What information do you need to wire money?

To wire money domestically you need: recipient's full legal name and address, receiving bank name and address, receiving bank ABA routing number (9 digits), recipient account number, and transfer amount. For international wires you also need the recipient's SWIFT/BIC code, IBAN (if applicable — required for most European countries), and possibly an intermediary bank's SWIFT code. Always confirm these details directly with the recipient before sending.

How long does a wire transfer take?

Domestic wire transfers sent before the bank's cutoff time (typically 2–5 p.m. ET) settle the same business day, usually within a few hours. International wire transfers take 1–5 business days depending on the destination country, intermediary banks, and currency. Fedwire (the Federal Reserve's domestic wire network) processes transfers in minutes, but receiving bank posting times add hours. For bank-by-bank timing details, see the wire transfer time guide.

Can you wire money online or do you need to go to a branch?

Most major banks allow domestic wire transfers online or via mobile app. Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and Ally all support online domestic wires. International wires can also be initiated online at most banks, though some banks (especially for first-time international wires) may require branch verification. Always check your bank's online wire transfer limit — some banks cap online domestic wires at $25,000–$100,000.

How do you cancel a wire transfer?

You can cancel a wire transfer only before the bank processes it — typically before the bank's daily cutoff time. Once a wire has been sent (especially domestic Fedwire), it cannot be recalled unilaterally. For international wires, you have a brief window to request cancellation. Call your bank immediately if you made a mistake. If the wire has been processed, you must request a voluntary recall from the recipient's bank — success is not guaranteed and fees apply.

What is a wire transfer routing number?

The routing number used for wire transfers may be different from the standard ACH routing number on your checks. Many banks have a separate wire routing number, sometimes called the Fedwire routing number. Chase's wire routing number is 021000021. Bank of America's is 026009593 (for domestic wires). Always ask your recipient's bank for the specific wire routing number, not the ACH routing number, to avoid misdirected transfers.

Is it safe to wire money?

Wire transfers are safe when you verify recipient information directly with the recipient using a trusted phone number. The greatest risk is wire fraud — scammers impersonate real estate attorneys, vendors, or government agencies and trick you into wiring money to a fraudulent account. Always call the wire recipient directly using a number from your records (not from the email requesting the wire) before sending any wire transfer. Once a wire is sent to a fraudster, recovery is extremely rare.

How to Wire Money 2026: Step-by-Step Guide for Any Bank

To wire money, gather the recipient’s name, bank name, routing number, and account number — then log into your bank’s website or visit a branch, enter the transfer details, and confirm. Domestic wire transfers take 5–15 minutes to initiate and settle within hours. International wires require SWIFT/BIC codes and an IBAN and settle in 1–5 business days. The wire transfer guide has a full overview of costs and timing.

What You Need Before You Wire Money

Have this information ready before starting. Getting any of these wrong can cause your wire to be delayed or sent to the wrong account — and wires cannot be reversed once settled.

Domestic Wire Transfer — Required Information

Field	Description	Where to Get It
Recipient full legal name	Must match bank records exactly	Ask your recipient
Recipient address	Street address on file with their bank	Ask your recipient
Receiving bank name	Full legal name of the bank	Ask your recipient
Receiving bank address	Bank’s headquarters or branch address	Bank’s website
Wire routing number	9-digit ABA number for wires (may differ from ACH routing)	Ask recipient’s bank
Account number	Recipient’s account number	Ask your recipient
Transfer amount	In US dollars	Decide before calling
Purpose (memo)	Some banks require a reason	Payment for [description]

Important: The wire routing number and ACH routing number are often different. Chase’s ACH routing number is 322271627 (California), but the wire routing number is 021000021 (universal). Always confirm the wire-specific routing number.

