Cross-border payments: A complete guide for businesses

Domestic payments occur between a merchant and a shopper in the same country, while cross-border payments involve parties in different countries. Cross-border transactions often require currency conversion and involve higher fees and more intermediary banks.

Issuing banks may decline cross-border payments due to unfamiliarity with the foreign acquirer or concerns about international fraud. Using local acquiring helps resolve these issues by ensuring the transaction meets local bank requirements.

Traditional cross-border settlements can take between two and five business days because the funds pass through multiple correspondent banks. Modern payment platforms can speed up this process by using local payout networks.

Yes, Adyen allows you to offer over 250 local payment choices through a single integration. This lets you cater to local preferences in every market without technical complexity.