Ant International’s WorldFirst, an all-in-one digital cross-border payment and treasury account service for global businesses, has announced a partnership with OCBC, the second largest financial services group in Southeast Asia.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 29 October 2025, WorldFirst and OCBC committed to a strategic collaboration aimed at supporting WorldFirst’s base of 1.2 million SME customers to conduct cross-border trade across Southeast Asia and manage international payments in a simpler and more cost-effective manner.
This is timely as trade flows between Greater China and Southeast Asia continue to grow, deepening the need for a more resilient cross-border payment ecosystem for SMEs. OCBC currently works with WorldFirst to power its World Account in Singapore and Hong Kong. Under the MOU, this will be extended to Malaysia and Indonesia, which are OCBC’s core markets and key markets of interest to SMEs.
With WorldFirst’s World Account, SMEs can collect in 14 major currencies – including SGD, USD, CNH, HKD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CAD, NZD, CHF, SEK, DKK, NOK. The World Account also supports payments in 100+ currencies across 210+ countries and regions, along with integrated FX and other treasury services, delivering a comprehensive cross-border payments and cash management solution.
SMEs that are OCBC customers can also enjoy fee-free transfers from their OCBC accounts into the World Account, making international payments more cost-efficient than before. 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 said: “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.”
In 2025, WorldFirst accelerates its SEA expansion with an official launch in Thailand and the obtaining of MSB licence in Malaysia, with the OCBC partnership further strengthening its service capabilities for SMEs in the region.
