KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- CIMB Bank Berhad and CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad (collectively “CIMB” or “the Bank”) announced a strategic collaboration with Weixin Pay or more well known as WeChat Pay through a dedicated solution, Weixin Mini Program (“the Programme”) to boost CIMB-affiliated merchants’ businesses. This initiative marks a significant step forward in enabling seamless cross-border payments, enhancing Malaysian merchants’ visibility, and empowering businesses to tap into the digital savvy and inbound Chinese tourists.
The collaboration reflects CIMB’s commitment to strengthening cross-border transactions – enabling local merchants to offer a smooth and trusted payment experience for Chinese consumers using Weixin Pay, one of China’s most widely adopted payment platforms. By integrating the Programme and Weixin Pay, merchants in Malaysia can showcase offerings digitally, engage Chinese travellers before arrival to the country, and facilitate in-store transactions via DuitNow QR. This end-to-end ecosystem creates convenience for travellers and a competitive edge for Malaysian merchants, especially in sectors such as retail, F&B and hospitality.
Daniel Cheong, Head of Consumer Banking Malaysia, CIMB said, “This collaboration underscores CIMB’s drive to advancing cross-border connectivity and creating opportunities that uplift communities and businesses, in line with our purpose of Advancing Customers and Society. By leveraging CIMB’s digital capabilities with Weixin Pay’s extensive global reach, we are enabling merchants to reach high-value travellers and participate more fully in the digital economy. Through the Programme, merchants gain access to a platform that is familiar to Chinese consumers, making it easier for travellers to discover, engage and transact seamlessly – even before arriving in Malaysia. This partnership reinforces our mission to deliver connectivity, convenience and commercial growth for businesses nationwide.”
According to a report by the Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia received nearly 1.8 million tourists from China during the first five months of 2025, and this number is expected to increase. CIMB’s collaboration with Weixin Pay strategically coincides with peak travel seasons for Chinese visitors, ensuring merchants are well-positioned to capture demand during Malaysia’s busiest inbound periods. In tandem with Visit Malaysia 2026, the partnership will further amplify opportunities for cross-border spending and reinforce Malaysia’s position as one of the top travel destinations amongst foreign tourists.
David Chong, Assistant Regional Director, Southeast Asia of Weixin Pay said, “Malaysia has become one of the key focus markets for the Programme expansion, driven by strong demand from local businesses looking to reach Chinese travellers through digital-first channels. Weixin Pay is actively strengthening our ecosystem in Malaysia — from payment innovation to merchant enablement — and this collaboration with CIMB marks an important milestone in the journey.”
On 1 January 2026, participating merchants will receive a dedicated merchant page within the Weixin Pay’s ecosystem to showcase their products and services. They will benefit from high visibility within its ecosystem, location-based discovery, promotional campaigns, and insights into their incremental traffic and purchase intent, driven by pre-trip and in-destination search trends. Participating merchants will overcome common barriers such as high integration costs, complex technical requirements, and limited visibility to Chinese consumers through a streamlined, cost-efficient onboarding process that eliminates complicated integration. They will also receive exclusive exchange rates, making cross-border transactions more affordable and seamless. From micro, small and medium enterprises (“MSMEs”) to major retail destinations, the Programme empowers businesses to compete effectively in a digital-first regional marketplace.
About CIMB CIMB is one of ASEAN’s leading banking groups and Malaysia’s second largest financial services provider, by assets. Listed on Bursa Malaysia via CIMB Group Holdings Berhad, it had a market capitalisation of approximately RM79.0 billion as at 30 September 2025. It offers consumer banking, commercial banking, wholesale banking, transaction banking, Islamic banking and asset management products and services. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is present across ASEAN in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Beyond ASEAN, the Group has market presence in China, Hong Kong and UK. CIMB has one of the most extensive retail branch networks in ASEAN with 571 branches and over 33,000 employees as at 30 September 2025. CIMB’s investment banking arm is one of the largest Asia Pacific-based investment banks, which together with its award-winning treasury & markets and corporate banking units comprise the Group’s leading wholesale banking franchise. CIMB is also the 91.455% shareholder of Bank CIMB Niaga in Indonesia, and 94.83% shareholder of CIMB Thai in Thailand.
SOURCE: CIMB Group Holdings Berhad
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Anis Azharuddin / Kelvin Jude Muthu
Group Corporate Communications
CIMB Group Holdings Berhad
Email: anis.azharuddin@cimb.com / kelvinjude.muthu@cimb.com
--BERNAMA