WorldFirst
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Financial technology |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founders | Jonathan Quin & Nick Robinson |
| Headquarters | |
Area served | 210 Regions |
Key people |
|
| Parent | Ant International |
| Website | www |
WorldFirst is a global provider of cross-border payments and treasury services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).[1] It operates as a subsidiary of Ant International, using the group’s financial technology infrastructure.[2]
History
[edit]WorldFirst was founded in 2004 in the United Kingdom by Jonathan Quin and Nick Robinson with the aim of simplifying foreign-exchange processes for SMEs.[3] Between 2007 and 2008, the company launched its online platform and expanded through e-commerce and corporate FX services.[4]
WorldFirst began international expansion in 2009 with the opening of an office in Sydney, followed by additional offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, the Netherlands, Japan, and Korea between 2013 and 2016.[5]
In 2019, WorldFirst became a part of Ant Group (formerly Ant Financial) and expanded its services across Asia and other emerging markets.[6]
In 2024, Ant Group announced a reorganization of its operations,[7] with WorldFirst subsequently operating as a brand under one of its independently operated business units, Ant International.[8] In 2025, it further extended its presence in Southeast Asia by launching services in Thailand and secured its license in Malaysia.[6][9]
Products and services
[edit]WorldFirst provides international payments and financial services through one global account.[10] It has served over one million SMEs, connecting them to more than 120 global marketplaces and supporting international payments in over 40 currencies.[11]
WorldFirst’s services are used by e-commerce sellers, goods and services trade businesses and freelancers.[12]
WorldFirst's global account, the World Account,[13] combines international payments, collections, FX conversion, and treasury management in one unified account.
WorldFirst's also has a virtual card solution, World Card,[14] aimed at businesses operating internationally. It allows them to make payments in more than 150 currencies across 210 countries and regions without incurring foreign exchange fees when using 15 major currencies from their WorldFirst account balance.
In 2025, WorldFirst launched an API-integrated and AI-driven solution tailored to global enterprises.[15]
International operations
[edit]WorldFirst operates in more than 210 countries and regions worldwide. Its services are available in major markets including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Singapore, the Thailand, the Malaysia, the Australia, the China, the United Arab Emirates, the Saudi Arabia,and the Mexico. The company holds over 60 regulatory licences globally and serves more than one million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as enterprise customers.[16]
Global Partnership Programme
[edit]Through its Global Voyage programme, WorldFirst enables businesses in supported markets to establish e-commerce storefronts on international marketplaces within 24 hours. This expedited capability is supported by partnerships with 28 global e-commerce platforms, including Amazon. The programme also provides participating merchants with access to a range of integrated end-to-end services, such as online advertising, logistics support, and website development and management, to facilitate international expansion and digital growth.[17]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Thompsett, Louis (2025-04-17). "WorldFirst Unveils Virtual Card for Global SME Payments". fintechmagazine.com. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ Prokop, Jane. "Ant International's WorldFirst Launches World Card to Simplify Payment for Global Commerce". ffnews.com. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ "World First: The former car-plate seller who is racing ahead in forex". standard.co.uk. 2014-01-27. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ "WorldFirst Expands Cross-Border Financial Solutions to Southeast Asia, Boosting SME Growth in E-commerce". sme.asia. 2023-11-15. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ "WorldFirst transactions soar on SME global trade". theasset.com. 2024-10-17. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ a b "Ant International's WorldFirst gets approval to provide payment services in Malaysia". technode.global. 2025-08-08. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ "Ant Group's Global Unit Posts US$3 Billion Revenue Ahead of Planned Spinoff". fintechnews.sg. 2025-05-20. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ "Ant Group Expands Singapore Presence and Launches Ant International Foundation". thedigitalbanker.com. 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ "Ant International's WorldFirst Reports 300% Transaction Growth in Emerging MarketsWorldFirst enters Thailand to strengthen SME cross-border payments". thedigitalbanker.com. 2025-10-02. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ "Ant Int'l's WorldFirst gains Malaysia licence to expand international payments". Asian Banking & Finance.
- ^ "Ant International focuses on SMEs to fuel growth". The Asset.
- ^ "WorldFirst sees transaction growth as SMEs expand globally". Fintech News Singapore.
- ^ "Ant International's WorldFirst gets approval to provide payment services in Malaysia". TechNode Global.
- ^ "WorldFirst unveils virtual card for global SME payments". FinTech Magazine.
- ^ "WorldFirst launches enterprise payments solution with API and AI capabilities". Fintech News Singapore.
- ^ "WorldFirst's Enhanced Bank Partnerships and AI Tools Fuel 300% Transaction Growth in Emerging Markets". Business Wire. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
- ^ "WorldFirst to expand e-commerce digital finance solutions for SMEs in Southeast Asia in 2023-2024". Fintech Futures. Retrieved 31 December 2025.