In Focus
Which startups are leading Southeast Asia's payments race?
Which startups are leading Southeast Asia's payments race?
Singapore-based companies dominate the list.
About one-third of Filipino borrowers use loans to pay for food
Education trailed, accounting for 15% of spending purposes.
Why private credit is a strategic partner for Singapore banks
It’s allowing banks to optimise their balance sheets.
Philippine banks hold lending standards steady in Q3
Few banks expect lending standards to ease during the period.
Digital payment interest soars as merchants embrace QR
Vietnam recorded a 175% increase in searches showing intent to offer electronic checkout options.
1 in 3 Singaporeans use AI for finances but prefer human advisors in crises
Of those using AI, 60% said that it has influenced their savings and budgeting habits.
Thai banks post flat Q2 as NIM seen bottoming out
Net profit dipped 1% whilst interest and non-interest income were flat.
Singapore fundraising hits 6-year high despite 42% issue drop
Five local IPOs collected $878.1m and all debuted on Singapore exchanges.
Can climate rules become banks' next business?
Many businesses still lack reliable emission data.
CIMB simplifies first-car financing
The programme includes road tax, total vehicle loss protection, and Takaful.
Thai e-commerce to grow 12% on rising account-to-account adoption
Online retail is forecast to expand at a 12% annual pace through 2030.
SEA finance professionals want gen AI skills but proficiency lags
Nearly 3 in 4 said that they have only basic or no gen AI skills.
Asia-Pacific retail banking to hit $2t in 2026
China, India and Japan are expected to generate $1.05t in combined revenue.
Banks called to reskill relationship managers for client acquisition
Advisors must transition from just being a source of advice to being orchestrators working with other specialists.
India private banks bet on foreign deposits as margins shrink
Of the four largest private banks, only ICICI bucked the trend.
Why 43% of Asia B2B sales rely on trade credit
Singapore records the region's highest share of credit-based transactions at 51%.
PvX pushes revenue-based lending for consumer apps
AI-driven competition is expected to increase demand for marketing capital.
Commentary
Singapore's next payments opportunity
DIFC's reforms open new doors for Asian businesses: Is yours ready?
Why Asia’s private wealth industry requires a new era of governance
APAC has mastered domestic payments. The next challenge is connecting them.
Why fragmented communications are becoming a hidden governance risk for Asia Pacific banks
From automation to agency: Asia’s wealth leaders can reinvent, not just streamline
Singapore aced its FATF evaluation — now comes the hard part