Bank wire transfers have been around for more than a century, and although they’ve gotten faster, they still typically aren’t instant. Several factors come into play when transferring money through your bank. Understanding why transfers take time and what alternatives are available can help you avoid delays.
At best, expect the following transfer times for domestic and international transfers.
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:
Finder data suggests that men aged 35-44 are most likely to be researching this topic.
| Response | Male (%) | Female (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 65+ | 4.07% | 3.33% |
| 55-64 | 6.10% | 6.28% |
| 45-54 | 9.24% | 7.39% |
| 35-44 | 14.42% | 11.09% |
| 25-34 | 14.23% | 8.50% |
| 18-24 | 9.24% | 6.10% |
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.
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.
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 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 | Wire transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | $0 | $3.99 | $25 + additional correspondent bank fees |
| Exchange rate | 1 USD = 73.179 INR | 1 USD = 73.312 INR | 1 USD = 70.213 INR |
| Transfer speed | 1 day | Minutes | 2-5 days |
| Amount received | INR 109,769 | INR 109,675 | INR 103,564 |
| Verdict |
|
|
|
Using an international money transfer service can often deliver your money instantly, something that wire transfers can almost never achieve. On top of that, you’d end up sending 6,205 less rupees if you send through a wire transfer.
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 cover international transfers.
Using international money orders to send money overseas? Learn about better options.
Instarem offers no-margin, mid-market rates for some of your money transfers.
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How do you know if your international money transfer made it safely? Learn how to track or cancel, and find out what your rights are when it comes to sending money.
Looking for higher transfer limits and lower fees? Explore these WorldRemit alternatives to find a good deal.
Western Union’s extensive global network comes with high fees and weak exchange rates, use these alternatives to look for a better deal.
Compare MoneyGram with competitive alternatives to find the best deal for your transfer.
From bank transfers to specialist money transfer companies, there are several options available when you need to transfer money overseas from your bank account.
If you need to transfer money overseas using your credit card, you can do so via your bank, MoneyGram, Western Union and PayPal. This can be useful in emergency situations, but credit card transfers are usually not a cost-effective option.
If you’re looking for a secure way to send money overseas, an international bank draft could be for you — but if speed is important, consider using a money transfer service instead.
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