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A Smarter Payment Solution for UK Event Companies: Why It’s Time to Switch from Your High Street Bank to Payset

Mar 26, 2025

4 min. read

James Irwin

James Irwin

Author

Many small- and medium-sized event organizers in the UK rely on High Street banks for their business accounts and Stripe for payment processing. Few in the events industry seem aware that there are better alternatives out there.

Key Takeaways

  • Faster Payments: Payset offers near-instant or same-day payments for many transactions, both locally and internationally, compared to the 1-5 day processing times of High Street banks and Stripe.
  • Multi-Currency Support: Manage transactions in 38 currencies using a single multi-currency account, avoiding the complexity and high fees of traditional banks.
  • Lower, More Transparent Fees: Benefit from free account opening, transparent pricing, and free incoming transactions
  • Free, instant payments: Transfers between Payset accounts are always free and instant
  • Real-Time Visibility: Gain complete oversight of your financial activity through a unified dashboard, unlike the limited insights from banks and payment processors.
  • Bulk and Scheduled Payments: Efficiently manage payments to vendors, staff, and suppliers in one go, reducing administrative burden.
  • Simple Onboarding and Support: Get started quickly with Payset’s automated onboarding process, backed by responsive personal customer support.

Currently Relying on a High Street Bank?

Event companies are no strangers to payment complexity. From managing international suppliers to processing attendee payments, every event brings a maze of financial transactions. 

Many small- and medium-sized event organizers in the UK rely on High Street banks for their business accounts and Stripe for payment processing. 

While these services are convenient and may satisfy your company’s basic payment needs, they often come with high fees, sluggish processing times, and limited multi-currency support.

Few in the events industry seem aware that there are better alternatives out there.

Enter Payset, an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) specializing in payment solutions for event organizers and designed to streamline your financial operations, cut costs, and deliver the agility your events business needs.

Common Payment Challenges for Event Companies

Event organizers juggle countless financial responsibilities. Here are some common pain points:

1. Slow Payment Processing

Delayed settlements can impact vendor relationships and create unnecessary stress before event day. High Street banks can take up to five business days to process payments, while Stripe may also experience delays during peak periods.

In contrast, Payset offers near-instant or same-day payments on many transactions, ensuring your partners and vendors are paid on time.

For example, payments between Payset clients are always free and instant.

2. High International Transaction Costs

Events often involve international vendors, contractors, and performers. Traditional banks can charge steep foreign exchange (FX) fees and unfavorable exchange rates, while Stripe applies additional cross-border fees.

With Payset, which is set up to support cross-border transactions, you benefit from two huge moneysaving features:

1. The ability to transact like a local (using domestic payment networks) in the UK, EU, US, Canada, and more, eliminating the need to exchange currencies for many transactions.

2. Instant, low-cost currency exchange with real-time exchange rates and transparent fees, reducing the cost of international transactions for which FX is necessary.

3. Lack of Multi-Currency Support

Handling multiple currencies is inevitable for global events. Managing multiple bank accounts for different currencies or relying on Stripe for conversions can be inefficient and costly.

Payset’s multi-currency IBAN accounts allow you to hold and transact in up to 34 currencies from a single online dashboard, eliminating the need for multiple accounts.

4. Limited Visibility and Reporting

High Street banks and Stripe often lack the detailed reporting and real-time visibility you need to make informed financial decisions.

Payset’s intuitive online dashboard offers a complete overview of all your financial activities, providing real-time tracking and generating customizable reports.

5. Post-Brexit Challenges

Brexit has increased regulatory complexities and cross-border payment friction. For UK-based event companies, managing payments within Europe can become a costly administrative burden.

Payset is regulated in the UK by the FCA and designed to navigate post-Brexit financial challenges with ease.

Types of Transactions Payset Can Simplify for Event Organizers

The various payment types Payset can improve for your events business include:

  • Venue Payments: Payset’s instant local and international transfers ensure venues receive funds on time.
  • Ticket Sales and Registration Fees: Accept payments from attendees globally in multiple currencies without conversion delays.
  • Vendor Payments: Seamlessly pay caterers, decorators, equipment rentals, and more using bulk payment features.
  • Freelancer and Contractor Payments: Simplify international freelancer payments with low-cost cross-border transactions.
  • Staff and Performers: Ensure timely payments to event staff and entertainment providers using Payset’s scheduling features.
  • Marketing and Promotion: Pay global marketing agencies and advertisers without incurring high FX fees.

Why Payset is the Right Choice for UK Event Companies

1. Faster Payments, Smoother Events

No more waiting days for payments to clear. Payset enables faster global payments, ensuring your suppliers and partners are paid without delays.

