International banker’s drafts guide

Send large payments overseas securely.

An international banker’s draft is accepted in most countries and is created in the currency of the destination where it’s sent. Although there are much quicker ways to send money overseas, if time isn’t a factor when you’re transferring money to someone overseas, banker’s drafts are a decent option.

What is an international banker’s draft?

Also sometimes known as a ‘bank cheque’, a banker’s draft is like asking a bank to write a cheque for you. Some people might ask to receive an international banker’s draft as a more secure way of receiving money abroad – it’s more secure because the funds for the transaction are withdrawn from the bank, rather than from the person’s account.

Unlike normal cheques, banker’s drafts are prepaid and issued by the bank. Drafts can also be drawn in the foreign currency you choose and are available for personal or business use. They have a few advantages when used for international transfers:

  • Exchange rate. Banker’s drafts are exchanged immediately when they’re created. So going to your bank and creating an international banker’s draft for €100 will use that day’s exchange rate, while a cheque or postal order will use the exchange rate when it’s cashed – which could lead to less money being sent if the exchange rate shifts heavily.
  • Typically safer. Many money scams involve fake postal orders or cheques. An international banker’s draft can be verified by contacting the issuing bank and providing the details on the draft itself.

How does an international banker’s draft work?

A banker’s draft is effectively a cheque from a financial institution. This means the funds for the transaction are withdrawn from the institution, rather than from the individual’s account.

The funds from a normal cheque aren’t withdrawn from the individual’s account until the cheque is cleared, which leads to the risk of there not being sufficient funds available when the cheque is cashed and it may therefore bounce.

When someone requests an international banker’s draft, though, they must immediately transfer the funds from their account to cover the amount of the cheque, which adds a crucial extra level of security. Drafts can be drawn in the foreign currency you choose and are available for personal or business use.

Let’s crunch the numbers: Sending £2,000 to Kenya

Let’s say you need to send £2,000 to Kenya. Here’s what you might face as far as costs when using an international banker’s draft compared to an international money transfer as of 10 February 2023.

Money transferInternational banker’s draft
Fee£0£15 + receiving bank fees
Exchange rate1 GBP = 151.36 KES1 GBP = 149.41 KES
Transfer speed1-2 days1-3 weeks, depending on mail
Amount receivedKES 302,720KES 296,578
Verdict
  • Better value and faster
  • Slower and more expensive

As you can see, the international banker’s draft is much slower and gets a smaller amount of money to your recipient in Kenya. If you go with the money transfer service, your recipient ends up with KES 6,142 more than the bank offers.

How do I cash an international banker’s draft?

You can cash a banker’s draft in a variety of ways, including:

  • At the bank. Bring the banker’s draft to your bank, along with photo identification, and ask for it to be deposited into your account.
  • At a cashpoint. Some banks let you deposit banker’s drafts at cashpoints, as long as you hold an account with the bank. However, bear in mind that funds may not be immediately available.

How to compare international banker’s drafts

  • Fees. This is the most important factor to look at when comparing banker’s drafts. Look at the different fees charged for obtaining a draft and see if you could save money with a different provider.
  • Available currencies and countries. Speak to your bank about the currencies in which you can obtain an international banker’s draft and the countries to which you can send them. If your bank doesn’t support banker’s drafts in your desired foreign currency, compare international money transfer options to send a transfer online.
  • Processing time. Once you apply for a draft, how long will it take for your financial institution to process it?
  • Application options. It’s also a good idea to compare the different methods available when applying for a banker’s draft. You’ll typically need to visit a branch or apply in writing.

Pros and cons of an international banker’s draft

Pros

  • Accepted in most parts of the world. International banker’s drafts are used in the majority of countries around the globe.
  • Inexpensive. Although you’ll have to pay a fee when you apply for an international banker’s draft, it’s still a relatively cost-effective way to send funds overseas.
  • Created in the local currency. As the draft is made out in the local currency where it will be sent, it doesn’t require conversion and is therefore able to be banked quicker than a check written in GBP.
  • Secure. Banker’s drafts must be deposited into a bank account and cannot be cashed.

Cons

  • Slow. Banker’s drafts typically take several weeks to process, so they’re only a viable option where the speed of the transaction isn’t a concern.
  • Availability. There’s a chance your bank may not support the currency and country you want to send an international banker’s draft to.
  • Time consuming to replace. Banker’s drafts are secure and can be replaced when lost, but the process is far from easy. Every bank has its own procedure, and at the very minimum you’ll have to wait for the draft to be delivered a second time.

