Categories

• License, Bank Account & Regulation
• Compliance
• Expanding your send and payout network
• Mobile apps & online
• Integration With Other Banks and MTOs
• Value-Add Services
• Software Platform
• Pricing Models
• System Security & Disaster Recovery
• Business Continuity
• Other

FAQ:License, Bank Account & Regulation

How long does it take to get our MSB license in the UK?

It is tricky to tell how long it will take for a firm to get their MSB license. There are different types of MSB licenses – Small Payment Institution, Authorised Payment Institution, Small E-Money Institution and Authorised E-Money Institution. We at RemitONE work with some of the leading remittance consulting firms in the industry and offer end to end money transfer solutions. Based on what we observe, an SPI license can take anywhere from one to three months; API license can take three to six months and E-Money license can take around 8 months. Of course, the time it takes for you to get your license depends on a number of factors and the time frames given here are just estimates and can indeed vary.

Can you help me get my SPI and API licenses?

Yes we can help you acquire MSB licenses for Small Payment Institutions, Authorised Payment Institutions, Small E-Money Institutions and Authorised E-Money Institutions. To date, we have helped countless firms get licensed in the UK. We have a near 100% success rate in helping firms get MSB licensed in the UK. 

Can you help with our Remittance business bank account in the UK and Europe?

Yes we can. We have partnered with a licensed bank account provider in Europe and subject to proper due diligence we can assist you in getting a remittance bank account with sort code and account number for your business. This service is called RemitONE Proton and is part of RemitONE Consulting. 

Do I really need a system to manage my money transfer business? Why do I need a system if I can work with spread-sheets?

Compliance is a big issue in the remittance industry and almost all central banks/regulators around the globe are encouraging money service businesses to adopt a secure, robust and compliant remittance platform that can effectively enforce proper KYC procedures and AML/block-list checks against remitters and beneficiaries and track all transactional information for compliance purposes.

Another reason why governments are recommending automated remittance platforms to money service businesses is because such platforms make use of the latest technologies to improve the speed and efficiency of transactions. Modern money transfer platforms can perform all the required checks and provide the required information to the correct delivery agent instantly. They store all the relevant identification documents in one place and enhance customer service by making business critical information instantly available to your send and delivery agents.

Additionally, these automated remittance platforms can also provide very accurate financial information about your business, profit/loss on a per transaction level and reports for auditing and compliance purposes.

What is a money transfer business?

Essentially, a money transfer or money service or remittance business involves offering a service to collect money from the sender and deliver it to the beneficiary. This can be a local service within the same country or a cross-border/international service between two or more countries. 

A business managing the remittance process is called a money service business (MSB) which can include banks and money transfer operators (MTOs). 

In most cases, the remitter will go to a physical location (shop, kiosk, etc.) and hand cash to the MTO teller which is then sent to the beneficiary in another country. The MTO will agree with a delivery agent (typically a bank) an exchange rate between the send and delivery currencies along with any additional charges, such as commissions, head office fee, etc. The remitter will be given a receipt showing all the details including who the money should be picked up by and how much delivery currency will be given. 

The MTO then deposits the cash into their bank account, and when it has collected a large amount, it will typically make a bulk transfer to the delivery agent in the destination country. This is usually done daily, weekly or monthly, depending on the agreement between the MTO and the delivery agent. 

The delivery agent delivers the money to the beneficiary at the agent’s physical location (shop, agent outlet etc.) once they receive instructions from the MTO. 

Depending on the agreement between the MTO and the delivery agent, the latter may deliver the money on credit, or request for a deposit to be kept up-front from the MTO. The delivery agent will usually charge a commission for its service. 

Each send-receive cycle is referred to as a transaction. 

The MTO usually makes a profit in two ways: 

• By offering a lower exchange rate to the remitter than what the MTO must pay to the delivery agent. 
• By charging a fee or commission for the service (this fee usually varies depending on the amount being sent). 

Some newer developments in the remittance industry are: 

• Allowing the remitter to create and pay for a transaction through a mobile phone or an Internet portal or website. In this scenario, the remitter does not have to physically go to a shop or an agent outlet. 
• Remitter and beneficiary receipts can be sent automatically by email or SMS text messages. 
• Remitter can send utility bill payments, mobile money and airtime top-ups via multiple channels including agents, mobile phones, online portals and self-service kiosks. 

Our solution diagram provides more information. Arrange a demo with us to find out more. 

 

I want to set up my own money transfer business. What steps must I take to become operational at the earliest?

In order to set up your own money transfer business in your country, you essentially need to carry out the following four tasks:

• Have a reliable money transfer system in place. Arrange a demo with us.
• Apply for a money service business (MSB) license with your regulator (if you are based in the UK, you need to register with HMRC and apply for a Small Payment Institution (SPI) or Authorised Payment Institution (API) license with the Financial Conduct Authority).
• Attain a special money transfer bank account with a licensed financial services institution in your country (e.g. Barclay’s Bank in the UK).
• Partner with a delivery/pay-out network in the destination country where you plan to send money. Alternatively, you can make use of our existing contacts with established delivery agents worldwide. See RemitONE Connections.

RemitONE Consulting can help you get started as a money transfer operator from start-up to expansion and beyond. Our training sessions, contract and professional introductions can give your license application credibility from a trusted name. Enquire about RemitONE Consulting.