Ant International launches PayTo service for Australian SMEs

Ant International has integrated PayTo into its Global Account Service in Australia, launching the service with Citi.

The arrangement gives Australian export SMEs a real-time account-to-account option for pull payments from bank accounts linked to PayTo. Through WorldFirst, clients can use a digital PayTo agreement to top up their World Account directly from Australian bank accounts.

Positioned as an alternative to traditional direct debit, PayTo enables instant payments at any time, including weekends and public holidays. Bank-based authorisation is also designed to reduce fraud risk and lower exposure to chargebacks.

Ant International and Citi are targeting a part of the Australian economy that plays a major role in trade but often faces working-capital pressure. Australia exported USD $343.8 billion in goods in 2025, according to figures cited by the companies, while nearly 80% of Australian SMEs involved in exports have faced significant cash-flow impacts.

Slow cross-border payments are one source of that strain. The PayTo integration is intended to help businesses move funds into their accounts more quickly, affecting how soon they can pay suppliers, settle invoices, or cover operating costs.

SME focus

WorldFirst, used by many of Ant International's smaller business customers, is central to the rollout. With the updated Global Account Service, clients can authorise pull payments from participating Australian bank accounts rather than relying on card-based top-ups or older debit arrangements.

The change also adds built-in reconciliation, which could help smaller exporters handling multiple overseas transactions and matching incoming and outgoing payments across different markets and currencies.

Ant International also highlighted broader uses for PayTo beyond wallet top-ups, including billing for software exporters, settlement for eCommerce marketplaces, and B2B invoice payments-areas where payment timing can directly affect cash flow.

The launch is part of a broader push by Ant International to expand payment options for small businesses trading internationally. Its World Card product, introduced in late 2024, recorded a 440% rise in volume in the first quarter of 2026, according to the company.

That product allows businesses to spend from foreign-currency balances held in their accounts. More broadly, Ant International has been using its Global Account Service to give clients more ways to manage cross-border payments.

Bank partnership

Citi is acting as the initiator sponsor bank for the launch, a role that underpins access to the PayTo framework in Australia.

The partnership reflects continued interest from banks and fintechs in replacing slower business payment methods with account-to-account systems. In Australia, PayTo has been promoted as a more flexible digital alternative to traditional direct debit, with customer authorisation handled through banking channels.

Ant International's broader Global Account Service also leverages blockchain, artificial intelligence, and banking partnerships in its payment operations. Those tools support risk management, foreign exchange, and cross-border payment services for Australian SMEs, although the immediate launch is focused on PayTo top-ups from domestic bank accounts.

"As Australia's financial infrastructure continues to evolve, we are proud to play a role in supporting innovative solutions for SMEs. Drawing on our experience in cross-border payments, we see firsthand how critical cash flow is to their success-and we remain committed to working with Citi and other banking partners to bring more innovation to Australian SMEs," Jim Vrondas, General Manager of ANZ WorldFirst at Ant International, said.

"Our collaboration with Ant International helps solve a tangible payments challenge for many Australians and Australian SMEs. By combining our robust PayTo infrastructure with their innovative platform, we are directly solving for better cash flow and security. This is a foundational step in modernising B2B payments, and we are proud to be the banking partner powering this essential change," said Kirstin Renner, Co-Head of Services for Citi Australia.