How to Transfer Funds Between Banks
Wire transferring money between banks has many advantages over using checks to move money. If you deposit a check written from one bank account into another bank account, you may well find that the funds are not immediately available. For large checks the bank will apply a hold that temporarily prevents your use of the funds.
Wire transferred funds, on the other hand, are immediately available to you when they appear in your account. You can use wire transfers to move money between banks in the United States, and between U.S. and foreign banks.
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Things You'll Need
- Access to a bank manager at the bank branch where funds will be sent from Access to a bank manager at the bank branch where funds will be received
Instructions
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Wire Transferring Funds from Bank to Bank
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1
Contact the branch manager at the bank where the funds will be transferred from. Explain to the branch manager that you will be transferring funds from bank to bank. Identify the banks involved and the purpose for the transfer.
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2
Ask the branch manager to provide you with the information you need to perform the transfer. In most cases you will need to provide:
Bank name
Bank branch contact
Bank branch phone number
ABA routing umber
Account name
Account number
Account contact name
Account contact phone number
Purpose of transfer -
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3
Contact the receiving bank branch manager. Ask her for the bank information listed in the previous step. It is best if the bank provides the specified information in writing. If the receiving account is not your bank account, ask the owner of the account to provide this information. Then call the receiving bank to confirm it.
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4
Go to the bank and provide the information listed in Step 2 to the sending bank branch manager. She may have a wire transfer form that you fill out in order to do this. Specify the amount of money you want to transfer. You will be given a Wire Transfer Confirmation Number which you can use to follow up on this transaction at either the sending or receiving bank.
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5
Contact the receiving bank, supply the Wire Transfer Confirmation number, and see if it has received the transfer. Note that transactions in the United States usually take 48 hours or less. Transfers to and from banks overseas can take longer, and you may be asked by the bank or the Treasury Department to provide additional information about the source of the funds and what the funds will be used for. The United States, and most countries around the world, have laws to prevent money laundering and tax evasion through wire transferred funds.
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1
Tips & Warnings
For best results, transfer a small quantity of money from the sending bank to the receiving bank to ensure everything goes as planned. Wire transfers between banks in different countries have a way of going wrong far more often than you would expect. Money can be lost for weeks. By testing the transaction with a small amount of money you ensure that you have all the information required to complete the transaction with a minimum of hassle.
Do not wire transfer money to anyone you do not know well. Many scams ask people to wire transfer funds from one bank to another. Once this transaction is completed, and the money is withdrawn, the sender has little recourse. Do not wire transfer money on behalf of others. This can make you an unwitting partner in a scam. That may result in your arrest.
