Riel Time Shopping: Cross-Border QR Payments in Singapore
Cambodian travellers heading to Singapore now have a new reason to rely on their national currency, as cross-border QR payments in Khmer Riel become available at one of the region’s busiest travel hubs—Changi Airport. The move is part of Cambodia’s broader effort, led by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), to strengthen the practicality and confidence of the Riel at home and abroad.
Singapore marks the latest addition to Cambodia’s growing network of interoperable payment destinations, joining other regional markets already connected through the Bakong system. The development is especially meaningful given the long-standing relationship between the two countries, and the involvement of Phillip Bank, a Cambodia-based bank with Singaporean roots.
Phillip Bank has integrated the feature into its mobile app, Phillip Mobile, allowing customers to scan RoamQR codes across Singapore, starting with most merchants in Changi Airport and pay directly from their Khmer Riel account. For travelers, this brings a new level of convenience: no currency exchanges, no leftover bills, and instant, transparent payments during transit or last-minute airport shopping.
The bank’s early participation places it among the first to bring this added convenience to Cambodian consumers, many of whom frequently travel to Singapore for business, education, and medical needs.
Ong Teong Hoon, shareholder representative of Phillip Bank, shared his perspective on the milestone:
As a Singaporean who has lived in Cambodia for nearly two decades, it’s encouraging to see Khmer Riel being used so seamlessly in Singapore. It also helps me personally where I can budget all my spending from my earnings in Cambodia without mixing my Singapore and Cambodia accounts, something many Singaporeans living here will appreciate. This convenience reflects how closely our two countries are connected. We’re proud to support NBC’s efforts and to play a part in strengthening the use of the Riel and the ties between our two financial communities.
Beyond convenience, the initiative reinforces a national objective: expanding the relevance and everyday utility of the Khmer Riel. The ability to use the Riel abroad, especially in a partner country like Singapore signals growing confidence, modernisation, and regional inclusion within Cambodia’s financial ecosystem.
As cross-border interoperability continues to advance across the region, developments like these show how collaboration and innovation can elevate everyday financial experiences. In support of NBC’s push to broaden the use of the Khmer Riel, Phillip Bank has also taken practical steps to make the currency more accessible locally such as offering free and automatic KHR account opening for mass customers. These efforts, both at home and abroad, help create a more seamless environment for Cambodians to confidently use their national currency wherever life takes them, whether at the neighborhood market or thousands of miles away in Singapore.
This press release was supplied.