Faisal Khan
Answers by

Faisal Khan

Cross-border payments, banking access, licensing. Thirty-one years inside regulated money movement.

Founder, Faisal Khan LLC·Istanbul, working globally
3,061Questions answered
31+Years in payments
400+Companies served
72+Countries
About

Every answer on askmint is mine. I have spent more than thirty-one years in financial services, almost all of it on one problem: how money legally crosses a border, and what a regulator needs to see before it will.

My career began in technology, not banking. I moved into banking and payments, and then into cross-border payments. That is where I saw how badly companies get caught by the rules across many countries. Not because the rules are impossible, but because the wrong structure was chosen before anyone understood the flow of funds.

Since starting the consultancy in 2010, I have worked with more than four hundred companies across seventy-two countries, from early-stage startups to established financial institutions. The work is helping them obtain licences, secure banking relationships, and build compliance frameworks that hold up under examination.

Today it is mostly licensing strategy, MSB banking access and cross-border payment structures, alongside writing, speaking and the educational sites that sit around the practice. This site is one of them.

Every call I take, I take myself. Twelve thousand of them so far.

Where I work

Licensing and compliance

Money transmitter licences, payment institution registration and compliance programmes across many countries. More than fifty licence applications done.

Banking relationships

Getting and keeping bank accounts for high-risk and regulated businesses. The part most operators underestimate.

Cross-border payments

Payment corridors, settlement design, FX risk and the licensing that sits underneath international money movement.

What I am not
  • A bank, money transmitter or money services business
  • A law firm. Nothing here is legal advice
  • In the flow of funds. I never hold client money

