What is an international business payment?
For even the most experienced business owners, making international payments can be difficult. Learn more about the ins and outs of international money transfers below.
What is an international payment?
An international payment or transfer is a means of sending funds from one country to another. They happen between individuals, companies, or financial institutions.
Businesses that make online money transfers across borders, must have access to reliable payment services. They should also be able to accept and exchange payments in multiple currencies.
At 3S Money, we enable clients in 190+ countries to send and receive high-value international payments with a International Business Account.
What are the benefits of using international money transfer services?
In recent years, the number of payment providers has increased. This has created a fairer, more transparent payments landscape. Fintech businesses and challenger banks have been the main drivers of this change.
A good international payment service will prioritise security, speed, and service. Working with a specialist provider also comes with certain benefits:
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They understand your business needs.
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They spot growth opportunities.
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They provide tailored payment support.
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They identify ways to save money on foreign exchange.
At 3S Money, we know what it takes to make cross-border payments work for everyone. We draw on our global experience to understand you, your business and your payment needs.
What types of business use international payment services?
Any business that sends, receives, or exchanges money internationally. The most common industries include:
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Import/export
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Shipping
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Manufacturing
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Retail
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Financial services
When a business wants to scale globally, traditional banking services may not be able to support them. They need to look at the bigger picture and partner with a provider that matches their ambition.
When choosing a provider, it’s important to strike a balance between cost, service, and convenience.
Why aren’t traditional bank accounts the best option for international payments?
Traditional banks aren’t equipped to serve the needs of growing businesses. International payments aren’t an area of interest or expertise. This means that exchange rates are expensive, payments are slow, and account fees are high.
A bank will add a fixed fee to every international payment. Also, a premium of up to 5%, on the foreign currency exchange rate, will be added to each transaction. E.g., sending a payment of 10,000€ may incur 500€ in additional transfer fees.
Making an international payment using a bank transfer can be a long, drawn-out process. Many banks run on outdated systems that are neither smart nor accessible.
In some cases, new payment details must be entered every time. This can lead to mistakes, delayed payments, and lost business.
Banks do not see growing business as a priority. This leads to account holders receiving poor service, guidance, and support.
How long does an international payment take to process?
A payment made within Europe will take one to two business days with a traditional bank. Outside of Europe, it can take between two to five business days.
Timeframes may be longer if a payment is sent over a weekend or national holiday.
3S Money's network of correspondent banks allows us to provide faster payment processing. We offer instant payments in the UK and EU, as well as same-day cross-border payments.
Get in touch to learn more about how 3S Money can support your business.
What payment networks does 3S Money use?
We process high-value international payments via SWIFT and SEPA.
SEPA banks operate within the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). Set up by the European Union, SEPA makes it easier to process cross-border Euro payments. Learn more about SEPA.
3S Money helps businesses from 190+ countries access the SEPA network. Payments are made possible through local EU IBANS, connected to our multi-currency business account.
SWIFT is a global network that connects banks and financial service providers. It's the most common international money transfer solution.
SWIFT recorded an average of 42.5 million daily messages on a year-to-date (YTD) basis in March 2021. Learn more about SWIFT.
Are international payments subject to daily limits?
With 3S Money, there is no limit on your payments. We specialise in high-value international payments and can process large batch payments daily.
Traditional banks may have daily transaction caps or charge a fee for additional services.
Can I send and receive money in multiple currencies from my account?
With a 3S Money account, businesses have instant access to 65+ currencies. Also, we can process payments and currency exchange from 190+ countries.
Our dedicated Client Managers are experts in international payments. We deliver the support services of a premium bank, powered by innovative fintech solutions.
Working side-by-side with our clients to fulfil their payment needs is why we do what we do.
Would you like to learn more about making international payments with 3S Money? Contact our sales team via
[email protected] or call us on +44 2038 079645.
Ready to get started? Start your application and begin your 3S Money journey today.