Paying developers in Eastern Europe from the US

Many Eastern European developers invoice through their own company and want euros or local currency. Euro-area countries take SEPA; Poland and Romania have their own rails and currencies.

Alexia M.Comparisons and market guides editor

Published: 12 September 2026
Reading time: 1 min read

US companies have hired engineers across Eastern Europe for years. Paying them mixes euro-area countries, which take SEPA, with countries that keep their own currencies.

By country

Country	Currency	Rail
Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Baltic states	EUR	SEPA
Poland	PLN	Elixir, Express Elixir
Romania	RON	Local transfers
Bulgaria	BGN, moving to EUR	Local transfers
Ukraine	UAH	Local transfers, with NBU rules

Invoices and forms

Many developers invoice through a company or a sole proprietorship. Collect a W-8BEN-E for companies and a W-8BEN for individuals.

A $60,000 monthly run

Paying 10 developers by USD wire costs 10 sending fees, possible intermediary deductions and each bank's FX margin. Paying in their currency on local rails costs 10 flat payout fees and one FX margin.

Paying into the United States: the local rail

What	Detail
Local rail	ACH for batch payments; RTP and FedNow for instant transfers
Run by	Nacha for ACH; The Clearing House for RTP; the Federal Reserve for FedNow
Settlement	Same-day ACH within the business day, standard ACH the next; RTP and FedNow in seconds, 24/7, where both banks take part

Source: Nacha: Same Day ACH. Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.

Where Rivet fits

Rivet pays developers across Europe and 120+ countries from your USD balance, in EUR by SEPA and in local currencies on local rails where available, with fee and FX shown first. Growth adds a EUR balance if you also earn euros. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See SEPA transfer from the US.

Questions people ask

Should I pay Polish developers in PLN or EUR?

Ask them. Many invoice in EUR or USD but want PLN in their account. Paying in their preferred currency at a good rate avoids their bank's margin.

Can I pay developers in Ukraine?

Yes, through banks and providers that serve Ukraine, subject to the National Bank of Ukraine's rules. Ask the contractor what their bank requires.

Which form do I need?

W-8BEN for individuals, W-8BEN-E if they invoice through a company.

Is SEPA available from the US?

Only through a provider that holds euros and sends SEPA payments. A USD wire is converted somewhere along the way.

Sources

Written by

Alexia M.

Comparisons and market guides editor

Alexia compares the accounts, cards and payment tools companies weigh before they switch, and writes Rivet's market guides for founders in a specific country. Prices in Alexia's comparisons come from each provider's own pricing page on the date given in the article, rules come from the regulator or tax authority that sets them, and every source is listed at the end.