KUALA LUMPUR, 25 July 2008 - EON Bank Group(EON) has embarked to transform its business by adopting an aggressive technology growth through partnership with SAS Malaysia.

Speaking at a signing ceremony with SAS Malaysia today, EON Bank Group Chief Executive Officer, Albert Lau Yiong said "In today's fast evolving business environment, companies that wish to progress ahead of others, must have a competitive edge."

EON's strategic priorities include achieving sustainable and profitable growth by building scale in conventional as well as Islamic Banking businesses.

The Group had recently launched "Project Quantum Leap" where strategic initiatives including building the required infrastructure was formulated and projects with the biggest impact on revenue growth were prioritised

The business initiatives that are currently being implemented range from initiatives that are linked directly to improve various businesses as well as initiatives geared towards improving the underlying organisation structure, systems and processes.

To achieve its "Project Quantum Leap" objectives, EON will be investing about RM25million over a period of five years, in integrated banking intelligence solutions from SAS Malaysia which aims to improve the structure, control and consistency of its data landscape and organization to enable better performance management, efficient and accurate reporting and to support the initiatives of the various business units.

The holistic Banking Intelligence Solutions from SAS is tailored to the unique needs of the banking industry. SAS Banking Intelligence Solutions will be used to improve customer relationship management, business performance management, risk management, compliance and systems performance. In addition, an enterprise - wide business scorecard with banking - specific key performance indicators (KPIs) would provide a single, strategic view of an enterprise to help drive the banking strategies forward

"The enterprise wide implementation in EON Bank Group will mark a new era in the bank's pursuit to reinvent banking for its customers," said Jimmy Cheah, Managing Director of SAS Malaysia.

"Equipped with the power to know and supported by the right people, EON Bank Group will be able to transform its operations to be more efficient, customer-focused and achieve its aim to be a relationship driven financial institution."

EON Capital Berhad was incorporated on 5 December 1997 with a mission to be one of Malaysia’s leading financial service institution. EON Capital Berhad was listed on the Malaysia's Stock Exchange ( "Bursa Malaysia" ) since 23 December 2002.

EON Bank Group has focused to become a leader in three – core business, Consumer Banking, SME Banking and Islamic Banking. As a mid- sized banking group, EON Bank Group will continue to strengthen its position by driving the Consumer Banking, SME Banking and Islamic Banking.

EON Bank Group will continue to leverage with its 135 branches and 5,487 employees ( as at June 30, 2008 ) with their strong sales and marketing teams and to accelerate its financial products and services with attractive package and product bundling. This will be complemented by Corporate banking, Treasury Operations / Islamic Banking / MIMB Investment Bank Berhad.

EON Bank Berhad is the holding company which owns 100 % of MIMB Investment Bank Berhad ( MIMB ) and EONCAP Islamic Bank Berhad ( EIBB ). EIBB will continue to embark in offering innovative shariah compliant products, wider range of Islamic deposit and financing products and loan packages at competitive rates.

MIMB provides full client services in key areas of investment banking including corporate finance advisory, structured finance, equity and debt capital markets, placements, underwriting and stock banking activities.

EON Bank Group has positioned itself as a customer – focused and relationship driven financial institution by embarking on several strategic initiatives that would place the Group in the league of leading domestic banking institutions. These initiatives include strengthening sales culture and technology infrastructure, improved performance management and reward system, efficient operating models and delivery channels as well as creation of new value drivers.

SAS is the leader in business analytics software and services, and the largest independent vendor in the business intelligence market. Through innovative solutions delivered within an integrated framework, SAS helps customers at more than 45,000 sites improve performance and deliver value by making better decisions faster. Since 1976 SAS has been giving customers around the world THE POWER TO KNOW ®. www.sas.com