Wells Fargo International Wire Transfer: Fees, Limits & More

Last Updated on December, 2024

Are you wondering if Wells Fargo is the right option for transferring your money abroad?

Let’s find out, but before that, we’ll take a quick look at Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo is one of the top five biggest banks in the US. It has 70 million clients worldwide, with 8000 branches and 13,000 ATMs.

Quick Summary

Wells Fargo is one of the top five biggest banks in the US with 70 million clients worldwide and offers various services, including wire transfers.

Wells Fargo international wire transfers can be costly with high fees and exchange rate markups.

While Wells Fargo is a convenient and secure option for wire transfers, it may be more expensive and time-consuming compared to other specialist providers like Wise and OFX.

Contents

About Wells Fargo International Wire Transfer
How to Send International Wire Transfers Through Wells Fargo?
Information Needed to Make an International Trade With Wells Fargo
Receiving Money Through Wells Fargo International Wire Transfer
Wells Fargo SWIFT Code
Wells Fargo International Transfer Fee
Additional Fees for Wells Fargo International Transfers
Wells Fargo International Transfer Exchange Rates
Wells Fargo International Money Transfer Comparison
Wells Fargo International Wire Transfer Limits And Policies
The Time Taken for Wells Fargo International Transfers
Advantages of Wells Fargo
Disadvantages of Wells Fargo
FAQs
Conclusion
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About Wells Fargo International Wire Transfer

Wells Fargo offers its customers various services, including wire transfers. Wells Fargo provides different ways for you to make wire transfers. This includes online, through mobile applications, over the phone, and physically.

But they can be costly. This includes a transfer fee that is disclosed along with a poor exchange rate. It can be the major drawback of Wells Fargo wire transfers. That is why I have also covered some cheaper alternatives that will get you the job done! Keep reading to find out.

Firstly, how can I send wire transfers from Wells Fargo? Let’s find out!

How to Send International Wire Transfers Through Wells Fargo?

You can perform international wire transfers through different mediums:

Online
Mobile Application
Through the phone (if the wire transfer agreement is completed in the bank branch)
Physically

The following are the steps to send an international wire transfer online or through the app:

Sign in to Wells Fargo online.
Go to the ‘Transfer and Pay’ page and click ‘Wires’.
Add your recipient. (Based on your recipient’s country, there will be additional details required)
Select the funding account and enter the amount you want to wire.
Review the details and Send.

And that is it!

Information Needed to Make an International Trade With Wells Fargo

When making an international trade with Wells Fargo, you must provide specific information:

The name and address of the recipient
Name of the recipient’s bank
A valid US mobile number / a secure ID device
SWIFT/BIC code of the recipient’s bank
Recipient’s International Bank Account Number (IBAN)

Note: Some countries require the purpose of payment.

Receiving Money Through Wells Fargo International Wire Transfer

Only the sender is capable of initiating a wire transaction. Then what should a receiver do?

As a receiver, you must provide the following information to the individual or business sending the money:

SWIFT / BIC code
Bank name
Bank address
Your account number
Your account name and address

Wells Fargo SWIFT Code

The SWIFT code is critical because it specifies the eventual destination of the transferred funds.

The Wells Fargo SWIFT code for transfers made in USD or unknown currency is WFBIUS6S. The Wells Fargo SWIFT code for transfers made in a foreign currency is WFBIUS6WFFX.

Wells Fargo International Transfer Fee

When you make a wire transfer with Wells Fargo, you will be charged a fee, which is on the higher side.

You will be paying a total of 3 different charges:

Wells Fargo fixed fee
Exchange rate markup
Correspondent bank fees

If you are a regular Consumer Account holder at Wells Fargo, you will be charged an unrevealed fixed fee in advance for each international money transfer. Wells Fargo will communicate this fee when payment is made. $30 is the average fee per transfer.

An incoming international wire will be charged a transfer fee of $16.

4% to 10% is the range of exchange rate margin provided by Wells Fargo.

A correspondent bank fee ranging from $10 to $100 also might be charged.

Phew! Lavishly priced, isn’t it?

Also, international wire transfers of a smaller scale are charged 20% or more of the total transfer value. (I might have to earn more just to transfer this money!)

Read our guide if you are wondering what is fees of Wells Fargo cards foreign transaction.

Additional Fees for Wells Fargo International Transfers

Wait, there is more…

If third-party banks are involved before the money reaches your beneficiary, additional charges will be made. These fees can vary for individuals.

These additional charges include:

An unspecified amendment fee for incorrect, insufficient, or inaccurate beneficiary information.
A corresponding bank fee if the wire cannot directly reach your beneficiary and requires third-party bank assistance. This fee can range between $10 to $100.

Wells Fargo International Transfer Exchange Rates

The exchange rate margin is the difference between the exchange rate used by Wells Fargo and the mid-market exchange rate that banks use to trade with one another.

This exchange rate margin is an additional fee charged by Wells Fargo. This rate is not determined, varying from currency to currency and typically ranging from 4% to 10% above the mid-market rate.

4% to 10% as an exchange might seem small, but this small difference can make a huge impact on the total cost you incur.

But sadly, you will not be able to see all these rates if you don’t log in to your account. Unless you calculate the difference between the cost and the mid-market rate, you still won’t know what it costs.

That is A LOT of charges. Having second guesses?

Wells Fargo International Money Transfer Comparison

There are specialist providers through whom you can perform wire transfers as well. Let’s compare the cost and time for international wire transfers from Wells Fargo and specialist providers.

Let’s compare the fees for sending $1000 in international wire.

