Businesses are scaling beyond borders. B2B payments are the largest part of all cross-border payments across the globe. But it comes at a cost.
You’re always on high alert for exchange rate fluctuations and local banking guidelines make it harder to buy or sell in different currencies.
As a businessman, you might try opening multiple bank accounts in different countries, but maintaining a minimum balance in all of them may poke a hole in your pocket and it is inconvenient to manage multiple accounts across locations.
So, how do you overcome these challenges?
A multi-currency account is a solution. It removes obstacles from cross-border transactions and lets you send and receive payments in your preferred currencies without worrying about conversion rate fluctuations.
Let’s understand what a multi-currency account is and how it works for your business.
A multi-currency account lets you send, receive and hold payments in multiple currencies. It lets you avoid fluctuating conversion rates that can get costly at times.
A normal bank account automatically converts international currencies into local ones which —depending on the conversion rate at that time —may cause you to lose money.
With multiple currency accounts, you can hold foreign currency in your account and convert it when you please — basically when the conversion rates are in your favour.
A multi-currency account acts as an international checking account with multiple sub-accounts for different currencies. It allows an account number for each currency so you send and receive payments in that account. Your personal details such as name and SWIFT code remain the same for all currencies that you hold.
It supports regular banking actions such as:
You can open a multiple currency account in Singapore that supports your preferred currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, IDR and many more. The number of currencies depends on your service provider which ranges from 10-150 currencies across the globe.
A multi-currency account saves you time, money and sanity on international payments, which brings us to our next point - benefits for your business.
A multi-currency business account is very useful if your business sends or receives payments internationally, buys or sells goods in multiple locations across borders or has a global workforce/vendors/consultants. It enables you to send and receive payments hassle-free under one account.
Here are the benefits of a multi-currency account for your business:
Some businesses open multiple bank accounts in different countries to send and receive payments in local currencies. But it adds the burden of maintaining a minimum balance in each one of them and is inconvenient too.
A multi-currency account allows you to create sub-accounts for different currencies. You can share the unique account number for each currency and send or receive payments easily which is very convenient.
Saving currency conversion costs is the chief benefit of a multi-currency account. When you receive an international payment, banks need to convert them into your local currency. They deduct money as per the ever-changing foreign exchange rates.
The fee may seem small for one transaction but it sums up to a significant amount in the long run. A multi-currency account allows you to receive the payment in the foreign currency and hold it till the conversion rate is favourable. It eliminates the market uncertainty so you never lose money due to high conversion rates.
Merchants often hold receivables because the conversion rates are not in their favour. But with a multi-currency account, you can send or receive money anytime and convert it later.
As much as you’d love to send and receive money in your own currency, that’s not always the option. Both vendors and customers want to steer clear of foreign exchange risk. With a multi-currency account, you can accept payments in your client or customer’s local currency and pay vendors in their preferred currencies. No more eyeing the conversion rates before every single international payment.
You can open a multi-currency account offline, at physical branches or sign up for a digital account. Generally, if you choose offline, you may be required to visit a branch, fill out forms and open an account with a set initial deposit. If you fall below the minimum balance, you’ll be charged a fall below fee. Although, the process becomes easier if you already have an account with the provider.
Digital accounts are easier to create as compared to offline mode. To open a digital account, you need to:
Eligibility criteria to open a multi-currency account in Singapore
Eligibility for a multi-currency account in Singapore depends on your service provider. However, all businesses registered in Singapore are eligible for a multi-currency account. Foreign businesses can also open multi-currency accounts with the providers that support their local currency.
All business owners must submit government-issued identity proof and initial deposit —to those who require it —before opening a multi-currency account in Singapore.
Make sure you check the eligibility criteria and documents required on your service provider’s official website.
A multi-currency account comes with its own set of charges depending on the service provider. Below are the different types of charges that you incur in your multi-currency account.
Remember that each institution has its own set of charges. Banks, Neo banks and fintech account providers differ in what kind of fees they may take or exclude.
Each service provider charges a setup fee for a multi-currency account. Basically an account opening fee.
You must submit an initial deposit before making transactions from your multi-currency account. The limit for this deposit varies as per the service provider and currencies required.
Some providers charge a fixed monthly account fee which is deducted at the beginning or end of each month. It ranges from $2-$15.
Some banks require multi-currency account holders to maintain a minimum balance. Falling below that can cost you money which is called “fall below” fees or service charges.
These charges are deducted on a daily or monthly minimum balance depending on the service provider’s guidelines. Most fintech companies don't require a minimum balance so there’s also no fall below fees.
All service providers charge a currency conversion fee whenever you convert SGD into another currency or vice versa. Some providers charge more if you convert currencies outside of exchange market hours.
Some providers charge an amount to hold money above a certain limit. For instance, Wise charges 0.07% to hold more than 30,000 EUR in your account. The percentage is deducted monthly for Wise but it may vary depending on the service provider.
You get a physical debit card or a virtual card with your multi-currency account and there are charges for its usage. These charges involve ATM fees, conversion fees and withdrawal fees which vary with currency and service provider.
Check out all the fee details before choosing a service provider. One may charge a percentage for a service which the other may provide for free. Fee structure differs based on subscriptions, plan type and currencies offered.
Compare multiple service providers to choose the best multi-currency account in Singapore. The process and requirements differ for each of them. You can enjoy more than 60 different currencies depending on what provider you choose.
There will be different benefits and charges for each of them. For instance, banks charge a percentage or fixed amount for various account actions such as service charges and withdrawal charges.
Some providers offer physical and virtual cards which come in handy if you want to purchase something from a small vendor or use for business travel expenses. However, fixed charges apply for all card transactions. Some providers come with no minimum balance required while some offer integration with accounting software for easy invoicing and reconciliation. Choose a provider whose features align with your business.
Below is the list of the best multi-currency accounts in Singapore:
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