IBM has announced partnership with Stellar Lumens to improve the speed in which banks both clear and settle payment transactions in near-real time. Their solution is already processing twelve currency corridors in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Pacific Islands. It will also achieve goal of extending financial services to one billion people by the year 2020. For instance, their new partnership will allow a farmer in Samoa to make a trade with buyer residing in Indonesia. The Stellar Lumens’ blockchain will be used to record the contract and manage trade documentation. This will allow the farmer to put up collateral, obtain letters of credit and finalize transaction terms.