On March 31, 2026, to continuously promote industry-academia collaboration and facilitate the integration of theory and practice for students, master’s students from Faculty of Finance at City University of Macau visited Ant Bank (Macao) Limited for an exchange and learning session. Distinguished guests included Mr. Mio Cheng Yu, General Manager of Business Development Department of Ant Bank (Macao) Limited, and Mr. Cheong Weng Hou, Head of Securities Business in the Business Development Department, as well as Dean Adrian Cheung and Associate Dean Eva Khong of the Faculty of Finance.
At the beginning, Mr. Mio extended a warm welcome to the faculty and students from the Faculty of Finance. He noted that Ant Bank (Macao) Ltd., and the Faculty of Finance at the City University of Macau have maintained a close and long-standing partnership, working together to promote the development of Macau’s financial industry and contributing to the advancement of the sector and the cultivation of professional talent.
During the exchange, Mr. Mio drew on his extensive practical experience to provide an in-depth analysis of the global digital banking market. He began by outlining the strategic value of digital banks, which lies in reducing operational costs, enhancing scalability, improving customer experience, and advancing financial inclusion. From the perspective of market size and growth trajectory in 2026, he noted that 2026 marks an inflection point for long-term growth, as digital banking shifts from being a discretionary technology upgrade to a core strategic investment. Mr. Mio also highlighted the key components and functional framework of digital banking, summarizing them into seven core components: digital channels, digital onboarding, core banking and cloud, payment processing, digital lending, open banking APIs and security, and analytics and compliance. He pointed out that digital banking is not a single product but an integrated ecosystem encompassing customer-oriented applications, backend systems, and partner connections. In terms of global market distribution, the diversified growth base reduces regional risks and supports long-term global expansion. North America leads in corporate spending, Europe drives compliance-led innovation, and the Asia-Pacific region dominates in user scale and transaction volume. Mr. Mio further elaborated on the factors driving the rapid growth of digital banking in 2026, including shifts in customer behavior, improved cost efficiency, supportive government regulations, and large-scale growth in emerging markets. He also noted that the 2026 digital banking market presents opportunities for startups and emerging players. Mr. Mio emphasized that digital banking will become a fundamental enabler of global economic efficiency, inclusiveness, and sustainable growth, and noted that the winners in the digital banking space will be organizations that combine scalability, security, regulatory expertise, and ecosystem integration.
Following this, Mr. Mio and Mr. Cheong provided a detailed introduction to the development journey and innovative services of Ant Bank (Macao) Ltd., sharing the bank’s distinctive strategies in core banking capabilities, user benefits, and securities investment. As Macau’s first licensed digital bank, Ant Bank (Macao) Ltd. leverages the technological and ecosystem advantages of Ant Group and Alibaba Group to continuously launch innovative financial products and digital services, bringing more diverse financial service options to the Macau market.
The students who participated in the visit showed strong interest in the development trends of Macau’s financial industry and banking practices, asking questions enthusiastically during the exchange. The bank’s senior executives provided professional and thorough responses. The visit enabled students to gain insights into the development of digital banking in Macau, the workplace environment, and related market trends, contributing to their professional growth and development in the financial sector. Faculty and students of the Faculty of Finance sincerely thanked Ant Bank (Macao) Ltd. for their thoughtful arrangements and professional sharing, which provided students with a valuable learning opportunity. The students also expressed great anticipation for future exchange activities.