Payment Gateways in Malaysia Offering Both APMs and Local Payment Methods

8 Min

December 23, 2025

Nowadays, most Malaysians favor bank transfers, wallets, and real-time local payment rails. If your checkout doesn’t offer local payment methods which Malaysian customers actually use, you will notice the difference. Abandoned carts. Unsuccessful payments. A loss of trust.

It is for this reason that the merchants growing their businesses in Malaysia are moving towards a multi-method payment gateway in Malaysia that can address global payments as well as local payments.

Now, let’s see how it works.

Understanding Malaysia’s Payment Behavior

Rather than accumulating cards, Malaysia has focused on mobile and online payment systems that are trusted and widely used by consumers. These include:

  • Real-time bank transfers
  • QR-based wallets
  • App-driven APMs

According to Bank Negara Malaysia, real-time transfers and e-wallet usage now account for a majority of non-cash transactions. Payment volumes are led by FPX, DuitNow, and e-wallet services such as Touch ‘n Go and GrabPay.

What this really means is simple. Payment processing in Malaysia only works well when local behavior is respected.

What Are APMs and Why They Matter in Malaysia

APMs are alternative payment methods. In Malaysia buyers prefer the following:

  • Online bank transfers
  • QR-based instant payments
  • E-wallets linked to local banks

An APM payment gateway in Malaysia isn’t optional anymore for merchants because without APMs, you miss:

  • Buyers without cards
  • Buyers who distrust cross-border card payments
  • Buyers who want instant confirmation

That’s why choosing a payment gateway with APM support is a must for merchants.

Also read about: How Malaysian E-Com Merchants Expand Globally With TransFi Checkout Support

Key Local Payment Methods in Malaysia You Must Support

FPX Bank Transfers

The FPX payment gateway is the backbone of Malaysian e-commerce. It connects customers directly to their bank accounts for instant transfers.

FPX supports nearly every major Malaysian bank and is trusted for high-value transactions.

DuitNow

A DuitNow payment gateway enables instant account-to-account transfers using mobile numbers or QR codes. It’s fast, familiar, and widely adopted across online and offline commerce.

E-Wallets

Daily spending happens inside wallets:

  • Touch ‘n Go payment gateway for transport, retail, and online purchases
  • GrabPay Malaysia payments for services, food, and e-commerce
  • ShopeePay payment gateway for marketplace-driven buyers

These wallets are not fringe options, rather primary payment tools.

Supporting all of them is the difference between a checkout that works and one that leaks revenue.

Why Unified Checkout Matters for Malaysian Merchants

Most businesses make the same mistake. They bolt on payment methods one by one.

What this really creates:

  • Fragmented reporting
  • Multiple settlement timelines
  • Higher operational risk

A multi-method payment gateway in Malaysia which merchants can trust solves this by offering one checkout for everything.

How TransFi Checkout Fits Malaysia’s Payment Reality

TransFi Checkout is the perfect Malaysian payment gateway with APM support that doesn’t force trade-offs between local depth and global reach.

Here’s what it does differently:

One Unified Gateway

TransFi supports:

  • FPX
  • DuitNow
  • Touch ‘n Go
  • GrabPay Malaysia payments
  • ShopeePay payment gateway
  • Cards
  • Stablecoins and crypto

These are all local payment methods Malaysian buyers expect, plus global payment rails, inside one checkout.

Stablecoin-Powered Cross-Border Payments

TransFi is powered by stablecoin rails under the hood. That means:

  • Faster settlements
  • Better FX rates
  • Lower processing costs

For merchants dealing with international buyers, payment processing in Malaysia becomes predictable instead of painful.

Smart Routing and Lower Costs

TransFi uses AI-powered routing to choose the fastest and most cost-effective rail for every transaction.

Fees typically range between 0.5% and 1% (depending on volume), which is significantly lower than traditional gateways.

Compliance Without Complexity

TransFi operates with global compliance standards, enterprise-grade security, and real-time monitoring. Crypto and stablecoin payments are chargeback-free by design.

For Malaysian merchants, this reduces risk without adding friction.

Also read about: Why Indonesian online sellers are adopting TransFi Checkout for global buyers

How to Accept Local and Alternative Payment Methods in Malaysia

To accept alternative payment methods that Malaysia customers use, you need:

  1. A gateway connected to FPX and DuitNow
  2. Wallet support for Touch ‘n Go, GrabPay, and ShopeePay
  3. A unified checkout that handles reporting and settlement

With TransFi Checkout:

  • Integrate via Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Wix, or API
  • Enable FPX, DuitNow, and wallet payments
  • Add crypto and stablecoins without rebuilding checkout
  • Settle instantly in your preferred currency

Who Benefits Most From a Multi-Method Payment Gateway in Malaysia

TransFi Checkout works especially well for:

  • E-commerce brands selling cross-border
  • Travel and hotel platforms handling international guests
  • Luxury marketplaces dealing with high-value payments
  • SaaS companies billing global customers

Any business that needs digital payments in Malaysia that customers trust and need an international reach benefits from this setup.

The Future of Digital Payments in Malaysia

Malaysia’s payments ecosystem is moving toward:

  • QR-first payments
  • Real-time settlement as default
  • Wider APM adoption over cards
  • Stronger cross-border connectivity

Merchants who rely only on cards will struggle. Those who will adopt local payment methods in Malaysia that consumers prefer and combine them with global rails will scale faster.

Conclusion

Choosing a payment gateway in Malaysia isn’t about features on a pricing page. It’s about alignment with how people actually pay.

The best solution is one that:

  • Supports FPX, DuitNow, and wallets
  • Handles alternative payment methods in Malaysia that buyers expect
  • Simplifies Malaysian payment processing
  • Enables global growth without friction

TransFi Checkout does exactly that.

If you want one system for supporting local payment methods in Malaysia as well as APMs, sign up right away!

FAQs

  1. Why is it important to integrate unified checkout for Malaysian merchants?

Unified checkout reduces payment failures, simplifies reconciliation, and supports both local and global buyers. For Malaysian merchants, it ensures FPX, DuitNow, and wallets work alongside international payments in one flow.

  1. What are the best global payment gateways in Malaysia offering APMs and local payment methods?

The best global options are gateways that combine FPX, DuitNow, and wallets with cross-border capabilities. TransFi stands out as a multi-method payment gateway in Malaysia with which merchants can scale.

  1. How to accept local and alternative payment methods in Malaysia?

You need a gateway connected to FPX, DuitNow, and major wallets. Using a platform like TransFi Checkout allows you to enable alternative payment methods in Malaysia that customers use, without managing multiple integrations.

  1. Which is the best payment gateway for DuitNow and FPX that supports international payments?

A gateway that supports both local rails and global settlement is ideal. TransFi functions as a DuitNow payment gateway and FPX payment gateway while also handling international and crypto payments.

  1. Why is adopting a unified checkout for Malaysian merchants important?

Adopting a unified checkout for Malaysian merchants is important because fragmented payment setups increase costs and failures. A unified checkout improves conversion, simplifies operations, and supports the full spectrum of digital payments in Malaysia.

TransFi Team

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