Alliance Bank taps rising SME digitalisation with new Biz-Xpress debit card
As Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SME) push deeper into digitalisation, payments are emerging as both an enabler and a bottleneck. Cross-border trade, online sales and regulatory changes such as e-invoicing are forcing businesses to rethink how they pay, collect and manage cash flows. Against this backdrop, Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad has rolled out its new Biz-Xpress Debit Card, positioning it as a practical response to the evolving needs of digitally active SMEs.
SMEs move faster than traditional banking tools
Digital adoption among Malaysian SMEs has accelerated sharply in recent years. Beyond e-commerce platforms and cloud accounting, payment behaviour itself is changing. Mastercard data cited by Alliance Bank shows that 62 percent of Malaysian SMEs are already involved in cross-border payments or collections, outpacing the Asia Pacific average. Debit cards have also become one of the most frequently used tools for business expenses, particularly for online subscriptions, overseas suppliers and digital advertising.
Yet many SMEs continue to rely on personal cards or fragmented payment methods, creating reconciliation issues, security risks and poor visibility over spending. These challenges become more pronounced as businesses scale or operate across borders, where foreign currency payments and international acceptance are no longer optional.
Payments and the e-invoicing challenge
The push towards e-invoicing in Malaysia adds another layer of complexity. While e-invoicing promises better compliance and transparency, it also requires SMEs to tighten their financial processes. Payments need to be traceable, clearly categorised and easily reconciled with digital records.
In this environment, dedicated business payment tools are becoming increasingly relevant. According to Mastercard’s regional research, businesses that use business-specific debit cards transact at roughly double the frequency of those using personal cards. This suggests that purpose-built instruments can play a role in improving efficiency and financial discipline, particularly for smaller firms that lack sophisticated treasury systems.
Alliance Bank’s play for digitally active SMEs
Alliance Bank’s new Biz-Xpress Debit Card is designed to address these operational gaps. The card supports cash deposits and withdrawals, online and in-store purchases globally, foreign currency transactions and access to international ATMs. For SMEs dealing with overseas suppliers or customers, this reduces dependence on manual transfers and multiple banking channels.
The card is also integrated into Alliance Bank’s broader SME banking proposition, which aims to simplify day-to-day financial management rather than just enable payments. Existing customers can upgrade to the new card from January 2026, while new customers can apply at branches nationwide.
Kellee Kam, Group Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Bank, framed the launch as part of a wider commitment to SME growth. She said the card is intended to help businesses operate with greater confidence as they expand beyond domestic markets, particularly in a digital-first economy where speed and security are critical.
Rewards as a nudge towards cashless behaviour
Beyond functionality, incentives remain a key driver of adoption. Alliance Bank is offering 1.5 percent cashback on overseas and online foreign currency spending, alongside a Spend and Win campaign that rewards early adopters with Shopee vouchers. While modest in size, such incentives are aimed at nudging SMEs to consolidate more of their spending onto a single, trackable platform.
For card network partner Mastercard, the collaboration reflects a broader strategy to deepen penetration in the SME segment. Beena Pothen, Country Manager for Malaysia and Brunei, highlighted the role of secure, globally accepted payment solutions in helping businesses streamline operations and remain competitive as commerce becomes increasingly digital.
A signal of where SME banking is heading
The launch of the Biz-Xpress Debit Card underscores a broader shift in SME banking. As regulatory requirements tighten and digital transactions grow, banks are moving beyond basic accounts towards integrated tools that support compliance, visibility and cross-border activity.
For Malaysian SMEs, the challenge is no longer whether to adopt digital payments, but how to do so without adding complexity. Products that combine everyday usability with stronger controls may determine which businesses can scale efficiently in an increasingly connected economy.
