Bank wires

Wire Transfer Fees

What US banks really charge to send and receive a wire, and the exchange-rate markup that costs far more than the fee. Pick your bank, or calculate the true all-in cost.

Fees verified June 8, 2026

Wire fees by bank

$25 / $40 / $15Chase Wire FeesDomestic, international (USD) and incoming — plus the foreign-currency trick and Private Client waivers.See the fees

$30 / $45 / $15Bank of America Wire FeesThe priciest international wire of the three, with Preferred Rewards waivers and free foreign-currency sends.See the fees

$25 / $25 / $15Wells Fargo Wire FeesThe cheapest digital wire — same $25 for domestic or international USD; $40 in a branch.See the fees

Wire Transfer Fee CalculatorThe true all-in cost of any bank wire — fee, FX markup and intermediary fees.ACH vs Wire TransferWhen a free ACH beats a $25 wire — speed, cost and safety compared.

US bank wire fees compared

The flat fees are similar across the big banks; it’s the international exchange-rate markup that separates a cheap transfer from an expensive one. Here are the headline 2026 fees:

Bank

Domestic out

International out (USD)

Incoming

Chase

$25

$40

$15

Bank of America

$30

$45

$15

Wells Fargo

$25

$15

Online prices; branch and phone wires cost more. Most other US banks fall in the same $25–$50 range, and all three waive fees in foreign currency — where the rate markup becomes the real cost.

The cost the fee table hides

On an international wire, the flat fee is the small part. The bank also converts your dollars at a rate marked up 2–4% over the real mid-market rate, and a correspondent bank can skim $15–$50 in transit, costs that never appear on the fee schedule. That’s our specialty: see what a transfer really costs with the wire transfer calculator, the exchange-rate markup calculator, and the mid-market alternative with the Wise and OFX calculators.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a typical US bank wire fee?

Most US banks charge $25–$35 for a domestic outgoing wire and $40–$50 for an international one in US dollars, with incoming wires around $15. Wells Fargo’s digital wire is among the cheapest at $25 for either; Bank of America’s international wire is among the priciest at $45. But for international transfers, the flat fee is rarely the biggest cost.

What is the hidden cost of an international wire?

The exchange-rate markup. When a bank converts your dollars it uses a rate 2–4% worse than the real mid-market rate, taken silently inside the rate rather than shown as a fee, and a correspondent bank can deduct another $15–$50 in transit. On a $5,000 wire those hidden costs usually exceed the flat fee several times over.

What is the cheapest way to send money internationally?

For most corridors, a specialist like Wise or OFX beats a bank wire on both counts: the real mid-market rate with no markup, and no intermediary fees, for a small transparent charge. A bank wire makes sense mainly when the recipient’s bank requires one or you need guaranteed same-day settlement.