Community Q&A
Questions
3,063 questions answered by experts in payments, banking, and financial services.
What do your friends personally think about Bitcoin?
How do banks connect into and communicate over the SWIFT network?
Ben Milne: How does Dwolla FiSync handle settlement of payments between banks?
Is there such a thing as international banking law?
Will fintech startups eventually seriously challenge or displace bulge-bracket banks?
Who controls or owns the largest amount of bitcoins?
On average, how much does each individual customer cost a bank to serve?
On average, how long does it take to move money between two different countries?
If you held a U.S. money-transmitter license and wanted to use Bitcoin, what international money-transfer business models could you build?
If a single bitcoin is very expensive, how can Bitcoin still support microtransactions?
Why doesn’t PayPal let users change the country associated with their account?
How much capital would be needed to start a bank in Pakistan?
How can Ripple or other digital currencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin help the underbanked or emerging middle class?
Should the Bank of the United States be reinstated, and why or why not?
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?
Why do bankers tend to prioritize serving larger companies over smaller ones?
Money Laundering: How can I receive large deposits into my bank account while complying with source-of-funds checks and regulations?
Is data security a bank’s biggest cost center, and if not, what usually is?
Why is the payments ecosystem so complicated?
What is a good bank to open an account with in Australia?
What is David Marcus’s plan for payments across Facebook and Messenger?
Could Apple Pay become a threat to existing payment networks?
Why do intra-Europe transfers using IBAN sometimes take so long?
Would Qiwi be treated as a money-transfer service under U.S. regulations?
Why are ATM cards standardized to a particular physical size?
What is the best approach to launching a superior system that combines elements of M-Pesa and Alipay?
How can I get a co-branded prepaid Mastercard, Visa, or PayPal card for my virtual assistants that also promotes my website with my logo?
In the U.S., is the mobile payments market being driven more by retailers or by banks?
Are Ripple, Dogecoin, Bitcoin, and similar digital currencies all likely to succeed long term?
Why do banks take time to move payments from one country to another?
How can banks assist customers in cases of fraudulent debit transactions?
In multi-country travel, how are ports of embarkation and disembarkation determined?
Can Bitcoin be “printed” the way central banks create more paper currency?
If fiat currencies are backed by governments, what underpins Bitcoin’s value without a central authority?
With only one dollar, what realistic online business ideas could potentially grow it to $1,000 in three months?
Why does Pakistan have relatively few mobile wallets despite high mobile penetration?
Will remittance fees ever realistically fall to zero?
Why is financial inclusion still low in Pakistan?
When tips are added to a card payment at a restaurant, how are they processed after the transaction?
What regulations must be followed when starting a payments business that uses ACH?
How can you tell whether a money order has already been cashed?
What regulatory changes have limited PreCash Inc’s ability to partner with MSBs after TransferWise?
Why are there no completely free international money transfer tools?
Where do currency exchange dealers source their foreign currency inventories?
What does a bank need to offer foreign-currency sub-accounts to customers?
Which regulations apply when starting a money handling or money transfer business in the US?
Is two-factor authentication via OTP really making internet and mobile banking safer?
What is the best way to move savings from the US to Pakistan while retaining value in US dollars?
How can I retrieve a 6-digit verification code for an EntroPay card charge when it doesn’t show on my statement?
Which international payment solutions are available for cross-border use?
What is inward remittance, when is it used, and are certificates issued for past inward remittances?
What are the most urgent challenges banks are facing today?
How can checks be deposited at ATMs regardless of bank branch?
Can I open a bank account with U.S. banks while visiting on a B1/B2 visa?
Is there an AML software product called PRIME?
Who can assist with launching a prepaid card program?
Do ATM withdrawals appear on bank account statements?
How can someone start an ecommerce business in the UAE, and is company registration required?
What is generally the cheapest way to transfer money internationally?
Can banks legally charge late fees in addition to interest on overdue payments?
Are bank consultants allowed to advise clients by analyzing transaction patterns in their accounts?
What alternatives exist to 2Checkout for Pakistani ecommerce businesses facing high cross-border fees?
Which types of financial transactions feel most personally rewarding or satisfying?
Why are global banks hesitant to accept U.S. citizens or residents as clients, even when they fully comply with IRS reporting?
What are the key similarities and differences between commercial banks and microfinance institutions?
Does PayPal operate a single large bank account to manage all user deposits and withdrawals?
How did PayPal handle regulatory and financial scrutiny in its early years?
Is it possible to link a Meezan Bank account with PayPal?
How long do wire transfers sent from Dubai typically take to reach banks in Spain?
If I want to aggregate payments for many vendors, how could I profit by running my own payment gateway without third parties?
Do issuing banks ever outsource credit card sales in exchange for a share of recurring revenues?
How does Western Union track money flows and ensure funds reach the right destination?
How does China UnionPay operate as a payment network?
Is it possible to send or receive money using smartwatches?
What would happen if Western Union started operating as a Bitcoin exchange?
What must an African company do to start a money-transfer business from the U.S. to their African country?
How can I obtain a letter of credit?
Should coins be phased out as legal tender?
Why are there still no major, large-scale Bitcoin exchanges based in the United States?
How can I obtain a banking license in Pakistan?
When did Visa become a publicly traded company?
What are the names of national currencies used in different countries?
What business or startup ideas have clear, immediate potential in the Pakistani market, even if they are not tech-focused?
How many people in Pakistan are using Bitcoin?
How can you verify whether a Western Union tracking number is valid, and what does one look like?
Is it especially beneficial for low-income individuals to have bank accounts, and if so, why?
Why does Bitcoin’s price volatility seem to be decreasing (as observed around January 2014)?
Are self-service kiosks for payments and bill payments a viable future solution for developing countries and startups?
Why might a bank close a customer’s account without providing a clear explanation?
What are the benefits of KYC requirements for banks, and how do they help prevent money laundering?
What does a typical ACH payment acceptance flow look like end to end?
Can Bitcoin indirectly strengthen the U.S. dollar’s global status?
Is knowing someone’s bank account number alone enough to withdraw money from a US bank account?
Is there a truly universal ATM card that works for cash withdrawals at all banks worldwide?
Do central banking conspiracy theories have any factual basis, and why or why not?
Can a merchant effectively operate as a payment service provider on top of PayPal?
What challenges do companies face when paying employees, partners, or affiliates in cash?
How can someone obtain and distribute Visa or Mastercard prepaid debit cards in an African country?
Are there API options for recurring payments for Israeli companies besides PayPal?
What are the possible applications and use cases of Hyperledger?