Split-screen image comparing a small, neat stack of loan documents for a salaried employee versus a large, messy pile of documents for a self-employed individual on a desk with a 2026 calendar.
The paper trail looks very different depending on your income source. See the breakdown of what Malaysian banks require for salaried vs. self-employed applicants in 2026.

Missing documents is the #1 reason an application drags on. Not because banks are “slow”, but because the file keeps bouncing back for more proof.

Use this checklist to submit a complete, bank-ready pack from day one.

What documents do banks usually require for a loan in Malaysia?

Most banks ask for documents that prove three things: (1) who you are, (2) how you earn, and (3) whether you can afford the monthly repayment. For salaried applicants, the backbone is payslips + salary-crediting bank statements + EPF/tax forms. For self-employed applicants, it’s business proof + bank statements + tax/financial evidence.

Read this first: rules that make your file “easy to approve”

  • Combine everything into one PDF (not 10 separate WhatsApp images)
  • Don’t crop screenshots: bank statements must show your name + account number + pages
  • Make the income story consistent: payslip ↔ bank crediting ↔ EPF/tax should match
  • Use recent documents (banks commonly ask for latest 1–6 months depending on item)

In our work at NYK, a clean pack doesn’t just reduce back-and-forth — it makes you look stable.

Salaried checklist

Direct answer: For salaried borrowers, banks commonly request MyKad, payslips, salary-crediting bank statements, and at least one of EPF statement / EA form / tax form (BE) with receipt depending on the bank and product.

1) Identity

  • MyKad (front & back)

2) Employment confirmation

  • Employment letter / employer confirmation (if requested)
  • Appointment letter (optional, helpful if you’re new)

3) Income proof

Prepare any combination that fits your bank’s requirement:

  • Latest 3-6 months payslips
  • Latest 3-6 months salary-crediting bank statements
  • Latest EPF statement (some banks want EPF history / contribution consistency)
  • Latest EA form (annual)
  • Latest BE form + official tax receipt (some banks accept this as income verification)

4) Commitments (don’t hide it)

  • Simple list/table of your existing loans + monthly instalments
  • Credit cards list (even if you “pay full”, banks may still count an assumed commitment)

Self-employed checklist

Direct answer: For self-employed borrowers, banks commonly request MyKad, business registration proof, and stronger cashflow evidence such as 6-month (or more) bank statements, plus tax forms/receipts or business documents depending on your entity type (sole prop/partnership/Sdn Bhd).

1) Identity

  • MyKad (front & back)

2) Business verification

Provide whichever applies:

  • SSM business registration (sole prop / partnership), OR
  • For Sdn Bhd: corporate documents banks may ask for (varies by bank/product)

3) Income / cashflow proof (this is the core)

  • Business bank statements (commonly 6 months minimum for some lenders/products)
  • Personal bank statements too (if your income is mixed)
  • A 1-page income summary (monthly sales in, major expenses out, and what’s “net”)

4) Tax proof (bank-dependent, but common)

  • Form B / BE
  • LHDN payment receipt or e-filing acknowledgement (where applicable)

5) Supporting documents (pick what fits your business)

  • Sample invoices / receipts
  • Contracts / PO / platform statements (if you earn through platforms)
  • Simple financial statements (if you have proper accounts)

Document TypeSalariedSelf-employed
MyKad
Payslips✅ (commonly 1–3 months)
Salary-crediting bank statements✅ (commonly 3 months)✅ (often longer; business + personal)
EPF statement✅ (commonly accepted)❌ (usually not relevant)
EA / BE + tax receipt✅ (often accepted alternatives)✅ (often requested)
Business registration (SSM / company docs)

Extra documents banks may request

These aren’t “always required”, but they’re common depending on your case:

If you’re refinancing / consolidating

  • Latest loan statements showing outstanding balance
  • Redemption/settlement statement (if you have it)

If your income is variable (commission/bonus)

  • Longer history (e.g., 6–12 months pattern)
  • Supporting employer/commission statement if available

If you’re a director (salary + dividends)

  • Proof of salary crediting + dividend crediting
  • Company confirmation documents if asked

Common mistakes that delay approval

  • Payslip shows salary but bank statement doesn’t clearly show salary crediting
  • Bank statements are cropped screenshots (no name/account number)
  • Only 1 month provided when the bank wants 3–6 months
  • Self-employed statements look “random” with no summary/explanation
  • Different documents contradict each other (numbers don’t match)

Copy-paste order for your final PDF pack

  1. MyKad (front & back)
  2. Employment letter / SSM / company docs
  3. Income proof (payslips OR income summary)
  4. Bank statements (salary crediting / business + personal)
  5. EPF statement (if salaried)
  6. EA / BE + tax receipt (if used)
  7. Existing loan statements (if refinance/consolidation)
  8. Commitments summary table (last page)

Conclusion

A strong application isn’t about “more documents”. It’s about the right documents telling one consistent story.

If you want NYK to pre-check your pack before submission, send the PDF and tell us:

  • salaried or self-employed, and
  • what you’re trying to do (new loan / refinance / consolidate / reduce instalments).

We’ll tell you what’s missing and what might raise questions—before the bank does 🙂