMs to 41.
  • Asian Banking & Finance Magazine (Singapore) awarded ABA with "Cambodia’s Domestic Technology and Operation Bank of the Year".
  • Vietcom Bank (Vietnam) added to the network of correspondent banks.
  • ABA became the first Cambodian financial institution to be named the Retail Bank of the Year by Asian Banking & Finance Magazine, Singapore.
  • A flagship banking center for the Bank’s corporate and VIP clients in the heart of Phnom Penh opened.
  • The bank increased its presence in the provinces with the opening of a new branch in Kampong Cham.
  • As a new strategic move and within the social and economic approach, ABA has tailored a special Micro-business programme offering to clients much better terms and conditions compared to MFI and other banks.
  • Developing its risk management strategy, ABA set up the risk management department, enabling to assume conscious exposures to credit, market, liquidity and operational risks.
  • China Construction Bank (China) and Standard Chartered Bank (Thailand) became correspondent partners of ABA.
  • ABA won the prestigious Golden Award in the HSBC Global Payments and Cash Management category for its excellence in international payment and cash management services.
  • The correspondent network of ABA comprised JP Morgan Chase Bank (USA) and Standard Chartered Bank (UK).
  • Visa Debit and Credit (Classic and Gold) cards issuing was implemented.
  • Rebranding process staked the name of ABA Bank. A new advertisement campaign launched.
  • The Bank added MoneyGram Payment System and small business loan facilities to its portfolio.
  • Phnom Penh branch network expanded again to include a Toul Kork branch as well as another in Borei Keyla.
  • DBS Bank (Singapore) started correspondent relations with ABA Bank.
  • ABA started issuing MasterCard debit and credit (Standard and Gold) cards.
  • Launch of the country's most technologically advanced internet banking service iBank. 
  • Agreement with Mastercard that resulted in the roll out of ATM and POS terminals across Cambodia.
  • The bank's network grew even further with the addition of four more branches in Phnom Penh and one in Battambang.
  • CommerzBank AG (Germany) and Mashreqbank (Hong Kong) became our correspondent partners.
  • Central Asia based emerging markets private equity firm acquired a 100% stake of ABA bank.
  • First 'provincial' branch in Siem Reap opened.
  • ABA bank began expanding into the SME and retail banking sectors.
  • Correspondent ties with HSBC Bank.