CIMB OCTO Adds Five Cross-Border QR Destinations
CIMB's OCTO app now supports DuitNow QR payments in nine markets through a connection with Alipay+.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Asia
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CIMB Bank has added China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos to its cross-border DuitNow QR payment service on the OCTO app, bringing total coverage to nine markets including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. The expansion is enabled through PayNet's DuitNow QR connectivity with Alipay+, allowing payments at overseas merchants displaying the Alipay+ logo.
Why it matters
The expansion responds to growing demand for convenient cross-border banking, letting users pay overseas without a separate payment app or Alipay+ account. Cross-border DuitNow QR transactions have grown rapidly, which supports CIMB's plan to extend coverage further.
CIMB OCTO recorded more than 500,000 cross-border DuitNow QR transactions as of September 2026, up over 150% year-on-year. Alipay+ connects over 2 billion user accounts and more than 50 international payment partners across over 220 markets, but the extraction does not detail how transaction volume is split among the new destinations.
The players
CIMB Bank
CIMB Bank is a major Malaysian commercial bank operating across Southeast Asia and beyond, and it runs the OCTO digital banking app.
PayNet
PayNet is Malaysia's national payments network operator that runs the DuitNow QR national payment scheme.
Alipay+
Alipay+ is a cross-border mobile payment platform operated by Ant Group that links digital wallets and payment apps across many markets.
The details
Customers scan a merchant's QR code and confirm the transaction directly in the OCTO app, with no need to download another payment application or register for a separate Alipay+ account. The service works at overseas merchants that display the Alipay+ logo, with the connection enabled by PayNet's DuitNow QR network.
Timeline
As of September 2026: OCTO recorded more than 500,000 cross-border DuitNow QR transactions.
November 2, 2026: CIMB announced expansion to five additional destinations.
Travel Outlook
The expansion extends the DuitNow QR scheme that PayNet operates domestically into cross-border use across East and Southeast Asia, following the regional push for interoperable QR payments. For travelers across the region, it reduces the need for cash and separate wallet apps when shopping at merchants in these markets.
Travelers to China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos can now pay at participating merchants by scanning QR codes in the OCTO app, rather than carrying cash or setting up a new wallet. Users should confirm that a merchant displays the Alipay+ logo before relying on this method.
The takeaway
For travelers in the region, the OCTO app can now handle everyday payments at overseas merchants without a separate Alipay+ account. Check for the Alipay+ logo before you pay.
Further reading
For more on payment options in the region, see our Asia travel coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Star.
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