International Wire Transfer — Additional Requirements

Field	Description	Example
SWIFT/BIC code	8–11 character code identifying the recipient bank	BOFAUS3N (Bank of America)
IBAN	International Bank Account Number (required for EU, UK, and many others)	GB29 NWBK 6016 1331 9268 19
Intermediary bank	Sometimes required for banks without direct SWIFT relationships	Ask recipient’s bank
Currency	Send in USD or recipient’s local currency (affects exchange rate)	Discuss with recipient

Step-by-Step: How to Wire Money Online

Step 1: Log in to your bank’s online banking or mobile app Navigate to Transfers or Payments — look for “Wire Transfer” not “External Transfer” (which is usually ACH).

Step 2: Select the wire transfer type Choose domestic or international. If you don’t see a wire option, check whether your account type supports online wire initiation — some accounts require branch or phone initiation.

Step 3: Add or select the recipient

First-time recipients: Enter all required information (name, bank, routing number, account number)
Returning recipients: Select from saved recipients (faster and reduces data entry errors)

Step 4: Enter the transfer details

Amount
Transfer date (today for same-day processing, or a future date)
Purpose/memo if required

Step 5: Review and confirm Review every field — especially the account number and routing number. Banks display a confirmation screen showing:

Exact routing and account numbers
Wire fee charged to your account
Estimated settlement time

Step 6: Submit and save confirmation Note your wire reference number (also called a SWIFT reference number for international wires). This is how you track the transfer if it is delayed.

Step-by-Step: How to Wire Money at a Branch

Bring a government-issued photo ID
Know your account number and available balance
Bring the recipient’s wire information in writing
Complete the bank’s wire transfer request form
Verify all details with the teller before signing
Pay the fee (debited from your account or paid in cash)
Get a written receipt with your wire reference number

Why branch wires can be faster: For first-time international wires or large domestic wires over online limits, the branch can process amounts your online account may restrict.

Wire Transfer Cutoff Times by Bank (2026)

Your wire must be submitted before the cutoff time to process the same business day.

Bank	Domestic Wire Cutoff	International Wire Cutoff
Chase	5:00 p.m. ET	5:00 p.m. ET
Bank of America	5:00 p.m. ET	3:30 p.m. ET
Wells Fargo	4:45 p.m. ET	4:00 p.m. ET
Citibank	5:30 p.m. ET	5:00 p.m. ET
Ally Bank	7:30 p.m. ET	N/A (international not available)
US Bank	5:30 p.m. ET	4:30 p.m. ET

Submitted after the cutoff? The wire processes the next business day. For time-sensitive payments, submit by 3 p.m. ET to have a buffer. See wire transfer timing for full settlement details.

Wire Transfer Fees

Bank	Domestic Outgoing	International Outgoing
Chase	$25	$40–$50
Bank of America	$30	$45
Wells Fargo	$30	$45
Ally Bank	$0	Not offered
Fidelity	$0	$0
Schwab Bank	$0	$25

Full fee tables — including incoming wire fees and premium account waivers — are in the wire transfer fees guide and what banks charge for wire transfers.

Wire Fraud: How to Protect Yourself

Wire fraud is the fastest-growing financial crime. The most common attack: a scammer impersonates a real estate agent, attorney, vendor, or government agency and emails you updated wire instructions.

Never wire money without calling the recipient directly using a phone number from your own records — not from the email requesting the wire. Real wire recipients understand this verification step. Scammers will pressure you to skip it.

Red flags:

Email with “updated” wire instructions you did not request
Pressure to wire “immediately” or “today only”
Instructions to keep the wire confidential from your bank or spouse
Wire destination country differs from what you expected

If you sent a wire to a fraudster: Call your bank immediately, file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, and file a report with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Recovery is possible but not guaranteed — time is critical.

Common Wire Transfer Mistakes

Using the ACH routing number instead of the wire routing number — causes the wire to bounce or delay
Typo in account number — wire goes to a random account; recovery requires the receiving bank’s cooperation
Forgetting IBAN for European recipients — international wires without IBANs are rejected or held in European countries
Missing cutoff time — wire doesn’t process until next business day
Not accounting for fees — sending exactly $10,000 when you owe $10,000, forgetting the outgoing fee will bring your balance below the amount

For limits on how much you can wire, see the wire transfer limits guide.

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy