> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rc.cleverhub.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# FX and Settlement Across AU, JPN, and USA

> How currency conversion (FX) and settlement work when operating across Australia, Japan, and the United States: converting between AUD, JPY, and USD and accessing funds.

Operating across Australia, Japan, and the United States means holding balances in three currencies and, from time to time, moving money between them. Two ideas make this manageable: **FX** (foreign exchange, or converting one currency into another) and **settlement** (how and when you actually get access to your funds). This page explains both across AUD, JPY, and USD.

<Note>
  This page builds on [handling AUD, JPY, and USD payins and payouts](/platform-overview/payment-concepts/multi-currency-payins-payouts), which covers collecting and sending in each currency. Here we focus on converting between them and accessing the money.
</Note>

## Converting between currencies (FX)

When you need to move funds from one currency to another (for example, converting AUD to USD to pay a US supplier), you convert between your currency balances at the current market rate.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Real-time exchange rates" icon="arrow-left-right">
    Conversions use up-to-date rates, so you can see the cost of each conversion and choose when to convert.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Convert on demand" icon="rotate">
    Convert any amount between supported currencies when your operations require it, for instance moving AUD to fund a payout in another market.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Prepare payouts in local currency" icon="earth-asia">
    Convert into the recipient’s currency before paying out, so they receive a local-currency payment without dealing with a foreign transfer.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Fewer, better-timed conversions" icon="clock">
    Holding local balances lets you avoid converting at awkward moments and cuts down on unnecessary conversions.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Tip>
  The cheapest conversion is often the one you do not make. Keeping a balance in each currency you regularly use means you only convert when you genuinely need to move money across currencies.
</Tip>

## How settlement differs by market

“Settlement” is when the money becomes truly available to you. Because each market’s payment systems behave differently, the timing of settlement depends partly on how the payment came in.

| Currency | Typical settlement behaviour by method                                                        |
| -------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **AUD**  | Real-time for PayID and PayTo over the NPP; cards settle over the usual card timelines        |
| **JPY**  | Real-time for transfers during More Time System hours; cards settle over card timelines       |
| **USD**  | Real-time for FedNow and RTP; ACH settles in batches (same-day or 1–3 days); cards separately |

<Note>
  Real-time bank payment systems (Australia’s NPP, Japan’s More Time System, the US FedNow and RTP) make funds available in seconds. Batch systems like ACH, and card settlement, take longer. Plan your cash flow around the method, not just the currency.
</Note>

## Flexible access to your funds

Once funds have settled into a currency balance, you can decide what to do with them.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Hold">
    Keep the balance in its own currency until you need it, avoiding conversions you do not have to make.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Convert">
    Move funds into another currency at the current rate when you need to pay out in that currency.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Pay out">
    Send funds to a recipient in the appropriate currency, as a single, batch, or scheduled payout.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Withdraw">
    Move funds from a currency balance to your own bank account when you want to take the money out.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Keeping cross-border operations simple

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="See all currencies together" icon="chart-line">
    A single view of your AUD, JPY, and USD balances gives you a real-time picture of what you hold in each market.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Stay compliant per market" icon="shield-check">
    Cross-border activity needs to meet each market’s rules; a platform that handles this for you keeps FX and settlement compliant without manual effort.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  Hello Clever’s cross-border and FX capabilities centre on the APAC region and evolve over time. For current supported currencies, rates, and settlement options, see the [Multi-Currency FX Service](/services/multi-currency-fx) and the [Settlement Service](/services/settlement).
</Note>


## Related topics

- [Handling AUD, JPY, and USD Payins and Payouts](/platform-overview/payment-concepts/multi-currency-payins-payouts.md)
- [Settlement Service: Flexible Fund Access](/services/settlement.md)
- [Get Started with Hello Clever](/getting-started/overview.md)