How to pay international suppliers from Nigeria & Ghana
A practical walkthrough of two real corridors: a Nigerian business paying a US supplier in USD, and a Ghanaian business paying a UK supplier in GBP. Same-currency payouts — no FX conversion inside Financiar.
Before you start — understand same-currency payouts
Financiar moves money in the currency you already hold. It does not convert NGN to USD or GHS to GBP. If you need to acquire the payment currency first, you will need a separate FX step — a Paystack transfer to a USD account, or an external FX service. Once you hold the currency, Financiar handles the payout with full approval controls and an audit trail.
Nigeria to United States — USD payout
Typical scenario: a Lagos-based importer paying a New York-based manufacturer or logistics provider that invoices in USD.
Open your Financiar account and complete KYC
Nigerian businesses complete KYC instantly via BVN. Once verified, your Paystack-backed virtual account number is active — you can receive NGN from any Nigerian bank.
Fund your USD balance
Financiar does not convert NGN to USD. You need to fund a USD balance from an existing USD source — for example, by transferring USD from a domiciliary account, or by using a separate FX service to acquire USD and crediting it to your Financiar account. Once you hold USD, you are ready to send.
Add your US supplier as a recipient
Enter your supplier's USD bank details — routing number (ABA) and account number, or SWIFT and account number for international wires. Bank details are encrypted at rest with AES-256.
Create the payout and get approval
Specify the USD amount, select the recipient, and add a reference. If maker-checker is enabled on your account, a second authoriser reviews and approves before the payout is submitted to Stripe.
Stripe routes the payment to your US supplier
Stripe processes the USD payout to the US bank account. ACH transfers typically arrive in 1-2 business days. The full transaction is logged in your Financiar ledger with the reference, amount, recipient, and approver details.
Ghana to United Kingdom — GBP payout
Typical scenario: an Accra-based services firm paying a UK-based agency, consultant, or supplier that invoices in GBP.
Open your Financiar account and complete KYC
Ghanaian businesses are verified within 24 hours of submitting KYC documentation. Your Paystack-backed Ghanaian virtual account number is active once verified — you can receive GHS from any Ghanaian bank.
Fund your GBP balance
Financiar does not convert GHS to GBP. You need to source GBP through a separate step — for example, by using Paystack to convert GHS to GBP or by transferring existing GBP into your Financiar account. Once you hold GBP, you are ready to pay.
Add your UK supplier as a recipient
Enter the supplier's GBP bank details — UK sort code and account number (for Faster Payments or BACS) or IBAN and SWIFT (for international transfers). Bank details are encrypted at rest with AES-256.
Create the payout and get approval
Specify the GBP amount, select the recipient, and add the invoice reference. The second authoriser approves if maker-checker is active on your account before the payment is submitted to Stripe.
Stripe routes the payment to your UK supplier
Stripe processes the GBP payout. UK Faster Payments typically arrive same-day or next business day. The full transaction — amount, recipient, reference, and approver — is logged in your Financiar ledger.
What you need before you start
| Requirement | NG → US (USD) | GH → UK (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Financiar account | Required | Required |
| KYC verification | Instant via BVN | Within 24 hours |
| Payment currency funded | USD in account | GBP in account |
| FX conversion step | Not in Financiar — separate | Not in Financiar — separate |
| Supplier bank details | USD routing + account or SWIFT | GBP sort code + account or IBAN |
| Payment rail | Stripe | Stripe |
Frequently asked questions
Can Financiar convert my NGN to USD automatically?
No. Financiar does not perform currency conversion. You need to acquire USD from a separate source before using Financiar to send the USD payout. Common options: use Paystack's FX features, a bank domiciliary account, or a third-party FX service like Wise to convert NGN to USD first.
What bank details does my US supplier need to provide?
For ACH: their US routing number (ABA) and checking account number. For international wire: their SWIFT/BIC code and account number (or IBAN if applicable). Your supplier's bank or invoicing platform will have these on file.
How long does the payment take to reach my UK supplier?
UK Faster Payments (sort code + account) typically arrive same day or next business day. SWIFT wires take 1-3 business days depending on the correspondent banks involved. Stripe's published timelines for GBP payouts apply — check Stripe's documentation for current figures.
What if my supplier invoices in a currency I cannot fund without conversion?
If your supplier invoices in a currency you cannot easily fund — for example, a Chinese supplier invoicing in CNY — Financiar is not the right tool for that FX step. You would need to use an FX service that supports your source currency to CNY conversion, then use the converted funds for payment. Alternatively, many Chinese suppliers also accept USD; check with your supplier whether USD settlement is possible.
Pay your first international supplier today
Open a free Financiar account and set up your first USD or GBP payout with full approval controls.
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