OCBC will become the first Singapore bank to allow its customers to scan and pay at all merchant QR codes in China using its Singapore mobile banking app. This new feature is possible due to an expanded partnership with UnionPay International, formalized on November 28 in Shanghai. The service uses NETS infrastructure to support payments at merchants accepting Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay), adding to the OCBC app’s existing ability to scan Alipay+ and UnionPay merchant QR codes. The capability for Weixin Pay is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2026.
This update is aimed at OCBC Singapore customers traveling to China, where cashless QR-based payments are widely used for daily transactions such as transportation and dining. Customers can make payments by scanning any Weixin Pay, Alipay+, or UnionPay merchant QR code directly from their OCBC Singapore accounts. There is no need for additional apps or exchanging currency, and customers benefit from real-time exchange rates without extra fees.
OCBC reports that use of its Scan & Pay feature has grown, with payment volumes increasing by 11% year-on-year and active users rising by 67%. China remains the top destination for these QR payments among OCBC’s Singapore customers, who often use them for dining, attractions, and shopping purchases including duty-free items, furniture, and jewelry. This trend matches a significant increase in travel demand between Singapore and China; according to Oxford Economics, arrivals from Singapore more than doubled from 260,000 in 2023 to about 535,000 in 2024.
Sunny Quek, Head of Global Consumer Financial Services at OCBC said: “QR payments are the norm in China and have been for some time now. For customers who travel there, our goal is to enable them to pay like a local. Thanks to our existing partnership with UnionPay International, our customers will be able to pay Weixin Pay-enabled merchants on the OCBC app come Q1 2026. This is in addition to our existing Alipay+ and UnionPay QR capabilities, enabling universal QR acceptance across China – from flagship retailers to local vendors. Beyond China, our Scan & Pay feature also connects to QR payment networks across 48 countries, giving OCBC app users the most comprehensive QR payment coverage.”
The OCBC App also supports peer-to-peer transfers with eight leading digital wallets across Southeast Asia. Additionally, customers can send money directly through the app’s pay-to-wallet feature for Weixin Pay and Alipay+.