“Across the Mekong region, a large share of cross-border commerce no longer moves primarily through traditional bank-to-bank SWIFT transfers. Instead, businesses, traders and migrant workers increasingly rely on currency exchange operators, pooled settlement arrangements and regional payment networks that have evolved alongside the realities of ASEAN trade.”
“According to the Mekong Financial Flow Analysis Report (Updated March 2026), pooled liquidity and currency exchange settlement systems now account for a significant share of financial flows into Thailand from neighbouring economies.”
“The report estimates that such channels account for approximately 40–55% of business settlement flows from Cambodia to Thailand, 35–45% from Myanmar, and 30–40% from Laos. Even in Vietnam, which has a more developed banking sector and rapidly expanding digital payment infrastructure, pooled settlement models still account for an estimated 15–25% of crossborder business transactions.”
“Under the pooled settlement model, money often does not move across borders through a direct international wire transfer. Instead, a customer deposits funds with a currency exchange operator in one country, while the recipient in Thailand receives baht through a domestic transfer from the operator’s local Thai account. The operator later reconciles its positions internally across multiple jurisdictions.”
“The report notes that formal bank wires can involve multiple intermediary banks, documentation requirements and settlement times ranging from two to seven business days. By contrast, pooled settlement systems often provide same-day or nextday transfers with lower transaction costs.”
“These networks have become particularly important along border trade corridors linking Thailand with Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, where informal commerce and SME activity form a major part of local economic life.”
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3262289/the-financial-networks-behind-mekong-trade