DBS and Ant International are strengthening their long-standing relationship with a renewed strategic collaboration aimed at shaping the future of digital finance across Asia. The two organisations have agreed to work even more closely to develop innovative payment, digitisation, and fintech solutions that can support businesses of all sizes and improve financial access for millions of consumers.
The partnership combines DBS’ deep expertise in digital banking with Ant International’s advanced technologies, including AI and blockchain, to enhance cross-border payment capabilities and build a more connected financial ecosystem. The agreement was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed during the Singapore Fintech Festival 2025, bringing together DBS and key Ant International business units such as Alipay+, Antom, WorldFirst, and Bettr Platform Tech.
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One major outcome of this collaboration is the expansion of cross-border payment connectivity. DBS PayLah! will join the Alipay+ global payments ecosystem, giving more than three million PayLah! users the ability to scan and pay at over 150 million merchants across more than 100 markets. This marks a significant step in simplifying travel payments and everyday spending for DBS customers abroad.
Both organisations are also exploring a real-time remittance solution that would allow DBS customers to send money instantly to more than 1.8 billion user accounts within the Alipay+ ecosystem. This effort, which leverages the SWIFT network and ISO 20022 messaging standards, reflects a shared ambition to make global money transfers faster, more transparent, and more convenient.
Another key focus is supporting small and medium enterprises in their digital transformation journeys. DBS will work with Antom to explore new digital tools and payment technologies that can help SMEs operate more efficiently and enhance their online presence. This includes evaluating Antom’s innovative agentic payment solution, which integrates AI, multi-method payment capabilities, and advanced checkout features. DBS is also teaming up with WorldFirst to expand same-day and near-instant cross-border payment services for SME customers.
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The partnership also reaffirms a shared commitment to advancing innovation in the regional fintech landscape. DBS and Ant International will deepen their joint research and development efforts, particularly in emerging areas such as tokenised deposits, as both organisations continue pushing the boundaries of what future-ready financial services can look like.
Peng Yang, CEO of Ant International, emphasized the depth of the partnership, noting that the two organisations have been collaborating since 2013. “With a shared vision of supporting inclusive growth and driving digital innovation across the region, we look forward to combining our strengths to deliver even greater value to local businesses and consumers,” he said.
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DBS CEO Tan Su Shan echoed this sentiment, highlighting the alignment in purpose between both teams. “Ant International is a like-minded partner committed to using technology to build more efficient and inclusive financial ecosystems. By bringing together our capabilities, we can unlock new opportunities, accelerate solutions like tokenised deposits and agentic payments, and reimagine the future of finance for our customers.”
Together, DBS and Ant International are setting the stage for a more connected, intelligent, and inclusive financial future across Asia.
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