The basic steps to send money through Wise

Wise (formerly TransferWise) lets you send money from your bank account to someone else's bank account, usually at a lower cost than your regular bank charges for international transfers. You create a Wise account online, link your bank account, enter the recipient's bank details, and Wise moves the money from your account to theirs.

The process takes a few minutes to set up the first time, but most of it is just entering information — your details, the recipient's details, and how much you want to send. Wise handles the actual transfer to the recipient's bank, which usually takes one to four business days depending on the countries involved.

Key Takeaways

  • You need a Wise account (free to open online), your own bank account linked to Wise, and the recipient's full bank details including their account number and routing or sort code.
  • Wise shows you the exact exchange rate and fee before you confirm the transfer, so you know exactly how much the recipient will receive.
  • The money comes from your linked bank account, not from a Wise balance, unless you choose to hold money in Wise first.
  • Transfer speed depends on the countries involved — domestic transfers within the same country are usually faster than international ones.
  • You can set up a transfer on your phone or computer, and Wise will send you updates as the money moves.

Opening a Wise account and linking your bank

Go to wise.com and click the sign-up button. You will need an email address, a password, and your full name. Wise will ask for your date of birth and address to verify your identity — this is a legal requirement, not a Wise choice.

After you verify your email, Wise will ask you to link a bank account. You can do this by giving Wise your bank's login details (Wise uses a find connection and does not store your password), or by letting your bank connect to Wise directly through an app-to-app link. Both methods are safe. Once linked, Wise can pull money from that account when you send a transfer.

Linking usually takes a few minutes. Some banks are faster than others — larger banks often connect when ready, while smaller banks or credit unions may take a few hours. You do not need to keep a balance in Wise itself unless you want to hold money there for future transfers.

Entering the recipient's bank details

When you start a transfer, Wise will ask you which country the recipient's bank is in, then what type of account (checking, savings, and so on). From there, Wise asks for the recipient's full name, bank account number, and routing code (in the US) or sort code (in the UK) or the equivalent in other countries.

Get these details directly from the recipient — ask them to check their bank statement or log into their online banking, because even small errors in account numbers or routing codes will cause the transfer to fail or go to the wrong account. Wise will validate the account number and routing code before you send money, so if something is wrong, you will know before the transfer leaves your account.

For some countries, Wise also asks for an IBAN (a longer code that includes the country and bank information in one string). If the recipient's bank is in a country that uses IBANs, ask the recipient for that instead — it is more reliable than separate account and routing codes.

Reviewing the exchange rate and fee before you send

After you enter the amount you want to send, Wise shows you the mid-market exchange rate (the real rate banks use between each other), the Wise fee, and exactly how much the recipient will receive in their currency. This is the step where you can see whether the cost is worth it for you.

Wise's fee varies by transfer route and amount — sending $100 domestically within the US costs less than sending $100 to another country. The fee is shown as a percentage or a flat amount, depending on the transfer type. You can see this before you confirm, so you can decide whether to go ahead or cancel.

The exchange rate Wise shows you is locked in for a short time (usually 10 to 30 minutes) once you see it. If you do not complete the transfer in that window, the rate may change slightly when you try again. This protects you from rates moving against you while you are deciding.

Confirming the transfer and tracking it

Once you have reviewed the amount, fee, and recipient details, you confirm the transfer. Wise will ask you to verify your identity one more time — usually by entering a code sent to your email or phone. This is a security step to make sure no one else is sending money from your account.

After you confirm, Wise takes the money from your linked bank account and begins moving it to the recipient's bank. You will see a confirmation page with a reference number, and Wise will send you email updates as the transfer progresses. You can also log into your Wise account and check the status of any transfer you have sent.

How long the transfer takes depends on the countries involved. Transfers within the US usually arrive the same day or next business day. International transfers typically take one to four business days, depending on the receiving bank's processing speed. Wise cannot speed this up once the money leaves — the receiving bank controls the final step.

What to do if the transfer fails or goes to the wrong account

If Wise rejects the transfer before it leaves your account (usually because the account number or routing code is invalid), the money stays in your linked bank account and you can try again with corrected details. Wise will tell you what went wrong.

If the money reaches the recipient's bank but the account details were wrong, the receiving bank will usually send it back to Wise, which then returns it to your linked bank account. This can take one to two weeks. Contact Wise support with your transfer reference number if the money does not return within that time.

If the transfer succeeds but you sent it to the wrong person by mistake, contact Wise when ready with your reference number. Wise can sometimes stop the transfer if it has not yet been processed by the receiving bank, but once the money arrives at the recipient's bank, only that bank can retrieve it — and they will only do so if the recipient agrees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send money to a savings account or does it have to be checking?

You can send to either. Wise asks you what type of account the recipient has so it can route the transfer correctly. The process is the same for both.

What happens if I send money to someone in a different country?

Wise converts your money to the recipient's currency at the mid-market rate, takes its fee, and sends the converted amount to their bank account. The recipient receives the money in their local currency. The whole process works the same way as a domestic transfer, just with currency conversion added.

Do I need to keep money in my Wise account to send transfers?

No. Wise pulls the money directly from your linked bank account when you send a transfer. You can choose to hold money in Wise if you want (useful if you send transfers often), but it is not required.

Can I cancel a transfer after I have sent it?

If you cancel within a few minutes of sending, before the money leaves your bank account, Wise will stop it and refund you. Once the money has left your bank, Wise cannot cancel it — you would need to contact the receiving bank. Check your transfer status in your Wise account to see if cancellation is still possible.

What if the recipient's bank does not accept transfers from Wise?

This is rare, but some banks or countries have restrictions. Wise will tell you during the transfer setup if the recipient's bank cannot receive money from Wise. If that happens, you would need to use a different method, such as your own bank's transfer service.