Which Banks Accept Foreign Cheques in Australia?
Looking to cash an overseas check? Discover which major Australian banks accept foreign cheques, the fees, and modern digital alternatives.
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As an ANZ customer transferring money in small, everyday amounts is typically a straightforward and simple process. Whether sending some birthday money overseas, paying a bill or simply reimbursing a friend for lunch, these transfers often pose no issues.
But what if you need to transfer a particularly large amount of money to an account in Australia or overseas? In this guide, we'll take a look at the limits, fees and key watchpoints for sending large transfers with ANZ. From $5000 to $50,000 or more we've covered what's involved so you know what to expect. We'll also introduce to you Wise that can help you save on international transfers with it's low, transparent fees and mid-market exchange rates.
ANZ does not specify what they consider to be a large transfer. However, their maximum daily limits of AUD$25,000 for domestic transfers¹ and overseas transfers² indicate that anything over this is viewed as 'large' or needing additional assistance or approval.
Yes, while there are limitations and conditions on how much you can send, ANZ does facilitate larger volume transactions. We will go into further detail regarding what this looks like below.
The standard transfer limits with ANZ are AUD$1,000 daily within Australia and up to AUD$10,000 for overseas.¹ ²
These online transfer limits can be increased via the ANZ App, Internet Banking or by phone, however, you'll need to have voice ID set up or use the ANZ shield app to do this.¹
ANZ does not specify upper limits for in-branch transfers. However, they do state that there is no transaction limit on international money transfers made from your account when using their phone banking service.²
ANZ advises that for domestic money transfers that exceed the limits permitted online, you can visit a branch or call their contact centre for assistance.³
For international payments that exceed permitted transfer limits online, as touched on above, you'll need to look into phone banking. Alternatively, contacting ANZ's support centre or attending in-branch for assistance is recommended.
ANZ large transfer fees
Domestically, there are no fees advertised with ANZ for transfers that fall within the permitted limits. For large transfers within Australia and overseas, the following fees will be applied:
| Transfer type/request | Fee² |
|---|---|
| Assisted Domestic Money Transfer (phone or in-branch) | AUD$28 per transaction³ |
| Overseas transactions less than AUD$10,000 made by phone |
|
| Overseas transactions AUD$10,00 and over made by phone |
|
| Overseas transactions less than AUD$10,000 made via Internet Banking |
|
| Overseas transactions AUD$10,00 and over made via Internet Banking |
|
As seen on21 October 2024
NB: Payments to Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga and Vanuatu may have different fees applied.² Additionally, while corresponding bank fees may also apply, ANZ offers to absorb these in some instances.¹
Please refer to the ANZ website for more details.
For any transfer up to AUD$25,000 within Australia you can make this via the ANZ App or Internet Banking and following the prompts. If you do not have Voice ID set up or the ANZ Shield App installed, you will need to do this first.¹
For large volume transfers within Australia that exceed AUD$25,000, you'll either need to visit an ANZ Branch or call the contact centre. You'll need to complete a Domestic Telegraphic Transfer Form, agree to the terms and conditions and undergo an ID check to finalise the transfer.³
Currently, international payments cannot be made via the app and must be made online. For amounts up to AUD$25,000 only you'll need to¹:
Again, you will need to have the ANZ Shield App installed to finalise this. For sending more than this overseas, you will need to use ANZ Phone Banking or visit an ANZ branch in person.
For domestic transfers, even those made through an assisted in-branch service can sometimes be received the same day, especially if going to another ANZ account. However, processing delays can occur particularly if sending to a new account or one with another bank.³
For international transfers, transfers are processed overnight on bank business days. Exactly how long it will take to be received by the overseas bank will depend on their policies and systems.¹ Typically, this is between 2 to 3 days.
Any transfers initiated on weekends or public holidays will not be processed until the next business day, so always factor this into any expectations for transfer timelines.
If you send more than 40,000 AUD or equivalent in a single month, Wise automatically applies a high-volume discount to your fees. You can save even more with rates as low as 0.1% on your transfers for the rest of that month. Whether it's one large transfer or multiple smaller ones in any of the global currencies we support, you can save more with Wise.Wise.

Wise offers dedicated support for large transfers, with a team of experts ready to help with every step of your transfer. Enjoy lower fees on your transfers by sending more money with Wise.
👉🏻 Learn more about large amount transfers with Wise.
Occasionally you may see a transfer or payment you have initiated sitting on hold, there can be various reasons for this with the most common being related to security.
If you notice your payment is on hold, this could be due to ANZ wanting to verify that the requested transfer is legitimate. Typically these holds do not extend beyond 24 to 48 hours and where any concerns are present the bank will usually call you to check the details as needed.
One of Australia's Big Four banks, ANZ is considered a very safe option for facilitating large transfers.
Utilising high-level fraud detection technology, multi-factor authorisation tools and ongoing account monitoring, ANZ takes several steps to keep your money safe.⁵
No, unlike ANZ, Australia's financing regulator and specialist financial intelligence unit, AUSTRAC places no limits on how much money you can transfer at any one time.
Whether domestically or overseas, they also require no reporting or declarations whenever funds are moved via a bank or remittance service provider.⁵
Ready to transfer a large sum abroad or within Australia? Here are some final things to be mindful of:
To speak with ANZ regarding a large money transfer either in Australia or to an overseas account, you can do so via:
Existing customers may also utilise the ANZ App for fast and secure support where preferred.
Wise is an easy way to save up to 5x when sending money overseas. You can make extra secure transfers to 140+ countries, which are easy to set up with no physical paperwork and completed usually in seconds.
With low, transparent pricing and the mid-market exchange rate for all your currency conversions for your foreign transfers, you'll usually get the best value for your money. Wise lets you see exactly what you're paying for a transfer, and what the recipient will get, with no hidden fees.
For managing foreign currencies even easier, create a free Wise account, and you'll be able to manage and convert your money in AUD and 40+ other currencies. Plus, you'll get local account details in 8+ currencies, including GBP, USD, and more making it easy to receive money from abroad whenever you need. You'll be able to track your transfers all in one place.
When it comes to international transfers, Wise makes things easier and cheaper.
This general advice does not take into account your objectives, financial circumstances or needs and you should consider if it is appropriate for you. Savings claim based on our rates vs. selected Australian banks and other similar providers in Jan 2026. To learn more please visit https://wise.com/au/compare
Please see Terms of Use and product availability for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
Sources:
Sources checked on: 21 October 2024
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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