Just closed a deal with an overseas client?
Great work. But the job isn’t done until the money lands in the bank.
The average sales team devotes weeks to chasing one signature… Then zero minutes considering how the client will pay. Big mistake. The wrong payment method can cause:
- Late payments
- Surprise fees
- Frustrated clients
Here’s the good news:
When you know how international bank transfer networks operate, receiving payments from around the world is easy. You will negotiate better payment terms, eliminate unpleasant surprises and receive your money (and commission) much quicker.
Time to dive in!
Inside this guide:
- What Are International Bank Transfer Networks?
- Why Sales Teams Need To Care
- The 3x Networks Every Rep Should Know
- How To Get Paid Faster (Without The Headaches)
What Are International Bank Transfer Networks?
Cross-border payment networks are the networks through which banks transfer funds from one account to another. Some networks are global. Others are regional or domestic only.
Think of them like roads.
Each payment must travel down a road. Some roads are speedy highways. Others are toll-boated alleyways where the speed limit is painfully slow.
The three acronyms you’ll hear mentioned most are SWIFT, SEPA and ACH. Every international bank transfer network has different speed, cost and guidelines. That’s why understanding SWIFT, SEPA and ACH transfers will allow you to choose the best option for each international payment your clients need to send.
Pretty simple, right?
Determining what network your client will be on is the challenge. Which dictates when (and how much) you get paid.
Why Sales Teams Need To Care.
You might be thinking… “Isn’t this a finance problem?”
Not quite.
Deal terms include payment. If you offer a client bank transfer as a payment option, know how that actually plays out. Otherwise you could agree to a great deal on paper that creates a cash flow monster.
Here’s why it matters:
When payments are slow, your commissions are slow. When fees are skimmed off, your invoice comes up short. When clients struggle just to pay you, the relationship suffers before it even begins.
A deal isn’t closed until the cash is in the bank.
Understanding fundamentals allows you to establish proper expectations from call one. That sets the tone of trust. And trust allows you to close more sales.
The 3x Networks Every Rep Should Know
Here’s a closer look at each one…
SWIFT: The Global Highway
SWIFT stands head and shoulders above the rest. It serves more than 11,000 financial institutions across over 200 countries and territories. Chances are excellent that if your customer is on the other side of the globe, their payment will traverse SWIFT.
But here’s the thing…
SWIFT itself doesn’t transfer funds. It securely messages banks about where money needs to go. The payment will often bounce through one or more intermediate banks (known as correspondent banks) before reaching its destination.
And each hop can take a small fee.
The good news is that speed is getting much better. Per this new Swift network data, cross-border payments make it to the bank receiving the funds within one hour 90% of the time. The caveat: Only 43% of payments make it to the end customer’s account within that first hour. That last hop inside the receiving country is where the delays continue to occur most often.
Keep in mind that if a client says “the money has been sent”… It may take a day or 2 yet till you see it.
SEPA: The European Express Lane
Selling into Europe? Then SEPA is your best friend.
SEPA is an acronym for Single Euro Payments Area. It is a system that allows individuals and businesses to make euro payments throughout Europe as easily as they would nationally. SEPA payments are inexpensive, reliable and user-friendly.
And it’s getting even faster.
SEPA Instant Credit Transfers arrive in the beneficiary account usually within 10 seconds. Funds are available 24/7/365. A new European Union regulation requires all euro area banks to provide instant euro payments using interbank payments infrastructure. These must be offered free of charge, like normal credit transfers.
The only downside? SEPA transfers are denominated in euro. If your client wants to pay in USD or GBP, etc. you’ll need another gateway.
ACH: America’s Workhorse
ACH stands for Automated Clearing House. It is the network responsible for most bank payments in the U.S. Payroll, bills, paying suppliers…etc.
Did you know it’s big? The latest Nacha figures reveal that the ACH Network processed 35.2 billion payments valued at $93 trillion in 2025. Business-to-business transactions grew by almost 10% year-over-year.
ACH is inexpensive and works well for repeat payments such as subscriptions and retainers. Transfers typically take one or two business days, but can be expedited with Same Day ACH.
The negative is ACH is domestic heavy. Wonderful for US clients, but doesn’t facilitate most international transactions.
The Networks Compared
Honestly, there’s no “best” network. There’s only the best network for each client.
|
|
SWIFT |
SEPA |
ACH |
|
Where it works |
Worldwide |
Europe |
United States |
|
Currency |
Most currencies |
Euro only |
US dollar |
|
Usual velocity |
Minutes to days |
Seconds to 24 hours |
Hours to 48 hours |
|
Cost |
Higher |
Low |
Low |
How To Get Paid Faster (Without The Headaches)
Now you know the networks. It’s time to put that knowledge into action.
Match payment network to your client. If your client is based in Germany and paying euros, then use SEPA. If they’re in Texas, then ACH. A Singapore client paying US dollars will likely use SWIFT. Find out where they bank before you send them the contract.
Include complete bank details on all invoices. Incomplete details are one of the top causes of payment delays. Your account name, IBAN/account number, SWIFT/ BIC code and bank address should all be clearly visible. One incorrect number can delay your payment for days.
Agree on who pays the fees. SWIFT payments come with three fee options:
- OUR: the sender pays all of the fees
- SHA: the fees are shared between both sides
- BEN: you (the receiver) pay all of the fees
Settle this before the contract is signed so your invoice doesn’t arrive short.
Request a tracking reference. Most SWIFT payments today are assigned a unique tracking number known as a UETR. In the event that your payment is lost, this number allows both banks to locate it quickly.
(Small steps like these can save you hours of chasing.)
The Final Handshake
It doesn’t have to be difficult to get paid from around the world. Just follow some simple advice before you sign the deal. Time to review…
- Use SWIFT for worldwide, multi-currency deals
- Use SEPA for fast, low-cost euro payments
- Use ACH for clients in the United States
Choose the correct network. Post transparent bank details. Agree to fees before launching. Seriously it is that easy. And your clients will appreciate making payments to you.
…and prevent spending time after time following up on receivables. Close more deals instead.
