UQPAY Global Account Multi-Currency Review: GBP IBAN, Fees & Verdict

Fact Checked

Fact Checked

Advertiser Disclosure

Advertiser Disclosure

UQPAY is a fintech platform headquartered in Singapore. Its Global Account lets registered businesses collect, hold, convert and pay out in both regular currencies and stablecoins, all from one account. Founded in 2016, UQPAY is a Principal Member of Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay International and says it serves 200+ countries and regions.

For UK companies, the main questions are how GBP and EUR receiving works, what the plans cost and who holds the money. This review covers each of these, using only UQPAY’s published product, pricing and terms information.

UQPAY Review Summary Box

Best For: UK-incorporated companies that trade across borders, run several entities, or handle both fiat and stablecoin funds
Main Pro: One account for collections, multi-currency holding, two-way fiat–stablecoin conversion and payouts to 200+ countries and regions
Main Con: GBP receiving details are an IBAN with SWIFT/BIC, not a UK sort code and account number
MoneyZoe Rating: 3.8/5


UQPAY Pricing Comparison

All UQPAY plan prices are in US dollars.

FeatureBasicProEnterprise
Monthly Fee$0$69 (first month free)Customised
Sub-AccountsUp to 20100Unlimited
Payout Currencies54140Custom
Local TransfersFrom $0.2 per transferFrom $0.2 per transferCustom
International Transfers (SWIFT)$15–35 per transfer (SHA and OUR)$15–35 per transfer (SHA and OUR)Custom
FX FeesFrom 0.25%From 0.25%Custom
Supported Stablecoins39All standard stablecoins + custom integration
Domestic Card Acquiring2.7% + $0.22.5% + $0.2Custom
International Card Acquiring3.5% + $0.23.2% + $0.2Custom
Virtual / Physical Cards300 / 31,000 / 20Unlimited / Unlimited
Card CurrenciesUSDUSD/SGDMulti-currency
Key IntegrationsFull API, webhooks, sandboxFull API, webhooks, sandboxCustom API, webhooks, sandbox, custom integrations
Live Chat24/524/724/7

Pro Tip: UQPAY offers custom pricing for Platform API, Embedded Finance and high-volume businesses. Companies with large cross-border volumes should ask for a quote before choosing a published plan.


UQPAY Pros & Cons

✓ The Good

  • $0 Basic plan: includes named accounts, up to 20 sub-accounts, batch transfers, multi-level approval and API-triggered transfers
  • Fiat and stablecoins in one account: receive stablecoins on Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, BSC and Tron, and convert both ways between fiat and stablecoins
  • Multi-entity treasury tools: COBO (collect on behalf) and POBO (pay on behalf) let a parent company centralise collections and pay out for its subsidiaries
  • Rates shown before you confirm: conversion rates and fees appear before each conversion is approved, with FX from 0.25%

✗ The Bad

  • No UK sort code for GBP: UK companies receive GBP to an IBAN with SWIFT/BIC, so UK-style local GBP account details aren’t available
  • No SEPA Instant: EUR accounts support SEPA, but not SEPA Instant
  • No interest on balances: under UQPAY’s terms, funds held in the Global Account do not earn interest
  • Costly SWIFT payouts: international transfers cost $15–35 each, which adds up quickly for frequent payments

UQPAY Core Features

UQPAY describes the Global Account as “One platform in place of multiple overseas bank accounts.” It works in four stages:

  • Collections on two rails: receive fiat through local accounts and SWIFT, and stablecoins through supported blockchain networks. Local collection currencies are AUD, EUR, GBP, SGD and USD.
  • Multi-currency holding: hold fiat in AED, AUD, CAD, CHF, CNH, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, NOK, NZD, SEK, SGD and USD, plus stablecoin balances, and convert only when you need to.
  • Two-way conversion: convert between supported fiat currencies and between fiat and stablecoins. Options include locked quotes, target-amount conversion and automated small-value FX for regular needs such as settlement and payroll.
  • Payouts on two rails: pay through local clearing, SWIFT, on-chain routes or supported e-wallets in Southeast Asia. Most local rails settle the same day, and SWIFT typically takes 1–2 business days.

