How do I transfer money to an international bank account?
Method 1: You can perform a wire transfer through your bank's online services. Method 2: You can visit your bank's branch to get in-person assistance with the transfer. Method 3: You can execute a transfer over the phone with a representative from your bank.
- Go to Payments > Make a payment > International.
- Select the Country to Send to.
- Select the From account.
- Change the Date and Frequency to schedule for a future date/s.
- Check the payment Currency and enter Amount.
- Review the currency, conversion rate, amounts and fees.
- Select a payee or Create a new payee.
You can use the bank where you have a checking or savings account to conduct your international money transfer or open an account with various companies that specialize in sending money, such as Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, Xoom, Wise (formerly TransferWise) or Paysend.
Wire transfers, commonly known as SWIFT transfers, are electronic transfers between banks that are part of the SWIFT global network. The transfers allow for money to be sent from one bank account to another bank account around the world within 3-5 business days on average.
Electronic transfers
The cheapest and simplest way of sending money abroad is through an electronic transfer. You can use the free, fast International Moneymover Service which allows you to make overseas money transfers in all major currencies. However, correspondent and recipient bank charges may apply.
A number of banks allow you to transfer money to linked banks overseas without a fee – though usually it's just an overseas arm of the same banking group. So if you and the person you want to send money to have the right accounts, moving money via the bank can work out cheapest.
If you send an international wire transfer over $10,000¹, your bank or financial institution is required by law to report it directly to the IRS. Your bank may also ask for additional information, including the following¹: Evidence for the source of the funds.
Can I send money through Zelle internationally? Zelle is only available for customers with a US bank account and US registered mobile number. That means it's not an option for sending international payments to friends and family overseas. Read on for some international Zelle alternatives.
HSBC is a good option for those who want to send money to a wide range of countries. Bank of America: Bank of America is a popular bank in the United States that offers competitive exchange rates and low fees for international wire transfers. It's also known for its fast transfer times and secure transactions.
A certified money transfer service is the fastest way to send money internationally, and it's much safer than sending cash. With simple online platforms, using these services is also easier than setting up your own wire transfer to a foreign bank.
How much does it cost to transfer money to an international account?
Wire transfer fees generally range from $0 to about $50. The median wire transfer fee for the institutions we surveyed is $15 for incoming domestic wire transfers, $25 for outgoing domestic wire transfers, $15 for incoming international wire transfers and $45 for outgoing international wire transfers.
Every bank is different, but in general you can expect them to take as much as 3-4% of your total transfer as a fee when you send money internationally.
When sending an international bank wire, you will need to provide the recipient's name, address, banks SWIFT BIC, and bank account number, plus the International Payments System Routing Code, for certain countries (you will be prompted for this).
Whenever you send money internationally, your bank will typically charge a fixed money transfer fee. You could pay up to $50 to transfer the money, but the fee will depend upon the bank that you're using, as well as how much money you're sending.
Under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) of 1970, financial institutions are required to report certain transactions to the IRS. This includes wire transfers over $10,000, which are subject to reporting under the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (31 U.S.C. 5311 et seq.).
If transactions involve more than $10,000, you are responsible for reporting the transfers to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Failing to do so could lead to fines and other legal repercussions.
- Bank-to-Bank Transfers.
- Wire Transfers.
- Automated Clearing House Transactions.
- Cash-to-Cash Transfers.
- Prepaid Debit Cards.
If you need to send an international wire transfer, visit any U.S. Bank branch. You'll need the following information: Receiving bank's information: The bank's SWIFT code, their name, and address. Beneficiary information: The recipient's name, account number, and address.
1. Wise. Wise, previously known as TransferWise, is one of the best money transfer apps that enable both personal and business users to send and receive money internationally, check exchange rates, and manage bills from any location.
With PayPal you can send across the table and with Xoom* a PayPal service, you can send across the globe to more than 200 countries and markets.
What is the downside of international transfers with your bank?
Requiring Additional Fees
Additional fee is a common downside people have always faced with international bank transfer. The fees depend on various factors, from the destination and origin of transfer to the currency exchange rates.
- Use Multi-Currency Accounts.
- Make Cross-Border Payments.
- There's No Reason to Pay Wire Transfer Fees.
Bank of America – Digital payments in a foreign currency have no transfer fee* Chase – $5 per transfer for online payments, with fees waived for payments of $5,000 or more* Citibank – Digital payments in a foreign currency may have no transfer fee or cost up to $35, depending on your account type*
Once the transfer has been processed, the funds will usually be deducted from the sender's account. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that it will arrive with the recipient at the same time. As stated above, international bank transfers will generally arrive within one to five working days.
Unlike traditional transfers that typically move money within a few days, instant transfers send and receive funds in a matter of seconds.
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