Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about Instarails' cross-border payment platform

About Instarails

What is Instarails?

Instarails is a cross-border payment network that connects to Mexico, Brazil, Philippines, and 150+ countries. Our payment infrastructure enables instant, secure transfers across 70+ currencies, combining traditional banking reliability with modern payment speed.

Our technology powers real-time transfers 24/7 to both established markets and emerging economies. Send payments via local bank networks, mobile wallets, and cash pickup points worldwide. We help banks, fintech companies, and businesses deliver cost-effective international payments—reducing correspondent banking fees by 3-10% while ensuring compliance and security.

Whether you're serving customers in Mexico City, São Paulo, Mumbai, or Manila, our platform handles the complex payment processing behind the scenes. Focus on growing your business while we manage routing, compliance, FX, and settlement across all markets.

Who can benefit from using Instarails?

Our platform is designed for:

  • Financial institutions including credit unions and community banks
  • Fintech companies building payment products
  • Businesses that need to make international payments efficiently and cost-effectively
  • Payroll companies serving global workforces
  • Technology companies with international contractor payments
  • Remittance companies looking for better infrastructure
What regions does Instarails currently support?

We support 150+ countries across:

  • Latin America - Including instant payment corridors to Mexico (SPEI) and Brazil (PIX)
  • Asia-Pacific - Philippines (InstaPay), India (UPI), and more
  • Africa - Multiple countries with mobile money and cash pickup
  • Middle East - Comprehensive coverage
  • Europe - Including UK (Faster Payments) and SEPA

Our platform connects to local payment rails for instant settlement in key corridors while providing reliable delivery to emerging markets.

Pricing & Costs

What are Instarails' transaction fees?

Our pricing is transparent and volume-based. We offer significant savings compared to traditional wire transfers and correspondent banking. Contact our team at sales@instarails.io for a customized quote based on your specific corridors and transaction volumes.

How do your rates compare to traditional wire transfers?

Instarails typically reduces cross-border payment costs by 3-10% compared to traditional correspondent banking and wire transfers. This is achieved by:

  • Eliminating correspondent banking fees and intermediary charges
  • Providing transparent, competitive FX rates
  • Removing the need for nostro/vostro account maintenance
  • Offering free cancellations and returns (unlike traditional wire recall fees)
Are there any setup fees or monthly minimums?

We offer flexible pricing structures tailored to your business model. Contact sales@instarails.io to discuss options that work best for your organization.

What happens if a payment fails or needs to be cancelled?

We do not charge anything for cancellations or returns! Unlike traditional wire transfers that often involve significant recall fees and lengthy processing times, Instarails provides free, immediate cancellation capabilities. If a payment encounters an issue or needs to be recalled for any reason, we handle this efficiently without passing any additional costs to you.

Payment Capabilities

What payment methods does Instarails support?

We support a comprehensive range of payment methods for maximum flexibility:

  • Bank account deposits - Direct deposits to virtually all financial institutions across our supported corridors
  • E-wallets - Popular local digital wallets in strategic regions worldwide
  • Mobile money - Transfer networks covering major international markets
  • SIM card payments - Local integration in specific regions
  • Cash pickup - Extensive network through millions of licensed payout agents across multiple continents

This diverse ecosystem allows you to serve both banked and unbanked populations seamlessly, providing true financial inclusion for your global customers regardless of their location or preferred payment method.

Do you instantly pay to recipient bank accounts?

Yes. We deliver funds to recipient accounts in real-time in corridors that support instant payment rails:

  • SPEI in Mexico
  • PIX in Brazil
  • UPI in India
  • FPS in UK
  • Instant SEPA in Europe
  • InstaPay in Philippines

Transactions are completed within minutes rather than the traditional 3-5 business days required for international wire transfers. Recipients gain immediate access to their funds, dramatically improving their experience and financial planning capabilities.

Do recipients need to create an Instarails account to receive funds?

No. Recipients never need to create an Instarails account or wallet. We deliver payments directly to their existing local accounts:

  • Straight to their local bank accounts
  • Directly to the e-wallets they already use
  • Into their existing SIM card accounts
  • Via convenient licensed cash pickup locations in their region
What currencies do you support?

