Singapore, Jan 23, 2026, 15:32 SGT — Regular session
- iFAST shares climbed roughly 3.9% during Singapore’s afternoon session
- iFAST Global Bank’s UK branch announced it has joined the UK’s Bacs payments system
- Trading volume exceeded the stock’s recent average while it stayed close to the upper end of its 52-week range
iFAST Corporation Ltd SGX:AIY shares climbed 3.9% to S$10.42 by 3:20 p.m. Singapore time, hitting an intraday peak of S$10.46 earlier. Around 1.66 million shares changed hands, outpacing its typical volume, as the stock pressed near its 52-week high.
iFAST Global Bank, its UK unit, announced it has joined Bacs, the operator of the UK’s bank-to-bank payment system, unlocking access to Bacs Direct Credit and Direct Debit. “Joining Bacs marks an important step in strengthening our banking infrastructure,” said Inayat Kashif, chief executive of iFAST Global Bank. The bank plans to launch “Early Salary Credit” and run a limited-time promotion from Feb. 1 to April 30, offering customers up to 200 pounds. PR Newswire
Bacs is plumbing, not a headline product. That’s the point. Once customers channel pay packets and recurring bills through the account, it becomes tougher to lure them away later.
For iFAST, the UK payments expansion stands out as one of the rare visible levers investors can watch in action between earnings reports. It also serves as a trial to see if the group can boost more dependable, everyday banking income alongside its market-linked platform fees.
Asian shares edged higher Friday following the Bank of Japan’s decision to hold interest rates steady, which helped bolster risk appetite in the region. David Chao, Asia-Pacific global market strategist at Invesco, described the BOJ’s stance as “hawkish,” noting the central bank’s updated inflation forecasts. Reuters
iFAST describes itself as a global digital banking and wealth management platform, managing roughly S$30.62 billion in assets as of Sept. 30, 2025. Its operations span Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, and the UK.
Sentiment around this fee-based wealth platform still hinges largely on rates and market volatility. Hot markets boost fee income, but when conditions cool, the focus shifts fast to cost control and operational execution.
Risks cut both ways. Rolling out payments eats into budgets, and incentive campaigns often attract customers who vanish when the rewards dry up. On top of that, the UK bank faces stiff competition and strict regulation, narrowing the margin for error.
Feb. 12 is the key date as iFAST plans to release its unaudited results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, after market close. Investors will focus on signals about platform fee growth and how rapidly the UK bank is boosting everyday usage.
