CNBC · 16 Sep, 03:50 · Finance briefing

Grab aims for 'next level' in financial services with purchase of buy-now pay-later platform Atome

Grab has announced its acquisition of buy-now, pay-later platform Atome, signalling a strategic push to deepen its financial services capabilities.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Grab has announced its acquisition of buy-now, pay-later platform Atome, signalling a strategic push to deepen its financial services capabilities. This move integrates Atome’s consumer credit infrastructure into Grab’s existing super-app ecosystem, aiming to enhance financial inclusion and drive higher transaction volumes across Southeast Asia. The acquisition reflects Grab’s ambition to evolve beyond ride-hailing and food delivery into a comprehensive fintech powerhouse. For professionals, this highlights the accelerating convergence of digital commerce and financial technology, creating new opportunities at the intersection of consumer lending, platform economics, and regulatory compliance within the rapidly expanding regional fintech sector.

Employer demand for AI in Banking skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This acquisition signals that fintech integration is no longer optional for digital platforms; it is core to growth. If you work in consumer tech or finance, your value now depends on understanding credit risk within seamless user experiences. You must bridge the gap between traditional lending and digital convenience. Prioritise skills in regulatory compliance and data-driven risk assessment, as these areas face heightened scrutiny. Professionals in product management should focus on designing ethical credit products that drive engagement without compromising safety. Upskill in financial modelling and consumer behaviour analytics to anticipate market shifts. Monitor how Grab leverages Atome’s technology to cross-sell services. By mastering the intersection of fintech regulation and user-centric design, you position yourself as an indispensable asset in an industry where financial services increasingly power digital ecosystems.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are AI in Banking, Risk Management Strategies, Financial Modeling and Compliance And Governance — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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