WorldFirst and OCBC Partner to Accelerate Digital Trade Across Southeast Asia
Ant International’s WorldFirst, an all-in-one digital cross-border payment and treasury management platform for global businesses, has announced a strategic partnership with OCBC, the second-largest financial services group in Southeast Asia.
The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 29, 2025, to deepen their collaboration and expand financial connectivity across the region. Through this partnership, WorldFirst and OCBC aim to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with simpler, faster, and more cost-effective cross-border payment and trade solutions.
This initiative comes at a pivotal moment as trade flows between Greater China and Southeast Asia continue to accelerate, increasing demand for seamless, resilient, and affordable payment infrastructure to support the region’s fast-growing SME segment.
Expanding Access to Global Trade Capabilities
OCBC currently works with WorldFirst to power its World Account services in Singapore and Hong Kong, offering businesses multi-currency accounts and streamlined international payments. Under the newly signed MoU, this partnership will be extended to Malaysia and Indonesia—both core markets for OCBC and high-growth regions for SMEs engaged in regional and global trade.
Through WorldFirst’s World Account, SMEs can collect payments in 14 major currencies, including SGD, USD, CNH, HKD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CAD, NZD, CHF, SEK, DKK, and NOK. The platform also supports outgoing payments in over 100 currencies across more than 210 countries and regions, providing comprehensive foreign exchange and treasury management tools within a single, integrated ecosystem.
With this expanded collaboration, OCBC customers will be able to make fee-free transfers from their OCBC business accounts directly into their World Accounts, simplifying international trade transactions and reducing operational costs.
“The deepened partnership with OCBC is a key step in strengthening WorldFirst’s regional financial network,” said Clara Shi, Vice President of Ant International and CEO of WorldFirst. “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 region.”
Empowering Southeast Asian SMEs
Southeast Asia’s SME sector forms the backbone of regional economic growth, contributing significantly to employment and trade. However, many small businesses still face barriers to accessing global markets due to complex payment systems, high transaction fees, and limited banking coverage.
The WorldFirst–OCBC partnership aims to address these pain points by combining WorldFirst’s digital-first cross-border platform with OCBC’s extensive regional banking network and strong institutional trust. Together, the two organizations will help SMEs manage international payments, foreign exchange, and treasury operations through a secure, scalable, and easy-to-use digital infrastructure.
“We are glad to strengthen our partnership with Ant International and WorldFirst,” said Melvyn Low, Head of Global Transaction Banking at OCBC. “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 region’s digital economy and contribute meaningfully to Southeast Asia’s broader economic development.”
Strengthening WorldFirst’s Regional Presence
The collaboration marks another milestone in WorldFirst’s accelerated expansion across Southeast Asia. In 2025 alone, WorldFirst officially launched operations in Thailand and obtained a Money Services Business (MSB) license in Malaysia, enabling it to serve local businesses more effectively and comply with domestic regulatory frameworks.
By partnering with OCBC—a bank with deep roots and decades of experience in Southeast Asia—WorldFirst enhances its ability to offer localized, compliant, and competitive financial services that meet the evolving needs of regional enterprises.
The partnership underscores a shared vision: to build a more connected and inclusive digital trade ecosystem where SMEs can compete globally with the same ease and efficiency as large enterprises.
