How to Pay Employees from Bangladesh in USD: Step by Step Guide
Paying employees from Bangladesh can be challenging for international companies and employees. High transfer fees, poor exchange rates, and slow processing times often mean your team members lose a significant portion of their earnings. This guide explains how to pay Bangladesh employees in USD efficiently while minimizing costs.
Why Your Bangladeshi Employees Need a Global USD Account
When hiring remote workers or employees from Bangladesh, providing USD compensation is often preferred. Many Bangladeshi professionals work with international clients and prefer to receive payment in USD to:
- Avoid immediate currency conversion losses
- Maintain purchasing power against BDT fluctuation
- Access better exchange rates when they choose to convert
- Build savings in a stable currency
However, traditional Bangladesh bank accounts aren't designed for seamless USD receipt from international employers. Local banks like Mutual Trust Bank, BRAC Bank, and Citi Bank charge substantial fees for incoming international transfers, and the USD to BDT conversion rates are often unfavorable.
The Hidden Cost of Traditional Payment Methods
Many employers don't realize how much their Bangladesh employees actually lose in the payment process:
Wire Transfers and SWIFT Payments
- Sending fees: $25-$45 per transfer
- Receiving fees: $10-$30 charged by Bangladesh banks
- Exchange rate markup: 2-4% below market rate
- Processing time: 3-5 business days
Payment Platforms (Payoneer, Wise, etc.)
- Transaction fees: 3-5% per transfer
- Withdrawal fees: Additional charges to local Bangladesh accounts
- Exchange rate spread: 1-3% markup
Combined, these fees can cost 5-10% of the payment amount, meaning a $1,000 salary becomes $900-$950 by the time it reaches your employee's local BDT account.
ACH: The Cheapest, Fastest, and Most Secure Way
The solution is ensuring your Bangladesh employees have access to USD accounts with ACH (Automated Clearing House) account details.
What is ACH?
ACH is the US banking network used for direct deposits and electronic transfers. It's the same system used for domestic US payroll. ACH transfers are:
- Cheap: Often free or under $1 per transfer
- Fast: 1-2 business days processing
- Secure: Bank-level encryption and fraud protection
- Reliable: Used for billions of transactions annually in the US
Why ACH Matters for Bangladesh Payments
When your Bangladesh employees have a USD account with ACH routing and account numbers, you can pay them exactly like US-based employees:
- Add their ACH details to your payroll system
- Process payment through ACH direct deposit
- Funds arrive in their USD account within 1-2 days
- Minimal or zero fees on both sides
This eliminates expensive international wire transfers entirely.
Setting Up USD Payments for Employees from Bangladesh
Ensure Employees Have USD Accounts with ACH Details
Your Bangladesh employees need a USD account that provides:
- US routing number (9 digits)
- US account number
- ACH receiving capability
Traditional Bangladesh banks don't offer these features. Employees need a global USD banking solution designed for international remote workers. (think nsave!)
The nsave Solution: Complete USD Banking for Bangladesh
nsave provides Bangladesh employees with everything they need to receive USD payments efficiently:
USD Account with ACH Details
- US routing and account numbers for direct deposit
- Receive ACH transfers from any US employer or client for free
- Hold funds in USD without forced conversion
BDT Conversion When Needed
When your employees need local currency, nsave offers:
- Just $1 flat fee to convert USD to BDT
- Market-leading exchange rates
- Direct transfer to Bangladesh local accounts at all major banks (BRAC Bank, Eastern Bank Limited, Islami Bank, City Bank, and more)
Example savings: A Bangladesh employee receiving $2,000/month saves approximately $100-200 monthly compared to traditional payment methods, that's $1,200-2,400 annually kept in their pocket instead of lost to fees.
Learn more about nsave's USD accounts for Bangladesh →
Frequently asked questions
Q: How long does ACH payment take to reach Bangladesh?
A: ACH transfers to USD accounts typically take 1-2 business days, regardless of where the account holder is located.
Q: Can employees convert their USD to BDT easily?
A: Yes, employees can convert USD to BDT for just $1 and transfer directly to their local Bangladesh bank account at competitive rates, keeping more of their earnings.
Q: What's the minimum amount I can send via ACH?
A: There's typically no minimum for ACH transfers, making them suitable for any payment amount. However, check with your specific payroll provider for their policies.
Q: Do I need a US company to pay via ACH?
A: While having a US bank account makes ACH payments easier, some international payroll platforms allow non-US companies to process ACH payments to employees with US banking details.
Q: What information do I need from my Bangladesh employees?
A: You need their US routing number (9 digits), US account number, full legal name, and confirmation that their account can receive ACH deposits.
Q: What are the next steps needed to onboard my employees?
A: We offer two solutions for employers, your employees can directly onboard seamlessly on their own or you can reach out to the nsave team for assistance in guiding your team and sharing resources for onboarding.
Conclusion: Maximize Earnings for Your Bangladesh Team
Paying Bangladesh employees in USD doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. By ensuring your team has access to USD accounts with ACH details, you can process payments as efficiently as domestic payroll while helping them keep more of their earnings.
The key is choosing the right USD banking solution. Traditional wire transfers to Bangladesh bank accounts result in high fees and poor USD to BDT rates. Payment platforms add multiple layers of transaction costs. ACH direct deposit to a global USD account like nsave provides the cheapest, fastest, and most secure solution.
With nsave, your Bangladesh employees get:
- Free ACH receiving for direct deposit
- USD account with US banking details
- $1 flat fee conversion to BDT when needed
- Best available exchange rates
- Direct transfers to any local Bangladesh bank
This approach saves your team hundreds or thousands of dollars annually, money they've earned and deserve to keep. Whether you're paying freelancers, contractors, or full-time employees in Bangladesh, ACH-enabled USD accounts are the smart solution for international payroll.
Get started with NSave for your Bangladeshi employees
Ready to streamline your Bangladesh payroll? NSave helps international teams pay employees and contractors efficiently while maximizing their take-home pay
