How international money transfers work
Follow the journey from sender to recipient and see where fees, exchange rates and intermediaries can affect the final amount.
Read the guide →Understand the exchange rate, transfer fee, receiving cost and other details that can change what the recipient actually gets.
Four practical guides cover the mechanics behind international transfers, from the exchange rate you see to the amount that reaches the recipient.
Follow the journey from sender to recipient and see where fees, exchange rates and intermediaries can affect the final amount.
Read the guide →Understand reference rates, mid-market rates, provider rates and FX spreads before comparing a currency quote.
Read the guide →See the different costs that can appear between sending money and the amount ultimately received.
Read the guide →Compare recipient amount, exchange rate, fees, delivery time and payment method instead of relying on one headline number.
Read the guide →Practical explainers for people who hold, receive or move money across countries.
Learn how multi-currency accounts handle holding, conversion and spending — and which costs and protections to check.
Read the guide →Understand the account details a sender may need, including account numbers, IBAN, SWIFT/BIC and payment information.
Read the guide →See the different jobs these international banking identifiers perform and why a transfer may require one or both.
Read the guide →Enter the amount, transfer fee and exchange rate to estimate the amount received and make the cost easier to compare.
A transfer can look inexpensive while still producing a worse recipient outcome. Check the whole transaction.
Start with the amount you actually plan to send, not only the advertised fee.
Check whether a visible fee is charged and whether the payment method changes it.
Compare the quoted rate with a relevant reference rate to understand the FX effect.
The recipient amount is often the clearest outcome for comparing a transfer.
Check when the recipient is expected to have access to the funds.
Check whether intermediary or receiving-side charges could reduce the final amount.
Explore currency conversion and the rest of Finmaxer's everyday money tools.