ANT-INTERNATIONAL
BNP Paribas, the European Union’s leading bank, and Ant International, a digital payment and financial technology leader, have formed a strategic partnership to enhance cross-border payment solutions for merchants and consumers in Europe.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240714753209/en/
(Clockwise from top left) Marc Espagnon, Head of Payment and Cash Management at BNP Paribas, Kelvin Li, GM of Platform Technology at Ant International, Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International and Pierre Fersztand, Global Head of Cash Management, Payments, Trade Solutions & Factoring at BNP at the MOU signing ceremony on 3 July (Photo: Business Wire)
In a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 3 July 2024 in Zurich by Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International and Pierre Fersztand, Global Head of Cash Management, Payments, Trade Solutions & Factoring at BNP Paribas, both parties agreed to develop several key initiatives, which will see BNP Paribas working closely with Ant International and its digital payment and innovative businesses.
BNP Paribas will work with Alipay+, the cross-border mobile payment and digitalisation technology solutions operated by Ant International, to enable thousands of merchants that use BNP Paribas' acquiring service across Europe to accept payments from more than 25 international mobile partners via Alipay+.
The two sides also agreed to work together to strengthen WorldFirst’s participation in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) scheme. WorldFirst, Ant International’s one-stop digital payment and financial services platform for global businesses, will reinforce its participation in SEPA to enable businesses to make online cross-border payments and fund transfers more seamlessly within the SEPA Zone.
BNP Paribas will sponsor WorldFirst’s participation in the SEPA scheme, allowing WorldFirst to leverage the bank’s expertise and products to expedite its integration and onboarding onto SEPA. WorldFirst’s clients will be able to access payment schemes under SEPA in real-time and automate treasury payments to optimise their operations.
In addition, BNP Paribas will explore innovations in tokenised deposits for global treasury management with Ant International, through the latter’s Whale platform. The collaboration aims to improve the efficiency and speed of global fund settlements through the use of tokenised deposits.
Ant International will leverage BNP Paribas’ infrastructure to further develop its Whale platform, a next-generation treasury management solution that utilises blockchain technology innovation, including advanced encryption and AI, to improve the efficiency and transparency of fund movement between bank accounts for better global liquidity management.
Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International, said: “Europe is an important region for Ant International, with the rise of cross-border commerce and the increase in travellers to the region, and of course, the excitement around UEFA EURO 2024 this year. Through our collaboration with a leading industry partner, we will bring together digital payments and innovative technology solutions from Ant International, with BNP Paribas’s depth of experience in the European market, to deliver greater connectivity and make global travel and trade more convenient.”
Pierre Fersztand, Global Head of Cash Management, Payments, Trade Solutions & Factoring at BNP Paribas added: “This new agreement with Ant International deepens a long-term collaboration that started in 2016 when Alipay+ was rolled-out in Europe. This is a key step in bolstering our service offering while leveraging on each other’s strengths to offer our clients the best service when it comes to cross-border payments. Additionally, we are keen to foster innovation with such a key player to develop tomorrow’s treasury management standards.”
About Ant International
Headquartered in Singapore, Ant International powers the future of global commerce with digital innovation for everyone and every business to thrive. In close collaboration with partners, we support merchants of all sizes worldwide to realise their growth aspirations through a comprehensive range of tech-driven digital payment and financial services solutions.
About Alipay+
Alipay+ is a suite of cross-border mobile payment and digitalisation technology solutions that help connect global merchants to consumers. Consumers enjoy seamless payment and a broad choice of deals using their preferred payment methods while travelling abroad. Small and medium-sized businesses may use Alipay+ digital tools to enhance efficiency and achieve omni-channel growth.
About WorldFirst
WorldFirst is meeting the needs of SMEs engaged in international trade to expand globally. This includes global collection, making payments, currency conversion, risk management, and supply chain financing to help SMEs reduce costs and improve turnover efficiency to generate more revenue, and quickly capture global business opportunities. WorldFirst, which employs AI and other cutting-edge technologies for risk control, prioritises the safety and security of client funds above all else and has a leading fraud-prevention track record in the industry. WorldFirst has served one million customers worldwide and is connected to over 120 marketplaces. WorldFirst was founded in 2004 and joined Ant Group in 2019.
Learn more about WorldFirst at https://www.worldfirst.com/sg/.
About BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas is the European Union’s leading bank and key player in international banking. It operates in 63 countries and has nearly 183,000 employees, including more than 145,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group’s commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Turkey, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group's performance and stability.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240714753209/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
VSO Unveils VCP v1.0, a First-of-Its-Kind Cryptographic Audit Protocol to Restore Trust in AI-Driven Markets28.11.2025 06:30:00 CET | Press release
New open standard replaces opaque server logs with mathematically verifiable evidence, helping market participants meet EU AI Act and MiFID II transparency requirements The VeritasChain Standards Organization (VSO), an independent international standards body, today announced the global release of VeritasChain Protocol (VCP) v1.0, an open cryptographic audit protocol designed to provide mathematically provable transparency for AI‑driven and algorithmic trading systems. VCP replaces mutable server logs with a tamper‑evident chain of cryptographic evidence, enabling regulators, brokers, exchanges and trading firms to move from trust‑based oversight to verification‑based supervision. Why This Matters Now The launch of VCP v1.0 comes at a pivotal moment for global market infrastructure: More than 80 proprietary trading firms collapsed between 2024 and 2025 amid regulatory scrutiny, opaque execution models and frozen payout disputes, leaving a trust gap between traders and platforms. Regula
Andersen Consulting styrker sine kompetencer med BMA27.11.2025 22:48:00 CET | Pressemeddelelse
Andersen Consulting udvider sine kompetencer inden for bæredygtighed og virksomhedsforandring gennem en samarbejdsaftale med BMA, der er et sydafrikansk firma, som arbejder for at styrke konkurrenceevnen i fremstillingsindustrien og fremme inkluderende industriel vækst. BMA, der blev etableret for mere end to årtier siden, arbejder på tværs af produktionsværdikæder – fra producenter til deres kunder – sammen med myndigheder og udviklingsagenturer for at fremme bæredygtig industriel konkurrenceevne. Gennem sine sektorfokuserede industrielle klynger leverer firmaet integrerede tjenester inden for industriel politik og strategisk udvikling, værdikædestrategi, produktionskonkurrenceevne og lean-rådgivning, reduktion af CO2-udledning samt udvikling af små og mellemstore virksomheder og samler interessenter omkring fælles prioriteter og skalerbare, langsigtede løsninger. "Bæredygtig produktion handler om mere end effektivitet. Det drejer sig om at skabe økosystemer, der er regenerative, resi
Stronghold’s SHx Token Lists on Uphold27.11.2025 16:00:00 CET | Press release
Multi-Chain Expansion Accelerates With New Listing on a Trusted Platform Supporting Both Stellar and Ethereum Stronghold announced that its SHx token is now available for retail users to trade on Uphold, the global multi-asset digital money platform known for its transparency, regulatory alignment, and seamless support for assets across both the Stellar and Ethereum networks. The listing marks a major milestone for SHx, expanding access for users and businesses who rely on Stronghold’s token for payments, settlements, and governance participation. "Uphold is one of the only platforms that provides seamless support for both Stellar and Ethereum-based tokens, making it a perfect fit for SHx as we grow our multi-chain ecosystem. This listing was championed by our community, and we’re thrilled to deliver on a request that so many SHx holders have been asking for." — Tammy Camp, CEO & Co-Founder, Stronghold SHx is Stronghold’s native utility token, powering interoperable payments, DeFi-base
Wipro to Power Odido’s Digital Future Through AI-enabled End-to-End IT Modernization27.11.2025 14:22:00 CET | Press release
The multi-year engagement marks a significant shift in Odido’s IT strategywith Wipro bringing deep domain expertise, AI-powered delivery, and a design-led approach to drive innovation Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading AI-powered technology services and consulting company, today announced a multi-year engagement with Odido Netherlands B.V.* to transform its IT landscape and enhance customer experience across their enterprise and consumer segments. By combining AI and deep consulting expertise, Wipro will help Odido improve customer engagement and satisfaction, improve productivity, and streamline operations to reduce costs. A key highlight of this multi-year engagement is the use of a self-funded model, where productivity-driven savings are reinvested to continuously fund new digital initiatives, ensuring that innovation remains both sustainable and scalable. As part of the engagement, Wipro will lead a full-scale modernization of Odido’s digital and enterpri
Klarna Set to Take off With Lufthansa Group, Bringing Flexible Payments to Travellers Across Europe and the U.S.27.11.2025 14:00:00 CET | Press release
Klarna, the global digital bank and flexible payments provider, today announces a new multi-market partnership with Lufthansa Group, Europe’s leading airline group. The new agreement is facilitated by Klarna’s integration with Adyen, the financial technology platform of choice for leading businesses. From November, Lufthansa Group customers will be able to choose Klarna’s flexible payment options at checkout when booking travel experiences. This new integration gives travellers greater control and convenience by offering the choice to pay in full, pay later, or spread the cost of their journey over time. The new options will be available first to customers in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. “Travel is one of the most meaningful investments people make,” said David Sykes, Chief Commercial Officer at Klarna. “Together, we’re giving travellers the confidence to book their trips their way—with more flexibilit
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom