Ant International’s WorldFirst has entered into an expanded strategic partnership with OCBC, Southeast Asia’s second-largest financial services group, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on October 29, 2025, to enhance cross-border payment and treasury services for WorldFirst’s 1.2 million SME customers across Southeast Asia.
The collaboration aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in conducting cross-border trade across Southeast Asia and managing international payments more efficiently and cost-effectively. This initiative is designed to address the growing trade flows between Greater China and Southeast Asia, which necessitates a robust cross-border payment ecosystem for SMEs. The existing collaboration for WorldFirst’s World Account in Singapore and Hong Kong will be extended to Malaysia and Indonesia, which are core markets for OCBC and key markets of interest for SMEs.
WorldFirst’s World Account enables SMEs to collect payments in 14 major currencies, including SGD, USD, CNH, HKD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CAD, NZD, CHF, SEK, DKK, and NOK. It also facilitates payments in over 100 currencies across more than 210 countries and regions, offering integrated foreign exchange and other treasury services. OCBC customers using the World Account will benefit from fee-free transfers from their OCBC accounts, further reducing the cost of international payments.
Clara Shi, Vice President of Ant International and CEO of WorldFirst, stated, “The deepened partnership with OCBC is a key step in strengthening WorldFirst’s regional financial network. By integrating OCBC’s market-leading presence in Southeast Asia, we can better support local SMEs with compelling benefits. We look forward to unlocking further opportunities with OCBC to deliver more efficient, accessible, and innovative financial services across the Southeast Asia.”
Melvyn Low, Head of Global Transaction Banking, OCBC, commented, “We are glad to strengthen our partnership with Ant International and WorldFirst. Together, we share a strong commitment to empowering SMEs across Southeast Asia with powerful, cost-effective financial solutions that support their growth and ambitions. By combining our strengths, we aim to accelerate the growth of the region’s digital economy and contribute meaningfully to Southeast Asia’s broader economic development.”
This partnership further strengthens WorldFirst’s service capabilities for SMEs in the region, aligning with its broader Southeast Asia expansion plans for 2025, which include an official launch in Thailand and the obtaining of a Money Services Business (MSB) license in Malaysia.
WorldFirst provides cross-border payment and treasury services through its global business account, designed to support SMEs in e-commerce, trade, and the broader platform economy. The service simplifies financial operations such as international payments, collections, currency conversions, and treasury management through a unified account. Leveraging the technological infrastructure of its parent company, Ant International, WorldFirst has supported over 1.2 million customers.
