Introducing World Direct: Instant, fee-free payments
Last updated: 9 Sep 2025
World Direct is a new way to pay service providers right from your World Account, without fees.
World Direct is a new feature in your World Account that lets you pay listed service providers – instantly, securely and without any transfer fees. From logistics and warehousing, marketing, tax agencies and sourcing partners, World Direct makes it faster and easier to pay the suppliers your business relies on.
Paying for products and services – whether domestically or internationally – is a routine part of running a business. And it should be simple. But the reality is that business transfers, especially to partners based overseas – is often slow, expensive and hard to track.
Common issues SMEs and e-commerce businesses face include:
Slow settlement times and unclear delivery dates
Delays caused by intermediary banks
High transfer fees that reduce margins
Poor FX rates with little transparency
Manual entry of bank details for each payment
- Risk of errors or failed transfers
Limited tracking once a payment is sent
Uncertainty around payment status
The World Account already gives you a faster, more cost-effective way to send and receive money internationally.
World Direct builds on this foundation, offering instant payments to a curated list of providers, without needing to enter bank details or cover payment fees or foreign exchange costs.
Table of Contents
How World Direct works
World Direct gives you access to a growing list of trusted service providers. When you’re ready to pay, there’s no need to enter bank details, check routing codes or wait for confirmation from your vendor.
Simply select the provider from the list, enter the amount and send. Here’s what makes it different from a regular transfer:
Instant transfer: Payments clear in seconds
Zero transfer fees: No extra costs – the full amount goes to your vendor
No FX fees*: If you’re paying from your currency account in the same currency and country, no FX fees apply
Full visibility: Track the payment from initiation to confirmation
Simplified expense management: View your payments alongside currency balances and collections
- Trusted network: Only approved vendors appear on the list, so you can pay with confidence
*For cross-border and cross-currency payments, standard FX rates will apply.
How to use World Direct
You’ll find World Direct as a payment option when you log in to your World Account. To make a payment:
1. Log in to your World Account
2. Navigate to Payments > Additional payment services > World Direct (Vendor Payment)
3. Select your service provider and click ‘Pay now’
4. You’ll be prompted to enter payment remarks so the payee can easily identify the payment
5. Select the currency and enter the payment details
6. Confirm the details
7. Transaction details will appear, which you can download
- Open 15+ local currency accounts and get paid like a local
- Pay suppliers, partners and staff worldwide in 100+ currencies
- Collect payments for free from 130+ marketplaces and payment gateways, including Amazon, Etsy, PayPal and Shopify
- Save with competitive exchange rates on currency conversions and transfers
- Lock in exchange rates for up to 24 months for cash flow certainty
Who can use World Direct
World Direct is available to any business with a World Account. If you work with external service providers – whether locally or internationally – and want a faster, fee-free way to pay them, World Direct is for you.
It’s ideal for businesses such as:
- Marketplace sellers using third-party logistics and warehousing partners
E-commerce brands working with Amazon consultants or growth agencies
Retailers working with sourcing agents or distribution partners
Import/export businesses managing supply chain and freight payments
Marketing teams paying media buyers or creative agencies
Wholesalers or distributors coordinating fulfilment and storage partners
SMEs working with tax agencies for VAT payments
- Businesses paying for IT services
What World Direct means for your business
World Direct removes the typical barriers in supplier payments, meaning less time managing transfers and more time growing your business.
Here’s what it helps you do:
- Pay faster by settling in seconds, not days
Build stronger relationships by paying partners on time
Stay in control of cash flow with full visibility of funds
Protect your margins with zero transfer fees on listed vendors
Simplify your operations with a built-in directory of trusted suppliers
Start using World Direct
Already have a World Account? Log in now to try World Direct.
New to WorldFirst? Join now and get a World Account to simplify how you collect, convert and pay across currencies.
FAQs
Who can I pay with World Direct?
You can pay any vendor listed in the World Direct directory. These include approved service providers in:
- Logistics and warehousing
Advertising and Marketing
Tax services and VAT payments
IT services
Distribution and sourcing
The list will grow over time, with more vendors and categories to come.
When is the feature available?
World Direct is available now for all Australian and New Zealand based World Account holders.
What currencies are supported?
You can make payments in any currency supported by your World Account, depending on the vendor’s setup. If you’re paying a vendor in the same currency from a matching currency account (e.g. EUR to EUR), no FX fees apply. If a currency conversion is required, standard FX rates will apply.
What makes this different to a standard transfer?
World Direct lets you pay listed service providers instantly – with no bank details to enter, no transfer fees, and full visibility until settlement. It’s a faster, simpler way to pay trusted partners compared to standard international transfers.
What if my preferred vendor isn’t listed?
Right now, you can only pay vendors that are part of the World Direct directory. If you’d like to see a specific partner added, let your WorldFirst account manager know or get in touch.
Disclaimer: The information contained is general only and largely our views. Before acting on the information you should consider whether it is appropriate for you, in light of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Although information has been obtained from and is based upon multiple sources the author believes to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and it may be incomplete or condensed. All opinions, estimates, mentioned products/services and referenced material constitute the author’s own judgement as of the date of the briefing and are subject to change without notice. WorldFirst shall not be responsible for any losses or damages arising from your reliance of such information.
Pay your suppliers in seconds with zero fees
World Direct is a new feature in your World Account that lets you pay listed service providers – instantly, securely and without any transfer fees. From logistics and warehousing, marketing, tax agencies and sourcing partners, World Direct makes it faster and easier to pay the suppliers your business relies on.
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