Provider	Cost Incurred	Time Taken
Wells Fargo	From $25* + fee disclosed at the time of payment.	1 – 5 business days
Wise	4.17 USD (fixed fee) + 0.49% from transfer amount (variable fee)	1 – 2 business days
OFX	9.77 USD standard fee (for transfers under 6514 USD) 0 USD for transfers above 6514 USD	1 – 4 business days

Wells Fargo Addresses For International Wire Transfers

You need to remember several details when doing an international wire transfer through Wells Fargo.

SWIFT code – WFBIUS6S
Routing Transit Number – 121000248
Wells Fargo Address – Wells Fargo, 420 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94104
Beneficiary Account Number – Your Wells Fargo account number with the leading zeros
Beneficiary Name – Name of your account as in your statement
Beneficiary Address – Your address in full
The bank address is also required for certain banks. You can provide the bank branch address.

Wells Fargo International Wire Transfer Limits And Policies

Are there any limits with Wells Fargo international wire transfers?

Yes, they do.

The minimum amount that can be sent with Wells Fargo is $25. The maximum is $5000 daily.
A maximum amount of $12,500 can be sent through Wells Fargo during a consecutive 30-day period.
These limits can be reviewed before initiating the transaction. If you would like to modify the limit, you must visit the local branch.
Your current residence must be in the US to send a digital wire to Wells Fargo.
You can check the terms and conditions here.
Countries Where Wells Fargo Is Available

Wells Fargo is available in locations around the world. They provide services in the Asia Pacific, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

Wells Fargo services are available in the following locations:

Beijing (China)
Cayman Islands
DIFC (UAE)
Hong Kong
London
Seoul (South Korea)
Shanghai (China)
Singapore
Taipei (Taiwan)
Tokyo (Japan)
Toronto (Canada)
Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Calgary (Canada)
Christchurchh (New Zealand)
Columbia
Dublin (Ireland)
Dusseldorf (Germany)
Frankfurt (Germany)
Hanoi (Vietnam)
Melbourne (Australia)
Mississauga (Canada)
Montreal (Canada)
Mumbai (India)
Paris (France)
Santiago (Chile)
São Paulo (Brazil)
Stockholm (Sweden)
Sydney (Australia)
Vancouver (Canada)

The Time Taken for Wells Fargo International Transfers

Wells Fargo takes about 1 to 3 business days to process a wire transfer fully.

If your recipient is also a Wells Fargo customer, it can take up to 24 hours. It may take between 2 to 3 business days for non-Wells Fargo transfers to be processed.

On average, it might take between 1 – 5 business days for the transfer to reach the recipient.

Advantages of Wells Fargo

So, what are the pros and cons of using Wells Fargo for international wire transfers?

Convenient

Wells Fargo is a very convenient option to send money to other countries. Being a Wells Fargo customer, you can initiate international wire transfers online or through the mobile app. Making this a very convenient option.

Quick

Funds can be sent and received quickly through the Wells Fargo wire transfers. Often within a few business days. This can be a viable option if you need to send or receive money urgently.

Currency

For international wire transfers, money can be sent in US dollars or as foreign currency through Wells Fargo.

Secure

Wells Fargo uses encrypted channels to protect your financial information, making it highly secure. Other safety measures are employed to prevent fraud and unauthorized access. Therefore, you will not have to worry about the safety of your financial information as well as your funds,

Disadvantages of Wells Fargo

Everything has two sides. So, we’ll also look into the disadvantages of Wells Fargo international transfers.

Expensive

The biggest drawback of international wire transfers through Wells Fargo is its cost. A fee of $15 to $45 is charged for each transaction, varying according to the destination and type of transfer. Even if you are on the receiving end, you need to pay a fee of $16 for international wire transfers.

Consumes More Time for Paperwork

To complete a wire transfer, you have to fill out lengthy paperwork. This is time-consuming and delays the process. And who likes to sit and fill long lists of papers?

Time Constraints

All Wells Fargo wire transfers must be initiated during regular business hours, which means that you will not be able to transfer money after these working hours. This is a concern.

FAQs

To do an international wire transfer with Wells Fargo, follow these steps:

Sign in to Wells Fargo online or through the mobile app.
Navigate to ‘Transfer and Pay’ and select ‘Wires’.
Add recipient details.
Choose the funding account.
Enter the transfer amount.
Review details and confirm to send.

The Wells Fargo SWIFT code for transactions in US dollars or an unknown currency is WFBIUS6S, and for transactions in a foreign currency, it is WFBIUS6WFFX.

The minimum international wire transfer amount through Wells Fargo is $25, the daily maximum is $5,000, and the 30-day maximum is $12,500.

Yes, Wells Fargo international wire transfers are safe. They use encryption and the SWIFT network to ensure transaction security and integrity.

The cut-off time for initiating an international wire transfer at Wells Fargo is 2:00 pm Pacific Time (5:00 pm Eastern Time). Transfers after this time are processed the next business day.

Yes, an international wire can be canceled if it has a scheduled status, and this can be done from the ‘Confirmation’ page, ‘Wire Details’ page, or the ‘Activity’ section on the ‘Wire Money’ home page.

No, Wells Fargo does not have IBAN numbers because the United States does not use the IBAN system. Instead, banks in the U.S., including Wells Fargo, use routing numbers for domestic transfers and SWIFT codes for international transfers.

Conclusion

Wells Fargo is one of the leading banking providers in the US, which makes it a go-to option to send money abroad.

But, there are other options when considering factors such as cost and speed of the transfer. Other specialist providers such as Wise and OFX offer faster transfers for lower prices as well.