What it does: A full-fledged Islamic bank that offers shariah-compliant products and solutions to corporate, consumer, commercial, micro-financing, and trade finance customers.
Best known for: This Malaysian bank is a leader in agricultural financing and values-based banking. Agrobank shapes the country's agricultural development across eight regions with over 184 branches. It is the first bank in Malaysia and the Asia Pacific to offer a debit card product for business customers based on Shariah principles.
Staff stats: 3,400+
The good bits: Extensive benefits, work-life balance, and a positive work environment with supportive management. Agrobank allows graduates to work with purpose, as it directly contributes to the development of Malaysia’s agricultural community. Some insiders often praised the company for having a relaxed atmosphere as opposed to other more fast-paced banks.
The not-so-good bits: A multi-generational workforce that lacks unity. While the company has a relaxed atmosphere, some insiders also mention that the work environment is too laid-back, which reduces productivity.
Agrobank, formerly named Bank Pertanian Malaysia, is a government-owned entity established in 1969. The bank was established to finance irrigation projects for padi double-cropping in Perlas and Kedah while also offering credit assistance to farmers. Just 11 years later and the bank emerged to become Malaysia's largest credit service provider to the agricultural sector.
Bank Pertanian finally took on its final name, Agrobank, in 2008. The bank finances the agricultural sector according to the policies of Agricultural and Agro-Based Industry Ministry, working under the Finance Ministry. It supports Bank Negara, a Malaysian Central Bank, in increasing its financial opportunities by offering access to a variety of financial services at affordable rates. Agrobank became a fully-fledged Islamic bank in July 2015.
Today, it offers comprehensive services and financing products for businesses and the agricultural community. Some of its services for agriculture include supplying agriculture production inputs and selling and processing agricultural products to broaden access to finance. As food security becomes a global concern, Agrobank has become crucial in supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
As of 2019, 71% of the bank’s branches are in rural areas in order to service the rural sector. Agrobank has a network of 192 consumer touchpoints which includes 138 branches, virtual banking, agro banking, 10 commercial financing centres, 8 agro corners and agro points, and 34 kiosks. During the first half of 2016, the bank recorded its highest total financing (RM8.1bil).
The recruitment process varies from role to role. Graduates are advised to apply online via the company's careers page or through major job sites.
Candidates may expect a series of behavioural and technical one-on-one or panel interviews with HR representatives, department heads, or directors. Depending on the graduate’s role, a variety of tests may be administered. These may include essays, aptitude tests, IQ tests, psychometric tests, or technical tests tailored to the applicant’s role. Graduates are advised to study the company's background and brush up on current events. The hiring process may take up to a month.
Agrobank offers a Young Talent Program that immerses high-potential graduates in formal and structured training development programs, on-the-job experiences, and corporate social responsibility initiatives. To apply, candidates must be single Malaysian citizens below 27 years of age, have no more than two years wor experience, have a degree from related disciplines with a minimum CGPA of 3.20 from a prestigious university and a minimum Band 3 for MUET, among others.
It is claimed that Agrobank pays industry-average salaries. Fringe benefits may include health and life insurance, and maternity and paternity leave, among others.
Agrobank's corporate social responsibility is expressed through economic development, social empowerment, and environmental sustainability.
The bank supports the economy by ensuring the growth of the agriculture industry. As an investment and credit intermediary, it offers financial solutions to smallholder farmers, women agropreneurs, and indigenous people.
To improve social-well being, it offers socio-economic solutions to the agriculture community by improving the lives of marginalised people in rural communities. This is done through a variety of CSR activities.
To care for the environment, Agrobank employs best-practice agriculture activities to achieve food security targets in sustainable ways. Through this practice, it helps produce food in a clean, efficient, and safe production system.
Insiders often described Agrobank's workplace as relaxed and laid back with rarely any sense of urgency. This is great for graduates who flourish in an easygoing workplace, but an annoyance for workers who want their time consumed productively. Regardless, graduates who are motivated by work that contributes to the greater community will find purpose in working in Agrobank as it is tied closely to Malaysia’s agriculture industry.