Is an international banker’s draft my best option?

An international banker’s draft is a secure way to send money abroad – but you have to rely on the postal service to deliver the banker’s draft safely. Many things can go wrong along the way, and even when everything goes right, there will still be a significant delay between sending and receiving the draft.

Consider using an international money transfer service instead of a banker’s draft when speed and convenience are crucial.

Using a banker’s draft to pay someone abroad

The transfer services below are not banker’s drafts, but rather allow you to make bank transfers which can be received by your recipient in their bank account or as cash. Consider using these services when:

  • Speed is important. Some international money transfer companies can have money in your recipient’s account in as little as a few minutes.
  • You want to pay in cash or with a credit card. An international banker’s draft is limited to payment by bank account, so use an international money transfer service to pay by debit card, credit card or cash.
  • Your bank is closed. Banker’s drafts have to be created at the bank, in person, but online money transfers can be sent 24/7, 365 days a year from the comfort of your home.
  • Exchange rates are important. An international banker’s draft uses the exchange rate offered by your bank, which might not be as strong as the mid-market rate offered by many money transfer companies.

Compare International Money Transfer Services

Table: sorted by promoted deals first
Our table below lets you compare services you can use to send money abroad. Compare fees, exchange rates and discounts from different money transfer services, and when you have made your choice, click Go to site.
1 - 20 of 20
Name Product Filter values Fastest transfer speed Fees (pay by bank transfer) Learn more
TorFX
Within minutes
£0

View details
TorFX sends money overseas in 30+ currencies, with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.
Key Currency
24 hours
£0

View details
Make same-day transfers in all major currencies across Europe.
Wise (TransferWise)
Within minutes
From 0.41%

View details
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 45+ currencies.
Equals Money Account
Equals Money Account
3 hours
£0

View details
Equals Money sends money overseas in 140+ currencies.
OFX
24 hours
£0

View details
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
CurrencyTransfer
24 hours
£0

View details
CurrencyTransfer lets you shop around for the best exchange rate on its online marketplace.
Currencies Direct
24 hours
£0

View details
CurrenciesDirect makes transferring money abroad simple with bank-beating exchange rates.
PassTo
Within minutes
From £1.40

View details
No fees on your first transfer. Refer 3 friends to PassTo and earn £50 once they each make a transfer of at least £200. They'll earn £5 too. T&Cs apply.
PassTo specialises in remittances to bank accounts and cash pickup locations in 45+ countries.
Atlantic Money
Within minutes
£3

View details
Remitly
Within minutes
From £0
SPECIAL OFFER ✓ Get £10 off with code FINDER

View details
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
CurrencyFair
Within minutes
€3

View details
Special offer: New customers get unlimited fee-free transfers for their first 3 months. T&Cs apply.
CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.
Revolut
Within an hour
From £0
SPECIAL OFFER ✓ Sign up and get a free £10 top-up plus 1 month of Revolut Premium

View details
Sign up with Finder to get 3 months of Revolut Premium for free. T&Cs apply.
Revolut is a digital bank that sends money fast to 30+ currencies, often with no fee added to the exchange rate.
WorldRemit
Within minutes
From £1.99
SPECIAL OFFER ✓ Use promo code 4FREEFINDER to send your first 4 transfers with no fee. Conditions apply.

View details
WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.
OFX
24 hours
£0

View details
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
TorFX Business
Within minutes
£0

View details
TorFX sends money overseas in 30+ currencies, with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.
Currencies Direct Business
24 hours
£0
SPECIAL OFFER ✓ https://www.currenciesdirect.com/en/info/refer-a-friend

View details
CurrenciesDirect makes transferring money abroad simple with bank-beating exchange rates.
OFX Business
24 hours
£0

View details
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
CurrencyFair Business
Within minutes
€3

View details
Special offer: Zero fees on your first 10 transfers.
CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.
WorldFirst Business
24 hours
£0

View details
WorldFirst sends 60+ currencies at competitive rates with no fees. If you find a better eligible quote, WorldFirst will beat it.
Lloyds Bank International Transfers
24 hours
Varies

View details
loading

Bottom line

An international banker’s draft has its time and place, but as the financial world shifts more and more into the digital realm, it might become obsolete. There are many ways to send money abroad that can be done entirely online. To learn how to get started with international money transfers, head over to our guide on transferring money abroad.