We support 70+ currencies across our global network, including all major currencies and local currencies in emerging markets. Our platform handles FX conversion transparently with competitive rates. Contact us for specific currency availability for your corridors.

Implementation & Onboarding

How do we get started with Instarails?

Contact our team at sales@instarails.io to begin the conversation. We'll guide you through our partnership process, from initial discussions to full implementation.

What is the onboarding process with Instarails?

Our onboarding process is streamlined for rapid implementation:

  • Compliance Setup - Mutual NDA signing, comprehensive enhanced due diligence verification, and Master Service Agreement execution
  • Secure Account Creation - We establish your dedicated bank FBO sub-account
  • Funding Mechanism - Pre-fund your account with a simple domestic wire transfer for immediate transaction capability
  • Immediate Transactions - Start processing payments instantly through our intuitive client portal using single transactions or batch uploads
  • Optional API Integration - For automated workflows, seamlessly integrate with our robust API for programmatic transaction submission and real-time tracking notifications

This efficient process gets you from partnership to active global payments in minimal time, with personalized support at every step.

Do you offer a trial or pilot program?

Yes. Our implementation includes a focused pilot program for select corridors that lets you:

  • Test real transactions in your key payment corridors
  • Monitor performance metrics and settlement times
  • Gather feedback from your team and recipients
  • Optimize before full rollout

All pilot programs include dedicated support from our team to ensure success.

Is API documentation available?

Yes, we provide comprehensive API documentation for partners. Our RESTful API supports automated transaction submission, real-time status tracking, webhook notifications, and complete reconciliation capabilities. Documentation is provided during onboarding.

Do you offer white-label solutions?

Yes. Our platform is designed to be white-labeled for financial institutions. Banks and credit unions can brand the entire payment experience as their own, allowing you to offer cross-border payments under your institution's name while we handle all the complex infrastructure, compliance, and settlement in the background.

Security & Compliance

How does Instarails ensure compliance with international regulations?

We help you navigate the complex regulatory landscape of cross-border payments through:

  • Real-time global sanctions screening against OFAC, UN, EU, and other sanctions lists
  • BSA/AML compliance with comprehensive KYC/KYB processes
  • Transaction monitoring for suspicious activity
  • Regulatory reporting assistance and audit trails
  • SOC 2 Type II certification for data security

Schedule a call with us at sales@instarails.io to learn more about our compliance framework.

What security certifications does Instarails have?

Instarails maintains SOC 2 Type II certification, demonstrating our commitment to the highest standards of security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Our infrastructure undergoes regular independent audits to ensure continuous compliance with security best practices.

How is our data protected?

We employ enterprise-grade security measures including:

  • End-to-end encryption for all data in transit and at rest
  • Multi-factor authentication and role-based access controls
  • Regular security audits and penetration testing
  • SOC 2 Type II compliance with ongoing monitoring
  • Secure, redundant data centers with 24/7 monitoring

Operational Considerations

Do we need nostro/vostro accounts and business entities in destination countries?

No. We handle all the complexity of international liquidity management, currency conversion, and settlement across multiple countries. This eliminates the traditional need for maintaining nostro/vostro accounts in each country where you send payments, significantly reducing your operational overhead and freeing up capital for other business needs.

What are your settlement timeframes?

Settlement times vary by corridor:

  • Instant settlement - Available in corridors with real-time payment rails (Mexico SPEI, Brazil PIX, India UPI, etc.) - typically within minutes
  • Same-day settlement - Most major corridors settle within 24 hours
  • Standard settlement - Other corridors typically settle within 1-3 business days

All significantly faster than traditional correspondent banking which can take 3-5 business days or longer.

What customer support do you provide?

We provide dedicated support including:

  • Direct access to your account manager
  • Email support at sales@instarails.io
  • Technical documentation and API support
  • Regular business reviews and optimization consultations
  • Training for your team on platform features
What transaction volume can your platform handle?

Our infrastructure is built to scale with your business. We handle everything from single transactions to high-volume batch processing. Our platform supports thousands of concurrent transactions with enterprise-grade reliability and uptime. Contact us to discuss your specific volume requirements.

What reporting and reconciliation tools do you provide?

