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International wire transfer duration
Wire transfers are convenient, but using a money transfer service can almost always have your money there faster.
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Bank wire transfers have been around for more than a century, and although they have gotten faster they still typically aren’t instantaneous. There are a lot of factors that come into play when transferring money through your bank. Understanding why transfers take time and what your alternatives are available can help you avoid delays when you’re in a hurry.
How long does a wire transfer take?
At best, expect the following transfer times for domestic and international transfers.
- Domestic wire transfer speed – Within 24 hours is possible, particularly for transfers between accounts at the same bank.
- International wire transfer speed – Between 2-5 business days, perhaps longer depending on one or more of the factors listed below.
When you send a wire transfer through your bank you should be provided with an expected delivery date, though this isn’t a guarantee of any sort. Wire transfer time varies based on many factors, some that are in your control and some that aren’t:
- Your bank – Smaller banks may take longer for international transfers as they may not have an International Bank Account Number (IBAN).
- Receiving bank – If you’re sending a wire transfer to a bank other than your own, the banks have to communicate which can take time.
- Time of transfer – Sending transfers earlier in the day is better, because if you send it at the end of the day it has to wait until the next business day to start processing. The same goes for the end of the week, or right before a bank holiday.
- Type of transfer – Some banks offer expedited wire transfer services, but beware of high fees added to your transfer total.
How to have wire transfer funds available immediately
When you are in a rush, or you just don’t feel like waiting, there are ways to expedite the speed at which your money is transferred. By default, almost no wire transferred funds are available immediately, so use these alternatives to get your money faster.
Digital money transfer services
Companies like OFX and CurrencyTransfer specialize in foreign currencies, making them some of the most cost-effective transfers. Most offer transfers directly to your recipient’s bank account, often in as little as a day.
Cash transfers
Services like WorldRemit allow you to transfer cash for nearly instant pickup. While it’s a fast way to send money, you may pay more in fees than you would with a digital money transfer service.
Let’s crunch the numbers: Sending $1,500 to India
Let’s say you need to send $1,500 to family in India. Here’s what you might face as far as fees and exchange rates as of May 26, 2020.
| Digital money transfer service | Cash transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | $0 | $3.99 |
| Exchange rate | 1 USD = 74.945 INR | 1 USD = 75.232 INR |
| Transfer speed | 1 day | Minutes |
| Amount received | INR 112,418 | INR 112,548 |
| Verdict |
|
|
Using an international money transfer service can often deliver your money instantly, something that wire transfers can almost never achieve.
Compare ways to send money
Use our comparison table to see more ways to have your money there faster. Enter the amount you want to send, select your destination and click Calculate.
Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.
Bottom line
Using your bank to send money domestically and internationally is hardly ever the cheapest or fastest option. To learn more about how to send money more efficiently, read our dedicated guide with hand-picked options that covers both domestic and international transfers.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to transfer funds from one bank to another?
It depends on how quickly the banks communicate with one another. Theoretically, the transfer could happen in the same business day, but more often than not it takes two or more business days.
How long does a wire transfer take at Chase?
Chase domestic wire transfers typically arrive within 1-2 business days, while Chase international wire transfers can take upwards of 4 business days to arrive in a foreign bank account.
How long does a transfer take at Wells Fargo?
Wells Fargo offers an ExpressSend option to expediate your money transfer, but it is only available for select destinations. Standard Wells Fargo domestic transfers typically take less than two business days, while international wire transfers can take five business days or more.
How long can a bank hold a wire transfer?
Banks do not hold wire transfers. Unlike checks that need verification to clear, the moment an incoming wire transfer hits your bank account it is yours to spend.
Ask an Expert
An international bank transfer was made to my account using Swift code and according to my bank the fund was declined because the senders bank is on sanction due to some unexplained reasons but the sender has receipt that the fund was sent to me ..How long will the sender receive the funds back in his account. Meanwhile I didn’t get the notification from my bank but my bank officer told me the fund was rejected. Mostly I’m confused because there’s receipt by the sender that it was sent.
Hi Josh,
Thanks for contacting Finder.
It all comes down to how good the receiving bank is in contacting the sending bank, to inform them that they are unable to receive the funds. The sender may not be aware that the money is going back to his/her account as usually, this can take anything between 2 days & over a week.
I hope this helps.
