Foreign Exchange
3 guides · KeyBS Pay Knowledge Center
Exchange rates, markups, spreads and hedging — where the real cost of international payments hides.
Quick answer
The FX cost of a payment is the gap between the mid-market rate and the rate you are given, plus any explicit fees. Banks commonly embed 2–5% in this spread on African currency pairs. Comparing providers on the final receive amount — not the advertised fee — is the only reliable way to see the true cost.
Guides in this cluster
1Foreign Exchange (FX) Explained for BusinessesHow the FX market works for businesses: mid-market vs customer rates, spreads, spot vs forward, quote mechanics and why African currency pairs cost more. 9 min2FX Markups and Spreads: The Hidden Cost in Every PaymentThe FX spread — the gap between mid-market and your rate — is usually the biggest cost in a cross-border payment. How to measure it, benchmark it and cut it. 8 min3Currency Hedging Basics: Forwards, Rate Locks and Natural HedgesHow businesses protect margins from FX movements: forward contracts, rate locks, natural hedging and matching — explained without derivatives jargon. 8 min
Put it into practice
The tools and services that apply what these guides cover.
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