Discover is a US-based global card network, and in Singapore—home to many visitors and expatriates—it is considered a way to round out card coverage. Here's how the mutual acceptance network works, how integration and settlement through Hecto Financial are structured, and what to check before adoption.
As a city-state and Asian financial hub, Singapore sees a large share of its payment market driven by foreign visitors, expatriates, and international events. Discover, a US-based card network, is rarely issued locally, but thanks to mutual acceptance agreements with Diners Club and UnionPay, it serves as a meaningful channel for capturing payments from visitors carrying US- or Greater China-issued cards. Since Singapore's card acceptance environment is already mature, the added cost of opening up one more network tends to be low.
For Korean merchants whose customers include American travelers or expatriates visiting Singapore, or holders of Diners- or UnionPay-affiliated cards—for example, hotel and airline booking services or global subscription services—adding Discover alongside major brand cards can reduce checkout drop-off from failed payments. It's best approached as a coverage supplement rather than a primary payment method for local consumers.
When a consumer enters a Discover-affiliated card number at checkout or pays with a saved card, the transaction is routed through the international card network for issuer approval. The approved transaction amount is denominated in SGD; Hecto Financial receives it in local currency, converts it, and settles it to the Korean merchant in whichever contracted currency—USD, KRW, or JPY—was agreed. Authentication requirements such as 3D Secure may vary depending on the card's issuing region.
Through integration with Hecto Financial, Korean merchants can consider accepting Discover-affiliated cards without a separate contract with an overseas acquirer. Since the scope of mutual network acceptance and the fee and settlement terms vary by industry and transaction volume, we recommend confirming details before signing a contract.
※ This section describes general support procedures and does not guarantee that integration is available for any specific merchant. Please consult with us to confirm the exact scope of support and applicable fees.
Confirm contract eligibility for businesses registered in Korea
The integration method differs depending on whether sales are online-only or also include physical stores in Singapore
Check in advance whether your business falls under a category restricted by Discover's merchant policies
Confirm compliance with Singapore's payment and foreign exchange regulations (see official sources below)
Discover-affiliated card payments are acquired in SGD; Hecto Financial receives the funds in local currency, converts them, and deposits them to the Korean merchant in whichever currency—USD, KRW, or JPY—was selected in the contract. The settlement cycle and fee rate are determined by the contract terms. Refunds and chargebacks follow the international card network's dispute rules, so processing times may be longer depending on the issuer's location.
Hecto Financial's team can help you review the right combination of payment methods for the Singapore market.
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