International Payments. Specialist Finance.
We help individuals and businesses across the UK move money internationally and access the finance they need. Not through a bank with embedded margins and small print, but through a named dealer who knows your position and a rate you can verify. We help you get your ducks in a row and keep them there.
Powered by FCA regulated infrastructure
See full regulatory informationSettled, safeguarded, dealer-led.
Cross-border exposure, handled with care.
Dealer experience, not automated execution.
How we can help
Corporate and personal currency, a sharper route for high-value transfers, business finance, an introducer channel and weekly market insight. Every mandate is handled at dealer level, end to end.
FOR FINANCE TEAMS
Supplier payments, multi-currency payroll and global receipts, on infrastructure trusted by over 20,000 businesses worldwide.
FOR LIVES ACROSS BORDERS
Overseas property, foreign income and regular international payments. A named dealer when the numbers start to matter.
FOR GROWING UK BUSINESSES
Invoice finance, trade finance, asset finance and secured or unsecured lending, matched to your cashflow cycle across a panel of 40+ UK lenders.
FOR WHEN HUMAN BEATS ALGORITHM
The fee is the headline. The rate is the story — and above £50,000, the rate decides who delivers the better total.
FOR INTERMEDIARIES
For wealth managers, accountants, solicitors and property professionals whose clients already live across borders.
FROM THE DESK
Market commentary, currency guides and FX intelligence from the dealing desk. Written for the people who move money, by the people who trade it.
One dedicated dealer learns your exposure, timeline and risk appetite, then works your position accordingly.
Secure today's rate for immediate settlement, or fix a forward rate for a future payment date up to two years ahead.
Settlement runs through one of our regulated liquidity providers: FCA-authorised, client funds safeguarded.
TESTIMONIALS
As a business operating within mainland Europe and the UK, the volatility within the currency markets over the past 5 years has had a big impact on our bottom line. The team at Medlock & Thames is the same team we have used throughout this period and their hedging products, combined with competitive exchange rates, has enabled us to minimise our risk during these turbulent times.
Warren
Founder, Warren Smith Ski Academy
I highly recommend Medlock & Thames brokerage services because they were able to wrap logic around what could be a very emotional reaction to a very large currency exchange decision. My dealer, Chris's understanding of external influences, taking time to understand my needs, and ultimately their ability to formulate an FX strategy fitting to my situation demonstrates that Medlock & Thames is the best partner you could have.
Caroline
Private Client, transferring money to and from the USA
All testimonials, reviews, opinions or case studies presented on our website may not be indicative of all customers. Results may vary, and customers agree to proceed at their own risk.
We watch the rate
Tell us the pair and the rate that works for you. We track the market on your behalf and a dealer calls the moment it trades there.
FROM THE DESK
A UK buyer's guide to currency when buying property abroad: forward contracts, transfer timing, costs and country rules for France, Spain, Greece and Hungary.
By Christopher Gutfreund
READ ARTICLE →Free — from our dealing desk
Every Monday morning: what moved, what we are watching and what the desk is doing. Dealer-signed, under 600 words, no padding.
One email per week. No marketing. Unsubscribe at any time.
Need to know
Medlock & Thames acts as an introducer. The currency exchange and payment services we arrange are provided by our FCA-regulated partners, authorised under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 and the Payment Services Regulations 2017. Both partners hold the authorisations required for the services we introduce.
Client funds are held by our FCA-regulated payment partners in accordance with the safeguarding requirements under the Electronic Money Regulations and the Payment Services Regulations. Your money is kept separate from operational funds at all times, so it remains identifiable as client money. Full details are on our regulatory information page.
High-street banks apply a margin to the interbank rate and rarely disclose it. As a specialist currency desk, our dealers work the live interbank market directly on your behalf, with tighter margins and no hidden charges. On larger transfers, it is the rate itself, not the fee, where the saving is made. We quote live on real transfers, so you can compare before you commit.
A forward contract lets you fix today's exchange rate for a payment that settles on a future date, typically up to two years ahead. This removes the uncertainty of rate movements between now and when you need to transact. It is particularly useful for businesses with known future currency liabilities, or private clients buying overseas property with a deferred completion date who want to know the exact Sterling cost in advance.
There is no formal minimum. Whether you are making a one-off transfer or managing regular cross-border payments, speak to the desk and we will confirm the right approach for your situation. On larger transactions, the rate differential has a material impact on the total cost, which is where working with a named dealer, rather than a self-serve platform, tends to make the most difference.
Once your account is open and your identity verified, a spot transaction can typically be arranged and settled within the same business day. Forward contracts can be booked immediately and settled on any agreed future date. Onboarding for new clients usually takes one to two business days, depending on the documentation required.
Yes. We have structured referral arrangements with IFAs, accountants, solicitors and wealth managers who introduce clients with cross-border exposure. If your adviser is not already working with us, we are happy to speak with them directly. All commercial arrangements between the desk and your adviser are disclosed to you in full.
The simplest first step is to request a live quote on a real transfer, with no commitment. Provide the currency pair, approximate amount and intended transfer date, and one of our dealers will come back with a live rate and a brief explanation of your options. From there, onboarding takes one to two business days.
UNITED KINGDOM END CUSTOMERS: Payment and e-money services are provided by The Currency Cloud Limited. Registered in England No. 06323311. Registered Office: 1 Sheldon Square, London, W2 6TT, United Kingdom. The Currency Cloud Limited is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 for the issuing of electronic money (FRN: 900199) | UNITED STATES END CUSTOMERS: Payment services in the United States are provided by Visa Global Services Inc. (VGSI), a licensed money transmitter (NMLS ID 181032) in the states listed here: https://usa.visa.com/legal/visa-global-services-licenses.html VGSI is licensed as a money transmitter by the New York Department of Financial Services. Mailing address: 900 Metro Center Blvd, Mailstop 1Z, Foster City, CA 94404. VGSI is also a registered Money Services Business (“MSB”) with FinCEN and a registered Foreign MSB with FINTRAC. For live customer support contact VGSI at (888) 733-0041 | EEA END CUSTOMERS: The issuance of e-money and the provision of related payment services for Medlock & Thames are provided by CurrencyCloud B.V. CurrencyCloud B.V. is registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands under number 72186178. Registered office Mr. Treublaan 7, 1097 DP, Amsterdam, Netherlands. CurrencyCloud B.V. is licensed and regulated by De Nederlandsche Bank as an Electronic Money Institution (Relation Number: R142701). https://www.currencycloud.com/legal/terms/ | Medlock & Thames’ payment and foreign currency exchange services are provided by Global Currency Exchange Network Ltd T/A GC Partners. Global Currency Exchange Network Ltd is authorised by the FCA under the Payment Services Regulations, 2017 (FRN: 504346). Registered as a Money Services Business, regulated by HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. (Registration number is 12137189). Registered in England and Wales. Company number 04675786. Registered Office 3rd Floor 100 New Bond Street, London, England, W1S 1SP.