Financial news

Standard Chartered Singapore has announced an innovative partnership with Atome, marking the first-of-its-kind ‘lender of record partnership’ in the country.

The collaboration between the retail bank and the buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider aims to offer a wide range of mobile-first consumer payment solutions and financial services, contributing to the bank’s strategy to expand its mass retail segment and enhance financial inclusivity.

Atome, with its network of merchant partners spanning various sectors including fashion, beauty, lifestyle, fitness, and homeware, will co-create and deliver these mobile-first solutions. Standard Chartered, leveraging its 160 years of banking expertise, provides comprehensive financial services across personal, priority, and private banking to cater to the diverse needs of its customers in Singapore.

Since the partnership began in April, more than 100,000 BNPL transactions have been processed. Standard Chartered is on track to surpass its target for customer growth in the unsecured loans business by the end of this year, aligning with its overall objective to double its retail base.

This strategic partnership forms part of a 10-year multi-product regional collaboration between Atome and Standard Chartered Bank. It enables the BNPL provider to promote financial inclusion among millions of customers across the region while expanding the bank’s access to retail customers. After the successful launch in Singapore, the partnership plans to expand its presence to Malaysia and Indonesia.

“Excited to partner”

Jessie Li, managing director and head of consumer, private and business banking at Standard Chartered Bank Singapore, said: “This partnership model is key to not only help us scale but also in how we can add value to our clients’ digital lives. By providing practical solutions through greater flexibility in payment options:and a broader range of benefits and privileges, we can offer a wider reach of consumers the choice of payment solutions that best complements their everyday digital activities.”

Meanwhile, Bryan Quek, general manager at Atome Singapore, commented: “This partnership deepens our
collaboration with Standard Chartered here in Singapore. Providing Atome’s flexible deferred payments at checkout has been proven to drive engagement, transaction growth and repeat use while delivering high value customers to our merchants.

“Now, having such a trusted financing partner gives added security and confidence to both our consumers and merchant partners. It will also accelerate Atome’s user growth and merchant business expansion, both locally and regionally, as we collaborate on other digital-first consumer financing products.”

To celebrate the partnership’s launch, Atome users in Singapore can take advantage of two exclusive promotions. New Standard Chartered credit card holders will receive S$250 (in Atome+ points) upon successful card activation and have the opportunity to join the one million KrisFlyer Miles Giveaway, earning chances with every spend. Cardholders of the Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card, the bank’s new mass-affluent miles credit card, will earn additional bonus chances for the giveaway.