Until now, if a supplier in Dubai or a partner in Istanbul sent you their bank details, your Statrys Hong Kong account couldn't pay them. The financial institution in Hong Kong doesn't support transfers to these countries.
So, we built a route around it. The payment now goes out through your Statrys Singapore account, and you approve the whole thing in one step.
Which Countries Are Covered
| Region | Countries and territories |
|---|---|
| Middle East and North Africa | Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates |
| Europe and Central Asia | Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Turkey |
| Offshore jurisdictions | British Virgin Islands, Marshall Islands |
When you pick a payee in one of these countries, the app tells you the payment will use this route.
How It Works
- Start a payment from your Hong Kong account, as you normally would.
- Choose a payee in one of the 13 countries above.
- The app tells you the payment will go through your Singapore account and shows both transactions on a summary screen.
- Check the summary and approve both with one click.
What It Costs
| Step | Cost |
|---|---|
| Transfer from your Hong Kong account to your Singapore account | Free |
| SWIFT payment from your Singapore account | Your usual Singapore SWIFT fee, shown on the Singapore pricing page. You choose how fees are split when you book (see below) |
| Extra fee for using this route | None |
Check two balances before you pay. Your Hong Kong account needs the payment amount. Your Singapore account needs enough to cover the SWIFT fee. The payment goes through once both are in place.
When you book, you choose who covers the bank fees:
- Standard transfer fee: you pay Statrys' fee (SGD 20). Banks along the way and your payee's bank may deduct their own fees, so your payee can receive slightly less than you sent.
- Full transfer fee: you also pay the other banks' fees, so your payee receives exactly the amount you sent. Pick this when a supplier needs the full invoice amount.
The Singapore FAQ explains the difference between the two charge options in more detail.
If a Payment Comes Back
If the receiving bank returns the payment, the money lands in your Singapore account, not your Hong Kong account. You can move it back or convert it from there.
Who on Your Team Can Make These Payments
If you run your account alone, nothing changes: you create and approve the payment yourself.
If your team splits the work, everyone involved needs access to both the Hong Kong and the Singapore accounts. Without Singapore access, a team member can't create the payment, and an approver won't see it in their approvals queue. Your Approver Admin (the person who manages user access on your account) can grant it.
Don't Have a Singapore Account Yet?
When you try to pay someone in one of the 13 countries, the app prompts you to open a Singapore Business Account. Your Approver Admin can also apply straight from the dashboard. The Statrys Singapore Business Account has no monthly fee, and you can read what it includes in our Singapore launch announcement.
Need Help?
Email support@statrys.com or call +852 5803 2818. Our support team is available Monday to Friday, 10 am to 7 pm Hong Kong time.
FAQs
Do I Need a Singapore Business Account to Pay These Countries?
Yes. You need an active Statrys Hong Kong Business Account and an active Statrys Singapore Business Account. If you don't have the Singapore account, the app prompts you to open one when you try to pay someone in one of the 13 countries, and your Approver Admin can also apply from the dashboard.
Why Does the Payment Go Through Singapore?
Our partner financial institution in Hong Kong doesn't support direct transfers to these countries. To complete the payment, your money first moves to your Singapore account, which then sends it to your payee by SWIFT. You approve both steps together.
How Much Does It Cost?
The move from your Hong Kong account to your Singapore account is free. You pay your usual Singapore SWIFT fee for the outgoing payment, and there's no extra charge for the route itself. Your Hong Kong account needs the payment amount, and your Singapore account needs enough to cover the SWIFT fee.
What Happens If the Payment Is Returned?
The money goes back to your Singapore account, not your Hong Kong account. You can transfer it to your Hong Kong account or convert it from there.
Why Can't I See a Pending Payment to One of These Countries?
To approve it, you need access to the Singapore account the payment is sent from. Ask your Approver Admin to give you access, and the payment will appear in your approvals queue.
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