How to make same-day international money transfers as a cross-border business
Last update: 23 Oct 2025
Most international payments sent via SWIFT take up to six business days to settle, but to some destination countries that number goes up to 10.
If you’re a business that’s trading across borders, slow or delayed payments can negatively impact your cash flow and strain your relationships with suppliers. For example, since suppliers tend to send out orders upon receipt of payment, you may face delayed shipments and inconsistent inventory.
Luckily, there’s a way to make same-day international money transfers – with a multi-currency account.
As its name suggests, a multi-currency account lets you hold, send and receive payments in multiple currencies. With a multi-currency World Account from WorldFirst, for instance, 80% of international payments land on the same day.
In this article, we cover:
- Why the World Account is the best choice for same-day international business transfers
- How WorldFirst’s multi-currency account helped Fresh4U make fast international transfers
- Four alternative options for fast cross-border transactions
- The problems of traditional international payment methods
Want to pay suppliers faster? Sign up for a multi-currency World Account for free today.
Why the World Account is the best choice for same-day international business transfers
WorldFirst is a global payments platform that helps businesses securely send and receive international payments. Since 2004, we’ve been trusted by over one million businesses to transfer over US$300 billion across the globe.
We understand your need to get international suppliers paid quickly and on-time. That’s why our multi-currency World Account is optimised to ensure the vast majority of international payments are settled on the very same day.
Here’s what you can do with a World Account:
Make same-day payments in major currencies
As we mentioned earlier, 80% of international payments made with WorldFirst arrive on the same day – and 90% land by the following day. We’ve designed the World Account for business, so you can make easy, fast and secure payments to 200+ countries and transact in over 100 currencies.
This means you can pay suppliers quickly, reliably and in their preferred currency, which helps you build stronger relationships and position your business as a dependable partner. It also allows you to meet urgent deadlines, seize limited-time opportunities and improve your cash flow.
Additionally, WorldFirst users receive instant updates on the status of their payments, including initiation, processing or successful receipt. Notifications are built into the World Account, so if there’s any delay, compliance hold or issue, you can act quickly.
What’s more, once you issue a free World Card that’s connected to your account, you have another way to make fast payments in 15 major currencies, including: AUD, CAD, CNH, CHF, CZK, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, MXN, NZD, PLN, SEK, SGD and USD.
Read more: How to send international payments: 6 options for businesses
Get local account details and pay faster with local payment rails
Along with paying in 100+ currencies, a World Account also lets you hold funds in over 20 major currencies too.
For each currency you’ll get local account details (such as IBANs, sort codes or local account numbers), allowing you to receive and send money as though you have a domestic bank account.
This means that, instead of taking up to six days, payments are processed as in-country transactions, typically arriving same-day or next-day as long as they’re made before the local cut-off time. No matter the destination, we’ll always route your payment through the fastest option available at no extra cost to you.
Read more: How to pick the best online business bank account (12 options)
Send instant payments to other World Account holders at no cost
If both you and your payee have a World Account, you can make an instant, fee-free transfer between the two accounts. And if you don’t have an account yet, it’s easy to get set up with one.
Here’s how to sign up:
- Sign up for free and create your account
- Fill in your account details
- Provide the necessary verification documents
- Submit your application and wait for the activation email
What else can you do with a World Account?
Besides making same-day payments, here are some other ways that a World Account can benefit your business:
Hold 20+ currencies and reliably pay Chinese suppliers
You can hold up to 20+ currencies in your World Account for as long as you want, completely free of charge. This makes paying to China more cost-effective and reliable, since you can bypass currency conversion fees and schedule payments in advance.
For example, if you make a sale in CNH, then you can hold those funds until you need to pay a Chinese supplier in CNH. Once you make that transaction, the funds are then transferred from your CNH balance.
Add 20 virtual cards to your account and manage all your funds online
You can add up to 20 multi-currency virtual cards to your World Account to help you better manage your funds. We offer up to 1.2% cashback for eligible business purchases (T&Cs apply), and you can use your World Cards to pay anywhere that Mastercard is accepted.
Assign a card to each currency, or use them to segment your funds and better plan your spending. You can set unique parameters for each card (such as payment limits), and you can also assign cards to specific team members.
Your entire account can be managed online – all your cards, all your currencies, one place. There’s no need to switch between accounts to view your funds, which makes managing your transactions easier.
You can even integrate with a third-party accounting software like Xero or NetSuite to automate reconciliation.
Read more: How a multi-currency virtual card helps your business grow
How WorldFirst’s multi-currency account helped Fresh4U make fast international money transfers
Danial Paisawala, a London fruit seller, founded Fresh4U in 2009 with his business partner Hatim Raja. Today, Fresh4U operates five branches, offering everything from catering services to market stalls selling a variety of fruits and vegetables imported from across the world.
But global trade hasn’t always been easy for Fresh4U. They needed affordable international payments to manage daily currency fluctuations that made pricing unpredictable. “There’s no fixed pricing. Tomatoes could be four quid today, eight tomorrow, then back to two the day after.”
With the multi-currency World Account, Danial and Hatim were able to make fast payments to their suppliers around the world. They bought local currency on a wholesale basis, which gave them price stability and allowed them to budget for future wholesale purchases.
