At Currencies Direct we’ve been helping individuals and businesses streamline and simplify their international currency transfers since 1996.

Our expert team are on hand to help your clients make their money go further, and over the years we’ve won a number of awards on the strength of our exceptional customer service. We have a number of banking partners and are a licensed Financial Services Provider (43493) in South Africa.

Our key facts

Our experience, expertise and enterprising approach set us apart. We were established in 1996 and employ over 500 experienced financial services professionals around the globe. Corsair Capital and Palamon Capital Partners acquired us for $300m in December 2015. Anthony Jenkins, former CEO of Barclays, is our group Chairman. We have an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot and 97% of our customers would recommend us to their friends. There are multiple brands within our group: Currencies Direct, TorFX, Exchange4Free SA, Foremost Currency Group. We opened our first in 2004 and today have grown to be one of the largest and most respected FX and international payments specialists in Southern Africa.

• 360,000 registered Customers
• Established in 1996
• We’ll handle over R132bn worth of transfers this year alone
• Dedicated account manager
• Safe & secure authorised by the FCA, regulated by the FSCA and licensed by the SARB
• 22 branches across 4 continents
• We trade in more than 60 currencies
• Global payments operation open 24h/day 5 d/week

Our services

We offer our customers:

• Live exchange rates and expert market insight
• Tailored international payments solutions for individuals and businesses
• Swift, secure, flexible transfers over the phone or online
• Personal account management

Our security

At Currencies Direct we make the security of customer funds our priority.

We’re authorised by the FCA as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) an accredited FSP (43493) with the Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA) and a Primary Accountable Institution registered with the FIC.

Our client funds are held in a separate personalised interest bearing account with a SARB approved Authorised Dealer Bank. We have the highest level of creditworthiness with Dun & Bradstreet and are audited by Nolands. We follow the rules laid out in the Client Assets Sourcebook (CASS) to ensure fund security.

Transferring money internationally is rarely simple.

As well as having to navigate SARB regulations, SARS applications, exchange control submissions and cyber security concerns, you also have to deal with a volatile economic and political landscape that can move the rand by as much as 20% in a matter of days.

In a complicated environment we want to make one thing simple – choosing who to trust to make your transfers.

We’re the transfer specialists.

We’ve been in business for more than 30 years, with a specialist team in South Africa since 2004. Since the start our mission has been to help our customers take control of their currency transfers by simplifying the process and providing the best value for your money.

That means:

• Excellent exchange rates
• Tailored FX packages
• Market insights
• Support with exchange control submissions

Our products

Our tailored services include:

Getting your funds out of South Africa

If you were born in South Africa but have since left, trying to move money into your international bank account from South Africa can be quite a challenge, but we’re here to help.

Annual allowance

If you want to use your annual discretionary allowance (R1m per calendar year) we’ll s make sure you get the best rates and lowest fees. Remember, as a South African, you only need a registered tax number to make use of your annual R1m allowance.

Investing offshore

If you’re looking to invest overseas we’ll help you through the necessary paperwork, obtain your tax clearance and make sure we time things just right. Transfers over R11m. If you have over R11m you want to move abroad, talking to your account manager is the only way to go. While this is not a standard allowance, it is possible and can be submitted and approved within a couple of months.

Trusts

We’ll help you get through all the challenges and paperwork linked to Trusts and their recipients.

Foreign residents in South Africa

If South Africa isn’t your country of birth different rules apply. Whether you’re repatriating funds that you brought to South Africa or have earned money working for a South African company, our team of experts know exactly what the SARB want in order to facilitate the transfer.

For your business

If your business makes or receives international payments we’ll make sure the volatility and the complexities of exchange control don’t tie your hands. Please note that all international transfers are subject to the South African Exchange Control Rulings, and these may change from time to time.

Other things we can help with:

• Previously blocked funds – for those who left money in investments /RA’s in SA when they moved abroad
• Financial emigration
• An inheritance from South Africa
• International loans
• Foreign Direct Investment
• Trade finance products like Letters of Credit and Guarantees
• Business transfers

Removing the hassle

Exchange control

When sending money overseas, the reserve bank (SARB) needs to approve the transfer so they can monitor funds coming in and out of the country. This is called ‘exchange control’.

It’s a 65 page document full of rules and regulations and it’s easy to get lost… But, we’ll interpret, prepare and send your exchange control submission with a view to getting a fast approval FIRST TIME (we’ve got a 98% first time record).

Tax clearance

South African law dictates that when money leaves the country, the revenue service (SARS) must confirm all taxes have been paid first. We provide the relevant forms, fill them in, take them to the local SARS office, and submit them for you.

A standard turnaround time of three to five working days has become the norm for our customers – a far cry from the weeks this process can take.

Rate alert

Our rate watch service gives you the option to target a specific exchange rate. Simply tell us the rate you want to achieve and we’ll let you know as soon as the market reaches that level.

Timing your transfer

Our currency experts are our biggest asset and will keep you up-to-date with the latest market movements – essential if you want to move your money at the right time. During periods of heightened uncertainty currency pairs can fluctuate by 20% in days, but our team will give you all the insights you need to make an informed decision.

Spot

Send money right here, right now. Agree your exchange rate, send us the funds and we’ll make the transfer (it’ll take under 48 hours to arrive).

Forward Exchange Contract (FEC)

A Forward Exchange Contract is the currency world’s version of ‘buy now, pay later’. With a small deposit we’ll hold the exchange rate for up to six months.
Note: Forward Exchange Contracts aren’t available to everyone as the SARB require a firm & proper commitment to purchase currency for a future requirement.

Limit order

Tell us your target exchange rate and we’ll make the transfer for you as soon as that rate is hit. If it gets close, we’ll call you to let you know.