Cross-border QR payments are rapidly moving from a regional convenience feature into a globally competitive payments infrastructure layer. With the launch of Worldwide Scan and Pay, iFAST Global Bank is positioning itself at the intersection of digital banking, travel payments and international merchant interoperability by allowing customers to transact globally through a single banking app without relying on traditional card networks. The partnership with Ant International also signals how QR-based ecosystems developed across Asia are increasingly influencing the future of international consumer payments, particularly among digital-first banking customers seeking faster and lower-friction payment experiences abroad.
iFAST Global Bank has announced the launch of Worldwide Scan and Pay, a cross-border QR code payment feature powered by the Alipay Plus gateway from Ant International. This initiative marks iFAST Global Bank as the first UK-based financial institution to enable QR code payments in direct partnership with Ant International. The feature allows individual clients to conduct cardless transactions at more than 150 million merchants across over 220 markets worldwide by scanning QR codes through the bank’s mobile application.
Through this collaboration, clients can make payments at Alipay Plus-compatible merchants and supported national QR networks without requiring a physical card. The system currently integrates with over 10 national QR schemes across Asia and other regions. Inayat Kashif, CEO of iFAST Global Bank, stated that the partnership advances the bank’s vision of banking without boundaries by providing seamless global payment solutions through a single account. Edward Yue, General Manager of Alipay Plus Global Power Centre, noted that the partnership aims to strengthen interoperability between ecosystems to deliver more inclusive financial services.
The Worldwide Scan and Pay service is available to all Digital Personal Banking clients and links payments directly to their multi-currency current accounts. Transactions are designed for in-person retail, dining, and travel, with payments typically completed in seconds. iFAST Global Bank is a fully licensed UK bank regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority. This collaboration is expected to be the first of several initiatives between the two organisations, with potential future expansions into travel-related offerings and AI-powered services.
What this means for the industry
- QR-based cross-border payments are becoming a serious alternative to traditional card-based international transactions.
- Banks are increasingly integrating directly with global payment ecosystems instead of relying solely on Visa and Mastercard infrastructure.
- The partnership highlights the growing global influence of Asian payment networks and mobile-first financial ecosystems.
- Multi-currency banking combined with QR interoperability could significantly improve payment convenience for travellers and international consumers.
- Financial institutions are moving toward embedded global commerce experiences where banking, payments and travel services operate within a single platform.
- The collaboration also reflects the broader push toward interoperable digital payment ecosystems that can connect national QR schemes across multiple countries.
- Future expansion into AI-powered services suggests banks are looking to combine payments, personalisation and digital financial assistance into unified customer experiences.
Photo by Markus Winkler