GBP and EUR Accounts for UK Companies

  • GBP: UK-incorporated companies can apply for a GBP virtual receiving account in their company name. The account details are an IBAN and SWIFT/BIC code for incoming SWIFT transfers, not a UK sort code and local account number.
  • EUR: EUR accounts can be located in Singapore, Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and Bahrain, depending on eligibility and how the account is set up. The country of the IBAN is shown in the account details once the account is opened. SEPA is supported; SEPA Instant is not.

Treasury and Control Tools

  • Smart name matching: reduces failed deposits caused by differences in capitalisation, punctuation or abbreviations in the payer’s name.
  • Payout controls: multi-level approvals, whitelisted address management, and real-time tracking from submission to confirmation.
  • Reconciliation: configure payer names, match invoices, retry failed payouts, download reports, and use reconciliation APIs.
  • Advanced FX: lock and hold rates for more than 40 currencies, schedule conversions at TOD, TOM or SPOT, and book forward contracts up to 12 months ahead.

Corporate Cards

UQPAY issues Visa virtual and physical corporate cards. Card spending can be settled from fiat balances or from USDC, USDT and XUSD. Cards work with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, and offer cashback from 1% (Basic) or 1.2% (Pro) on advertising and SaaS spending.


UQPAY Fees & Charges: The Reality

Transfer Costs

Local transfers start at $0.2 per transfer on both Basic and Pro. SWIFT transfers cost $15–35 per transfer, whether the charges are shared (SHA) or paid by the sender (OUR). A business making ten SWIFT payments a month could pay $150–350 in SWIFT fees alone.

Foreign Exchange

FX rates start from 0.25% on Basic and Pro, with custom rates on Enterprise. UQPAY says on-demand conversion has no fixed fees and that custom rates are available for large volumes.

Other Charges to Know About

  • Taxes: prices on UQPAY’s website do not include taxes such as VAT, which are the customer’s responsibility.
  • Refund processing: refunds or payments from UQPAY to you may have processing fees deducted.
  • Fee changes: UQPAY can change its fees at any time, including when its banking partners’ costs change. Continuing to use the service counts as accepting the new fees.
  • Reserves and collateral: UQPAY can ask for a reserve fund or collateral. Either can be held for at least 180 days after an account is suspended or closed.

Warning: Under UQPAY’s terms, fees can be deducted directly from your account balance, sub-accounts or card. Check the fee schedule in your dashboard before confirming large transactions.


UQPAY Platform & Dashboard Experience

The dashboard shows multi-currency balances, receiving details and transaction records in one place. Users can download reports for reconciliation. UQPAY’s product screenshots cover four main flows:

  • Account overview: multi-currency balances and account information
  • Currency conversion: enter an amount and see currencies, quotes and transaction details
  • Recipient setup: choose a bank account or a UQPAY account as the destination
  • Transfer details: transaction status, payment amount, fees and recipient information

Development teams get full API access, webhooks and a sandbox environment on Basic and Pro. Custom integrations are available only on Enterprise.


Opening a UQPAY Account: Eligibility, Process, and Restricted Industries

The UQPAY Global Account is for registered businesses only, not for personal use. Each business usually holds one account; opening another needs UQPAY’s prior written permission.

Application Process

  1. Register on the UQPAY website
  2. Submit business information and complete Know Your Business (KYB) verification, including business registration, director identification and bank verification documents as required
  3. Complete the review and respond to any requests for more information
  4. Activate eligible services

UQPAY decides which of its group entities will serve your business, and jurisdiction-specific terms may apply. Support during onboarding is self-service on Basic, guided on Pro and VIP on Enterprise.

Prohibited Businesses

UQPAY does not serve businesses involved in:

  • Adult entertainment and sexual services
  • Gambling where it is illegal or unlicensed
  • Counterfeit goods, and arms and weapons
  • Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, multi-level marketing and telemarketing
  • Trade in endangered species or cultural artefacts
  • Entities with bearer shares, shell banks, and sanctioned persons or countries

Restricted Businesses (UQPAY’s Approval Needed)

  • Financial services: lending, buy now pay later, money transfer, currency exchange, and portfolio management
  • Professional and property services: legal professionals, accountants, company service providers and estate agents
  • Charities and non-profits, plus political and religious organisations
  • Other restricted sectors: alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes, CBD, pharmaceuticals, travel intermediaries, and oil, gas and mining

Pro Tip: UK accountancy firms, company formation agents and charities should expect extra due diligence. UQPAY must give explicit approval before these businesses can use the service.


