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# SMBC and Ant International Ink Deal to Expand Cross-Border Payments Across Asia
- URL: https://www.fintechobserver.com/smbc-and-ant-international-ink-deal-to-expand-cross-border-payments-across-asia/
- Published: 2026-10-26T11:19:07.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-26T11:19:07.000Z
- Author: Norbert Gehrke
- Tags: payments, cross-border payments, super app

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ant International to collaborate on cross-border payments and drive regional business expansion, targeting trade flows connected to Japan, Singapore, and Southeast Asia.

Under the agreement, the core banking unit of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group will leverage its domestic and international transaction banking networks to support financial functions across Ant International’s core service portfolio. This includes providing banking capabilities for cross-border mobile payment gateway Alipay+, merchant acquiring solution Antom, and global business account platform WorldFirst.

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Beyond platform support, the two companies plan to optimize Ant International’s cross-border settlement operations and corporate treasury management. The initiative also includes exploring technical and commercial collaboration between digital payment and digital asset solutions and Ant International’s Whale RTP platform, aiming to improve internal capital efficiency, transparency, and global liquidity management across group entities.

The tie-up comes as corporate supply chains grow increasingly complex across Asia, accelerating commercial demand for streamlined treasury solutions, advanced remittance services, and next-generation transaction banking technologies.

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