CIMB Bank has expanded DuitNow QR payments through its CIMB OCTO app to five additional destinations: China, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos.
Customers can now pay at participating Alipay+ merchants in these markets without downloading another payment app or creating a separate Alipay+ account.
The expansion adds to OCTO’s existing cross-border QR payment coverage in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, bringing its total coverage to nine markets, including Malaysia.
Enabled through Payments Network Malaysia’s (PayNet) outbound DuitNow QR connectivity with Alipay+, the service allows users to scan participating merchants’ QR codes displaying the Alipay+ logo, then review and confirm transactions directly within OCTO.
Cross-border QR transactions on CIMB OCTO rise over 150%
CIMB said OCTO recorded more than 500,000 cross-border DuitNow QR transactions as of September 2026, an increase of over 150% year-on-year.
“As our customers become increasingly connected and mobile, they expect banking to move seamlessly with them, including across borders,”
said Haniz Nazlan, Chief Executive Officer of Group Consumer Banking at CIMB.
Haniz said the expansion aligns with CIMB’s Forward30 strategy and complements its existing travel services on OCTO, including CIMB TravelCurrency and travel insurance.
The bank plans to progressively expand OCTO’s Alipay+ payment coverage to more markets.
PayNet expands cross-border payment connectivity
The service builds on PayNet’s collaboration with Ant International through Alipay+, which has enabled users of supported Alipay+ partner wallets to pay at DuitNow QR merchants in Malaysia since November 2023.
This inbound payment capability allows local businesses, including SMEs, to accept payments from international visitors using participating wallets.
In October, PayNet named CIMB, Maybank and Hong Leong Bank as the first three banks supporting the outbound service, with Bank Islam expected to follow.
PayNet said other participating banks and e-wallets can also adopt the capability.
Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Malaysia, based on image by mrsiraphol via Magnific
