How to Wire Money
Bank transfers provide a way to send money electronically from one person or entity to another. Money can be transferred between banks in the United States as well as international financial institutions and non-bank money transfer providers.??
A wire transfer may be preferable for situations where you need to move larger sums of money or are receiving a large payment. You may pay a fee to send or receive a wire transfer, and the time it takes to process a wire transfer may vary.
Key points to remember
- Bank transfers can be made through banks or non-bank money transfer providers.
- You can use wire transfers to send or receive money between people or organizations.
- Charges may apply when sending or receiving national or international money transfers.
- Bank transfers can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to process and complete.
What is a bank transfer?
A wire transfer is an electronic transaction that you can initiate through your bank or a non-bank transfer provider, such as Western Union. When you transfer money, you authorize the bank or transfer provider to transfer funds from your account to someone else’s account using an electronic payment network.
No physical currency changes hands when you transfer money to an individual or a business. A wire transfer can be a fast and convenient way to transfer or receive money. According to the financial institution, wire transfers can be completed in a matter of hours, although it can sometimes take a few days to process them.??
Wire transfers are often used for situations where large sums of money need to be transferred. For example, if you are buying a house, your closing attorney may ask you to transfer your down payment and closing cost funds to his account. If you are selling a house, the proceeds may be returned to you by wire transfer. You can also use bank transfers to transfer smaller amounts of money if needed.
How to transfer money
The process of transferring money is fairly straightforward. The most important things to consider when transferring money by wire transfer are:
- Limits on the amount you can transfer, if any
- Transaction limits on the number of transfers you can send per day
- Transfer processing times
- Transfer fees
Banks and non-bank wire transfer providers may charge a fee for sending and receiving wire transfers. As a general rule, international transfer fees are higher than domestic transfers. Additionally, banks may limit the number of wire transfers you can make in a certain amount of time or the amount of money you can send by wire transfer.
Here are the four main steps of a wire transfer.
1. Choose a bank transfer provider
The first step in how to transfer money is to decide which service you want to use for this process. Your bank may be an obvious choice if you already have a checking account, savings account, or other accounts at a specific financial institution. Depending on the bank’s policies regarding wire transfers, you may be able to initiate a wire transfer online, or you can do so in person by visiting a branch.
The other option is to use a non-bank transfer provider, such as Western Union or MoneyGram. These companies allow you to send money by wire transfer to a bank account, but the person you’re sending the money to may also have the option to pick it up in cash or have it sent to a payment app. mobile.
With a non-bank wire transfer provider, you may be able to wire money using your debit card, bank account, or credit card.
2. Provide details of the transfer
While transferring money, the bank or transfer provider will need certain information to complete the transaction. These include:
- A copy of your government issued ID
- Your source of funding (i.e. debit card, credit card, or bank account, or cash if you are transferring money in person to a non-bank provider)
- Transfer recipient’s name and address
- The name and address of the bank of the recipient of the transfer (in the case of transferring money to a bank account)
- Recipient’s bank account number and routing number (again, if you are transferring money to a bank account)
- Recipient’s mobile phone number if transferring money to a mobile wallet app
If you are transferring money to another bank, you may also need to provide a Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) code. This is a unique code number assigned to banks, and may be required for making domestic and / or international bank-to-bank wire transfers.
Take the time to carefully check the wire transfer information before sending the money to make sure it goes to the right place.
3. Consult the general conditions and pay the bank transfer fees
As mentioned earlier, you will most likely pay a fee to wire money, whether you do so through a bank or a non-bank provider.
When you transfer money from a bank account, the fees are automatically deducted from your balance, along with any transferred funds. If you use a non-bank wire transfer service, these fees may be debited from your bank account, debit card, or credit card, depending on how you pay.
If you are unsure of the cost of a wire transfer, ask for a fee schedule in advance. You can compare the fees between your bank and a non-bank transfer provider to see which one is less expensive. You should also review all other fine print regarding the transfer before signing it to make sure you understand the agreement.
4. Wait for the transfer to be processed
When you have submitted a wire transfer, you might have to wait a few hours or days for it to process and send the funds to the recipient. The timing can depend on where you are sending the money and how much.
It’s a good idea to get a confirmation number from your bank or the company you’re transferring money with. This way, if you have a problem, you have a way to reference the transaction later.
Can a bank transfer be canceled?
Typically, when you make a wire transfer, the process of transferring money from your account to the recipient’s account begins immediately. This assumes that the transfer takes place during normal business hours.
If the transfer still appears in the bank’s processing system as “planned”, it may still be possible to reverse the transaction. You may be able to do this through your online banking access or by calling a branch.
With international transfers, you may have a slightly longer delay for cancellation. For example, you might have up to 30 minutes after the start of the transfer to ask your bank to cancel it. However, this policy may vary from bank to bank, so it is important to check with your financial institution to see how cancellations are handled.