KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): CIMB Bank Bhd and CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd are partnering with 10 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with strong grassroot expertise to help frontliners and underserved communities, amid the Covid-19 crisis.

Under this initiative, customers can contribute to the NGOs by donating directly via CIMB’s charity crowdfunding portal, CIMB Cares, or by redeeming their banking or credit card bonus points online from now until June 30, 2020. All donations will be channelled fully and directly to participating NGOs.

“This initiative is part of the group’s commitment to help Malaysians weather through this crisis and eventually rebuild their lives post Covid-19.

“We believe this is a meaningful measure to provide convenience and flexibility to our customers who wish to contribute to the most vulnerable groups of our society through our trusted NGO partners. We would like to thank our customers for their kind thoughts and contributions towards this meaningful cause,” said CIMB Group chairman Datuk Mohd Nasir Ahmad.

For direct donations, customers and members of the public can visit the CIMB Cares website to donate to four NGOs, namely The Budimas Charitable Foundation, The Befrienders Kuala Lumpur, Persatuan Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak Terencat Akal Johor Bahru, and Pure Life Society. Non-CIMB customers can also choose to donate via this portal.

For bonus points redemption, customers can select any of six participating NGOs that are actively involved in the forefront of the Covid-19 outbreak, namely The Lost Food Project, Al-Ikhlas Hope Society, Kita Bantu Kita, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Sedulur, Project Wawasan Rakyat and Persatuan Care Selangor.

For each RM10 donation, customers can redeem 4,000 bonus points.

Banking bonus points redemption for CIMB Preferred, CIMB Prime, and CIMB@Work customers, in addition to debit card points, can be done on the CIMB Clicks website while credit card bonus points can be redeemed at the CIMB Member Rewards website.

The bank has committed more than RM2.4 million to support initiatives related to Covid-19 to date, including its contribution to the GLC Disaster Response Network (GDRN) and those made via CIMB Foundation to the NGOs that are providing relief initiatives.

The foundation, in partnership with various NGOs, has distributed meals and supplies to about 29,000 people.

CIMB has also provided various relief packages for its own customers, including deferment options on loans as well as conversion of credit card to term loans. There is also a Covid-19 Bereavement Support Programme that gives financial aid to customers or their immediate family members who have fallen victim to the coronavirus.

The banking group is listed via CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, whose shares rose one sen to RM3.57 at the time of writing. This gives it a market capitalisation of RM35.43 billion.