UQPAY Regulation & Safety of Funds

UQPAY is a non-bank financial institution (NBFI) that provides services through licensed entities:

JurisdictionEntityCredentials
SingaporeUQPAY Pte. Ltd.Major Payment Institution, Monetary Authority of Singapore (licence PS20200641)
United StatesUQPAY Inc.Money Services Business registered with FinCEN (NMLS ID 2672177); Money Transmitter Licence from the Arkansas Securities Department
Hong KongUQPAY LimitedMoney Service Operator, Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (licence 25-11-03304)
AustraliaUQPAY Pty LtdRegistered with AUSTRAC as a remittance and digital currency exchange provider

The GBP virtual receiving account is provided by SINGAPORE GULF BANK B.S.C. CLOSED, and how funds are held is governed by the applicable account terms. UQPAY’s security credentials include PCI DSS Level 1 certification, EMVCo compliance, and passing UnionPay’s card payment application security testing.

Warning: UQPAY’s terms allow it to suspend or close accounts without prior notice, for reasons including inactivity, compliance concerns or legal requirements. Businesses that depend on constant access to funds should read the full terms before moving their main working capital.


Our Final Verdict & UQPAY Recommendation

UQPAY suits UK companies with international and multi-entity money flows, especially those already handling stablecoins alongside fiat. The free Basic plan, COBO/POBO treasury tools and FX from 0.25% make it a credible global treasury layer.

It is less suited to a UK business’s day-to-day GBP banking. GBP is received through an IBAN and SWIFT/BIC rather than a sort code, SEPA Instant is unavailable, and balances earn no interest.

✓ Choose UQPAY if:

  • You collect and pay across several currencies and countries
  • You manage subsidiaries and want collections and payouts controlled centrally
  • You need fiat and stablecoin balances in one account

✗ Avoid UQPAY if:

  • You need UK sort code and account number details for domestic GBP payments
  • You rely on SEPA Instant for euro payments
  • You want interest on business balances

UQPAY FAQs: People Also Ask

Can UK companies get a GBP account with UQPAY?

Yes. UK-incorporated companies can apply for a GBP virtual receiving account in their company name. The account details include an IBAN and SWIFT/BIC code for incoming SWIFT transfers.

Does UQPAY provide a UK sort code and account number?

No. GBP account details are an IBAN and SWIFT/BIC code, not a UK sort code and local account number.

Who holds GBP funds in a UQPAY account?

The GBP virtual receiving account is provided by SINGAPORE GULF BANK B.S.C. CLOSED. How funds are held is governed by the applicable account terms.

Does UQPAY support SEPA Instant?

No. UQPAY supports SEPA for EUR accounts, but not SEPA Instant. EUR IBANs can be issued in Singapore, Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg or Bahrain, depending on eligibility.

Is there a free UQPAY plan?

Yes. The Basic plan costs $0 per month and includes up to 20 sub-accounts, 54 payout currencies and 300 virtual cards. Transaction fees still apply, such as $15–35 per SWIFT transfer.

Do UQPAY balances earn interest?

No. Under UQPAY’s terms, funds held in a Global Account do not earn interest.

Is UQPAY regulated?

Yes, through its group entities. UQPAY Pte. Ltd. is a Major Payment Institution licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (PS20200641), and other entities hold credentials in the United States, Hong Kong and Australia.

Can US subsidiaries open USD accounts?

Yes. US-incorporated companies can apply for a USD virtual receiving account in their company name. Incoming payments support SWIFT only, and outgoing payments support ACH and SWIFT; ACH receipts are not currently supported.

UQPAY Global Account

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Chris Morano

Chris Morano

Chris Morano is the Founder of MoneyZoe. A specialist in financial research, business banking, and investments, Chris provides independent insights on ISAs, money transfers, and fintech tools to help people make better decisions. He believes that handling your finances well is the key to living a more purposeful and fulfilling life (Zoe).