Answers

3,061 answers · newest first
How can I take PayPal Europe Ltd to court if they’re holding $26,000 for 180 days without a clear reason? Oct 1, 2019 Consumer Protection, Customer Rights and Customer Service Is it legal for banks to block or limit transfers to cryptocurrency exchanges? Oct 1, 2019 Sponsor Banks, FBO Accounts and Banking Access for Fintechs and MSBs Which major cryptocurrency exchanges are likely to fail (e.g., among the top 25)? Oct 1, 2019 Crypto Exchanges, Trading and Markets Can Pakistani banks transfer funds online to UAE banks? Sep 11, 2019 Sending and Receiving Money Abroad Why must non-US transactions often clear through US banks? Sep 9, 2019 Correspondent Banking, Nostro and Vostro, and Settlement If I collect money from people and send it using a licensed money transmitter’s app, is that legal in the US—and can I charge a fee for doing it? Sep 9, 2019 US Money Transmitter Licensing and MSB Registration How affordable is living in Istanbul when earning in US dollars? Sep 8, 2019 Personal and Consumer Finance, Budgeting and Saving Do you need a money transmitter license in New Jersey to operate a Bitcoin ATM business, and why? Sep 8, 2019 US Money Transmitter Licensing and MSB Registration Is TransferWise/Wise a good option for sending money abroad? Sep 8, 2019 Sending and Receiving Money Abroad What are the costs associated with surety bonds for US money transmitter licenses? Sep 5, 2019 US Money Transmitter Licensing and MSB Registration How long does it take to obtain money transmitter licenses nationwide in the US? Sep 5, 2019 US Money Transmitter Licensing and MSB Registration Can non-US institutions sponsor US crypto businesses legally? Sep 4, 2019 Licensing Strategy, Sponsorship and Agent Models How do stablecoins work? Sep 4, 2019 Stablecoins and CBDCs Is the era of the US dollar ending, and could oil/gold be priced in another currency like EUR or JPY? Sep 4, 2019 Geopolitics of Money and the International Monetary System If someone scammed me in Bitcoin in Pakistan, should I report it to the police or FIA—especially if Bitcoin is illegal? Sep 4, 2019 Fraud and Scams Can foreign banks provide money transmitter coverage inside the US? Sep 3, 2019 US Money Transmitter Licensing and MSB Registration How difficult is licensing for crypto exchanges in the US? Sep 1, 2019 Crypto and VASP Licensing How can a cash-strapped startup obtain US money transmitter licenses? Sep 1, 2019 Licensing Strategy, Sponsorship and Agent Models Do international fintech startups need US money transmitter licenses? Sep 1, 2019 US Money Transmitter Licensing and MSB Registration Can multiple country bank accounts be linked to a single Payoneer account? Aug 9, 2019 Freelancers, Side Hustles and Getting Paid Online Can you deposit cryptocurrency directly into PayPal? Aug 8, 2019 Crypto Payments, On-Ramps and Off-Ramps How much more or less expensive is international money transfer using Bitcoin compared to traditional banking? Aug 8, 2019 Sending and Receiving Money Abroad What did the United States attempt to buy for $100 million in 1946? Aug 5, 2019 History of Money, Banking and Finance Which countries allow online bank account opening for non-citizens? Aug 5, 2019 Opening Bank Accounts, Personal and Business What happens if I accidentally used a wire routing number for an ACH deposit transaction? Aug 4, 2019 Domestic Payment Rails, National Switches and Clearing Systems How does Payoneer legally provide bank accounts to non-UK residents? Aug 3, 2019 UK and EU Licensing, EMIs and Payment Institutions Is there a system that ensures global bank transfers net to zero? Aug 3, 2019 Correspondent Banking, Nostro and Vostro, and Settlement Why do many automated bank transfers only process overnight? Aug 1, 2019 Domestic Payment Rails, National Switches and Clearing Systems How do remittances benefit national economies? Aug 1, 2019 Economics, Inflation and Monetary Policy Does a startup need a money transmitter license to offer a closed-loop gift card system for SMBs? Aug 1, 2019 US Money Transmitter Licensing and MSB Registration How can Remitly send money to a customer’s bank account in India within minutes? Jul 9, 2019 Payment Corridors and Remittance Economics Does a money transmitter need to notify state regulators when forming an agreement with another transmitter, or can MTOs enter/exit partnerships freely? Jul 8, 2019 US Money Transmitter Licensing and MSB Registration What impact do small and mid-sized money transmitters have on the global remittance market—are they insignificant, and what data exists on their combined share? Jul 8, 2019 Money Transfer Business and MTOs How much US currency physically exists, and what percentage of US money is only digital (bank ledger entries)? Jul 6, 2019 Economics, Inflation and Monetary Policy Can you view all money transfers made through a specific Western Union account over multiple years? Jul 4, 2019 Money Transfer Business and MTOs How feasible is it to get a money transmitter license in California for a storefront crypto-to-cash business? Jul 4, 2019 US Money Transmitter Licensing and MSB Registration What gives money its value if it’s no longer backed by gold? Jun 10, 2019 Economics, Inflation and Monetary Policy Will Ripple dominate global cross-border payments? Jun 10, 2019 Banking and Payments Technology Stack Is there a network or consortium for small licensed money transmitters in the US? Jun 9, 2019 US Money Transmitter Licensing and MSB Registration Why is Payoneer withdrawal to Pakistani local banks labeled “ATM Transfer” instead of “Home Remittance” (tax-free), and how can I prove it in my tax return? Jun 9, 2019 Freelancers, Side Hustles and Getting Paid Online Can non-residents open US bank accounts? Jun 8, 2019 Opening Bank Accounts, Personal and Business Is it possible to build a PayPal-like online payment system in Thailand? Jun 6, 2019 Starting and Running a Fintech or Payments Business What are the odds Bitfinex is not AML/KYC compliant for a significant share of its transactions? Jun 2, 2019 AML Programs, KYC and Compliance Operations Are certificates of deposit still a good investment choice? May 10, 2019 Personal and Consumer Finance, Budgeting and Saving Does PayPal provide routing numbers similar to bank accounts? May 10, 2019 Digital Wallets, Mobile Money and P2P Payments What are the key differences between ACH payments and CHIPS transfers? May 6, 2019 Domestic Payment Rails, National Switches and Clearing Systems What services are typically offered under private client banking? May 5, 2019 Wealth Management, Private Banking and Family Offices Why does the Pakistani rupee lose value when USD reserves fall, compared with reserve declines in other currencies? May 2, 2019 FX Rates, Spreads and Currency Markets What is the most misunderstood aspect of cryptocurrency? May 1, 2019 Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Basics Why did remittances to low- and middle-income countries peak in 2018? Apr 12, 2019 Payment Corridors and Remittance Economics