Hong Leong Bank Links to UnionPay Network for Cross-Border QR Payments

Malaysian lender Hong Leong Bank (HLB) has struck a deal with UnionPay International (UPI) to give its customers broader payment acceptance when traveling or conducting business outside the country.

The tie-up connects HLB customers to UPI's network, which integrates with Weixin Pay, enabling transactions at more than 120 million merchants in mainland China alongside participating outlets in Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Thailand.

Users can pay at merchants — ranging from department stores to local food stalls — through HLB QR Pay inside the HLB Connect mobile app.

The service works alongside the multi-currency capabilities of HLB's Pay&Save Account, letting customers lock in exchange rates ahead of time without relying on third-party apps or topping up external wallets.

Beyond QR Pay, HLB's overseas payment suite includes several options:

• Scanning participating merchant QR codes
• Displaying an in-app QR code for merchants to scan
• Linking eligible HLB cards to Chinese super-apps such as Weixin Pay
• Direct debit and credit card payments
• Mobile wallet services including Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay

HLB group managing director and CEO Kevin Lam emphasized the importance of bilateral confidence in cross-border transactions.

At its core, a cross-border payment only works when trust exists on both sides of the transaction where customers know with certainty that their payment will go through, and merchants trust that they will receive it. Partnering with UPI and tapping into their vast international network, including Weixin Pay, allows us to deliver that scale and certainty globally.

UPI vice president Carlson Li highlighted the practical benefits of connecting different payment ecosystems. "Our partnership with HLB demonstrates how interoperability can connect different payment ecosystems to deliver practical benefits for customers, where HLB customers can now access a wider merchant network directly from their banking app, making cross-border payments more convenient and supporting commerce between markets," Li said.