Ant International’s WorldFirst reported a 300% increase in transaction volumes in emerging markets during the first half of 2025, alongside expanded bank partnerships and new AI-powered tools.
The update was shared at the company’s Financial Partners Day in London, which brought together more than 60 representatives from over 30 financial institutions.
The company, which provides cross-border payment and treasury account services, said its banking network now includes eight global systemically important banks, among them J.P. Morgan, Standard Chartered, Barclays, HSBC and Citibank.
In Europe, BNP Paribas is a key strategic partner, working with WorldFirst to deliver digital trade finance and cash management solutions.
To strengthen security and efficiency, WorldFirst has introduced AI-driven risk management systems that integrate advanced machine learning to maintain a fraud rate below 0.01% and streamline compliance processes.
It has also rolled out Anthea, a 24/7 multilingual AI assistant designed to help businesses overcome cross-cultural barriers, language gaps and local payment preferences.
WorldFirst expanded its physical presence this year with new offices in Kuala Lumpur, Mexico, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, aiming to strengthen its local support network across key growth regions.
“The power of fintech-bank collaboration lies in building a more robust and inclusive financial ecosystem. This synergy enables us to deliver solutions with global coverage, efficiency, and security to SMEs engaged in cross-border commerce.
In turn, it provides our financial partners with a strategic gateway to the vibrant—and often hard-to-reach—SME economy.”
said Clara Shi, CEO of WorldFirst.
