OCBC sees more seniors turn to digital payments for online shopping and travel

Ms Tay Chai Hoon, 63, making a digital payment with the OCBC app.

At a glance

• The number of digital payments made by seniors aged 60 and above using the OCBC app rose by nearly 60 per cent from a year ago
• Overseas QR payments by seniors using the OCBC Scan & Pay feature more than doubled over the same period
• The OCBC SeniorCare programme has engaged more than 150,000 seniors in over 180 workshops and engagement events since 2022

Singapore, 30 September 2026 – OCBC data shows that customers aged 60 and above are becoming more active users of digital payments via the bank’s app, particularly for online shopping and travel. The total number of digital payment transactions made by seniors through the OCBC app rose by close to 60 per cent in the 12 months ending 30 June 2026. Over the same period, the number of seniors using the app for such payments also increased by nearly 30 per cent.

Digital payments for online shopping and travel on the rise

One marker reflecting the trend is that seniors’ use of PayNow via the OCBC app to make payments to e-commerce and livestream shopping platforms (such as Shopee and TikTok Shop) was 1.5 times higher than a year earlier.

Over the same period, the number of overseas QR payment transactions made by seniors using the OCBC app's Scan & Pay feature more than doubled. China was the most popular destination among seniors using the feature, accounting for almost 80 per cent by value.

OCBC Scan & Pay enables customers to make QR code payments in more than 55 destinations worldwide, including China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea; customers either scan the merchant's QR code or generate their own unique payment code for the merchant to scan and receive payment. It is supported by six cross-border payment networks: Alipay+, DuitNow, PromptPay, QRIS, UnionPay and Weixin Pay.

Ms Tay Chai Hoon, 63, is among a growing number of seniors who have embraced digital payments beyond everyday purchases. She regularly uses PayNow to shop on TikTok Shop for household and kitchen items and has also used the OCBC app's Scan & Pay feature while travelling in China.

She said, “I started by using PayNow for simple money transfers, but over time I became comfortable using the OCBC app for everything from everyday purchases to online shopping and even payments overseas.

“I love PayNow for online shopping because it is so convenient and everything can be delivered to my home. When I go out, I don’t need to use cash, and the best thing is not carrying coins in my wallet which can make it quite heavy. When I travelled to China recently, I was able to make purchases almost everywhere using the OCBC app. I can also keep track of all my spending in one place. Having a real-time view of my transactions helps me know exactly where my money is going, gives me peace of mind and makes it easier to budget and spend confidently.”

Enabling digitally confident seniors

The growing adoption of digital payments among seniors builds on OCBC's sustained efforts to strengthen digital literacy. Since 2022, more than 150,000 seniors have participated in over 180 workshops and engagement events organised by OCBC to equip them with basic digital banking skills such as checking account balances, making PayNow transfers and paying merchants via QR codes.

These efforts were consolidated under the OCBC SeniorCare programme in 2025. Through digital banking workshops and talks, seniors learn how to use digital banking services confidently, recognise common scam tactics and safeguard their savings with features such as OCBC Money Lock.

To support continued usage, OCBC has enhanced the accessibility of its app. Customers can switch between English and Chinese, while the Smart Text resizing feature introduced in 2025 allows them to choose from seven text sizes. More than 15,000 seniors have adopted the feature, helping to address one of the key barriers to mobile banking: difficulty reading text on mobile phone screens.

Ms Susan Tan, Head of Group Segment, Global Consumer Financial Services, OCBC, said, “Singapore's ageing population makes digital inclusion more important than ever. As more services and transactions move online, it is essential that seniors are able to participate with confidence and convenience.

"We have been encouraged by the growing number of seniors using digital payments across a wider range of activities, from online shopping to overseas travel. This reinforces the importance of continuing to equip them with the skills, knowledge and tools to navigate the digital world safely."