Our platform includes comprehensive reporting capabilities:

  • Real-time transaction status tracking and notifications
  • Detailed transaction history and export capabilities
  • Automated reconciliation reports
  • Custom reporting dashboards
  • API access for integration with your existing systems
  • Audit trails for compliance purposes

Instarails Invoices

What makes a professional invoice?

A professional invoice is a clear, detailed bill. It shows what was sold, the price, and when payment is due. This protects both the seller and buyer by creating an official record of the sale.

Invoices help sellers track their income and see who owes them money. They help buyers keep track of what they need to pay. Digital invoices speed everything up—faster payments, fewer errors, and better records for taxes.

For Vendors: How do I send an invoice to my US customer through Instarails?

Step 1: Register & Create Invoices

Register with Instarails and fill out a simple form with your business details, customer information, itemized products/services, quantities, prices, any discounts or taxes, and payment due date.

Step 2: Send to Your Customer

Click send and Instarails automatically emails the invoice to your customer. Both you and your customer get a copy.

Step 3: Track Your Invoice

Get instant notifications when your customer receives, views, or pays the invoice. Made a mistake? Easily cancel and resend a corrected invoice.

Step 4: Get Paid in Your Currency

Once your customer pays, Instarails deducts a small transaction fee (save 3-10% vs traditional methods), converts to your local currency at the best exchange rate, and deposits directly to your bank account—instantly in most countries. Download your invoice anytime for your records.

Countries Supported: Vendors in Brazil, India, Mexico, Philippines, and 150+ countries can use Instarails Invoices. Not sure if your country is supported? Contact support@instarails.io to check availability and payment options for your location.

How do US companies receive and pay invoices?

Step 1: Receive Invoice by Email

When a vendor sends you an invoice through Instarails, you'll get an email with complete invoice details, what was purchased, total amount due, and payment due date.

Step 2: Review the Invoice

Click the link in the email to create your account (one click, using the same email), view the complete invoice breakdown, and see all line items, taxes, and discounts.

Step 3: Pay or Reject

If everything looks correct, click "Approve & Pay" and transfer money to Instarails' US bank account (simple domestic transfer). You pay ZERO transfer fees. If something is wrong, click "Reject Invoice" and let the vendor know what needs correction.

Step 4: Track & Download

Log in anytime to see all your invoices, download for accounting, and track payment history.

What's included in every Instarails invoice?

Every Instarails invoice includes:

  • Vendor Information: Business name, address, contact info, tax ID
  • Customer Information: Business name, address, contact info, tax ID
  • Invoice Number: Unique tracking number
  • Dates: Invoice date and payment due date
  • Digital Signature: For authentication
  • Line Items: What was sold, quantities, price per item, total per line
  • Discounts: Any price reductions applied
  • Taxes: All applicable taxes listed clearly
  • Credits: Any credits applied to reduce the total
  • Total Amount Due: Final amount after all calculations
  • Notes: Any special terms or additional information
Who pays the fees for Instarails Invoices?

Vendors (Sellers): You pay the transaction fee (typically 3-10% less than wire transfers). No setup fees. No monthly fees. You only pay when you get paid.

Buyers (US Companies): Zero transfer fees. You just make a regular domestic bank transfer to Instarails' US account. The vendor pays the international transfer fees.

Can US buyers pay multiple vendors through Instarails?

Yes! If you like our platform after paying your first invoice, you can upgrade to a verified client account. This unlocks the ability to:

  • Pay ANY vendor worldwide (not just the one who first invoiced you)
  • Upload spreadsheets to pay multiple vendors at once
  • Access all of Instarails' payment features
  • Manage all international payments in one dashboard
Why use Instarails Invoices instead of traditional methods?

For Vendors:

  • Get paid faster (same day in most countries)
  • Save 3-10% on international transfer fees
  • Professional invoices build trust with customers
  • Real-time tracking shows when customers pay
  • No setup fees or monthly costs
  • Easily reconcile invoices against payments in your ERP system—no more manual matching headaches

For Buyers:

  • Pay zero transfer fees
  • Simple domestic bank transfer (no international wires)
  • Review invoices before paying
  • Reject incorrect invoices easily
  • Download everything for your records
  • Easily reconcile invoices against payments in your ERP system—no more manual matching headaches

Still Have Questions?

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