Sending money across borders should be simple. But when you’re moving £100,000, €500,000, or even seven-figure sums, the process becomes slow, expensive and unpredictable. Even providers that promote “no payment limits” quickly reveal that large-value transfers come with more checks, more delays and more unknowns.

Whether you’re handling supplier payments, acquisitions, treasury operations or investment flows, understanding the obstacles will save you time, frustration and unnecessary costs.

Here are the five biggest challenges businesses face when transferring large sums internationally — and why “no payment limits” doesn’t always mean what it sounds like.

1. Hidden Limits Behind “No Payment Limits” Marketing

Many fintech platforms advertise no payment limits, but behind the scenes nearly every institution has thresholds:

• Internal risk caps
• Per-transaction limits
• Daily or monthly ceilings
• Compliance-trigger limits
• Intermediary bank restrictions

Even if a platform claims no payment limits, your transfer may still be:

• Delayed for manual review
• Requested for extra documentation
• Split into multiple payments
• Blocked due to partner-bank restrictions

For large transfers, “unlimited” often means “unlimited… until compliance steps in.”

2. Heavy Compliance & Source-of-Funds Reviews

Moving large sums internationally triggers deeper compliance audits — even with providers that promise no payment limits.

Expect requests for:

• Contracts and invoices
• Source-of-funds evidence
• Company structure charts
• Proof of ownership
• Identity documents for directors
• AML and KYC documentation

For a £5k transfer, you may sail through. For £500k, you should prepare for additional checks — especially if the transfer is urgent. Even with a provider offering no payment limits, regulatory scrutiny is unavoidable.

Tip: Pre-prepare documentation before initiating a high-value transfer to prevent delays.

3. FX Risk & Slippage on Large Conversions

When your transfer is large, FX becomes a serious business risk.
A shift of just 0.5% on €300,000 equals €1,500 lost instantly.

Common FX problems:

• Wide spreads for high-value transfers
• Poor real-time execution
• Forced conversions when your provider doesn’t support multi-currency accounts
• Delays caused by compliance, pushing the transfer into a worse exchange window

Even providers that position themselves as no payment limits platforms may still apply higher FX margins on big conversions — a hidden cost many businesses overlook.

4. Intermediary Banks & Unexpected Fees

Once you enter high-value territory, SWIFT and correspondent banks get involved. Each can impose:

• Handling fees
• Lifting fees
• Processing fees
• Routing charges
• FX margins (if the currency mismatches)

The frustrating part?
You rarely see these fees upfront.

When providers promote no payment limits, that promise applies only to the platform — not the chain of banks between sender and recipient. Those institutions can still add limits, delays, or additional costs of their own.

5. Delays Caused by Cut-Off Times & Manual Reviews

Large payments experience delays for reasons small transfers never face:

• Early banking cut-off times
• End-of-day processing queues
• Enhanced AML checks
• Manual approvals
• Weekends and public holidays
• Receiving bank inspections

A transfer advertised as “instant” or “same-day” often becomes a multi-day journey once the amount is high enough.

Even fintechs offering no payment limits cannot fully bypass the global clearing systems or compliance requirements that slow large-value payments.

Why These Challenges Matter More Today

Businesses are more global than ever. Payments move faster. Stakes are higher. Yet the infrastructure for transferring large sums is still fragmented, slow, and heavily regulated.

Many companies switch to fintech platforms because they advertise benefits like:

• Faster FX execution
• Local account details
• Better EUR/GBP/USD options
• Transparent pricing
• And the attractive promise of no payment limits

But the reality is this:
Even with modern platforms, large transfers require planning, preparation and the right operational process.

How to Make Large International Transfers Smooth

If your business regularly moves large amounts across borders, here’s how to avoid issues:

✅ 1. Choose a provider built for high-value transfers

Don’t rely on consumer apps or entry-tier business accounts.
Look for platforms that genuinely support no payment limits for corporate users.

✅ 2. Set up multi-currency accounts

Avoid forced conversions and hold funds in EUR, USD, GBP, etc.

✅ 3. Prepare compliance documents in advance

This includes invoices, contracts, and ownership information.

✅ 4. Request FX quotes before sending

For six-figure amounts, every pip matters.

✅ 5. Know your cut-off times

Missing a EUR or USD cut-off can delay a transfer by 24–48 hours.

✅ 6. Test with a smaller amount

Especially when using a new platform or bank.

Final Thoughts

Transferra: A Practical Option for Businesses Needing High Limits

When you’re sending six- or seven-figure amounts internationally, you need a payment partner that can actually handle high-value transfers without constant freezes or manual reviews. This is where platforms like Transferra stand out.

Transferra is built specifically for businesses that need to move large payments quickly and securely — and unlike many traditional providers, it supports high payment thresholds, giving companies far more freedom than standard banking apps that claim to offer “No payment limits.”

Sending large sums across borders doesn’t need to be stressful. But it requires the right partner, the right workflow, and realistic expectations.

The best approach?
Prepare in advance, choose the right platform, and never rely solely on marketing promises. With the right setup, your business can move large amounts quickly, safely and without disrupting operations.