KB Kookmin Bank said on April 2 it expanded the scope of its cross-border QR payment service, the "KB Star Banking overseas payment service," across Indonesia on April 1.

The cross-border QR payment service connects domestic financial firms with overseas payment institutions through the Financial Telecommunications and Clearings Institute, enabling QR payments in a partner country using each country's financial apps.

Under the expansion, users can scan QR codes and make payments with the KB Star Banking app at about 32 million merchants across Indonesia, including Bali and Jakarta. The bank also cited reduced concerns over card copying and personal data leaks as a feature.

KB Kookmin Bank said it built a structure that allows payment in local currency without double currency conversion by directly linking to Indonesia's national QR payment network, QRIS, based on the Financial Telecommunications and Clearings Institute's payment infrastructure. It said this lowers customers' fee burdens and improves payment convenience.

The KB Star Banking overseas payment service provides local QR code payment services in a total of 12 countries and regions, including Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan and Hawaii.

A KB Kookmin Bank official said, "Through this service expansion, we improved accessibility and convenience so customers can make payments overseas in a familiar way." The official added, "We will continue to expand global payment infrastructure so it can become a financial service in everyday life."