Independent schools across the UK pride themselves on providing a world-class education, but managing income from global families can be far from seamless. Many still rely on outdated or disjointed payment methods that lead to unpredictable cash flow, high transaction fees for parents, and manual reconciliation nightmares.

That’s where HUBpay, powered by esenda, comes in for passFINANCE schools.

HUBpay is already trusted by over 100 schools to handle direct debit collections and feed income data directly into passFINANCE. But now, with the ability to switch on FX payments for free, it’s quickly becoming the smartest way for Independent schools to collect fees from overseas families, without compromising on control, compliance, or ease of use.

Meet the Feature: FX Payments in HUBpay

If your school receives fees from international families, you’ll already be familiar with the pain points:

  • Not receiving the right amount into your account
  • Not knowing where that money has come from, due to different names or incorrect references
  • Unreconciled income that doesn’t match invoices

With FX payments enabled in HUBpay, school finance teams gain access to a smoother, smarter experience, for both the finance team and the families they serve.

Here’s what that looks like:

  • Bank-beating FX rates; Offering parents better value when paying in their local currency
  • Payee confirmation; Parents are reassured they’re sending their money to the correct recipient
  • Automatic reconciliation; Incoming payments match automatically in passFINANCE
  • No extra cost to schools; FX can be enabled for free when you’re using HUBpay for direct debits
  • Super simple onboarding; Just a quick form and you’ll be set up within a couple of weeks

One Platform for Every Payment

FX payments are just one part of the puzzle. HUBpay was designed to reduce administrative burden, improve payment predictability, and bring all of an Independent School’s income management into one secure platform, across Direct Debits, Open Banking and Card Payments.

That includes:

  • Payment options for parents; Reduce missed payments and improve cash flow by broadening payment options available to your parents
  • Built in safeguards; Reduce risks by removing school account details from invoices using secure payment links, and reassuring parents with payee verification
  • Live Payment Status and e-mandates; Finance teams can be proactive in seeing who has paid, who is overdue, what’s pending and what’s been cancelled

HUBpay integrates directly with passFINANCE, minimising the need for spreadsheets, rekeying, or chasing incorrect amounts.

Why This Matters for Independent Schools

For schools welcoming international pupils, the ability to offer secure, fast, and fully integrated FX payments is more than a convenience; it’s a competitive advantage.

Parents abroad want transparency and value. Finance teams want control and visibility. With HUBpay, both get what they need, in a format that’s simple to use.

And the best part? If your school is using HUBpay for direct debits, FX payments can be switched on at no extra cost.

Start Saving Time and Supporting Parents Today

Whether you’re already using HUBpay or still considering the switch, now is the perfect time to explore what’s new, especially with our free webinars this June:

Webinar for HUBpay Users:
Unlock more benefits with FX payments in HUBpay

Monday 10 June | Register here

Webinar for Schools Not Yet Using HUBpay:
See how HUBpay can make payments simple for your school

Wednesday 12 June | Register here