2. Multi-Currency Accounts for Global Events

With support for 38 currencies, Payset eliminates the hassle of managing multiple accounts and paying high currency conversion fees.

3. Lower Fees, Higher Margins

Unlike banks and Stripe, Payset offers transparent pricing, free incoming transactions, and zero fees on transfers between Payset users.

4. Complete Visibility with a Unified Dashboard

Gain a real-time view of your financial activity. Track payments, manage cash flow, and generate reports effortlessly from Payset’s centralized platform.

5. Bulk and Scheduled Payments

Pay thousands of vendors, contractors, and staff members in one go with our bulk payments feature. Schedule payments in advance to ensure timely disbursements.

How Payset Compares to High Street Banks and Stripe

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Seamless Onboarding and Superior Support

Getting started with Payset is quick and hassle-free. Our automated onboarding process allows you to apply for your account in minutes, and most accounts are approved within 48 hours.

During the onboarding process and throughout your partnership with Payset, our dedicated support team is available via WhatsApp, live chat, and through a dedicated Help page from your account dashboard to assist you at any time.

Make the Switch Today

The UK events industry moves fast—shouldn’t your payments do the same? By switching to Payset, you’ll unlock a faster, more cost-effective way to manage your financial operations.

Contact us for a free consultation and discover how Payset can transform your payment processes. Let’s make your next event not only memorable but financially seamless.

Experience the future of payments with Payset. Get started now.

A UK multi-currency account can streamline how you manage your finances. Whether for business or personal use, a multi-currency account provides you with added freedom and flexibility and removes barriers to payments and transfer methods.

Here is everything you need to know about UK multi-currency accounts.

A Payset UK multi-currency account is a single account with which you can hold, send, and receive funds in up to 38 currencies. This allows business or personal account holders to save endless time and money on foreign exchange, and money transfers, which from a traditional bank account would be far more expensive and slow.

From your personal UK-based IBAN account, you can transfer money to bank accounts around the world as well as send and receive free and instant transfers to and from other Payset clients. You can send funds using a diverse network of payment networks, including SWIFT, SEPA, Target2, Faster Payments, CHAPS, and more.

When you exchange funds from one currency to another, there are no margins added to our exchange rates and the fees are clearly displayed before you click send. If you, for example, work with multiple currencies, make purchases in other countries, travel frequently, invest in foreign currencies, pay staff in other countries, or receive payments in other currencies, a multi-currency account can save you time, money, and work compared to a traditional bank account.

There are lots of banking institutions and financial services that will aid you in opening a multi-currency account. Often they can allow you to convert and transfer a considerable number of currencies.

Before you open a UK multi-currency account with any platform or service, make sure you have explored all of the different options available to you and have found the best type of account to suit your financial needs.

How Does a UK Multi-Currency Account Work?

A UK multi-currency account works in the same way as a standard bank account or electronic wallet. Although the services provided will change depending on where you choose to open your account and who you choose to open the account with, all multi-currency accounts should allow you to:

In the same way that fees can occur with a standard bank account you may run into additional charges with a UK multi-currency account.

You could be charged for a number of actions including; making withdrawals, account opening and closure fees, transfer fees, and more.

The frequency or amount of these charges will often vary and if you ask your banking agency they will usually be able to tell you exactly how much you will be charged and which services you will be charged for before you open your account.

Alternative Options to Consider Before Opening a UK Multi-Currency Account

There are many alternatives to opening a UK multi-currency account. For example, there are also money transfer services and online electronic wallets such as Payset that allow you to send your money in over 34 currencies without the need for a UK multi-currency account. You can start sending money across the globe or in person today using your existing bank account.

Frequently asked questions

Types of UK Multi-Currency Accounts

  • Multi-currency IBAN accounts
  • Personal multi-currency accounts
  • Multi-currency accounts for business
  • Multi-currency cash passports
  • Multi-currency wallets

Information contained in this publication is provided for general education and information purposes only and should not be construed as legal, tax, investment or other professional advice or recommendation, or an offer of, or solicitation for, any transactions or any other actions (or refraining therefrom); This material has been prepared without taking into account any particular recipient’s financial objectives or situation. We make no warranty, guarantee or representation, whether express or implied, as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein or fitness thereof for a particular purpose; Use of images and symbols is made for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation or advice to take or refraining from any action; Use of brand logos does not necessarily imply a contractual relationship between us and the entities owning the logos, nor does it represent an endorsement of any such entity by Pay Set Limited, or vice versa; Market information is made available to you only as a service, and we do not endorse or approve it; Any reference to past performance, predicted returns, or likelihood performance scenarios may not reflect actual future performance and certainly do not guarantee future outcomes.

Payset is your global payments solution

Send and receive funds in 34 currencies via local and international payment networks around the world from one online dashboard.

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