Glossary

Plain-English definitions for terms you will encounter across Airwallex products and global finance.

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Global Account

A local-currency collection account with local bank details used to receive funds like a domestic business.

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Multi-Currency Wallet

A balance layer that can hold multiple currencies simultaneously without forcing conversion.

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FX Markup

The percentage added above the interbank mid-market rate when converting currencies.

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Interbank Rate

The wholesale mid-market foreign exchange rate used as a reference for FX pricing.

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SWIFT

A messaging network used for cross-border bank transfers, often slower and more expensive than local rails.

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Local Payment Rails

Domestic payment systems such as ACH, SEPA, Faster Payments, FPS, or SPEI used for local settlement.

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SEPA

The Single Euro Payments Area system for euro credit transfers and direct debits across participating countries.

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ACH

Automated Clearing House network used for USD electronic bank transfers in the United States.

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Faster Payments

A UK real-time retail payment system commonly used for GBP transfers.

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FPS (Hong Kong)

Faster Payment System in Hong Kong supporting near real-time HKD and CNY transfers.

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SPEI

Mexico's real-time electronic funds transfer system for MXN payments.

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Like-for-Like Settlement

Settling received funds in the same currency they were paid in, avoiding forced FX conversion.

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Foreign Transaction Fee

A fee charged by banks or card issuers when a purchase is processed in a foreign currency.

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Corporate Card

A business-issued payment card used for employee and company spend with centralized controls.

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Embedded Finance

Financial products such as accounts, cards, or payouts offered inside a non-bank platform experience.

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Connected Account

A sub-account created under a platform for sellers or clients to hold and move funds.

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KYC

Know Your Customer identity and business verification required for financial onboarding.

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AML

Anti-Money Laundering controls used to detect and prevent illicit fund flows.

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Payment Method

A way customers pay, such as cards, wallets, bank transfers, or buy-now-pay-later.

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BNPL

Buy Now, Pay Later methods that let customers split purchases into installments.

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Payout

An outbound transfer from a business or platform to a supplier, seller, or beneficiary.

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Batch Transfer

Sending many payouts in one file or API operation for payroll or marketplace settlements.

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Treasury

The practice of managing company cash, FX exposure, liquidity, and payment operations.

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Reconciliation

Matching bank, card, and payment records to invoices and ledger entries.

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Chargeback

A card payment dispute initiated by a cardholder through their issuing bank.

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PCI DSS

Security standards for handling cardholder data; hosted checkout reduces merchant scope.

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Virtual Account

An account identifier used to route incoming payments to a specific wallet or ledger.

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Mid-Market Rate

The midpoint between buy and sell FX quotes; often used as a fairness benchmark.

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Correspondent Banking

Traditional cross-border banking via intermediary banks, typically slower than local rails.

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Yield

Interest-like returns earned on eligible idle balances held with a financial platform.