Cross-Border Payments – Study 2025
In our Cross-border Payments Study 2025, we provide banks, PSPs, and market operators a structured, multidimensional view on international transactions and identify specific areas for action. It additionally includes a case study and expert interviews with industry leaders, offering strategic insights into market trends and initiatives.
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The Cross-border Payments Study 2025 offers banks,
PSPs and market participants a compact, practical
overview and identifies specific areas for action.
The Transformation of International Payments
International payments are undergoing a fundamental shift. Local regulations, global initiatives such as the G20 goals and rising customer expectations are challenging banks and providers to position themselves for the future. Domestic instant payments are setting new standards for speed and transparency and are increasingly influencing international payment transactions.
At the same time, new market players are entering the market with alternative payment channels and real-time and near-real-time solutions, thus challenging the traditional correspondent banking business. The increasing need for interoperability between national payment systems underlines the pressure to act. The final phase of the ISO 20022 migration opens new opportunities for the strategic development of payment transactions, provided that the needs of corporate customers are consistently placed at the center of attention.
With our study, we provide a clear perspective from the corporate point of view – highlighting expectations and showing how banks can better understand these needs and translate them into future-proof solutions.
Markus Nenninger Head of Payments Division, msg for banking
Method and Objective
In our Cross-border Payments Study 2025, we applied a multi-step approach that blends quantitative insights with qualitative depth. At the heart of the study is a comprehensive corporate survey, in which international companies assessed the current state of cross-border payments, the quality of existing services, and their expectations for the future.
For this study, the market research institute mo’web conducted an online survey on behalf of msg for banking. A total of 100 professionals and executives from companies in Germany (80), Austria (10), and Switzerland (10) were surveyed. Participants constituted of experts and managers in finance, treasury, and accounting and represented a broad range of industries.
The survey was conducted in German between April and May 2025. The Cross-border Payments Study will be published in English.
In addition, we conducted qualitative interviews with banks, payment service providers, and industry experts to incorporate further market insights and strategic perspectives. The study is complemented by specialist essays, a practical case study, and an expert interview, all of which deepen the study findings and highlight concrete best practices.
With the Cross-border Payments Study 2025, we pursue a central objective: to place the perspective of corporates at the center and make their expectations, requirements, and pain points visible through first-hand insights.
The results will enable banks and payment service providers to:
- understand the real needs of corporate clients,
- benchmark existing services in the competitive landscape, and
- clearly prioritize strategic areas for action.
In this way, the study becomes a valuable guide for all stakeholders seeking to make international payments future-proof.
Access valuable Insights now
Find out more about the study results of
our corporate survey and the evaluations of
leading experts as well as firsthand sources.
Beyond Borders
Cross-Border Payments Through the Corporate Lens –
Today and Tomorrow
The 2025 Study on Evolving International Payments
Publisher: msg for banking
Published: September 2025
Table of Contents
//Foreword
//Corporate Survey
- Study Methodology
- Executive Insights Summary
- Corporate Survey Results
//Expert Contributions
- Breaking Boundaries: Unique Challenges of Testing in Cross-border Payments
- How Digital Money Is Rewriting Global Payments
- When Payments Cross Borders: Compliance Blind Spots in the European Payment System
- Is the Slogan “A Payment is a Payment is a Payment” Still Valid Today? (Foconis Payment GmbH)
- The Future of Cross-border Payments – Fast and Furious (LBBW)
- EBICS as a Global Payment Hub: Standardization, Security, and Future Viability in the International Corporate Business (Omikron Systemhaus GmbH & Co. KG)
- Addressing Fragmentation Is Key for the Future of Finance (Swift)
- ISO 20022 XML Version 9 – The Key Question (Zanders Group)
//Practice & Perspectives
- Cross-border Payment Formats in SAP: Lessons Learned
- Interview: Three Questions – Three Perspectives
- Cross-border Payments: Corporate Expectations vs. Industry Perception
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