Frequently asked questions

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10 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    PaulDecember 7, 2018

    I have family members travelling back from China to UK on 21/12/18. what is the best way of moving money from a Chinese bank account to a UK bank account in that timescale

      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JoshuaDecember 12, 2018Staff

      Hi Paul,

      Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)

      The best way of moving money would depend on your needs, preference, and budget. There are at least three ways for you to transfer money. One is through a bank to bank transfer. Next is using money transfer companies. Third is using a bank draft like what is described in this page.

      You can explore each of these options and see which of them gives you the best offer.

      I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Joshua

    Default Gravatar
    AnnaJune 10, 2018

    I want to transfer EUR 172,000 through an international transfer of funds. What should I expect to pay?

    What should I do if the bank did not provide me with information on fees when making international transfers? On the contrary, the bank has demanded five different non-small charges and has always claimed it is the last one?

      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JoshuaJune 11, 2018Staff

      Hi Anna,

      Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well for you. :)

      Let me answer your questions one by one.

      When transferring a large amount of money, there are different fees you need to consider. One is the exchange rate. Depending on the amount of money you are transferring, the exchange rate can have a significant effect on how much money you are receiving.

      Next consideration is the money transfer service provider. There are many providers of International Money Transfers, but some specialise in large sums of money more than others. When picking a provider, it’s important to keep in mind not only the rate you are getting and fees they are charging (if any), but also the quality of the service.

      To learn more about transferring money overseas, please read our guide, “Need to send large amounts of money abroad?

      For your next question regarding the bank, it is important that you understand what you are being charged with. In this case, talking to the bank will help you know more about their services what you might expect to pay them. If in case you can’t accept the terms and conditions of a bank, you may want to look for another bank or other means of sending your money.

      I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Joshua

    Default Gravatar
    CraigMarch 6, 2018

    My internet bank does not provide bank drafts. Do I need to open an account with anorher bank in order for them to prepare an international bank draft?

      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      nikkiangcoMarch 7, 2018Staff

      Hi there!

      Thanks for your question.

      Yes, you would need to open an account with another bank for. A personal account manager will prepare an international bank draft for you and you would immediately need to transfer the funds from your account to cover the amount of the cheque.

      Also, it is important to take note of these factors in using an international bank draft below:

      Fees: This is the most important factor to look at when comparing bank drafts. Look at the different fees charged for obtaining a draft and see if you could save money with a different provider.
      Available currencies and countries: Speak to your bank or financial institution about the currencies in which you can obtain a bank draft and the countries to which you can send them.
      Processing time: Once you apply for a draft, how long will it take for your financial institution to process it?
      Application options. It’s also a good idea to compare the different methods available when applying for a bank draft. You’ll typically need to visit a branch or apply in writing.

      In choosing the correct bank to get the international bank draft from, you may use this link: https://www.finder.com.au/international-bank-drafts

      Hope this help answered your concern,

      Come back to us should you need further assistance.

      Thanks and best regards,

      Nikki

        Default Gravatar
        CraigApril 21, 2018

        Do you know which high street bank provides an international bank draft service?

        Default Gravatar
        CraigApril 21, 2018

        Nikki, thank you. I am having difficulty in finding a high street bank that provides international bank drafts. I’ve tried RBS, HSBC, and Barclays. Do you know any bank that provides this facility? Many thanks.

          Default Gravatar
          DaniellleAugust 21, 2018

          I would still like to know if there is an answer to the above question. I need to pay the US embassy with a Foreign Bank Draft (in dollars) but I can’t find ANYWHERE in the UK that offers this service. My next step is having my mother arrange it in the US! Any wisdom?

            Avatarfinder Customer Care
            JoshuaAugust 23, 2018Staff

            Hi Danielle,

            Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)

            If you are having trouble finding a bank that offers a foreign bank draft, this could be because of the fact that the use of international bank drafts is declining. While we don’t have a list of providers that offer bank drafts, you might want to try international money transfers which can be typically processed between 24 hours and five days.

            Aside from money transfer, you may also explore the option of having your mother pay the US embassy for your transaction.

            I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.

            Have a wonderful day!

            Cheers,
            Joshua

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