As a result of their partnership with WorldFirst, Fresh4U has grown from a small side project into a thriving international business. With five branches across London and a reliable, fast-moving supply chain that keeps their produce fresh (and their customers happy) Fresh4U can continue expanding across the United Kingdom and Europe.
Read the full case study: Fresh4U savours the success of global trade
- Open 20+ 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
4 alternative options for fast cross-border transfers
Although a multi-currency account is one of the fastest options for sending same-day payments overseas, you might still want to consider these alternative methods:
1. Cryptocurrency
Decentralised cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum can be a great method of transferring funds overseas because they allow traders to sidestep currency transfer fees altogether. They’re also typically fast, and some transactions can settle within seconds.
Unfortunately, avoiding conversion fees doesn’t mean transfers are free, as costs and hidden fees still apply to most transactions. These fees fluctuate daily, which means the average transaction fee can spike during periods of congestion on the network. For instance, during the 2017 crypto boom, average fees nearly reached US$60 per transfer.
Additionally, cryptocurrency’s volatility means its value can drop quickly, making some business partners reluctant to accept it. That’s why it’s important to have a backup transfer method in place.
2. PISPs (Payment Initiation Service Providers)
This image was sourced from Noda
PISPs are regulated third-party services that allow direct bank-to-bank transfers. For example, TrueLayer is a PISP used by many fintechs and e-commerce platforms.
It allows end users to pay for a service directly from their bank account, which cuts out the card networks (and by extension the card network fees).
Because of this, transaction fees are usually lower for businesses, which can greatly improve cash flow. With near-instant payment confirmation and strict regulatory oversight (PSD2 in Europe, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorisation in the UK), PISPs offer a secure and efficient user experience.
However, PISPs may require businesses and customers to set up or learn new interfaces, which can be complicated without good technical support. Also, not all banks support instant settlement, meaning transfer speeds could vary, and smaller merchants might find integration challenging if their financial systems are not well-equipped.
Click here to see how you can link your World Account to a PISP or other authorised third parties with our Open Access.
3. Foreign exchange brokers
FX brokers are specialist intermediaries that help businesses send currency overseas at favourable rates.
For example, OFX taps local payment networks across Asia and Australia, which lets them process quicker, cheaper cross-border payments. By partnering with regional banks, they can source competitive exchange rates and minimise intermediary fees – benefits that can significantly reduce costs for businesses.
FX brokers also provide extra services like currency conversion, or forward contracts to manage currency risk. This option is especially attractive for businesses looking for optimised foreign currency conversion alongside fast payment execution.
However, costs can still add up with spreads and fees, and if you’re making smaller payments then it may not be as cost-effective as a multi-currency account or wire transfer.
What’s more, settlement speeds can also vary if the counterparty bank isn’t in a main network or there are compliance checks, and brokers may require upfront trade booking. They also might not support less common currencies, or be able to make transfers to certain countries.
Read more: Foreign exchange risk management: How to make international business more affordable
4. Express bank wire transfer
Some banks provide express/priority wire transfer options at a premium cost.
Transfers are processed through the traditional SWIFT network but are also flagged for faster processing, meaning they’ll likely settle the same day for domestic transfers and within a few days internationally. These payments are secure, traceable and widely accepted by banks and businesses globally, making them ideal for time-sensitive payments and large transactions.
However, express wire transfers can be costly, with fees charged by both sending and receiving banks, sometimes reaching $25 to $65 or more per transaction. They also lack flexibility. Transfers are irreversible, and any errors in recipient details can lead to permanent loss of funds.
Additionally, some business bank accounts impose limits on transfer amounts, and international wires can face delays due to banking hours, holidays or correspondent bank routing. While familiar to corporations, it’s less flexible when compared to modern fintech solutions offering transparent pricing and faster settlement options.
If none of the above options appeal to you, then consider using a multi-currency account. It’s easy (and free) to sign up for a World Account account today.
Choose the World Account account to help you make same-day international money transfers
Our World Account helps you make same-day online money transfers with ease and confidence. Designed for speed, security and simplicity, it’s the smart choice for businesses looking to streamline global payments.
We use local payment rails wherever possible and work closely with domestic banks around the world to ensure faster, more reliable settlements. It’s free to receive and hold funds, and transfers between World Accounts are instant. With WorldFirst, you can send money online at transparent rates.
If you’re ready to start sending fast payments overseas, then open a World Account today.
FAQs
How can I send money faster?
Here are a few ways to speed up the process of sending money overseas:
- Review and confirm that your recipient details are correct
- Choose a faster payment method
- Verify your account fully (and adding two sets of contact details)
- Plan your payments in advance of holidays or weekends
Why would a transfer be delayed or take longer than expected?
If payments are sent through intermediary banks, it can add extra time, especially if any of them flag the transaction for additional checks. Anti-money laundering (AML) and fraud prevention checks can also hold up transfers, especially for large amounts or transfers to high-risk countries.
Smaller delays can occur due to errors in the recipient’s banking details or time zone differences between banks.
What affects the speed of my transfer?
Payment speed depends on several factors, including the payment method, the payment network, and the currency pair. Some payment methods (e.g., SWIFT, wire transfers) can take several working days, while others (e.g., online platforms like WorldFirst) may be quicker. Payments sent via local payment rails will be processed much faster than those sent via international ones.
Read more: How long do international transfers take to go through – and why?
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