Singapore Gulf Bank Partners with Standard Chartered to Boost Cross-Border Payments
Singapore Gulf Bank has entered into a strategic banking partnership with Standard Chartered to strengthen cross-border clearing and settlement capabilities, with a focus on emerging markets and the growing digital asset economy.
The collaboration is expected to enhance Singapore Gulf Bank’s multi-currency payment services and correspondent banking infrastructure, particularly across the Middle East-Asia corridor, where digital asset adoption has accelerated in recent years, it says in a statement.
Under the partnership, clients are expected to benefit from faster and more efficient settlement flows, reducing delays and operational friction often associated with cross-border transactions in emerging markets.
Rising Demand
«Reliable, high-speed settlement is a necessity for global businesses, yet emerging markets remain structurally disadvantaged due to complex multi-layered intermediary routing,» said Shawn Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Gulf Bank. «By partnering with Standard Chartered, SGB is resolving the bottlenecks and providing the modern infrastructure required to power the digital asset economy across these vital corridors.»
Standard Chartered said the agreement builds on rising demand for seamless payment flows across international growth markets.
«Cross-border payment flows across key growth corridors are accelerating, and the infrastructure supporting them is evolving to match that pace,» said Karine Zakhour, Head of Banks and Broker Dealers for the Middle East and Pakistan at Standard Chartered. «Standard Chartered’s global network and clearing capabilities enable real-time, transparent settlement where it matters most.»
Zakhour added that Bahrain’s regulatory environment and established financial ecosystem continue to support the kingdom’s role as a stable hub for international financial transactions.
The partnership marks the latest expansion step for Singapore Gulf Bank, which has been building out its corporate banking and digital asset infrastructure since launching corporate banking services in late 2024.
Real-Time Multi-Currency Settlement
In May 2025, the bank introduced SGB Net, a platform designed for real-time multi-currency settlement. Later that year, Singapore Gulf Bank partnered with digital asset infrastructure provider Fireblocks to strengthen treasury management and digital asset custody services.
The bank has also rolled out 24/7 payment capabilities and continued expanding its correspondent banking network and U.S. dollar clearing operations as part of its broader growth strategy.
