A guide to DuitNow and how it works (2026)

Key Takeaways:

• DuitNow is Malaysia's national instant payment service, run by PayNet. It lets individuals and businesses send and receive money using mobile numbers, National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) numbers, and business registration numbers.

• DuitNow is built for domestic payments in Malaysia. Cross-border QR payments are available with Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, and China.

• For businesses that need to pay international suppliers or collect from overseas customers, Airwallex lets you transfer to 200+ countries. You can also collect like a local in 70+ countries.

DuitNow is Malaysia's main instant payment service, and if you run a business here, you almost certainly use it.

Whether it's collecting from customers at the counter, requesting payment from a client, or sending money to a supplier, DuitNow handles the everyday domestic side of business payments quickly and without fuss.

This guide covers how each part of DuitNow works, what it costs, who it suits, and where alternatives like Airwallex pick up where DuitNow leaves off.

What is DuitNow?

DuitNow is a Malaysian payment service that lets you send and receive money instantly across banks and e-wallets.

It was launched in December 2018 by Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet), the national payments network that runs Malaysia's core payment infrastructure.

Think of it as a layer on top of your existing bank account. Instead of sharing account numbers, you and your customers, suppliers, or employees can send money using easy-to-remember identifiers: a mobile number, an NRIC, or a business registration number.

The money moves instantly, 24/7, directly between accounts.

DuitNow is made up of four main services:

• DuitNow Transfer: send money instantly to any DuitNow ID

• DuitNow QR: accept or make payments by scanning a QR code

• DuitNow Request: send a payment request to a payer's DuitNow ID

• DuitNow Online Banking/Wallets: pay bills or complete online purchases via bank or e-wallet

This guide focuses on the first three, which are the most relevant for everyday business use.

How to use DuitNow to send and receive money

DuitNow offers three main services for businesses that want to send and receive money: DuitNow Transfer, DuitNow QR, and DuitNow Request. Here’s a quick overview:

DuitNow Transfer

DuitNow Transfer lets you send money instantly to anyone with a registered DuitNow ID, such as a mobile number, NRIC, passport number or business registration number. You don't need to know the recipient's bank account details.

For businesses, this is useful for paying suppliers, contractors or employees directly from your banking app. Most transfers for consumers and small businesses up to RM5,000 are free, although fees and limits vary by bank.

Business transfer limits can be as high as RM10 million per transaction, although your bank may set a lower limit.

How to send money via DuitNow Transfer

• Log in to your mobile banking app or online banking account.

• Select DuitNow Transfer.

• Enter the recipient's DuitNow ID.

• Enter the amount.

• Review the details and confirm the transfer.

Cross-border DuitNow transfers

DuitNow's cross-border transfer service currently connects Malaysia and Singapore through its link with PayNow, Singapore's real-time payment system.² You can send money to a Singapore mobile number or Virtual Payment Address (VPA) directly from a participating Malaysian banking app or e-wallet.

The daily transfer limit is RM3,000.² Participating Malaysian providers include CIMB, Maybank and Touch 'n Go eWallet, among others.²

This makes DuitNow useful for small, occasional payments to Singapore, but the RM3,000 daily limit may not suit businesses making larger or more frequent international payments.

For broader international coverage, Airwallex lets you send funds to 200+ countries, with 93% of transfers arriving on the same day.

DuitNow QR

DuitNow QR lets businesses accept payments from customers using participating Malaysian banks and e-wallets through a single QR code. Customers can scan the code with their banking or e-wallet app and pay directly from their account.

For businesses, this means you don't need to display separate QR codes for different banks or e-wallets, while payments can be confirmed instantly.

How to accept a payment via DuitNow QR

• Display your DuitNow QR code at your counter or checkout.

• The customer opens their banking app or e-wallet.

• They scan your QR code.

• They enter the payment amount.

• They confirm the payment.

Consumer payments can be capped at RM50,000 per transaction, while business payment limits can reach RM10 million at participating banks.³ Your bank or e-wallet provider may impose lower limits, and a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) may apply.³

Cross-border QR payments

DuitNow QR also supports cross-border payments from customers in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and China.⁴ Customers from these markets can scan a participating Malaysian merchant's DuitNow QR using their local banking app or e-wallet.

