Asian digital banking: decline or revival?

Despite Asia boasting the world’s highest mobile payment penetration rate, digital banks in the region have failed to meet expectations. Traditional banks in many Asian markets no longer view them as serious competitors. What explains this underwhelming performance and are there any exceptions?

In 2018, when Hong Kong launched its virtual bank licence, there was a palpable sense of excitement. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) received 33 applications, as the success of WeChat Pay and Alipay in mainland China fuelled expectations that virtual banks would revolutionize the industry.

The vision was to create a new kind of bank, one that was entirely embedded in consumers’ lives and seamlessly connected with various apps, offering a full range of services.

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