CIMB Group claims CSR 'part of DNA'

Giving back to the community has become a part of the DNA of Malaysia-based CIMB Group, whose universal banking operation covers the Asean region, with a presence in 14 countries.

The group's desire to bring about long-term sustainable benefits to the communities in which it operates led to the formation of CIMB Foundation in November 2007, and a focus on three areas - community development, sports and education.

 To date, CIMB Foundation has funded more than 530 projects, with total grants exceeding 40 million Malaysian ringgits (Bt402.27 million), benefiting communities served by CIMB branches in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

In Thailand, CIMB Thai Bank's CSR activities are conducted through Community Link and other programmes, benefiting people from all walks of life, including people with disabilities, single parents, at-risk youths, rural school children, budding sports performers and many other groups that are needy or disadvantaged 

 CIMB Thai Bank's president and chief executive Subhak Siwaraksa said his bank was granted financial support from the CIMB Foundation in Malaysia to conduct activities under the Community Link project. These activities will be maintained over a long term to ensure sustainable social development.

 When CIMB Thai Bank identifies community problems requiring assistance, it sends survey staff into the communities to determine where the real problems exist, and then it forwards a proposal to Malaysia for approval.

Ongoing activities include mini farming, equipment donations and educational scholarships.

The mini farming activities are centred on Chao Boon Kerd school in Ang Thong province, where the bank teaches the children mini-farming techniques for producing food. The mini farms grow mushrooms, catfish and frogs in cement ponds, and organic vegetables. Scholarships are provided for teachers and students who join training workshops of the Young Soil Doctor Project, run by the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology and the Land Development Department.

 CIMB Thai Bank has also used social networking to invite bank customers and staff to join in planting vetiver grass at the Chao Boon Kerd school and painting a basketball court and school rooms. The bank has also donated Bt100,000 to support its activities at the school, coming from people who made donations at its booth at the recent Money Expo.

 To help disabled people to find careers, CIMB Thai Bank has also supported the Foundation for the Support and Development of Disabled Persons by donating computers with graphic software, upgrading existing computers, installing Internet access and improving the foundation's electrical system.

The bank led about 140 staff volunteers to paint basketball and badminton courts and generally improve the foundation's physical environment.

 CIMB Thai Bank also pursues similar activities at schools in remote provinces.

Subhak said the bank focused on communities around remote schools in an effort to lift the quality of life of local people. It provides health examinations for poor people in remote areas and helps them to access public health services.

CIMB Thai Bank has many projects that are being developed as proposals to the CIMB Foundation. All of the group's CSR activities are long-term projects in order to ensure sustainable social development, he said.