Kind Regards,
Faye
A wire transfer euro payment was sent from germany to me in hong kong, its been 4 days and i haven’t received the money yet. I would like to know how many days it takes for an international transfer to clear from germany to asia. Please advise as its really bothering me
Hi Josh,
Thanks for your inquiry.
There are several factors that influence the time it takes for funds to reach an overseas account. However, a standard timeline for most international transfers is about 1 to 5 business days. If it takes more than five business days, you can check with your bank on what could be causing the delay.
I hope this information helps.
Kind regards,
Bella
I would like to know how long will it take to receive money from India to Oman bank transfer
Hi Denz,
Thanks for contacting Finder.
Please know that transfer times vary from a few minutes to up to five days. Generally, international bank transfer usually takes 5 working days or longer depending on various circumstances like holiday, verification process of the receiving bank etc.
I hope this helps.
Kind Regards,
Faye
I have transferred from hsbc bank uk to Albania £20.000 converted to euros,, this was a online transfer 2 weeks ago and my money its not yet in my account in Albania ! Any idea how long does it take…..? Please let me know as I am getting a bit worried, thank you,,
Hi Alfons,
Thanks for contacting Finder.
Money transfers from HSBC to another bank overseas could take from 2 to 5 banking days. There are several factors that affect the time frame for funds to clear, such as, type of payment you are making, the currencies involved in the transfer and the time of day the transfer request is made. Both banks follow their respective funds clearing processes. It is highly suggested to check with either banks directly for a more accurate information.
Hope this helps.
Please feel free to contact us at any time if any other questions arise.
All the best.
Best Regards,
Faye
I was sent money Online from ING BANK Germany to HSBC DUBAI. Now it’s 8 working days and nothing how long does it take?
Hi Stefan,
Thank you for reaching out to us.
I’m sorry to hear that you’re having trouble with your transfer. The average amount of time it takes for a transfer to go through can vary depending on the provider. I recommend viewing our page on how to track your money transfer. If you still have questions, contact the provider you used to send the transfer and they should be able to give you more insight on the status of your funds.
https://www.finder.com/money-transfer-tracking
I hope this helps!
Britny
Hii my friend transfered 5000 USD from BMO Harris Bank to Bank of China, the day he wired BMO harris people told him it should take 2 hours to reflect on the beneficiery account, the next day after wiring the funds he went bank to the bank to check the status of wire now theyre telling him it may take upto 2 or 3 days , i dont understand why ?!
Hi Joshua,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Generally, The receiving banks often take 2-4 days for funds to be released to customers because they are following what they call the “Three-day good funds model”, which basically means they’ll hold the funds for three days to make sure it’s not a fraudulent transaction. You may also check with the receiving bank if you have a transaction number for the transfer to make sure they did receive the funds and are just waiting for it to clear.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Bella
I was send money from Union bank of India to Kenya through cheque for how long will I receive the money in my account??
Hi Josh,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
International bank transfer usually takes 5 working days or longer depending on various circumstances like holiday, verification process of the receiving bank etc. You may ask the sender if their union bank in India has completed the money transfer. If says yes, please check this with your Kenyan bank on when you will see your money on your account. Not sure if you were advised that you’re receiving a cheque. I suggest that you check this with your sender on how long you should wait for the cheque to arrive.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
How many days does t take for an usd online transfer to account in malaysia.
Hi Aimi,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder! Transfer speeds depend on the method used and the money transfer provider. You can find the specific transfer speeds on the part of the page that says “The average time it takes to send money overseas.” It’s important to check the exchange rate beforehand to maximize the funds to be exchanged. Also, read through the transfer process of the provider such as transfer fees, transfer options and transfer speed to set expectations for the receiver. Take note of any reference or tracking numbers should any transaction delays come up during the transit. Hope this helps and feel free to email back if you have questions.
Best,
Nikki
One of my friends sent 10,000 south African cash from South Africa through banking to Ethiopia.
How long it will take to my account?
Hi James,
Thank you for reaching out to Finder.
Generally, if the transaction was done online it is completed within minutes or 24 hours at the latest. You may need to wait 1-2 days for the money to arrive unless delays or clearing requires more time. Contact the money transfer company to learn more. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
I was sent some money via western union and on my track transfer shows in progress wondering how long it should take for pick up
Hi John,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Western Union allows processing times of as little as 10 minutes, allowing your recipient to pick up the funds shortly after you initiate the transaction.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Bella