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Benchmark the exchange rate market with Pound Sterling Live's custom currency rate comparison tool with built-in algorithms to find the best rates in the market.

Banks and financial institutions buy and sell currency from each other - these sizeable institutions are 'the market' and the rate they transact at is the 'market rate'. The difference between how much a currency is purchased and sold is the spread, which is essentially the difference between the buy and sell price.

But, when currency is sold by banks to retail customers that spread widens significantly and the profit on the transaction is therefore substantially larger.

Therefore when we focus on the transfer fee when sending money abroad we often miss the biggest cost: the exchange rate spread.

Foreign exchange providers have essentially recognised this and they enter the market to transfer money at tighter spreads, thereby saving potentially significant amounts of money for their clients simply by providing better exchange rates.

For example, the transfer of £100K into euros is expected to attract a rate that delivers between €112,480 and €113,296 with the UK's leading high street banks. But FCA authorised providers will provide a rate that delivers between €115,510 and €115,740 (using rates on 05/07/21).

Taking the time to work with a FCA regulated currency provider could therefore result in the delivery of an extra euros amount of between €2444 and €3030.

Pound Sterling Live only works with foreign exchange payment companies that are FCA Authorised. This is important: FCA regulations and oversight requires the money they transfer on your behalf to be protected through a process known as 'safeguarding'. Safeguarding requires the payments company to keep your money separate from their own money in a top-tier bank. Therefore if the provider comes under stress your money should be protected.