There’s a moment every freelancer knows. You just crushed the project. The client’s happy. Invoiced and done. You check your bank the next morning. Nothing. Afternoon? Still nothing.

“Should be there by Tuesday,” they say.

It’s Friday.

You sigh, then try to forget about it—but the bill reminder on your phone doesn’t.

Cross-border payments are often slow, expensive, and frankly… exhausting. You do the work on time, maybe even early. But the money? It wanders through banks, sits in limbo, gets eaten by fees, and finally shows up—days later, sometimes in pieces.

It’s enough to make you wonder: in a world where you can stream 4K video across the planet in seconds, why does your invoice still feel like it’s traveling by horse? Let’s figure it out!

Why Cross-Border Payments Are Still So Slow

Let’s be blunt. The international banking system wasn’t built for freelancers, remote work, or the idea of “real-time anything.” It was built for bankers, back when cheques were a thing.

Traditional cross-border payments still often rely on SWIFT, a decades-old network that bounces your payment through a series of correspondent banks.

Each one takes a little time. Sometimes a fee. Sometimes both.

The result? You wait 2–5 business days for money to arrive—longer if there’s a holiday or weekend involved. And fees? You might not even know how much you’re losing until the money shows up short.

SEPA Instant Payments: Finally, a Fix That Works

If you’re working with clients in the EU, or you're based there, SEPA Instant payments might be the answer you didn’t know existed.

Forget multi-day delays. This system moves euros across 36 European countries in under 10 seconds. Not a typo. Not “business days.” Just seconds.

Better still, platforms like Narvi make it super easy to tap into that system. With their SEPA Instant-supported business account, you can receive up to €100,000 per transaction, at any time—weekends, holidays, 3 a.m. on a Monday? Doesn’t matter. If your client’s bank supports it too, boom—money's there before you finish reading the email.

Real-Life Example: The SEPA Magic

Let’s say you're a freelance developer in Croatia. You deliver a project to a client in France on Friday afternoon.

With a traditional bank transfer? You’ll probably get paid by Wednesday—if nobody drops the ball. With SEPA Instant? You could have the money in your account before you’ve even logged off for the weekend.

It sounds minor, but that speed? It gives you options. You can reinvest, pay bills, or just breathe. It’s hard to put a price on that kind of relief.

What About Other Transfer Methods? Let’s Compare

If you're still on the fence, here’s a quick table to spell it out:

 Payment Method          Speed    Typical fees    24/7 Availability
Traditional Wire Transsfer   2 - 5 business days   €10–€50+          No
 Paypal   1 day or less   2.9% + FX fees          Yes
 Wise   1 - 2 days   0.5%–2% + exchange markup          Sometimes
 SEPA Instant (Narvi)   10 seconds  Low or none          Yes

You don’t have to be a math nerd to see the value here.

So… What’s the Catch?

It’s not a silver bullet. For one, SEPA Instant only works for euro transfers between supported European countries. And both your account and your clients need to be on the system. But the good news? Over 60% of EU banks already support it, and adoption is growing fast.

That means most of your EU clients? They’re probably ready. They just don’t know it yet.

Getting Paid Instantly Isn’t Just Convenient—It’s Empowering

Fast payments don’t just pad your bank account quicker. They shift your mindset.

You stop checking your balance five times a day. You stop feeling anxious when a client says, “payment sent.” You work with more confidence because you're not stuck in a constant cycle of ‘hurry up and wait.’

It’s a small shift, but it adds up to a big difference over time. Less stress. More momentum.

Final Thoughts: It’s Time to Expect More

Here’s the truth—freelancing already comes with its fair share of headaches. You shouldn’t have to also chase down your money like it’s a missing Amazon package.

If SEPA Instant is an option for you and your clients, there’s no reason not to use it. Especially with platforms like Narvi making it simple to plug into the system.

Because honestly? You deserve to be paid as fast as you work. And waiting three days for your own money? That should be ancient history by now.

 

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Finance Monthly
Last Updated 19th June 2025

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