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Compliance checks

Why am I asked about source of funds?

A source-of-funds review establishes where the money used in a transaction or in the account came from, and whether that origin is consistent with the company profile that was approved. It can be requested at onboarding or later, for a specific payment or for a pattern of activity. Source of wealth is a different question — it concerns how the owners accumulated their overall financial position — and both can be requested.

Last reviewed: 2026-09-09

Article facts

FieldVisible value
Source of fundsThe origin of the money used in a particular transaction or activity
Source of wealthHow an owner accumulated their overall financial position
When requestedOnboarding, before or after a payment, or during a review
Typical evidenceContracts, invoices, financial statements, payment statements, settlement reports
Does one document always suffice?No
Guaranteed review timeNone published
Last reviewed2026-09-09

What counts as an answer

Saying that the money came from the company's own account is not an answer. The review asks how it got there.

A useful explanation connects the commercial activity to the money:

  • what was sold or delivered, to whom, and under what contract;
  • when the payment was made and by which route;
  • documents that show the same names, dates and amounts as the payment being reviewed.

Evidence that usually helps

SourceEvidence that supports it
Customer revenueContracts, invoices, order records, payment statements
Acquiring settlementsAcquiring agreement, processing and settlement statements
Marketplace or platform payoutsPlatform statements and payout reports
Intercompany fundingGroup structure, loan or funding agreement, transfer evidence
Shareholder contributionResolution or agreement, plus evidence of the owner's funds
Sale of an assetSale agreement, ownership evidence, receipt of proceeds

Documents should be complete and unedited. A cropped screenshot that hides the account, date or counterparty usually creates another round of questions rather than closing one.

How to reduce delay

  • Answer chronologically and in one place.
  • Cover the amount and period actually under review.
  • Keep names and identifiers visible and consistent with the payment.
  • Explain anything that legitimately looks unusual before being asked.
  • Send documents only through the channel named in your agreement or by your account manager.
  • Do not submit altered or contradictory evidence.

What a request does not mean

A source-of-funds request is not, by itself, an allegation of wrongdoing. It is a standard and often risk-based part of operating a regulated payment service.

Frequently asked questions

Is a bank statement enough? Sometimes, but not always. A statement can show where money arrived from without explaining how it was generated.

Why are you asking about our owner and not the company? That is usually a source-of-wealth question, which can be relevant to enhanced due diligence and ownership review.

What if we cannot produce one specific document? Explain why and ask whether alternative evidence is acceptable. A combination can be assessed, but no alternative is guaranteed to be sufficient.

How long does the review take? There is no published guaranteed time. It depends on the activity, the evidence and the complexity.

What happens if we do not respond? The affected payment or service can remain restricted, be rejected or returned, or the relationship can be suspended or ended under the applicable terms.

This article is explanatory. The applicable customer agreement, policies and legal obligations prevail if they differ from it.

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