How to Compress a PDF for Bank Account Opening in Malaysia
Opening a bank account online in Malaysia requires uploading scanned copies of your IC, payslip, and sometimes utility bills or employer letters. Most bank portals have upload limits of 2MB–5MB per document. Scans from smartphone apps often produce files of 5–20MB. Here's how to compress them quickly and safely before submission.
Upload Limits by Malaysian Bank
| Bank | Portal / App | Upload Limit | Recommended Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maybank | Maybank2u / MAE | 2MB–5MB | Under 1MB |
| CIMB | CIMB Clicks / CIMB Octo | 2MB–5MB | Under 1MB |
| Public Bank | PBe | 2MB | Under 500KB |
| RHB | RHB Online | 2MB–5MB | Under 1MB |
| Hong Leong Bank | HLB Connect | 2MB–5MB | Under 1MB |
| BSN | myBSN | 2MB | Under 500KB |
| Bank Islam | Go by Bank Islam | 2MB | Under 500KB |
| AmBank | AmOnline | 2MB–5MB | Under 1MB |
When in doubt, aim for under 500KB per document — this works for all portals listed above and is fast to upload even on a slow mobile connection.
Which Documents to Compress
- MyKad (IC) — front and back: Use Maximum compression. A single-page IC scan at 5MB compresses to 150–300KB. IC number and name remain clearly readable.
- Payslip (1–3 months): Use Balanced. Salary figures, employer name, EPF deductions, and dates must be clearly legible for verification.
- Bank statement (for loan / credit card applications): Use Balanced. Account numbers and transaction amounts must be readable.
- Utility bill (for address verification): Use Maximum. Name and address are the key details — these remain clear.
- Employer confirmation letter: Use Balanced. Contains salary confirmation and company letterhead that needs to be legible.
Step-by-Step: Compress and Submit
Scan Your Documents
Use your phone's scanning app to scan each document as a PDF. On iPhone: Notes app → camera icon → Scan Documents. On Android: Google Drive app → + → Scan. Aim for 200 DPI — good quality without oversized files.
Open ShrinkPDF
Go to shrinkpdf.fyi. All processing happens locally — your payslip and IC never leave your device.
Compress Each Document
Upload one document at a time. Use Balanced for payslips and bank statements. Use Maximum for IC scans and utility bills. Download each compressed file.
Check Readability
Open each compressed PDF before submitting. Verify that your IC number, salary amount, and employer name are clearly readable at 100% zoom on your phone or laptop screen.
Upload to the Bank Portal
Proceed with the bank's online account opening or loan application. Upload each compressed document in the required field. Most banks accept PDF format — check if JPG is also accepted as an alternative.
Create a folder called "Bank Documents — Compressed" in your phone's Files app or Google Drive. Store all compressed versions there. You'll likely need the same set of documents again for future bank applications, loan requests, or credit card applications — having them ready saves time.
If a bank portal doesn't accept PDF for IC uploads, use ShrinkPDF's PDF to Images tool to convert your compressed PDF to JPG, then upload the JPG. This is common for some Malaysian bank mobile apps that only accept image formats for IC scans.
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Bank documents contain highly sensitive information — IC numbers, salary figures, account numbers, and addresses. ShrinkPDF processes everything locally in your browser. No file is ever sent to any server. You can verify this yourself: once the ShrinkPDF page is loaded, disconnect from WiFi and try compressing a file — it still works, because no internet connection is needed for the actual compression.