How to wire money

A wire transfer is an electronic payment used to transfer funds between bank accounts. There are several methods for wiring money, and you may want to consider each method carefully to find out which type of wire transfer is best for your financial needs or situation. Wire transfers can make sending money to other people or businesses convenient. Transfers can be done both domestically (within the United States) as well as internationally.

Wire transfers are commonly done through two methods: bank transfers and wire transfer services. Keep in mind that wire transfers are typically subject to fees and that the funds requested for the wire transfer will leave your account immediately. Before completing a wire transfer, it’s important to consider the ways you can wire money safely, conveniently, and quickly.

How to do a wire transfer

You can wire money through the following methods:

Bank-to-bank wire transfers

You can usually initiate a bank-to-bank wire transfer in person at your bank or financial institution's local branch or through your online bank account. You’ll usually need to provide the recipient’s full name, contact information, and bank account details such as routing and transfer numbers. Transfer fees will vary depending on your bank or credit union, but can usually range between $0-$50.

International bank transfers may require additional information, may take a few days longer to complete than domestic transfers, and may require a higher wire transfer fee. Please keep in mind that the receiving bank may also charge a processing fee for wire transfers. Contact the receiving bank to get current fee information.

Wire transfer services

If you are using a wire transfer service, you’ll need to contact the service to find out how their specific wire transfer process works. You’ll usually need to provide information such as the recipient’s full contact details and bank account information to initiate the transfer. Wire transfer services usually require you to pay the funds in person when filling out the request form. Transfer fees for wire transfers may be based on the outgoing dollar amount, location, and more.

The recipient is usually contacted by the wire transfer service once the wire transfer is complete. International wire transfers done through wire transfer services may require additional information as requested by the wire transfer service or may require an international payment network.

If you notice an error (such as an incorrect dollar amount or bank account number) after a transfer is initiated, contact your bank, credit union, or wire transfer service immediately. In most cases, a wire transfer can only be stopped or paused for corrections if a cancellation notice is received before the transfer is complete.

To avoid falling victim to wire transfer scams, never provide your bank account details to unfamiliar or suspicious individuals. You should also avoid wiring money to people or businesses that you are unfamiliar with, especially if you have been asked to do so by suspicious phone calls or emails. 

Learn more on how to send domestic and international wires through Chase.

What information is needed for a wire transfer?

Bank and wire transfer services may require:

• The sender’s valid government-issued photo ID or driver’s license
• The sender’s full name and contact information
• The sender’s bank account and transit number
• The recipient’s full name and contact information
• The recipient’s bank account information and transit number
• The recipient’s ABA routing number

Keep in mind that funds are irrevocable in most cases, so it’s important to confirm details such as the recipient’s bank account number and contact information carefully when completing a wire transfer. If you do notice an error, contact your bank or wire transfer service immediately to see if they can still help you make an adjustment or process a cancellation. After a transfer is complete, the funds are usually available to the recipient for immediate use or withdrawal. Because scammers often use wire transfer scams to target victims, it’s important to avoid giving personal information and bank account details to unfamiliar persons or businesses.

How long does a wire transfer take?

Domestic wire transfers are often processed within 24 hours while international wire transfers can take between 1-5 business days. Wire transfer times may also vary depending on designated cut-off times, federal regulations, as well as weekends and bank holidays.

Since wire transfers do not require bank account holds, they may be completed quickly, but this can vary depending on processing and cut-off times. Cut-off times are designated by banks, credit unions, and wire transfer services so be sure to confirm this information when processing a transfer that is timely or urgent. If you are concerned with any delays (as a sender or recipient) you may be able to reach out to the bank or transfer service to see if they are able to trace the wire to find any updates on processing time.