Global banking solutions

For venture-funded companies expanding internationally, banks typically offer multiple options for global payments:

• International wire transfers – good for high-value cross-border payments that may settle same day or within 1–3 business days.
• Global ACH transfers – lower-cost payments such as payroll and vendor payables, sent through local or regional payment systems (e.g., SEPA in Europe, BACS/Faster Payments in the UK, EFT in Canada).
• Multi-currency accounts and foreign exchange tools – help reduce FX fees and currency risk when paying overseas employees, contractors and suppliers.

Foreign exchange (FX) services help growth companies convert and manage currencies so they can pay global teams and suppliers with less risk. FX services often include spot conversions for invoices, forward contracts to lock in today’s rate for future payroll and vendor costs, and hedging tools for forecasted cash flows. Banks like SVB also support venture-funded companies with FX advisory on risk management strategies tailored to each stage of growth.

A letter of credit (LC) enables businesses to provide a bank-backed payment guarantee to a supplier, landlord, or other business partner (in lieu of prepayment). For example, growth companies use LCs when buying inventory from new overseas manufacturers, securing lease contracts for global expansion, and reassuring contractors that payment will be made for a workspace buildout. For global trade finance, LCs help companies de-risk cross-border deals while preserving working capital.

Yes, banks like SVB enable US startups to open in-country accounts to manage payments locally without a physical office or subsidiary in markets like the EU, Canada and Singapore. It enables a business to collect in local currency, and pay vendors and employees through local payment systems. As a growth strategy, it can be a fast way for Series A companies to test demand and manage foreign exchange before committing to an overseas presence.