Summary: This article explains how SWIFT payments enable global transfers across jurisdictions, how SEPA transfers provide fast euro payments within Europe, and how businesses use modern business accounts and payment infrastructure to manage cross-border payments efficiently.
Why do some international transfers take minutes while others take days?
In many cases, the difference comes down to whether the payment is processed through the SWIFT network or via SEPA infrastructure.
According to Visa’s research on cross-border money movement, total cross-border payments are projected to reach $250 trillion by 2027, reflecting the growing scale of global commerce and international financial activity.
Two of the most widely used systems for moving funds globally and within Europe are the SWIFT network and SEPA transfers.
Although they both facilitate international payments, they serve unique purposes within the modern international banking system and operate differently. Understanding when to use each system helps businesses manage settlement timing, transaction costs, and financial visibility more effectively.
The SWIFT network is the global messaging system used by banks to securely communicate payment instructions. It connects more than 11,500 financial institutions across over 200 countries, making SWIFT payments one of the most widely used methods for sending money internationally.
When businesses send cross-border payments through SWIFT, transactions often pass through intermediary banks before reaching the recipient. This structure enables global reach but can introduce longer settlement times and additional processing steps.
SWIFT payments typically settle within one to three business days depending on currency routes, compliance checks, and correspondent banking relationships. For businesses operating globally, SWIFT remains essential infrastructure for international banking and high-value financial transactions across jurisdictions.
Within Europe, SEPA transfers provide a faster and more standardized way to move funds between bank accounts. The Single Euro Payments Area allows businesses to send euro-denominated transfers across participating countries under the same conditions as domestic payments.
The scale of European payment infrastructure becomes clearer when looking at recent European Central Bank data. In the first half of 2025 alone, the euro area recorded 77.7 billion non-cash payment transactions with a total value of €116 trillion, highlighting how central credit transfers and SEPA-based payments have become to daily economic activity across Europe.
Compared to global wire transfers, SEPA payments typically offer:
For businesses operating within Europe, SEPA simplifies everyday financial transactions such as payroll, supplier payments, and customer refunds. Instant SEPA transfers can settle within seconds, allowing companies to move funds quickly without relying on global banking networks.
The difference between SWIFT and SEPA is not about which system is better, but about which one fits the transaction.
SEPA transfers are designed for euro payments within Europe, while SWIFT payments support international payments across currencies and jurisdictions.
Most internationally active businesses rely on both systems:
Managing both efficiently requires financial infrastructure that supports multiple currencies and payment rails simultaneously.
As payment flows become more global, companies increasingly need financial accounts designed for international operations rather than purely domestic banking.
Multi-currency business accounts allow companies to hold funds in different currencies, send international transfers through the appropriate rails, and manage liquidity across markets without unnecessary conversion costs.
With COLIBRIX ONE Corporate Business Accounts, companies can manage global payment flows through a single operational environment. These accounts support international transfers, multi-currency balances, and modern financial tools that help businesses coordinate both regional SEPA activity and global transfers efficiently through a unified financial setup.
Instead of treating cross-border transfers as isolated transactions, businesses can manage them as part of a broader financial workflow.
As global commerce accelerates, the distinction between regional and international payment systems becomes part of everyday financial operations. Businesses must balance speed, cost, and reliability depending on where funds are moving.
The SWIFT network continues to provide the global reach needed for worldwide transactions, while SEPA transfers enable efficient euro payments within Europe. Together, they form the backbone of modern international payments.
For companies operating across markets, success depends less on choosing one system over the other and more on ensuring that accounts, currencies, and transfer methods work together smoothly. When financial operations are coordinated correctly, cross-border payments become predictable, manageable, and scalable.
In that environment, international payments stop being a friction point and become a normal part of business operations.
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