Scaling cross-border payments: PSP selection for nuanced markets

We're currently re-evaluating our payment service provider stack for an expansion into a few LATAM and APAC markets, specifically focusing on jurisdictions with less mature banking infrastructure and higher instances of local payment methods. Our primary concern isn't just about transaction fees, which are always a factor, but rather the real-world settlement times and the reliability of those payouts.

We've encountered scenarios where a PSP might quote a fantastic fee structure, but the actual time to funds hitting our beneficiary accounts can be wildly inconsistent, or worse, subject to unexpected intermediary bank charges that eat into margins. Moreover, the KYB process for some of these regions has been a persistent bottleneck, with disproportionate document requirements or, conversely, a lack of clear guidance leading to prolonged onboarding. Does anyone have experience navigating these waters, particularly regarding PSPs that truly excel in localized payment rails and offer transparent, consistent settlement in these more challenging environments, without an overly burdensome initial compliance hurdle? The goal is to optimize for speed and reliability without compromising regulatory adherence or absorbing hidden costs.