What is a telegraphic transfer?

When you’re sending or receiving an international money transfer through a bank, you’ll often see the terms like telegraphic transfer, telex transfer, TT or wire transfer. Let’s walk through what these terms mean and how to send money internationally.

What is a telegraphic transfer?

The term telegraphic transfer refers to sending funds electronically and is most commonly used in the UK to refer to what people in Canada and the US would call a bank wire transfer.

Invented in the early 1700s and improved by Samuel Morse (think Morse code) in the mid-1800s, the telegraph is a device that sends interrupted electronic signals across a wire connecting 2 stations.

Nowadays, old-fashioned telegraph devices have been replaced by computers and wireless networks, which transmit funds between accounts using a complex network of intermediary banks and financial institutions.

How does a telegraphic transfer work?

A telegraphic transfer works by bouncing money between a network of banks (called the SWIFT network) until it arrives at its destination.

Money only passes between banks that have pre-existing commercial relationships. Known as “correspondent banks,” these banks usually take a fee to process funds, which may take several days collectively. This is why telegraphic transfers can be slower and more expensive than online money transfer services.

Banks only pass money through other correspondent banks to comply with anti-money laundering laws that require financial institutions to be able to track funds and because it’s not practical to perform money transfers around the world using physical cash.

What is a nostro account?

Nos refers to “we” or “us” in Latin. Nostro accounts are foreign currency accounts that banks hold on behalf of other banks. Other banks refer to accounts held elsewhere as vostro accounts (vos refers to others in Latin).

Banks add and deduct amounts from nostro accounts to track payments sent to and from partner banks. When you send a telegraphic transfer, your money ripples through a series of nostro accounts at different banks until it arrives at its destination.

For straightforward domestic transfers in CAD, there might only be 2 or 3 banks in the network through which funds pass. For payments in US dollars, there are often more banks involved, since USD is a benchmark against which the value of other currencies is determined.

How to make a telegraphic transfer

To make a telegraphic transfer, you need to do the following:

1. Go to your local bank’s branch or login to your bank account online or via mobile app.
2. Enter the details of your transfer. You’ll need to provide contact information, your recipient’s bank details, the sending and receiving currencies and transfer amount.
3. Submit payment. The bank will then process your funds through its network of correspondent banks.
4. Verify that funds have been received. Check with your recipient in a few days to make sure your money has arrived. If there’s a problem, you can ask your bank to trace the wire payment, although there may be a fee for doing so.

Telegraphic transfer fees

Telegraphic transfers go through multiple banks, each of which may take a fee. These fees can be broken down as follows:

• Sending bank fees. Your bank will let you know how much these fees are upfront. In Canada, this fee ranges from $15 to $80, depending on the bank.
• Intermediary/corresponding bank fees. Charged by banks in the SWIFT network through which transfers pass en route to your recipient. The exact amount can be hard to determine beforehand.
• Exchange rate margin. Banks and most money transfer services deduct a fee worth a small percentage of the exchange rate. This margin can vary depending on your payment method and currency, but banks tend to deduct a higher percentage that online money transfer services.
• Receiving bank fees. Depending on the bank, your recipient may be charged a fee for receiving a wire transfer.

When initiating a transfer, you’ll often be given the choice of deducting fees from, or paying fees on top of, the amount being sent.

What do you need to make a telegraphic transfer?

To send a telegraphic transfer, you’ll need to provide the following information:

• Your details. This includes your name and bank account details, or the details of anyone on whose behalf you’re sending money.
• Recipient’s details. This includes the recipient’s name, contact information, bank name and address, institution number, transit (or routing) number and account number. Canada doesn’t use IBAN numbers to identify banks, but you may have to provide a SWIFT code. Learn more about the different between IBAN and SWIFT codes here.
• Transfer details. This includes the transfer amount, the reason for the transfer, sending and receiving currencies, the date and any other information the bank requests.

How long do telegraphic transfers take?

Telegraphic transfers can take a number of days. Generally, bank wire transfers from Canada take 3-5 business days.

The exact amount of time varies depending on the banks that are sending and receiving funds, the currencies being exchanged and whether transfers are initiated outside of regular banking hours. Avoid sending just before weekends or on statutory holidays to prevent delays in processing your funds.

Frequently asked questions

• Telegraphic transfer vs. wire transfer: What's the difference?

  Nothing. When you send an international bank wire transfer, your bank is sending money as a telegraphic transfer. The term “wire transfer” is more commonly used in Canada and the US, whereas telegraphic transfer is more often used in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

• Can I send an instant telegraphic transfer?

  No. Telegraphic transfers typically take at least several business days. If you want to send money instantly or within the same day, check out online money transfer services like Remitly, Western Union, MoneyGram or WorldRemit.

• Are telegraphic transfers safe?

  For many years, telegraphic transfers have been used by banks and financial institutions all over the world as the standard for sending funds. In fact, wire transfers are considered one of the safest ways to send money.

  But as with all means of managing funds, telegraphic transfers are not guaranteed to be 100% safe. As always, you still need to be aware of money transfer scams. Avoid sending to anyone you don’t know—once money has been received by unauthorized parties, it can be very difficult to recover.

• Can I use a telegraphic transfer to send a remittance?

  Yes. You can use telegraphic transfers, or wire transfers, to send remittances to friends and family all over the world. Bear in mind that many online transfer services offer lower transfer fees, faster options and stronger exchange rates than what you’ll usually get with a bank wire transfer.