In Southeast Asia, mobile banking applications have become a staple of financial transactions, with a regional study revealing that 97% of Thai consumers use these applications at least once a week, making Thailand the leader in mobile banking app usage.

Vietnam follows with 95% and Indonesia with 90%.

Across the region, nearly 89% of consumers prefer mobile banking apps over traditional websites, underscoring the shift towards digital payments.

Punnamas Vichitkulwongsa, Visa Thailand's Country Manager, notes the increasing everyday inclusion of digital payments, supported by a broad acceptance across business sectors.

Southeast Asians are carrying less cash due to the rise of digital transactions, driven mainly by contactless payments and increased vendor acceptance.

Concurrently, generative AI is gaining traction, with high consumer awareness.

A significant portion of consumers are interested in Gen AI's capabilities, particularly for fraud detection and personalized financial services.

Real-Time Payments (RTP) are also experiencing growth; 86% of Thai respondents use RTP at least weekly, making Thailand a leading adopter.

However, security concerns and a preference for other payment methods are noted challenges.