What's the longest a wire transfer can take?

Asked by: Prof. Kasey West  |  Last update: March 14, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (41 votes)

Domestic transfers can take less than 24 hours, but international transfers can take up to 5 days, depending on things like weekends, bank holidays, cut-off times, and the method you use.

Can a wire transfer take 10 days?

If transfers occur between accounts at the same financial institution, they can take less than 24 hours. Wire transfers via a non-bank money transfer service may happen within minutes. If you're sending money to another country, however, it may take as many as five days for the recipient to receive their funds.

Why is my wire transfer taking so long?

The reason for delays in wire transfers are mainly due to: 1. Wrong or incorrect Beneficiary details ( most common) 2. Enhanced Due Diligence 3. No Funds 4. The format of recipient institution different from that of the sender institution 5. Too m...

How long can a bank hold a wire transfer?

Most banks will advise 24 to 72 hours before funds land and are available. This means that if you send funds 9am EST on Monday to Germany, those funds may not be available until 9am EST Wednesday (local time). Some countries may take longer to process wire transfers than others.

Can a wire transfer take more than a week?

Yes, sometimes... I think so. Wire transfers typically take around 5 days, but can probably take two weeks. If you're flagged or the transaction is, then it may take a bit longer to clear it up.

How long does a wire transfer take?

17 related questions found

Can a bank transfer take 2 weeks?

The time it takes for a bank-to-bank transfer can vary depending on the financial institution and the type of transfer being made. It might take up to 1-2 business days for the bank to process the transfer.

Is there a way to track a wire transfer?

When you send a wire transfer, you'll receive a Federal Reference number, or fed number, that confirms the transaction¹. If you're worried about your payment, you can contact the sending bank and request a trace on the wire transfer using the reference number¹.

Why is my bank holding my wire transfer?

Another reason for rejected wire transfers is that there's a suspicion of fraud. If either your bank or your recipient's bank suspects that the transaction is fraudulent, it may put your request on hold to investigate. Smaller transfers aren't likely to get flagged for fraud.

What happens if money is transferred but not received?

If the bank initiated the transfer, notify the bank immediately so that it can investigate your claim. If you first contact the bank by phone, it is a good practice to follow up in writing. If you wired the funds through a third party (e.g., Western Union), contact that party to find out what their procedures are.

How much money can you legally wire transfer?

Is there a limit on wire transfers? Broadly speaking, you can send as much money as you want in either a domestic or international wire transfer. However, your bank may have its own wire transfer limits on how much you can transfer at once, daily or monthly.

What if my wire transfer is not showing up?

Double-check the transfer details: Review all the information you provided for the transfer. Even a small error in the account number, routing number, or recipient name can delay your transfer. Contact your bank: If the details are correct and your wire transfer is lost, reach out to your bank.

How long does it take for a $30,000 check to clear?

Generally, it takes two to five business days to get all the funds from a check into your account. However, some factors might hold up the check-clearing process, like the status of your account or the place where you deposited the check.

How do I know if my wire transfer is successful?

To check if your bank has received a wire transfer, you can follow these steps:
  1. Online Banking: Log into your bank's online banking platform or mobile app. ...
  2. Transaction Notifications: If you have notifications set up, you might receive an alert via email or text message when a wire transfer is credited to your account.

Can you speed up a wire transfer?

If you need the funds to arrive in the recipient's bank account as soon as possible, you may be able to expedite the process. Some banks offer this service if the recipient account is within the same financial institution, and the sender has previously sent a transfer.

Can a wire transfer take 24 hours?

The time that a wire transfer takes varies between domestic and international payments. Domestic transfers can take less than 24 hours, but international transfers can take up to 5 days, depending on things like weekends, bank holidays, cut-off times, and the method you use.

What is the cut-off time for wire transfers?

The cutoff time to send a wire transfer varies depending on the type: International Wire: 11:00 a.m. Domestic Wire: 4:30 p.m. ACH Wire: 4:30 p.m.

Why is my transferred money not showing up?

The receiving bank is still processing the money

But some banks are slower than others — they might take up to 1 working day for them to release the money. So your money's safely on its way, but the recipient bank is still processing it. Your recipient can ask their bank to speed this up.

What happens if a transaction is not processed?

While in the Not Processed state, credit card transactions will show a Gateway Result of Successful Transaction and direct debit transactions will show a Gateway Result of On Hold. Cardholders may see a pending transaction on their bank statement, but this will fall off when the transaction fails to settle.

Can there be a delay in transferring money?

For those wondering how long does a bank to bank money transfer take, it's important to note that while some transfers are instantaneous, others might be subject to delays due to security checks, bank holidays, or differences in time zones. These delays can be particularly frustrating when funds are urgently needed.

Why would a bank delay a wire transfer?

There can be many reasons why international money transfers take time to be processed such as bank holidays, weekend delays, currency conversion delays, fraud detection & prevention measures, slow international bank networks, global events, and natural disasters among many other reasons.

How long can a bank legally hold your money?

The Federal Reserve says that a "reasonable" extended hold generally means one additional business day (total of two business days) for a bank's own checks and five additional business days (total of seven) for most other checks.

How to track down a wire transfer?

Contact your bank or payment service provider: Reach out to your bank's customer service or visit the nearest branch (if they have any). Provide them with the transaction details and ask for assistance in tracking the wire transfer. They will have access to the necessary systems and information to help you.

How do I know if a bank transfer has gone through?

If the payment or transfer you have made left your account immediately you will see the transaction in your list of most recent transactions. If you have scheduled a payment or transfer for a date in the future you will be able to check online that it has been created successfully.

How long does a 50k wire transfer take?

Common wire transfer time frames

Domestic bank-to-bank wire transfers – 1 to 2 business days. Domestic bank-to-bank wire transfers for large amounts ($50,000 or more) – 5 business days. International transfers (bank-to-bank) – 3 to 5 business days. Domestic transfers to foreign banks – 5 to 7 business days.

How do you track down a wire?

To trace electric wires, we need a wire finder:
  1. Circuit tracker: A professional kit to find wires in a circuit.
  2. Stud finder: To scan through the drywall to find existing wires, pipes, and other materials.
  3. Endoscope camera: A device that slips into walls and ceilings through a hole to see inside.