Your DuitNow QR must be enabled for cross-border acceptance. Participating networks include Alipay+, NETS, QRIS, PromptPay, Bakong, UnionPay and WeChat Pay.⁴

This can be particularly useful for businesses in retail, food and beverage, and tourism that regularly serve international customers.

DuitNow Request

DuitNow Request lets you request payment directly from a customer or business using their DuitNow ID. The payer receives a notification through their banking app or e-wallet and can approve the payment without you needing to provide bank account details.

It's useful for businesses collecting invoices, requesting payment after providing a service, or collecting recurring payments.

DuitNow Request is available through selected banks and e-wallets, so check with your provider before using it for your business.

How to send a payment request via DuitNow Request

• Log in to your mobile banking app or e-wallet.

• Select DuitNow Request.

• Enter the payer's DuitNow ID and payment amount.

• Review and send the request.

• The payer receives a notification and approves the payment.

Business limits can reach RM10 million per transaction, while individual limits can reach RM50,000, although actual limits vary by provider.⁵ You can also have up to 20 pending requests at a time.⁵

Which DuitNow service should you use?

Here’s a general rule of thumb:

• Use DuitNow Transfer when you need to send money

• DuitNow QR when you want to accept payments in person

• DuitNow Request when you want to collect a payment from a specific customer or business

Selling online? In that case, Airwallex Payments lets you accept DuitNow alongside 160+ other payment methods from customers in 180+ countries, giving you a broader online payment solution than DuitNow alone.

How to register for DuitNow

You do not need a separate DuitNow account. DuitNow works through your existing bank account or e-wallet; you just need to activate it.

To send money via DuitNow Transfer or pay using DuitNow QR, no registration is required beyond having a participating bank account or e-wallet. To receive money via DuitNow Transfer, you need to complete a one-time registration to link your account to a DuitNow ID.

How to register your DuitNow ID

• Log in to your bank's mobile or internet banking app

• Select DuitNow and choose to register or link your DuitNow ID

• Link your bank account to a unique identifier: your mobile number, NRIC, passport number, or business registration number

• Verify your details to complete registration

Once registered, customers and partners can send money directly to your DuitNow ID without needing your bank account number. Your actual account details stay private; the DuitNow ID is just a pointer to your account.¹

For businesses, registering your business registration number as a DuitNow ID is the most practical option. It lets clients and partners pay you without needing to look up account details, and it keeps your personal identifiers separate from business transactions.

Pros and cons of using DuitNow

DuitNow is well-suited to most everyday domestic payment needs in Malaysia. But it has real limitations for businesses operating across borders or running more complex payment flows. Here’s a balanced look at both sides:

Pros

• Fast and free for most domestic transfers. Transfers between participating banks and e-wallets are instant, 24/7. For consumers and small businesses, transfers up to RM5,000 are free.¹

• Easy for customers to pay you. A single DuitNow QR code accepts payments from all participating banks and e-wallets — no separate codes or apps needed.

• Simple to set up. Registration requires nothing beyond your existing bank account. Linking your business registration number takes a few minutes.

• Strong domestic coverage. DuitNow is accepted across a wide range of participating banks and e-wallets throughout Malaysia.

• Secure. Transactions are protected by two-factor authentication and encryption. Recipients' actual bank account details stay hidden behind their DuitNow ID.

Cons

• Limited cross-border reach. Fund transfers only work with Singapore, with a daily cap of RM3,000.¹ This makes DuitNow impractical for businesses that regularly pay overseas suppliers or teams.

• Transaction limits vary. Fees and daily caps differ across banks and e-wallet providers. You need to check with your own provider to know exactly what applies to your account.

• eCommerce integration requires technical work. Adding DuitNow Online Banking/Wallets to an online checkout requires API integration; it is not a plug-and-play solution for most businesses without developer resources.²

• DuitNow Request has limited bank support. Not all banks and e-wallets support DuitNow Request, which limits its usefulness as a billing tool if some of your clients use unsupported providers.

