Asia-Pacific (APAC)
What is the difference between flying cash and paper money?
Jan 2, 2023
Hawala, Informal Value Transfer and Shadow Finance
If my branch lacks a SWIFT code, can I use the main HBL Pakistan SWIFT code for transfers?
Feb 1, 2022
International Wire Transfers and Large Transfers
How are bank routing numbers structured in Pakistan?
Mar 8, 2021
International Wire Transfers and Large Transfers
How can someone in Pakistan get a free virtual Visa or MasterCard without a bank account?
Nov 5, 2020
Credit, Debit and Prepaid Cards
What’s the fastest way to send money to the Philippines besides Western Union, MoneyGram, and Xoom?
Jul 8, 2020
Sending and Receiving Money Abroad
How much more or less expensive is international money transfer using Bitcoin compared to traditional banking?
Aug 8, 2019
Sending and Receiving Money Abroad
Is it possible to build a PayPal-like online payment system in Thailand?
Jun 6, 2019
Starting and Running a Fintech or Payments Business
Why are money transfer operators still popular in the Philippines even though PayMaya and GCash can be cheaper?
Mar 8, 2019
Money Transfer Business and MTOs
Is there any equivalent of a Social Security Number for people in Pakistan?
Dec 5, 2018
Cybersecurity, Digital Identity and Authentication
If TransferWise/Wise can send money to Indonesia but can’t send money from Indonesia, why is that—doesn’t sending money there imply they already have local banking rails?
Nov 5, 2018
Licensing in Other Countries
What’s the safest way to transfer money from the Philippines to the US (wire, online services, or banks)?
Aug 10, 2018
Sending and Receiving Money Abroad
Where do currency exchange businesses get the currency they sell?
May 4, 2018
Correspondent Banking, Nostro and Vostro, and Settlement
Which bank does Western Union use to hold agent accounts, does it require agents to use that same bank, and how does that bank profit from the relationship?
May 1, 2017
Money Transfer Business and MTOs
Which Pakistani debit cards are accepted on AliExpress?
Mar 6, 2017
E-Commerce, Marketplace and Platform Payments
Why do banks in Pakistan generally not offer student loans?
Jan 5, 2017
Lending, Credit Scores and BNPL
Can I build an online bank similar to PayPal, and if yes, how?
Jan 3, 2017
Licensing Strategy, Sponsorship and Agent Models
Which debit card works best for online shopping in Pakistan?
Nov 6, 2016
Credit, Debit and Prepaid Cards
What is school banking, and how is it practiced in Asia?
Nov 2, 2016
Personal and Consumer Finance, Budgeting and Saving
What is the best method to transfer $200,000 from the Philippines to the United States?
Sep 6, 2016
International Wire Transfers and Large Transfers
If UnionPay and Apple work together on iWallet, what major opportunities could that create?
Jun 5, 2016
Digital Wallets, Mobile Money and P2P Payments
What are the implications of a telco like Smart (Philippines) partnering with Rocket Internet to launch a payments product, and is it likely to succeed?
Jun 3, 2016
Business Strategy, Case Studies and Lessons Learned
Do Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan restrict foreign banks from processing credit card transactions domestically?
May 12, 2016
Credit, Debit and Prepaid Cards
Why do most hackers never get caught—can’t providers trace where stolen funds go in bank or PayPal fraud cases?
May 12, 2016
Money Laundering and Financial Crime
Are there APIs that support building remittance services to Nepal, India, and the rest of Southeast Asia?
May 5, 2016
Developer Tools, APIs, Sandboxes and Open Source
Which payment gateway lets a U.S. company charge customers in multiple local currencies, including those in Southeast Asia?
May 4, 2016
Merchant Accounts, Processors and Gateways
What is the maximum amount of money I can legally send to Thailand?
May 4, 2016
Sending and Receiving Money Abroad
How can I send money from the U.S. to the Philippines via wire for free?
Apr 1, 2016
Sending and Receiving Money Abroad
Why are remittance inflows slowing down in the Philippines?
Apr 1, 2016
Economics, Inflation and Monetary Policy
Which Pakistani online stores are successful and have international reach?
Mar 10, 2016
E-Commerce, Marketplace and Platform Payments
Can a 14-year-old living in Pakistan get a Mastercard?
Jan 7, 2016
Credit, Debit and Prepaid Cards
Which mobile payment services are currently popular, and what makes them successful?
Dec 4, 2015
Digital Wallets, Mobile Money and P2P Payments
What are the demographics of Western Union users sending money from the U.S. to Asia, and is the experience smooth or painful for senders and recipients?
Oct 12, 2015
Sending and Receiving Money Abroad
What is a good bank to open an account with in Australia?
Oct 10, 2015
Opening Bank Accounts, Personal and Business
Why does Bitcoin’s price volatility seem to be decreasing (as observed around January 2014)?
Sep 1, 2015
Crypto Exchanges, Trading and Markets
Which payment gateways are available in Pakistan?
Aug 5, 2015
Merchant Accounts, Processors and Gateways
Mobile payments have launched in Pakistan, but I rarely see merchants using them—how do these systems work and who is accepting them?
Jul 8, 2015
Digital Wallets, Mobile Money and P2P Payments
Can MCB Lite or UBL Wiz cards be used for purchases on AliExpress in Pakistan?
Jul 5, 2015
E-Commerce, Marketplace and Platform Payments
Which bank in Pakistan is the best option for opening a personal account?
Jul 3, 2015
Opening Bank Accounts, Personal and Business
How can I track an international wire transfer if I am not a bank employee but have the SWIFT copy?
Jul 3, 2015
International Wire Transfers and Large Transfers
Does Xoom provide next-day credit for transfers to India?
Jul 1, 2015
Sending and Receiving Money Abroad
International Trade: What fraud risks should buyers watch for in letter-of-credit payments for imports from China?
Jun 8, 2015
Trade Finance, Letters of Credit and B2B Payments
Which Pakistani banks provide free interbank fund transfers through online banking?
Jun 7, 2015
Domestic Payment Rails, National Switches and Clearing Systems
What is the intended purpose or benefit of establishing a women’s bank in India?
Jun 5, 2015
Emerging Markets and Financial Inclusion
Why is a one-time password (OTP) required for nearly all banking activities in India?
Jun 5, 2015
Cybersecurity, Digital Identity and Authentication
Can Visa debit cards with a Pakistani billing address be used for online shopping?
May 5, 2015
Credit, Debit and Prepaid Cards
Why do Pakistani banks currently avoid offering merchant accounts for ecommerce businesses?
May 3, 2015
Merchant Accounts, Processors and Gateways
What opportunities and growth potential does Bitcoin have in Asia?
May 2, 2015
Crypto Payments, On-Ramps and Off-Ramps
Why haven’t Asia-based online remittance startups like TransferWise become prominent?
Apr 9, 2015
Money Transfer Business and MTOs
Which payment processors can a SaaS startup in Thailand use?
Apr 9, 2015
Merchant Accounts, Processors and Gateways
What is the usual process for closing a bank account in Pakistan?
Feb 12, 2015
How Banks Work