Travelling abroad brings wonderful experiences, but managing foreign money and finding safe payment methods can sometimes feel stressful. Maybank is making things easier for Malaysian travellers with a major expansion of its cross-border payment capabilities.
Through a strategic integration with Alipay+, Maybank is upgrading the popular MAE App to unlock exciting new international possibilities. Supported by PayNet’s trusted cross-border payments network, customers can now make QR payments using the familiar Scan and Pay feature across five new destinations. This list includes China, South Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Laos. These new markets join Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia. Travellers no longer need to worry about exchanging physical cash or figuring out complicated foreign banking rules. Everything works smoothly inside the primary mobile banking application they already rely on for their daily financial needs.
The user experience is designed to be completely effortless from start to finish. Customers do not need to download any separate third-party applications on their phones. There is also no requirement to register for a new Alipay+ account. When you open your MAE App and scan a merchant code overseas, the system handles the complex backend routing instantly. To give travellers complete peace of mind, the app displays the transaction amount clearly in both the local foreign currency and Ringgit Malaysia. You can review the exact conversion before confirming your payment. This high level of cost transparency helps you keep a close eye on your travel spending without any hidden surprises or confusing calculations.
This major feature enhancement arrives as digital adoption and international travel continue to surge. Syed Ahmad Taufik Albar, who serves as the Group Chief Executive Officer of Community Financial Services at Maybank, noted a remarkable trend in consumer behaviour. As of September 2026, Maybank recorded an encouraging year-to-date growth of nearly 80% in total cross-border transactions compared to the previous year. This substantial increase highlights how much modern consumers value fast, familiar, and reliable digital payment options when they are away from home. QR payments have transformed from a local convenience into an essential part of global mobility.
Maybank is also enhancing its broader multi-currency ecosystem to support increasingly global lifestyles. The Maybank Global Access Account-i allows users to manage and spend across multiple foreign currencies seamlessly. By December 2026, the bank will introduce five additional currencies to this versatile account. These new additions consist of the Chinese Yuan, Thai Baht, Indonesian Rupiah, Vietnamese Dong, and Cambodian Riel. This upcoming expansion will bring the total number of supported currencies to 23. Customers gain even greater flexibility when paying for overseas education commitments, online shopping, or international business ventures.
