Ant International‘s PayTo integration into its Global Account Service will offer Australian SMEs a real-time alternative to traditional direct debits.

The service, powered primarily by WorldFirst and launched in collaboration with Citi as the initiator sponsor bank, allows clients to top up their accounts directly from Australian bank accounts via digital agreements.

This setup enables account-to-account pull payments that settle instantly at any time of day, including weekends and public holidays.

Slow cross-border settlements frequently create cash flow bottlenecks for Australian exporters, a sector that shipped US$343.8 billion in goods worldwide in 2025.

By authorising payments directly with the customer’s bank, the new system aims to reduce fraud risk. It also lowers transaction costs by bypassing standard card fees and decreasing the likelihood of chargebacks.

Beyond digital wallet top-ups, the infrastructure supports business-to-business invoice payments, e-commerce marketplace settlements, and billing for software-as-a-service exporters.

Jim Vrondas, General Manager of ANZ WorldFirst at Ant International, said the company is committed to working with banking partners to improve cash flow for cross-border merchants.

“As Australia’s financial infrastructure continues to evolve, we are proud to play a role in supporting innovative solutions for SMEs,”

Vrondas said.

Kirstin Renner, Co-Head of Services for Citi Australia, noted that the collaboration solves a tangible payments challenge for local businesses.

“By combining our robust PayTo infrastructure with their innovative platform, we are directly solving for better cash flow and security,”

Renner said, calling it a foundational step in modernising business-to-business payments.

Ant International has also been expanding its broader payments suite for Australian businesses.

World Card, introduced in late 2024, allows businesses to pay directly from foreign currency balances to avoid conversion fees. Transaction volume grew 440% in the first quarter of 2026.

The Global Account Service uses blockchain and AI to manage foreign exchange risk and improve cross-border payment efficiency.

Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Australia, based on image by freepik