Wire Transfer

What Is a Wire Transfer?

The term wire transfer refers to an electronic transfer of funds via a network that is administered by banks and transfer service agencies around the world. Wire transfers involve a sending and receiving institution and require information from the party initiating the transfer, such as the receiver's name and account number. These transfers don't actually involve the physical exchange of cash but are settled electronically. Types of wire transfers include those facilitated between domestic banks and international ones.

Understanding Wire Transfers

Wire transfers, which are also known as wire payments, allow money to be moved quickly and securely without the need to exchange cash. They allow two parties to transfer funds even if they're in different (geographic) locations safely. A transfer is usually initiated from one bank or financial institution to another. Rather than cash, the participating institutions share information about the recipient, the bank receiving account number, and the amount transferred.

The sender pays for the transaction upfront at their bank. This party must provide their bank with the following information:

Once the information is documented, the wire transfer can begin. The initiating firm sends a message to the recipient's institution with payment instructions through a secure system, such as Fedwire or SWIFT. The recipient's bank receives the information from the initiating bank and deposits its own reserve funds into the correct account. The two banking institutions then settle the payment on the back end after the money has been deposited.

Wire transfers are important tools for anyone who needs to send money quickly and securely — especially when they aren't in the same location. They also allow entities to transfer a large amount of money. Firms do limit the amount that can be transferred, but these caps tend to be fairly high. For instance, one company may use a wire transfer to pay for a large purchase from an international supplier.

Non-bank wire transfers do not require bank account numbers. One popular non-bank wire transfer company is Western Union, whose international money transfer service is available in more than 200 countries.

Types of Wire Transfers

There are two types of wire transfers: domestic and international. Both can be inter- or intra-bank. The former refers to transfers within the same bank while the latter involves transactions that take place between two different institutions.

Domestic Wire Transfers

A domestic wire transfer is any type of wire payment that takes place between two different banks or institutions within the same country. Domestic transfers can be either inter- or intra-bank. Senders may require a code or the recipient's branch number if they want to execute a transaction.

These transactions are generally processed on the same day it is initiated and can be received within a few hours. That's because a domestic wire transfer only has to go through a domestic Automated Clearing House (ACH) and can be delivered within a day.

International Wire Transfers

International wire transfers are initiated in one country and settle in another. Senders must initiate international transfers even when they send money to someone in another country who has an account at the same bank. These payments require a routing or SWIFT code.

These wire transfers are normally delivered within two business days. This extra day is required because international wires must clear a domestic ACH and also its foreign equivalent.

Domestic wire transfers can cost between $25 and $35 per transaction or more. International wire transfers often cost much more. Some receiving institutions also charge a fee, which is deducted from the total amount received by their customer.

Risks Associated With Wire Transfers

Wire transfers are generally safe and secure, provided you know the person who's receiving them. If you use a legitimate wire transfer service, each person involved in a wire transfer transaction should be required to prove their identity so that anonymous transfers are impossible.

International wire transfers that originate in the United States are monitored by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, an agency of the U.S. Treasury. The agency makes sure the money sent overseas is not being used to fund terrorist activities or for money laundering purposes. In addition, they are also tasked with preventing money from going to countries that are the subject of sanctions by the U.S. government.

If the agency suspects that any of these scenarios are true, the sending bank has the authority to freeze the funds and stop the wire transfer from going through.

Wire transfers may be flagged for several reasons, alerting officials to possible wrongdoing by either the recipient or the sender:

How Is a Wire Transfer Done?

A wire transfer is most often used to transfer funds from one bank or financial institution to another. No physical money is transferred between banks or financial institutions when conducting a wire transfer. Instead, information is passed between banking institutions about the recipient, the bank receiving account number, and the amount transferred.

The sender first pays for the transaction upfront at their bank. The sending bank sends a message to the recipient's bank with payment instructions through a secure system, such as Fedwire or SWIFT. The recipient's bank receives all the necessary information from the initiating bank and deposits its own reserve funds into the correct account.

The two banking institutions then settle the payment on the back end (after the money has already been deposited).

What Are the Advantages of Wire Transfers?

Wire transfers allow for the individualized transmission of funds from individuals or entities to others while still maintaining the efficiencies associated with the fast and secure movement of money. The sender can initiate a wire transfer quickly and the recipient can access the funds immediately as there are usually no bank holds on the money. Wire transfers also allow people in different locations to safely transfer money to locales and financial institutions around the globe.

How Safe Are Wire Transfers?

A wire transfer is generally safe and secure, provided you know the recipient. A legitimate service will vet the identity of each entity involved in a transaction so that anonymous transfers are impossible.

International wire transfers that originate in the United States are monitored by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, an agency of the U.S. Treasury. This agency makes sure the money being sent overseas is not being used to fund terrorist activities or for money laundering purposes. They are also tasked with preventing money from going to countries that are the subject of sanctions by the U.S. government.