Invitees to Hong Leong Bank’s (HLB) new Opus card unlock 60,000 Malaysia Airlines Enrich points and worldwide lounge access the moment they pay the annual fee.

But securing one isn’t a matter of simply filling out an application.

Reserved strictly for select high-net-worth and business clients, HLB Opus is Southeast Asia’s first ceramic credit card and Malaysia’s inaugural Visa Infinite Privilege payment experience crafted with G+D’s Convego® Ceramic card technology to bring premium materials and sophisticated payment technology together.

Forged at over 1,200°C, diamond-refined, and produced at a rate of fewer than six cards a day, the physical card is crafted from Giesecke+Devrient’s (G+D) Convego Ceramic.

Made with zirconia, the scratch-resistant material is traditionally associated with luxury timepieces and fine jewellery.

For more than two decades, metal has defined the premium card market.

However, Atul Singh, Global Head of Distribution Sales at G+D, sees ceramic as a major category shift that gives issuers a fresh direction to stand out.

“The association of customers with their physical cards is important because this is where brand recognition comes from,” Singh explained.

As banks and fintechs compete more aggressively for wealthy clients, the physical card itself remains a primary differentiator.

Andrew Jong, Managing Director of Personal Financial Services at Hong Leong Bank Berhad, emphasises that physical touchpoints still carry immense weight—particularly in wealth and business banking, where relationships tend to be high-touch.

“Customers overwhelmingly still choose a physical card,” Jong said.

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