# Currency Conversion Calculator for Originating Institution Reconciliation
source: https://developer.mastercard.com/payment-currency-conversion/documentation/index.md

## Overview {#overview}

The Mastercard Send Currency Conversion Calculator enables Originating Institutions (Acquirers) to instantly access daily currency conversion rates for [Mastercard Send](https://developer.mastercard.com/mastercard-send/product/mastercard-send/) cross-border payment transactions to Mastercard cards. This helps them determine the funds needed to reconcile with Mastercard **before** initiating a cross-border payment transaction.

![](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/payment-currency-conversion/documentation/images/mastercard-send-currency-conversion-overview-focus.png)

[Mastercard Merchant Presented QR](https://developer.mastercard.com/product/mastercard-qr/) (MPQR) Originating Institutions can also use this service before initiating cross-border person-to-merchant (P2M) payments.

See [the product page](https://developer.mastercard.com/payment-currency-conversion/product/currency-conversion/) for marketing and case study details.
Note: This API returns conversion details relevant to settlement of Mastercard Send and MPQR transactions. It does not give general cardholder currency conversion rates. For those rates, please use alternative conversion services, such as the [Standard or Enhanced Currency Conversion Calculator](https://developer.mastercard.com/product/currency-conversion-calculator).

## How It Works {#how-it-works}

Mastercard publishes currency conversion rates once per day and the rates are effective for a 24-hour period, see the [Currency Conversion Rates guide](https://developer.mastercard.com/payment-currency-conversion/documentation/tutorials-and-guides/index.md#currency-conversion-rates-guide).

The Currency Conversion Calculator APIs provide these services:

* **Currencies:** Provides a list of currencies for which Mastercard publishes rates daily
* **Conversion Rates Status:** Determines whether Mastercard conversion rates have been published for a given date
* **Conversion Rate Details:** Provides the conversion rate and calculated settlement amount based on a given date, transaction amount and currency, and settlement currency

You (as an Originating Institution) can make **Conversion Rate Details** API calls for each cross-border payment transaction where the transaction currency differs from your settlement currency. The API response will provide the currency conversion rate and the settlement amount. If the API request is made before the date's rate has been published and is effective, the previous day's rate is used and that date is reflected in the `conversionRateDate` field in the response.

![](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/payment-currency-conversion/documentation/images/mastercard-send-currency-conversion-how-it-works.png)

For example, if your settlement currency is US Dollars (USD) and your consumer wants to send a transaction amount of £160 GBP to a recipient in the UK, you can use a **Conversion Rate Details** API call to determine the USD settlement amount for that payment transaction. This is explained in [Use Cases](https://developer.mastercard.com/payment-currency-conversion/documentation/use-cases/index.md).

**NOTE:** The transaction amount is the *intended* amount for the receiving account. The receiving issuer (the Receiving Institution) might not credit that actual amount to the receiving account, for example, it might impose fees for receiving such transfers. See the Legal disclaimer FAQ on the [Support](https://developer.mastercard.com/payment-currency-conversion/documentation/support/index.md) page.

## Getting Started {#getting-started}

### Before you start {#before-you-start}

* **Sandbox** --- This service has a Sandbox environment with mock APIs, enabling you to try the APIs quickly.

* **Registration** --- To use the full service, you must be registered as either:

  * A Mastercard Send Originating Institution approved for cross-border transactions
  * An MPQR Originating Institution approved for cross-border transactions

  No additional registration forms are required to use this API service. Contact your [Mastercard representative](https://developer.mastercard.com/payment-currency-conversion/documentation/support/index.md) for more information.
* **Region availability** --- This API service is available in most markets. [Contact us](mailto:digital.support@mastercard.com) for region information.

### Good to know {#good-to-know}

* This Currency Conversion Calculator service is an additional service that is meant to be used with the main Mastercard Send or MPQR payment service to enhance the cross-border funds transfer flow. You are likely to integrate and test with this service at the same time as the main payment service. You access this service using the **Currency Conversion for Originating Institution** API service (shown below), which is different from the main payment service. If you add this API service to the same API project as the main payment service, you can use the **same** project and authentication keys for both services.

  ![](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/payment-currency-conversion/documentation/images/select-api-cc-oi-recon.png)
* Due to its simplicity, this service does not have Mastercard Test Facility (MTF) APIs and test cases.

* When you request production access in Mastercard Developers (by clicking **Request Production access** in your project page 'Summary' panel), you must provide your implementation project details and inform your Mastercard Implementation Manager, if you have an active Mastercard Send or MPQR implementation project with the CIS team. Otherwise, you must inform your Mastercard representative.

  Provide the production consumer key shown on your project page 'Production credentials' panel (masked example shown below) to your Mastercard Implementation Manager or Mastercard representative. They will provide that key to the Mastercard SAM Application Support team, who will complete production setup within 5-7 business days. Mastercard will notify you when you can start making API calls to that environment.

  ![](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/payment-currency-conversion/documentation/images/new-consumer-key.png)

## Next Steps {#next-steps}

Start with [API Basics](https://developer.mastercard.com/payment-currency-conversion/documentation/api-basics/index.md) for information about API security and keys, how to use the APIs, and the different API environments that are available. Then set up a project and try the Sandbox APIs.

For examples of how the API service could be used, see [Use Cases](https://developer.mastercard.com/payment-currency-conversion/documentation/use-cases/index.md).

Your Mastercard representative can provide more information about this service. [Don't have a Mastercard representative?](https://developer.mastercard.com/payment-currency-conversion/documentation/support/index.md)