This Maybank Investment Bank Forex review explores the forex services provided by Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB), a subsidiary of Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank), one of Southeast Asia’s largest banking groups. Maybank IB offers a range of forex solutions primarily geared toward institutional and high-net-worth clients, with strict regulatory compliance under Malaysian and regional financial authorities. It does not operate as a retail FX/CFD broker in the traditional online trading space.

Regulation and Safety

Maybank Investment Bank is fully regulated in Malaysia and operates under strict financial oversight:

• Licensed by: Securities Commission Malaysia (SC)
• Parent Bank Regulator: Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM)
• Publicly listed and subject to internal and external audits
• Adheres to Basel III capital requirements

Clients benefit from institutional-grade compliance, legal safeguards, and segregation of funds within a Tier-1 banking environment.

Execution Model and Trading Platforms

Maybank IB’s forex execution is primarily OTC and voice-driven, not retail electronic execution. For institutional and corporate clients, the bank offers:

• Direct dealing desks for FX spot, forward, and swaps
• Electronic platforms via Maybank2u Biz and treasury portals
• Access to Bloomberg FXGO and Reuters Dealing for corporates

No MetaTrader or cTrader platforms are offered. FIX API access may be available via the treasury desk on request.

Markets and Instruments

Maybank Investment Bank provides comprehensive forex and money market services, including:

• FX Spot – Major and regional Asian pairs
• FX Forward – Hedging contracts up to 12 months
• FX Swaps and Cross-Currency Swaps
• Deliverable FX – MYR and ASEAN currencies
• Non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) – On request

CFDs, indices, and crypto trading are not offered. The bank focuses on deliverable and hedging FX solutions.

Accounts, Spreads and Leverage

Forex services at Maybank IB are designed for corporate, institutional, and HNW clients. Typical features include:

• No retail trading accounts or leverage
• Custom spreads based on volume and client profile
• Pricing derived from interbank liquidity
• Minimum transaction sizes apply (e.g., USD 100,000+)

No margin trading is permitted for individuals. All trades are settled through segregated accounts within Maybank.

Funding and Base Currencies

Clients interact directly with Maybank corporate banking for settlement:

• Base currencies include MYR, USD, SGD, EUR, and other G10/ASEAN currencies
• Transfers via internal Maybank accounts or SWIFT
• No credit card or crypto funding accepted

Settlement times follow T+2 conventions, with same-day deals possible for certain pairs.

Client Protections and Features

• Institutional-grade fund security within Maybank
• Counterparty credit risk policies and risk limits
• Client onboarding under strict AML/KYC policies
• 24/6 dedicated treasury support for approved clients

There is no retail investor compensation scheme, as Maybank IB serves professional and corporate clients only.

Institutional and Retail Offering

Maybank IB is not a retail forex broker. Its services cater exclusively to:

• Institutional: Corporate FX hedging, swaps, deliverable FX, and liquidity provisioning
• Retail: Not supported – no MetaTrader, leverage, or CFDs

Retail investors interested in forex must go through Maybank’s personal banking services or managed FX solutions.

Pros

• Highly regulated by Malaysian authorities
• Strong fund safety and credit policies
• Dedicated FX services for corporates and institutions
• Custom FX hedging and forward contracts
• Access to ASEAN and deliverable currencies

Cons

• No retail forex trading platform or leveraged trading
• High entry thresholds for institutional access
• No support for crypto, CFDs, or indices
• Limited electronic trading interface for individuals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Maybank Investment Bank regulated?

Yes, Maybank Investment Bank is regulated by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and operates under Bank Negara Malaysia’s oversight.

Can retail traders access forex through Maybank IB?

No, Maybank IB offers forex services only to corporate and institutional clients, not individual retail traders.

Does Maybank IB offer MetaTrader or cTrader?

No, Maybank IB does not offer MetaTrader or any retail trading platforms. Execution is handled via treasury or third-party institutional tools.

What forex instruments are available?

FX spot, forwards, swaps, and cross-currency products in G10 and ASEAN currencies are available for approved clients.

Is leverage available at Maybank IB?

No, Maybank IB does not offer leveraged forex trading to retail clients. All FX contracts are deliverable or hedging-based.