Global financial messaging firm Swift says more banks are making payments in renminbi with China and Hong Kong, representing a 6% increase in adoption rate over the last two years.

About 1,081 financial institutions used the renminbi for payments with China and Hong Kong in May, representing 35% of all institutions exchanging payments across all currencies, Swift says in a release.

In May 2015, renminbi adoption for payments by financial institutions in Asia Pacific increased to 37% from 33% in May 2013. During the same period, the Americas experienced even stronger growth, with financial institutions increasing their use of the renminbi for payments by 10%, leading to 37% adoption. Europe follows closely with 33% adoption and Africa - Middle East with 28%.

"Every month we witness new proof of global RMB adoption", says Michael Moon, head of payments, Asia Pacific, Swift. "The number of banks that use RMB for payments with China and Hong Kong is a key internationalization indicator. This large number also shows that many banks, across the globe, may have an interest in connectivity to the China International Payment System that China will launch by end of the year".

Overall, the renminbi strengthened its position as the fifth most active currency for global payments in value and accounted for 2.18% of payments worldwide in May 2015. Although all currencies decreased in value by 3.1%, renminbi payments increased in value by 1.99% compared to April 2015 which leads to its record high share in global payments.

 "Swift's data makes it clear that RMB is becoming increasingly central to the business (that) banks do with China and Hong Kong," said Surendra Rosha, HSBC's designate head of financial institutions group for Asia-Pacific. "As opportunities grow for banks' clients to use RMB in trade with China and to invest in its markets, we would expect financial institutions' use of the currency to carry on increasing."