How to Make International Payments in 2026: 10 Platforms for Supplier Payments

An importer usually pays an overseas supplier through one of three routes:

• A bank wire over SWIFT.
• A specialist business-payment platform.
• A bank-issued trade-finance instrument, such as a letter of credit.

For routine invoices to established suppliers, compare two or three eligible platforms and your bank on the same invoice. The best option is usually the one with the lowest landed cost on that specific corridor.

1. Confirm route eligibility

Check whether the provider supports your registration country, destination, currency and payment purpose.

2. Compare landed cost

Use the same amount, currency pair and fee-sharing option for every quote.

Include:

• Transfer fee.
• FX margin.
• Intermediary-bank deductions.
• Receiving-bank charges.
• Final amount the supplier receives.

3. Check settlement timing

Ask for the route-specific estimate, cut-off time and what happens if the payment is delayed or returned.

4. Match controls to risk

Verify supplier bank details through a separate trusted channel, align invoices with payment instructions and use dual approval for material transfers.

5. Test the route first

Make a representative live payment before committing. Record the amount debited, FX rate, fees, expected recipient amount, delivery estimate and reconciliation steps.

XTransfer is designed for B2B cross-border trade payments involving physical goods. It reports more than 1 million business customers, US$60.5 billion in 2025 payment volume and coverage across 200+ countries and regions.

Local Accounts

An eligible Local Account allows an importer to fund supplier payments through a local-currency route in a supported market.

This can reduce reliance on USD correspondent-bank routing and intermediary deductions.

Examples include:

• South Africa: ZAR local collection, supported by XTransfer’s Johannesburg office.
• Ghana: GHS local collection for eligible trade payments.
• Mexico: MXN local collection connected to local payment channels, including SPEI.
• Brazil: BRL local collection, supported by XTransfer’s São Paulo office.
• Malaysia: MYR payments through Malaysian onshore rails, with a Kuala Lumpur regional operations centre.
• Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam: IDR, THB and VND local collection routes, supported by cooperation with KBank.

XTransfer's local-account network covers approximately 60 countries and regions, with typical same-day settlement on supported local routes.

Best for: Importers funding CNY supplier payments in local currency.

Global Accounts

An eligible Global Account is designed to receive, hold, convert and pay in major currencies.

XTransfer states that Global Accounts support 20+ major currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, CNY and SGD. They can be opened online within 24 hours, with no account opening or maintenance fee.

When no local route is available, funds can be received through SWIFT, typically within 1–3 business days.

Best for: Businesses managing multiple currencies and supplier markets.

X2X

X2X enables transfers between eligible XTransfer users.

It may be useful when:

• The importer and supplier both use XTransfer.
• Payments are recurring.
• Payment confirmation affects production or shipment.
• The parties want to avoid external bank routing.

XTransfer states that eligible X2X transfers settle near instantly, operate 24/7 and carry zero transaction fees, subject to applicable terms.

Best for: Recurring payments between eligible XTransfer users.

CNY Supplier Settlement

XTransfer supports CNY payments to eligible supplier accounts in mainland China or Hong Kong. For eligible trade payments, XTransfer handles the bank’s foreign-exchange reporting on the sender’s behalf.

XTransfer charges a maximum fee of about 0.4% for CNY settlement to a Chinese supplier’s designated bank account. Global payouts start from US$2 per transaction.

XTransfer also reports a 98.5% automated review rate and an approximately 0.003% fraud rate for its TradePilot system as of March 31, 2026.

Platform	Main role	Best fit	Key limitation
XTransfer	B2B trade payments	Goods-trade collections and supplier payments	Confirm entity eligibility and exact route
Wise Business	Multi-currency transfers	Routine transfers in supported markets	Not documentary trade finance
Airwallex	Global accounts and payouts	Multi-market workflows and APIs	Feature availability varies by entity
WorldFirst	Collections and payments	Supported corridors and sourcing payments	Account subtype matters
Payoneer	Global business payments	Broad supplier reach and batches	Route and method limitations
Revolut Business	Business account and transfers	Eligible firms needing spend controls	Registration and plan restrictions
HSBC / DBS	Bank payments and treasury	Banking plus trade finance	Onboarding and pricing vary
OFX	International payments and FX	Recurring supplier payments	Account details vary by entity
Stripe	Customer payment acceptance	Online goods sales	Not a supplier-payment setup

Routine invoice, established supplier

Use a bank transfer or an eligible business-payment platform. Compare the total amount debited, the supplier’s expected net receipt and the delivery estimate on the same invoice.

Supplier paid in local currency

Choose a provider with local payout reach on that corridor. Confirm the clearing network and cut-off time.

Buyer and supplier on the same platform

Use an in-network transfer where available. X2X may settle near instantly with zero transaction fee between eligible XTransfer users.

Several suppliers or currencies

Prioritise batch payments, approval controls and currency balances. Confirm each currency separately.

High-value first order or unfamiliar supplier

Use a letter of credit or documentary collection when the contract risk warrants documentary controls.

Urgent payment

Ask for the route-specific estimate, cut-off time and required documents. Do not treat an advertised best case as an assurance that funds will be credited on time.

Online checkout for physical goods

Use Stripe for customer payment acceptance and a separate business account for supplier invoices, FX and treasury.

For most importers, build three layers:

1. Primary route: A business-payment provider for routine supplier invoices.
2. Currency process: Define when to convert and which balances to retain.
3. Risk-control route: Use escrow, a letter of credit or documentary collection for high-value or unfamiliar transactions.

Run the same sample invoice through at least two eligible providers. Record the amount debited, FX rate, disclosed fees, expected recipient amount, delivery estimate, documents required and reconciliation steps.

How do importers usually pay overseas suppliers?

Common methods include bank wire transfers, specialist business-payment platforms and documentary trade finance such as letters of credit. The choice depends on the supplier’s country, contract terms, order value, trust level and required currency.

Are local-currency payments cheaper than SWIFT transfers?

Not in every case. Local payment can remove intermediary steps on supported routes, but FX conversion, provider fees and receiving-bank charges still affect the total.

What information is needed to pay an overseas supplier?

Usually the supplier’s legal name, bank details, account number or IBAN, SWIFT/BIC where applicable, invoice number, amount, currency and payment purpose.

When should an importer use a letter of credit?

Use a letter of credit when order value or counterparty risk justifies bank-mediated documentary controls. It adds fees and strict document requirements.

Does a provider’s coverage claim guarantee my route is available?

No. Coverage totals do not prove that every currency, account feature or destination is available to your business. Confirm eligibility and route details with the provider before sending.

How can I compare provider quotes fairly?

Request quotes for the same amount, currency pair, recipient route and fee-sharing option at roughly the same time. Compare the amount debited, the amount received, all stated fees and any intermediary deductions.

What is X2X?

X2X is XTransfer’s internal transfer route between eligible XTransfer users. It may provide near-instant, 24/7 settlement with zero transaction fees, subject to applicable terms.

This article is compiled from publicly available sources and interview content for informational purposes only and does not represent the official views of XTransfer. XTransfer accepts no liability for any damages arising from reliance on this content.