28 February 2025
Alliance Bank Becomes Malaysia’s First Bank To Champion Pickleball, Launches KL Open Pickleball Championship 2025 And The Inaugural Pickleball Summit 2025
Press Release
Kuala Lumpur, 28 February 2025 - Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad (“Alliance Bank”) has become the first bank in Malaysia to champion pickleball, one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports. Taking a bold step into the sports arena, the Bank has announced strategic partnerships with Pickle Social Club (“PSC”) and Courtsite, positioning itself as a key enabler of the sport’s rapid growth.
Alliance Bank will be the title sponsor of the first-ever KL Open Pickleball Championship 2025, scheduled from 25 to 27 April 2025 at Pickle Social Club (PSC), The Courts at KLGCC Resort. The landmark event is expected to attract over 600 players, making it one of the largest pickleball tournaments in the country.
In addition to the KL Open, the inaugural Pickleball Summit 2025, organised by Courtsite with support from the Malaysia Pickleball Association, will take place on 25 April 2025 at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club. The summit will bring together over 300 pickleball facility owners, investors, suppliers, and key stakeholders to provide exclusive insights into Malaysia’s pickleball boom, investment opportunities, expert-led panels on scaling sports centres, and networking opportunities to foster new partnerships and industry growth.
Group Chief Consumer Banking Officer of Alliance Bank, Gan Pai Li, said: “The rapid growth of pickleball in Malaysia presents an exciting opportunity for us to engage with this vibrant community. As the first financial institution to champion pickleball, the Bank is committed to empowering players with greater access, exclusive benefits, and new opportunities to expand the sport. The growing presence of both Pickle Social Club and Courtsite in the sports and social scene provides an excellent platform for us to connect with diverse communities. We believe that this partnership will enable us to further engage with the growing pickleball community and set the stage for the sport’s next phase of growth in the country.”
“The collaboration also aligns with our efforts to accelerate the growth of the emerging affluent segment by introducing tailored financial solutions that support their lifestyle and aspirations. Additionally, we see Alliance Bank Visa Virtual Credit Card (VCC) as a game changer for this community, which provides seamless and rewarding experiences, especially when booking courts or purchasing pickleball equipment. We are excited to launch the KL Open Pickleball Championship 2025 with our partners, a premier event that will bring together passionate players from across the country,” Gan added.
As part of the initiative, Alliance Bank will introduce exclusive privileges for its credit cardholders, including:
Sharing the same sentiment, Chief Executive Officer of Courtsite, Samuel Siew, said: “As Malaysia’s leading sports platform with over 400,000 users and growing, Courtsite is proud to partner with Alliance Bank. This collaboration serves as an inspiration for sports facilities nationwide to continue thriving, fostering a healthier and more active nation. The inaugural Pickleball Summit and KL Open Pickleball Championship 2025 will be a milestone event in advancing Pickleball to greater heights in our country.”
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to team up with Alliance Bank. It’s great to see a bank step out from its traditional banking space to incorporate a community-driven approach in its value proposition. This collaboration came about through shared love and passion for this sport by reaching out to the pickle ball community through payments via the VCC. It demonstrates a clear focus on innovation, personalised service, and community engagement in true ESG fashion,” Siew added.
Alliance Bank’s first-mover advantage positions it as the leading corporate supporter of the sport in Malaysia, setting the benchmark for engagement with the next generation of sports enthusiasts.
Stay tuned to Alliance Bank’s official social media or visit www.alliancebank.com.my for more details
Alliance Bank will be the title sponsor of the first-ever KL Open Pickleball Championship 2025, scheduled from 25 to 27 April 2025 at Pickle Social Club (PSC), The Courts at KLGCC Resort. The landmark event is expected to attract over 600 players, making it one of the largest pickleball tournaments in the country.
In addition to the KL Open, the inaugural Pickleball Summit 2025, organised by Courtsite with support from the Malaysia Pickleball Association, will take place on 25 April 2025 at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club. The summit will bring together over 300 pickleball facility owners, investors, suppliers, and key stakeholders to provide exclusive insights into Malaysia’s pickleball boom, investment opportunities, expert-led panels on scaling sports centres, and networking opportunities to foster new partnerships and industry growth.
Group Chief Consumer Banking Officer of Alliance Bank, Gan Pai Li, said: “The rapid growth of pickleball in Malaysia presents an exciting opportunity for us to engage with this vibrant community. As the first financial institution to champion pickleball, the Bank is committed to empowering players with greater access, exclusive benefits, and new opportunities to expand the sport. The growing presence of both Pickle Social Club and Courtsite in the sports and social scene provides an excellent platform for us to connect with diverse communities. We believe that this partnership will enable us to further engage with the growing pickleball community and set the stage for the sport’s next phase of growth in the country.”
“The collaboration also aligns with our efforts to accelerate the growth of the emerging affluent segment by introducing tailored financial solutions that support their lifestyle and aspirations. Additionally, we see Alliance Bank Visa Virtual Credit Card (VCC) as a game changer for this community, which provides seamless and rewarding experiences, especially when booking courts or purchasing pickleball equipment. We are excited to launch the KL Open Pickleball Championship 2025 with our partners, a premier event that will bring together passionate players from across the country,” Gan added.
As part of the initiative, Alliance Bank will introduce exclusive privileges for its credit cardholders, including:
- Priority court bookings at PSC – 10-day advance access instead of the usual 7 days, catering to the high demand for court slots.
- Special cashback incentives for court bookings made via Courtsite, which connects 60,000 pickleball users to a growing network of over 130 pickleball centres nationwide.
- New applicants for Alliance Bank credit card will receive an exclusive sports brand voucher.
Sharing the same sentiment, Chief Executive Officer of Courtsite, Samuel Siew, said: “As Malaysia’s leading sports platform with over 400,000 users and growing, Courtsite is proud to partner with Alliance Bank. This collaboration serves as an inspiration for sports facilities nationwide to continue thriving, fostering a healthier and more active nation. The inaugural Pickleball Summit and KL Open Pickleball Championship 2025 will be a milestone event in advancing Pickleball to greater heights in our country.”
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to team up with Alliance Bank. It’s great to see a bank step out from its traditional banking space to incorporate a community-driven approach in its value proposition. This collaboration came about through shared love and passion for this sport by reaching out to the pickle ball community through payments via the VCC. It demonstrates a clear focus on innovation, personalised service, and community engagement in true ESG fashion,” Siew added.
Alliance Bank’s first-mover advantage positions it as the leading corporate supporter of the sport in Malaysia, setting the benchmark for engagement with the next generation of sports enthusiasts.
Stay tuned to Alliance Bank’s official social media or visit www.alliancebank.com.my for more details
Chief Executive Officer of Courtsite, Samuel Siew (left), Group Chief Consumer Banking Officer of Alliance Bank, Gan Pai Li (centre) and Co-Founder of Pickle Social Club, Mark Choo (right), at the partnership signing ceremony between Alliance Bank, Courtsite , and Pickle Social Club. The collaboration marks Alliance Bank as Malaysia’s first bank to champion pickleball, supporting the growth of the sport and fostering a more active community.
