RHB Becomes First Malaysian Bank to Accept DuitNow Pay for Online and Recurring Payments
RHB Bank has become the first bank in Malaysia to let merchants accept DuitNow Pay, the newer national way to pay online that is often described as the next step after FPX. Through its RHB PAY gateway, RHB says it is also the only Malaysian bank right now that supports both one-off online payments and recurring collections on DuitNow Pay.
Key facts
- RHB Bank announced on 12 November 2026 that merchants can accept DuitNow Pay through RHB PAY, its own online payment gateway.
- DuitNow Pay is run by Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet), the national payments operator, and has two parts: DuitNow Online Banking/Wallets for checkout and DuitNow AutoDebit for recurring payments.
- Merchants already using FPX or Direct Debit can move to DuitNow Pay through one integration, with money settled straight into their RHB account.
- RHB PAY launched in August 2026 with cards and FPX, and offers real-time settlement and automated reconciliation.
What DuitNow Pay changes at checkout
With classic FPX (Financial Process Exchange), a shopper picks a bank, is sent to that bank’s internet banking page, logs in and approves the payment every single time. DuitNow Pay keeps the idea of paying straight from a bank or e-wallet account, but moves the approval into the customer’s mobile banking or e-wallet app.
The bigger change is convenience for repeat buyers. Customers can save a preferred account so that later purchases are close to one-click, without logging in to their bank again. The first payment may still need the usual bank login or redirect.
The second part, DuitNow AutoDebit, handles regular bills. The customer gives consent once, and the merchant can then collect payments automatically under the agreed terms. RHB and PayNet point to subscriptions, memberships and monthly bills as typical uses.
What it means for Malaysians
- Consumers: faster checkout at shops that switch on DuitNow Pay, and a simpler way to set up gym fees, subscriptions or monthly bills straight from a bank or e-wallet account instead of a card.
- Merchants and SMEs: online and recurring collections through one connection, with funds landing in their RHB account in real time. RHB’s wholesale banking chief, Datuk Nurjesmi Mohd Nashir, said businesses should not have to keep rebuilding their collection systems every time payment standards change.
- Banks and gateways: the move adds pressure on other banks to support DuitNow Pay for their business customers. Non-bank gateway Razorpay Curlec already accepts DuitNow Pay for online purchases, so RHB’s claim is about being first among banks.
PayNet’s chief commercial officer, Azrul Fakhzan B. Mainor, said offering both online and recurring payments through RHB PAY makes it easier for businesses to adopt interoperable digital payments, meaning payments that work across many banks and e-wallets.
RHB also supports DuitNow Request to Pay, which lets businesses send invoice-based payment requests that customers approve in their banking app. Taken together, the bank is positioning RHB PAY as a one-stop collection tool for companies that want to rely less on cards and manual transfers.
Why a bank-owned gateway matters
Most Malaysian online merchants connect to payment methods through third-party gateways. RHB PAY is a bank-owned gateway, which lets RHB keep the merchant relationship and the deposits that flow from collections. Being early on DuitNow Pay gives it a selling point as more businesses look at moving beyond older FPX and Direct Debit set-ups.
For shoppers, the real test will be how many merchants switch on DuitNow Pay and how many banks and e-wallets support saved accounts and AutoDebit smoothly. Fees for merchants were not disclosed.
What to watch
- RHB PAY’s planned second phase, targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026, which is set to add e-wallets, QR payments, Direct Debit and AutoDebit.
- Whether other large banks follow with DuitNow Pay acceptance for their merchant customers.
- How quickly big billers, such as utilities, telcos and gyms, move recurring collections to DuitNow AutoDebit.
Related on FinDeskAsia: DuitNow explained and Payment gateways in Malaysia.
Sources: The Star (Nov 2026), Fintech News Malaysia (Nov 2026), SoyaCincau (Nov 2026).
