Malaysia’s First Industry-Wide Skills Assessment Platform to Elevate

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) has launched FSF Xcel, Malaysia’s first industry-wide digital skills assessment platform for the financial sector. The initiative benchmarks workforce capabilities and accelerates upskilling across the financial industry, supporting Malaysia’s transition towards a more adaptive, sustainable, and future-ready financial ecosystem.

Building on the success of the Future Skills Framework (FSF) introduced in 2024, FSF Xcel operationalises the framework through structured, industry-validated assessments that enable financial institutions to identify skill gaps, map learning and career pathways, and future-proof talent strategies. It encompasses 159 job roles and 157 critical skills, spanning both technical capabilities and behavioural competencies. Developed in collaboration with Accendo Technologies — a Malaysian AI-powered talent intelligence company and the official delivery partner of FSF Xcel, the platform integrates global best practices with local expertise to strengthen Malaysia’s financial talent pipeline.

The financial sector, which contributed an estimated 6.7% to Malaysia’s GDP in 2024^[i] and employs nearly 167,000 professionals^[ii], remains a cornerstone of national economic growth and resilience. In alignment with Bank Negara Malaysia’s Financial Sector Blueprint 2022–2026, FSF Xcel accelerates the industry’s transition towards a digitally fluent, innovation-driven workforce — one empowered by data and anchored in continuous learning. The platform provides financial institutions with real-time analytics and a common competency language to guide workforce planning, benchmark capabilities, and strengthen professional development across the sector, advancing Malaysia’s ambition to strategically build talent readiness for a digital economy.

Edward Ling, Chief Executive, Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers, said:

“FSF Xcel is more than a skills assessment platform — it is a catalyst for transformation. By equipping both employees and employers with data-driven insights to identify, measure, and strengthen their capabilities, it fosters a culture of continuous learning and professional excellence. Developed for the industry, with the industry, FSF Xcel reflects our shared commitment to building a resilient, competitive, and future-ready…