Cross border payments

TransferWise, one of the fintechs that have challenged old-school banking models for international transactions, is entering a new phase that adds geographies and different markets for its account alternative.

Finance organizations serious about protecting their customers need two-factor authentication, which involves the mobile phone when logging in to transfer money, writes Michael Patterson, CEO of Plixer.

Many standard procedures are possible as there are significant similarities in the information requirements across the globe, writes Zac Cohen, general manager for Trulioo.

TransferWise Ltd., the London-based international money transfer service that is considered one of Europe’s more promising financial technology startups, is lowering the fees it charges to send money from the U.K., the company said Monday.

The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication says its Global Payments Innovation service surpassed two million cross-border payments during September.

IBM plans to use blockchain technology to power real-time execution for international transfers, joining the push to streamline a traditionally cumbersome payment type.

Fintech solutions to send cross-border payments to unbanked consumers through smartphones are gaining momentum globally, but the volume of remittances going to bank accounts in developing countries is also on the rise, according to Small World Financial Services.

The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (Swift) has issued a preliminary report stating blockchain can make cross-border payments more efficient.

Mike Kennedy is OFX's new president for North America, providing more local digital payment experience for the Australian-based international transfer company.

Canadian startup Payment Rails, which aims to use APIs, blockchain and artificial intelligence to find efficient routes for cross-border payments, has closed a seed round bringing funding for its concept to $1.1 million.

Payments services provider INTL FCStone is offering a real-time exchange rate feed for its corporate customers to better calculate the cost of cross-border payments.

Bank of Ireland's quest to offer a faster path for cross-border payments has fed the sort of collaboration that's becoming more common as issuers seek to advance their technology.

International payments will only get more complex as faster payments take hold globally, steering banks and money movers to establish central hubs for handling cross-border transactions.

International sourcing is stressing businesses that are already too reliant on paper-based payment methods, argues Hyperwallet's Tomas Likar.

Alipay has entered agreements with Nordic trade and tourism institutions to further enable merchants in that region to accept payments from Chinese customers through Alipay's in-app marketing program.

An integration with transfer company bux will remove navigation and manual processes for remittances to India.

Alipay has worked with First Data, Verifone, Ingenico and others to connect with merchants in North America, but more as a service for Chinese travelers than a direct competitor to existing payment providers.

SBI Ripple Asia has formed a partnership with Dayli Intelligence to build a presence across Asia.

The preparations underscore the trouble Chinese buyers face in persuading the panel that investigates foreign acquisitions to greenlight takeovers.

In India, dLocal wants to enable global e-commerce companies to accept payments from and make payments to India to serve consumers, contractors and supply chains.