International transfers of project funds pose an ongoing challenge for development and humanitarian NGOs. International sanction regimes, demanding compliance processes, bank de-risking, and bureaucratic and legal hurdles for so-called “foreign agents” make it difficult to get funds to where they are most urgently needed.  While the reasons are complex and vary depending on context, the same is true for possible solutions and ways of dealing with it.  

StoneX specializes in international transfers in challenging contexts. The company maintains a global network of local correspondent banks, thus pooling extensive expertise in international and local regulations, conditions and requirements for payment transactions. Following an introductory webinar on StoneX’s services for NGOs last year, this event will provide a more detailed insight into how the correspondent banking networks work and where potential obstacles to international transfers may arise. Specific problems and possible solutions in some particularly challenging country contexts will be addressed.  An extensive Q&A session will provide opportunity to delve deeper into the challenges faced by participants. 

Agenda

  1. Expert presentation covering the following questions 
  • Introduction: What is correspondent banking, and what role do correspondent banks play in ensuring smooth payment processing? 
  • Correspondent Banking Networks: How are correspondent banking networks established and maintained? What types of networks exist, and what challenges do they present? 
  • Country Context: How do country-specific political situations and regulatory environments impact payment processing? What solutions does StoneX offer, and what are the current challenges regarding countries such as Syria, Palestine, and Myanmar? 
  1. Q&A session: Opportunity to ask questions and discuss (country-)specific challenges 

Speaker

Beatrice Pechtl, Head of Correspondent Banking at StoneX Financial Ltd 

Registration

Please register until 27 January 2026.   

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Please note: Screenshots or recordings may be taken during the event, for example on our website, social media and in publications. If you do not wish to be recorded, please inform the event manager at the start of the event.

Contact

veranstaltungen@globaleverantwortung.at

This event is organized by Ilona Reindl, Policy Officer at Global Responsibility.

This event is jointly organized by StoneX Payments, Global Responsibility and the Coordination Office of the Austrian Bishops‘ Conference (KOO). Participation is open to all member organizations of Global Responsibility and all KOO organizations as well as their international partner organizations. 

In cooperation with

With funding from