ABS explains use of ‘X’ in PayNow name masking after users report awkward and confusing displays

The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) has explained why the letter “X” was selected for PayNow’s new name-masking feature after some users reported that the system produced confusing or awkward name displays.

According to state media CNA, ABS said on 10 June 2026 that it was aware of public feedback following the recent rollout of masked account names, which in some cases resulted in unintended or inappropriate words appearing on-screen.

Reason behind the choice of ‘X’

Responding to questions about why the system used the letter “X” instead of an asterisk, dash or other symbol, ABS said not all PayNow-related systems across its 29 participating institutions currently support special characters.

As a result, a letter was selected to ensure compatibility across the network.

“The letter ‘X’ was chosen to mask certain letters as it is widely recognised as a symbol for something concealed or missing, and visually resembles a cross-out mark,” said ABS director Ong-Ang Ai Boon.

“ABS decided on this approach to swiftly disable a tool being exploited by scammers while maintaining a smooth PayNow experience.

“We seek customers’ understanding and will continue to review feedback for future improvements.”

Nickname feature removed over scam concerns

The explanation comes days after the PayNow nickname feature was discontinued on 6 June as part of efforts to strengthen protection against impersonation scams.

ABS had previously noted that scammers were able to exploit the nickname function by adopting the names of established organisations or trusted individuals.

According to ABS, the practice enabled fraudsters to mislead victims into transferring money to accounts they believed belonged to legitimate recipients.

The nickname feature had been available since PayNow was launched in 2017.

It was originally introduced to address privacy concerns among customers who preferred not to display their registered account names when receiving payments through mobile numbers or NRIC-linked transfers.

Users report unintended consequences

Following the introduction of the masking feature, some PayNow users reported unintended consequences.

Several users said portions of their names were obscured in ways that appeared confusing, unusual or inappropriate.

One Reddit user, identified as Sean, a tutor who receives payments directly from parents, said his surname was partially hidden and displayed as “SEXX” under the new system.

After contacting his bank, he said he was informed that the change was part of anti-scam measures.

“The bank explained that this is government policy to prevent scams,” Sean wrote, adding that the masking would continue to apply despite his concerns.

Well that SUXX
by u/merlion_sg in SingaporeRaw

Other users also reported moments of uncertainty when making PayNow transfers.

Some said they found themselves double-checking recipient details before completing payments, including when making purchases at hawker stalls.

One online commenter questioned the design decision behind the use of the letter “X”.

“The use of the letter X for this is perplexing. They probably didn’t think through this. Can’t they use the usual *?” the commenter wrote.

Businesses unaffected

ABS said businesses receiving payments through their unique entity numbers (UENs) are not affected by the change.

Unlike individual users, businesses do not have access to the PayNow nickname feature and can only receive payments using their registered account names.

The banking association said it would continue monitoring public feedback on the new masking system while reviewing possible future improvements.