Resources
Guides, how-tos, and comparisons.
Plain-English editorial on UK business banking, payment rails, multi-currency accounts, and payroll infrastructure — written for finance teams who need to make decisions.
In-depth
Reference guides
Original research
Study: UK Late Payment Statistics
Late payment is falling — but is that real, or are firms just giving themselves longer? We tested both objections against 114,756 official filings.
Payment rails
SEPA Payments: Complete Guide
Credit transfers, direct debits, Brexit implications, and how to automate SEPA payment processing.
Payment rails
BACS Payments: Practical Guide
Direct Credits, Direct Debits, Standard 18 files, SUN rental, and BACS service days explained.
Payment rails
CHAPS Payments Guide
Same-day high-value sterling payments: the 17:40 customer cut-off, why there is no upper limit, fees and finality.
Payment rails
Direct Debit Guide
Collecting by Direct Debit: Service User Number, advance notice rules, AUDDIS and the return messages.
Payment rails
SWIFT Payments Guide
MT103, gpi tracking, correspondent banking, fees and timings for global wire transfers.
Cross-border
Cross-Border Payments Guide
Choosing between SEPA, SWIFT, and local rails for UK companies trading internationally.
Banking
UK Business Banking: Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about UK business accounts — sorting, comparison, and switching.
Banking
Digital Business Banking Guide
How challenger banks and e-money institutions compare to traditional business banking.
Multi-currency
Multi-Currency Account Guide
How to choose, set up, and manage a multi-currency business account for international trade.
Regulation
FCA-Regulated Banking Guide
What FCA authorisation means for payment institutions, e-money firms, and your fund safety.
Payroll
Global Payroll Solutions Guide
Infrastructure options for UK payroll teams managing international contractors and employees.
Payments
International Payment Solutions
Comparing platforms and rails for UK businesses with regular cross-border payment flows.
Step-by-step
How-to tutorials
Payroll
How to Automate Payroll Payments
Step-by-step: SEPA, BACS, and API-driven payroll automation for UK payroll teams.
API
How to Integrate a Payment API
Connecting a payment API to your platform: authentication, webhooks, error handling.
Multi-currency
How to Manage Multiple Currencies
Practical workflow for holding, converting, and reporting on multi-currency positions.
Onboarding
How to Open a UK Business Account Fast
Documents needed, typical timelines, and what to do if onboarding stalls.
Cost reduction
How to Reduce International Payment Costs
Practical steps to cut FX fees, correspondent charges, and platform conversion costs.
Setup
How to Set Up a Multi-Currency Account
Choosing wallets, configuring IBANs, and connecting to accounting software.
Side-by-side
Comparisons
Comparison
UK Business Banking Comparison
Gemba vs Wise, Revolut, Starling, Tide, and Airwallex — features, pricing, and best-fit scenarios.
Comparison
Traditional vs Digital Banking
High-street banks vs challenger banks and e-money institutions for UK SMEs.
Comparison
Bacs Approved Software Register
Every Pay.UK-approved supplier, with what the Bacstel-IP, Secure-IP, bureau and HSM columns actually mean.
Guide
Bacs Bureau Guide
When bureau approval is mandatory, what the Pay.UK inspection cycle involves, and how to choose a bureau.
Alternative
Wise Business Alternative
When Gemba fits better than Wise Business, and when it doesn't. Honest assessment.
Alternative
Revolut Business Alternative
Gemba vs Revolut Business: virtual IBANs, payment rails, and use-case fit.
Alternative
Tide Alternative
Gemba vs Tide for UK SMEs: FX, payment rails, and what each does well.
Interactive
Calculators
FX
FX Cost Calculator
Compare foreign exchange costs across providers. Enter a currency pair and amount to see how much you keep at Gemba rates vs high-street bank rates.
Payment cost
Payment Cost Calculator
Estimate the all-in cost of an international payment across different rails and providers — SEPA, SWIFT, Faster Payments.
Timing
Payment Timing Calculator
When will a BACS, CHAPS, Faster Payments, SEPA or SWIFT payment arrive? Counts working days, applies scheme cut-offs and knows UK bank holidays and TARGET2 closing days.
IBAN
IBAN Checker
Validate any IBAN instantly with the official MOD-97 checksum — catch typos before a payment bounces. Runs entirely in your browser.
HMRC rates
HMRC Exchange Rates
The official monthly rates for VAT returns, customs declarations and tax filings — all ~160 currencies, updated automatically every month.