Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB), a fully licensed digital bank regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain, has taken a major step in expanding its global payment capabilities by opening a correspondent banking account with J.P. Morgan. The move grants SGB direct access to J.P. Morgan’s established USD clearing network, strengthening its ability to deliver fast, secure, and reliable cross-border payment services to clients worldwide.
Based in Manama, SGB says the partnership is designed to support businesses and investors that rely on seamless international money flows, particularly across major financial corridors linking the Middle East, Asia, and global markets.
Rolling Out Wire 365 for Always-On USD Clearing
A key highlight of the collaboration is SGB’s adoption of J.P. Morgan Payments’ Wire 365 solution, making it one of the first digital banks in the MENA region to do so. Wire 365 enables USD clearing 365 days a year, removing traditional banking cut-off times and allowing near real-time settlement even on weekends and public holidays.
With this capability, SGB can now receive and credit incoming USD payments without interruption. This significantly enhances service availability and offers clients greater flexibility to manage liquidity, optimize cash flows, and meet payment obligations without being constrained by standard banking hours.
Strengthening Omnichannel Settlement Capabilities
The new correspondent banking relationship complements SGB’s existing network of global payment systems, including its proprietary real-time settlement infrastructure, SGB Net. By combining traditional global payment rails with its advanced digital infrastructure, SGB aims to provide more comprehensive omnichannel settlement solutions.
According to the bank, this integrated approach allows clients to manage global liquidity more efficiently while benefiting from improved speed, certainty, and security in cross-border transactions.
Supporting Cross-Border Capital Flows
The partnership is particularly relevant as capital flows between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and Asia continue to expand. Improved USD clearing capabilities can help facilitate investment flows, trade financing, and treasury operations for corporates and institutions operating across these regions.
“Joining J.P. Morgan’s global network allows us to offer clients a convenient route for USD clearing and ensures their capital moves with the speed, certainty, and security required in today’s global economy,” said Ali Moosa, Executive Vice Chairman of SGB.
Backed by Global Financial Strength
J.P. Morgan Payments processes more than $10 trillion in payments daily across over 160 countries and 120 currencies, bringing deep scale and reliability to the partnership. SGB, meanwhile, offers banking, digital asset management, and stablecoin settlement services, backed by Whampoa Group and Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat. Together, the collaboration signals a push toward more continuous, always-on cross-border banking infrastructure.
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FAQs
Yes. Always-on clearing reduces delays caused by weekends or regional banking hours, which is especially useful for firms operating across the GCC, Asia, and the U.S. This can lower operational friction in treasury and trade workflows.
The impact is mainly indirect. While the setup targets corporates and institutions, improved backend settlement can lead to smoother international transfers and better service reliability for end users over time.
It raises the bar for infrastructure expectations. Other digital and regional banks may face pressure to secure similar correspondent relationships or always-on clearing capabilities to stay competitive.
The focus typically shifts to onboarding clients, optimizing compliance and risk processes, and scaling transaction volumes. Over time, this may enable new payment products or expanded treasury services built on continuous settlement.
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