CIMB Group Holdings Boston Consulting Group Matrix

CIMB Group Holdings is aggressively pursuing sustainable finance, setting a target of MYR300 billion (around $63 billion) in ESG financing by 2030. This substantial commitment highlights the immense growth potential and strategic importance of sustainable solutions in the current market landscape.

The group's initiatives, including transition finance and GreenBizReady programs for SMEs, are designed to guide clients through ESG compliance and unlock new business avenues. This focus on a burgeoning and vital sector firmly establishes CIMB as a frontrunner in sustainable finance.

CIMB's digital banking initiatives, particularly in the Philippines and Vietnam, are performing as Stars. CIMB Bank Philippines saw its profit before tax surge 45-fold in 2024, reaching over 9 million customers. This rapid growth in customer base and transaction volume indicates high market growth and a strengthening market share for CIMB in these key emerging markets.

CIMB's wealth management segment is also a Star, with ASEAN wealth assets under management exceeding MYR 300 billion in FY2024. The targeted growth in CIMB Preferred customers, up 40% year-on-year by November 2023, further solidifies its position in a high-growth market.

The group's commitment to sustainable finance, aiming for MYR300 billion in ESG financing by 2030, highlights a significant growth opportunity. Initiatives like transition finance and GreenBizReady programs for SMEs are establishing CIMB as a leader in this expanding sector.

CIMB's Islamic banking solutions, operating under CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad, represent a significant cash cow for the group. This segment enjoys a high market share in the rapidly expanding Islamic finance sector.

As of December 31, 2024, CIMB Islamic held its leading position in Indonesia, with total financing growing by 9.1% year-on-year to 60.3 trillion rupiah. Deposits also saw substantial growth, increasing by 21.7% year-on-year, underscoring the segment's robust performance and customer trust.

The established competitive advantage in this niche market translates into stable and high-profit margins, making CIMB Islamic a consistent contributor to the group's overall profitability and a prime example of a successful cash cow.

CIMB's core consumer banking in Malaysia is a definite cash cow, consistently generating profits and holding a dominant market position. This strength is reinforced by accolades such as being named Best Retail Bank in Malaysia by Alpha Southeast Asia in 2024 and Domestic Retail Bank of the Year by Asian Banking & Finance in 2025. The segment thrives due to its extensive and loyal customer base, making it a bedrock of CIMB Group's financial health.

CIMB's wholesale banking in established markets like Malaysia and Singapore also functions as a significant cash cow. This division serves major corporations with high-value services, leveraging CIMB's regional network and expertise. In 2024, this segment continued to be a bedrock of financial performance, demonstrating resilience and consistent profitability in these key markets.

CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad is a notable cash cow, capitalizing on the growing Islamic finance sector with a high market share. As of December 31, 2024, CIMB Islamic's total financing in Indonesia grew 9.1% year-on-year to 60.3 trillion rupiah, with deposits increasing by 21.7%, highlighting robust performance and customer trust.

PT Bank CIMB Niaga Tbk, CIMB Group's Indonesian subsidiary, consistently contributes between 20% and 25% to the group's pre-tax profit. In the first half of 2025, CIMB Niaga posted a profit before tax of IDR4.4 trillion, underscoring its stable market position and effective management.

CIMB Group's traditional financial products, such as basic savings accounts or physical branch services, may be experiencing declining relevance. These offerings often struggle to compete with the convenience and features of digital-first fintech solutions, leading to reduced customer adoption. For instance, while CIMB has invested heavily in digital transformation, a significant portion of its legacy customer base might still rely on these older products, which are likely generating minimal returns and consuming resources that could be better allocated to growth areas.

Segments within CIMB Group Holdings that are characterized by low market share and low growth potential, often requiring significant investment to maintain their position, would be classified as Dogs. These are typically mature or declining business units that do not offer a strong competitive advantage. For example, certain legacy IT systems, despite ongoing modernization efforts, might fall into this category as they consume resources without contributing to CIMB's strategic growth objectives.

These 'Dog' segments can also include niche markets where CIMB has a minimal presence and faces intense competition, with little prospect for significant expansion. As of early 2024, CIMB's digital transformation efforts are aimed at improving efficiency, but some older operational areas or products may still represent these low-performing units, demanding attention without yielding substantial returns.

CIMB's Forward30 strategy emphasizes resource concentration on high-performing areas, implying a potential reduction in focus or divestment of these underperforming segments. These units might barely break even or even incur losses, making them candidates for strategic reassessment to optimize capital allocation and enhance overall group performance.

For instance, a specific legacy loan portfolio with declining Net Interest Margins (NIM) in a highly competitive market, where growth is minimal and cost efficiencies are hard to achieve, would exemplify a Dog. While CIMB's overall financial health is robust, these specific segments highlight areas needing strategic intervention.

CIMB Group is actively developing specialized lending and investment products tailored for emerging market segments, such as green finance and innovative SME financing. These offerings target high-growth areas where CIMB's current market share may be modest, necessitating significant investment in marketing and customer acquisition.

For instance, CIMB's commitment to sustainable finance saw them participate in the issuance of a significant sustainability-linked bond in Southeast Asia during 2024, demonstrating their proactive approach to new financial instruments. The group aims to capture a larger share of these rapidly evolving markets by introducing novel solutions designed to meet dynamic customer needs.

CIMB's ventures into generative AI and advanced analytics, alongside new cross-selling initiatives targeting underserved segments, exemplify its 'question mark' positioning. These areas offer high growth potential but require substantial investment due to low current market share and unproven returns, as seen in their 2024 digital marketing spend.

Expanding into frontier ASEAN markets also places CIMB in a question mark category. While these regions present long-term growth prospects, they demand significant capital for market penetration and navigating complex regulatory environments, with uncertain immediate financial outcomes.

CIMB's strategic focus on specialized lending, like green finance, and innovative SME financing further aligns with question marks. These initiatives target rapidly evolving, high-growth areas where the group's market share is still developing, necessitating considerable investment in marketing and customer acquisition to capture future demand.

The group's commitment to digital transformation and fintech partnerships, while crucial for future growth, represents significant upfront investment in areas with currently low market penetration, characteristic of question marks needing nurturing.