How DuitNow compares to other Malaysian payment methods

If you are deciding which payment rail to use for a specific transaction, it helps to understand where DuitNow sits relative to FPX and Interbank GIRO (IBG), which are the other common options for business payments in Malaysia.

For most day-to-day collections and supplier payments within Malaysia, DuitNow Transfer is the most practical option.

FPX is better suited to online checkouts where the customer pays directly from their banking login. IBG works best for recurring bulk transfers like payroll, where speed is less critical than cost efficiency at scale.

If your payment needs go beyond Malaysia, none of these three options covers you well; that’s where platforms like Airwallex become relevant.

Simplify your international payments and transfers with Airwallex

DuitNow works well for everyday payments within Malaysia. But if your business also deals with overseas customers, suppliers, or currencies, Airwallex gives you more flexibility:

• Pay suppliers overseas: Send payments to 200+ countries. 94% of our transfers go through local rails with no SWIFT fees.

• Accept international payments: Collect payments using 160+ payment methods in 180+ countries, including DuitNow.

• Hold 20+ currencies: Keep and manage funds in multiple currencies without converting everything back to MYR.

• Manage everything in one place: Handle collections, transfers, FX, and business expenses from a single platform.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is DuitNow free for businesses?

It depends on the transaction. For consumers and small businesses, transfers up to RM5,000 are free.¹ Above that, fees vary by bank: some banks waive fees entirely for higher amounts, while others charge a small fee. For DuitNow QR, merchants may be charged a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on each transaction, with the exact rate set by their bank or acquirer.³ Always check directly with your provider for the rates that apply to your account.

What are the DuitNow transaction limits for businesses?

For DuitNow Transfer and DuitNow Request, businesses can transact up to RM10 million per transaction at banks, though your bank's own limits may be lower.¹ For DuitNow QR, businesses can accept up to RM10 million per transaction at banks.³ Individual consumer limits are RM50,000 per day for DuitNow Request⁵ and RM50,000 per transaction for DuitNow QR.³ All limits are subject to your bank or e-wallet provider's own policies.

Can I use DuitNow to pay overseas suppliers?

Only if they are in Singapore. DuitNow's cross-border fund transfer service links Malaysia to Singapore via PayNow, with a daily cap of RM3,000.² For businesses that regularly pay suppliers in other countries, you will need a separate solution. Airwallex supports international transfers to 200+ countries with no SWIFT fees, via FX & Transfers.

Which countries can pay my business via DuitNow QR?

Customers from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, and China can scan your DuitNow QR code using their local banking apps or e-wallets to pay you in MYR.⁴ For this to work, your DuitNow QR must be enabled for cross-border acceptance — check with your bank or acquirer. Look for partner wallet logos such as Alipay+, NETS, QRIS, PromptPay, Bakong, UnionPay, and WeChat Pay displayed alongside your QR code.⁴

Do I need a separate DuitNow account?

No. DuitNow works through your existing bank account or e-wallet. To send money or pay via QR, no additional registration is needed. To receive money via DuitNow Transfer, you complete a one-time registration through your banking app to link your account to a DuitNow ID: a mobile number, NRIC, or business registration number.¹

What is the difference between DuitNow and FPX?

DuitNow Transfer is designed for direct person-to-person and business transfers using a DuitNow ID. FPX is designed for online checkout payments: customers log in to their banking portal at the point of purchase to pay. For most in-person or direct business payments, DuitNow Transfer is simpler. For online stores collecting payments at checkout, FPX is the more common integration.

Sources:

1. paynet.my/personal-solutions/duitnow-transfer.html

2. paynet.my/personal-solutions/duitnow-crossborder-fund-transfer.html

3. paynet.my/about-us/media-centre/press-release/8-44-billion-transactions-processed-in-2025-as-digital-payments-become-malaysians-preferred-way-to-pay.html

4. paynet.my/personal-solutions/duitnow-crossborder-qr-payments.html

5. paynet.my/personal-solutions/duitnow-request.html

6. docs.developer.paynet.my/docs/duitNow-online-banking-wallets/integration/overview