Simplifying Cross-Border Payments

Wire and ACH transfers — even those made during normal working hours in a traditional work week — simply take too long. International transfers generally need two business days to fully process, for example. Payments made via ACH require at least one business day, although same-day ACH in the U.S. offers three intraday settlement windows. Such delays are becoming untenable, particularly with the promise of real-time offerings to settle, clear and post funds within 30 minutes or less. The Simplifying Cross-Border Payments Playbook, a PYMNTS and SWIFT collaboration, examines how governmental organizations and financial institutions (FIs) worldwide are collaborating to design and implement regional real-time payment rails to improve upon cross-border payment speeds.