How Does Cross-Border Remittances / Money Transfer Work
How Does Cross-Border Remittances / Money Transfer Work
How Does Cross-Border Remittances / Money Transfer Work
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
In the traditional model, a User walks into an Agent Network premises and user either Cash or some other payment instrument to pay for a Remittance.
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
Through out the day, various customers come to the various agent locations and put up their money for the remittances to be sent across.
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
At the end of the day, the MTO (Money Transfer Operator) takes all the money, from all the Agents (who essentially have a deposit with the MTO) and pools everything into a singular transaction.
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
Along with all the money that needs to be remitted across, the MTO also prepares a le that has the instruction set on how to break down the remittances to the individual orders that came in for distribution. ! This le is prepared for the Settlement Bank in the Beneciary Territory.
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
The Remitting MTO emails (or FTPs) the File across to the Beneciary MTO.
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Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
The money is then shipped off by the MTO to the Settlement Bank that the MTO has (on the Remitting Side the Settlement Bank is essentially the Bank that the MTO is working with). ! As not all Banks handle remittances clients, this is why the nomenclature assigned to the banks that do work with MTOs.
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
The Settlement Bank then initiates a SWIFT Wire transfer to be sent across to the Beneciarys Settlement Bank, usually through an intermediary, known as a Correspondent Bank (which will have two elements: ! The Send Side Bank (known as Remitting Bank) the Receive Side Bank (known as the Receiving Bank).
Faisal Khan (Payments Consultant) http://about.me/faisal.khan (c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
Via the SWIFT (or other network) the money is sent across the border and the accounts of both the Remitting Bank and Receiving Banks are adjusted for the money transfer. ! By this time a day or two has elapsed
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
The Receiving Bank then informs the Settlement Bank (which is the nal destination) that your Money in US Dollars has arrived and as per todays rate, I am now giving you the local currency equivalent in say Pakistan Rupees. ! The US Dollars are surrendered to the Central Bank, improving the economy, whilst the local currency is provided to the Settlement Bank.
Faisal Khan (Payments Consultant) http://about.me/faisal.khan (c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
The Settlement Bank on the Beneciarys Side then informs its client, the MTO, that they have received the money and it is now available for use in the local denomination (in this example, it is in PKR - Pakistan Rupee).
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
The MTO then starts to distribute this money out, via either direct bank deposits or Agent COC (Cash Over Counter) payments thereby completing the Remittance cycle.
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Receiving! Bank
MTO
The MTO then starts to distribute this money out, via either direct bank deposits or Agent COC (Cash Over Counter) payments thereby completing the Remittance cycle.
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
This example was that of a batch-process, where the two MTOs are basing their transactions on trust. The two MTOs do not interface or integrate with each other in any manner. The only common denominator is the le-sharing they do to break down the remittance and disburse them.
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
The second element of trust here was the money. Until and unless the Beneciary MTO did not receive the money from the Remitting MTO, they did not distribute any remittances. This example can best be summed up as upon realization of funds on the receiving end
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
MTO
Remitting! Bank
?
!
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
Receiving! Bank
MTO
What happens when both the parties can trust each other with money in advance? How will that change the game? The Pre-Pay (or Pre-Fund) Model.
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
Now, lets look at the same scenario where a Remitter wants to send out a Remittance, and how it differs using the Pre-Pay (or Pre-Fund) model.
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
US$100,000
The Sending MTO places an advance deposit with the Receiving MTO. Under this arrangement, they agree to a oor price, lets assume US$ 100,000. This way, US$ 100,000 would always be available to the Receiving MTO. The currency is held in US Dollar by the receiving MTO and is not converted to the local currency component (yet).
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
A User walks into an Agent Network premises and user either Cash or some other payment instrument to pay for a Remittance. Lets say the amount they want to transfer is US$ 1,000
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
1US$ = 100 PKR The Conversion Rate as provided by the Receiving Banks Treasure Department for the day is 1US$ = 100 Pakistan Rupees
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
US$ 15.00
Let us also assume the MTO/Agent will split this transaction cost 50/50 and the cost to transfer is US$ 15.00
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
Funds to transfer: US$ 1,000! Cost to Transfer Funds: US$ 15.00! Total Amount Paid: US$ 1,015.00! Exchange Rate: 1US$ = 100 PKR! Amount To Be Received by the Recipient: US$ 1000 x 100 = PKR 100,000! The Fees for the transfer (US$ 15.00) is not converted.! As per US Law, the complete breakdown of the transaction, including the exchange rate and what the beneficiary would receive has to be provided at the time of the transaction to the person sending the funds.
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
US$100,000
Deducted US$ 1000 from PrePay Account and! do a direct account credit for Beneciary.
Remitting MTO sends instructions via a real-time system (if integrated) or off-line message (if not integrated) to Beneciary MTO to Pay US$ 1,000 to the Beneciary from the Pre-Pay account and use the conversion rate of US$ 1 = PKR 100 and credit the amount immediately.
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
Pre Fund Account: US$100,000! Deduct Payout: US$ 1,000! Balance: US$ 99,000! Exchange Rate: US$ 1 = 100 PKR! Transfer to MTO Account for further! credit to Beneficiary account:! PKR 100,000
MTOs Receiving Bank then forwards the money in Pakistan Rupee after conversion to the Settlement Bank for direct account credit to the Beneciarys account
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
With the transfers completed, this is what the status looks like right nowthere are two elements missing???
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
US$ 1,000 Sent across via SWIFT The last open item left is to ensure the US$ 1,000 that is residing with the Sending MTO to be sent to the Receiving MTOs Bank via SWIFT Transfer.
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.
Agent! Network
Settlement! Bank
Settlement! Bank
Agent! Network
MTO
Remitting! Bank
Receiving! Bank
MTO
Final Position
Once all funds have been settled and all payments sent across, this is how the eco-system would look like.
(c) Copyright 2013-2014. Faisal Khan & Company. All Rights Reserved.