Sook: The opening of a new Agrobank micro branch in Sook, Keningau will benefit some 31,000 residents in the area, most of whom are engaged in agricultural activities. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, stated that this initiative is a strategic step to strengthen the banking ecosystem in rural areas and empower the local community.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Arthur emphasized that the distance between settlements in Sook and the nearest banking facilities can take up to an hour’s travel, making it challenging for residents to access daily financial services. He highlighted that the presence of an Agrobank branch in Sook will bring financial services closer and make them more accessible, thereby supporting the economic growth of the rural community.

Arthur, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Pensiangan, pointed out that the opening of the branch underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring rural residents have access to modern financial facilities that meet their needs.

Meanwhile, Agrobank president and group chief executive officer Datuk Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin remarked that the opening of the Sook micro branch aligns with the bank’s mission to ensure no community is excluded from the financial inclusion mainstream. He reiterated the bank’s commitment to empowering the unserved and underserved through various appropriate and inclusive financial solutions.

The Sook branch is Agrobank’s 219th outlet, providing services such as savings account opening, money transfers, utility payments, takaful and will products, automated teller machine (ATM) and cash deposit machine (CDM) facilities, along with financial advisory services tailored to the needs of the local community.