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nikunjgundaniya

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Best Practices to Streamline Cross-Border Payments for Banks and Fintechs

If you are a bank or fintech, then you would definitely agree to this point: today’s tech-savvy customers expect every payment to be done within minutes, whether it’s a domestic or a cross-border transaction. 

Whether you're a bank or, fintech company, your customers expect fast, affordable, and transparent global payouts. But here's the problem: many cross-border payment systems still rely on outdated infrastructure. That leads to high fees, delays, and limited access. 

As a bank/fintech, you can’t afford inefficiencies in your system. Not when your customers can switch to competitors with just a tap.

So, what’s the solution?

You need a strategy that simplifies your cross-border payment system. One that ensures faster transactions, meets compliance, offers transparency, and delights your customers at every touchpoint. 

But you might be confused about how to narrow down the best practices to follow to streamline your cross-border transactions for customers.

Well, you now no longer have to be stressed about it. This blog covers the best practices as per today’s technology to follow for your business.

So, come on, let’s get going.

Adopt a unified cross-border payment platform

If you're managing multiple systems, you're slowing yourself down. A unified platform changes everything. Here’s how you can transform your system into a unified platform:

Centralize operations with a single remittance infrastructure

Handling different tools for KYC, compliance, settlement, and payouts only creates confusion. A unified solution brings all of these under one roof. This simplifies your processes, reduces manual errors, and improves efficiency.

Also, with a centralized system, you can process more transactions, resolve issues faster, and serve customers better. It’s the foundation of a modern cross-border payment system.

Choose platforms that support multiple corridors and currencies

Your customers don’t just send money locally. They need flexibility. That’s why your system must support multiple countries, corridors, and currencies. 

Whether it’s USD to INR or EUR to NGN, your platform should handle it all seamlessly. Plus, the more options you offer, the easier it becomes for your customers to trust your service.

Prioritize compliance and global regulatory alignment

Without compliance, your operations are always at risk. So make compliance your strength, not your bottleneck. 

Automate AML and KYC checks in real-time

Manual checks take time to execute for you. However, automation can make them faster and more accurate for you. With real-time verification, you can onboard customers quicker, reduce fraud, and meet international standards.

It also helps you stay audit-ready at all times without adding more staff or effort.

Stay updated with region-specific remittance laws

Financial and remittance regulations change often. What works in one country may not be allowed in another. To keep up with that, you need a system that adapts to each country’s rules without delays.

This ensures smoother cross-border payments and protects your business from penalties or disruptions.

Embrace API-driven integrations for seamless connectivity

Speed and connectivity matter the most in the remittance business. And APIs are the glue that holds it all together. Here’s how it does:

Integrate with banking systems, payment gateways, and mobile money platforms

You shouldn’t be working in isolation while operating a remittance platform. You need to integrate with certain platforms and bodies, such as banks, gateways, etc. Your cross-border payment platform should be able to connect to banks, mobile wallets, gateways, and even third-party apps. That’s how you build a truly connected ecosystem.

With open API support, you can offer instant transfers, reduce settlement times, and deliver better customer experiences.

Ensure real-time settlement and tracking

Your customers want to know where their money is, right now. APIs allow you to offer real-time tracking and status updates.

This builds trust, reduces support requests, and gives you an edge over competitors who still depend on outdated manual updates.

Enable interoperability across networks and regions

Cross-border payments involve different systems, platforms, and partners. To avoid delays and disruptions, your solution must connect smoothly across regions and networks. Here's how you can make that happen:

Support both traditional banking and digital wallet systems

Not every customer uses a bank account; some use mobile money, others prefer digital wallets. And you have to cater to all those customers. And interoperability can make that happen for you. 

You can connect your system to banks, wallets, or telecom providers, whatever your customers prefer. That flexibility drives adoption and increases your transaction volumes.

Build partnerships across local and international payment rails

The more partners you have, the more powerful your reach becomes. Collaborating with local banks, money transfer operators, and payout partners strengthens your global network.

This helps you offer faster payouts and maintain high success rates even in remote or underserved regions.

Offer competitive and transparent pricing

Your customers want you to display the fees transparently on their screens, as it is. And they deserve to know how much they are being charged. Don’t they? So here’s how you can show your prices on your platform:

Avoid hidden charges and currency markups

If your pricing lacks clarity, you risk losing trust. You have to be transparent with exchange rates and transaction fees. Your customers will thank you for it.

They’ll also stick around longer, which means more business for you.

Optimize fees using automated FX engines

With intelligent FX engines, you can offer the best possible rates based on real-time market conditions. This helps you stay competitive while protecting your margins.

It also allows you to offer lower-cost services without compromising profitability.

Ensure scalability and future-readiness

As your business grows and customer demands evolve, your payment system must keep pace. You need a setup that supports growth, handles higher volumes, and adapts to future innovations. Here's how you can prepare for that:

Choose a cloud-native and modular architecture

A cloud-based solution gives you scalability and speed. You can process higher volumes without increasing costs or losing performance.

A modular setup also allows you to upgrade features, launch in new markets, and meet evolving customer needs without overhauling your entire system.

Be ready for innovation: CBDCs, blockchain, and real-time payments

Payment innovation is moving fast. From Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) to blockchain networks and instant payments, your system should be future-ready.

Adopting new technologies early gives you a strong competitive advantage and prepares your business for what’s next.

Conclusion

Streamlining cross-border payments goes beyond improving transaction speed. It’s about reducing operational complexity, meeting global compliance standards, and delivering a consistent, reliable customer experience. When you implement the right practices—like platform unification, real-time compliance, API connectivity, and regional interoperability—you don’t just improve your process; you transform your business. In a market where trust, speed, and

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