1974 - Pertanian Baring Sanwa Multinational Bank (PBSM) established in Kuala Lumpur and launched by Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein
1986 - PBSM changes name to Commerce International Merchant Bankers Berhad (CIMB) after acquisition by Bank of Commerce.
1987 - Bank of Commerce successfully lists on Bursa Malaysia
1991 - Bank of Commerce merges with United Asian Bank. In a major restructure, the merged banks become Bank of Commerce (Malaysia) Berhad, under holding company Commerce-Asset Holding Berhad (CAHB). CIMB becomes a separate CAHB subsidiary.
1999 - Bank of Commerce (Malaysia) Berhad merges with Bank Bumiputra Malaysia Berhad to form Bumiputra-Commerce Bank Berhad.
2002 - CAHB takes a majority stake in Indonesia’s PT Bank Niaga Tbk.
2003 - CIMB lists on Bursa Malaysia. The listing lasts only three years and delivers returns of 340% to shareholders.
2005 - CIMB acquires GK Goh Securities in Singapore. In a major corporate restructure to create a universal bank, CIMB acquires sister company Bumiputra-Commerce Bank from holding company CAHB. Holding company CAHB is renamed Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Berhad.
2006 - CIMB acquires Southern Bank. The new-look CIMB Group launches in the presence of the Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
2008 - CIMB Niaga established through a merger between Bank Niaga and Bank Lippo. CIMB Group acquires BankThai and the following year renames it CIMB Thai.
2009 - CIMB Group launches retail banking operations in Singapore. CIMB Group acquires a 19.99% stake in the Bank of Yingkou, China. Holding company BCHB is renamed as CIMB Group Holdings Berhad
2010 - CIMB Group launches banking operations in Cambodia, bringing retail banking presence to five ASEAN nations – Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia.
2012 - CIMB Group starts the acquisition of most of the Asia Pacific cash equities and associated investment banking businesses of the Royal Bank of Scotland, and expands or adds operations in Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, London and New York. CIMB Group acquires SICCO Securities, a Thai stock-broking company.
2013 - CIMB Group completes its Asia Pacific investment banking platform with new operations in Taiwan and India and Korea. The Group moves into its new 40-storey headquarters in Menara CIMB, located at the high-tech hub of Kuala Lumpur Sentral.
2016 - CIMB opens its first branch in Vietnam. This 100% owned subsidiary allows CIMB to establish its presence in the country as a universal banking platform and strengthen its banking franchise in ASEAN.
2017 - CIMB and China Galaxy Securities Group become 50:50 shareholders in CIMB Securities International Pte, Ltd., repositioning CIMB’s stockbroking business as a pure play broker with the client base of a universal ASEAN bank
2018 - CIMB received approvals from the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP) to establish and operate its banking business in the Philippines. With these approvals, CIMB Bank Philippines Inc, launched its digital retail banking business in December 2018 establishing CIMB’s presence in all 10 ASEAN countries.
