Nationwide international wire transfer: Fees, rates, and transfer time

Nationwide is one of the largest banks in the UK, and if you have an account with them, you can send international wires to another country.

There are 2 types of Nationwide overseas payments: SEPA payments and SWIFT payments. Each of these options comes with its own fees, rates, and transfer times.

Here’s everything you need to know about making an international wire transfer with Nationwide.

We’ll also introduce Wise, a fast and cheap way to send high-speed, low-fee transfers with one simple account and no currency exchange rate markups.

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Table of contents

What are Nationwide’s international wire transfer fees? Make fast, secure and low-cost international transfers with Wise How do you make an international wire transfer with Nationwide? What information do I need to make a Nationwide international transfer? How to receive an international payment with Nationwide How long does an international bank transfer with Nationwide take? What are Nationwide’s transfer limits? More questions about your transfer?

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What are Nationwide’s international wire transfer fees?

Nationwide’s international transfer fees depend on how you're sending your wire.

You can make a SEPA payment to one of the 36 SEPA Zone countries, including France, Italy, and Spain. These transfers are typically free of charge.¹

For any other international transfers, you'll need to use SWIFT. For these transactions, there's a Nationwide international transfer fee of 20 GBP.¹

That said, there are a few exceptions.

If you have a FlexBasic current account and send pounds to the EEA, Nationwide will refund your 20 GBP fee once the transfer is complete. And if you're a FlexOne, FlexStudent, or FlexGraduate account holder, you won't pay any fee at all.¹

Here's a quick breakdown of the Nationwide international transfer fees:

Account type	SEPA transfer fee¹	SWIFT transfer fee¹
Standard	Free	20 GBP
FlexBasic (sending GBP to EEA)	Free	20 GBP (refunded)
FlexOne	Free	Free
FlexStudent	Free	Free
FlexGraduate	Free	Free

You'll need to use your checking account for any SWIFT or SEPA payments - savings accounts won't work unless Nationwide's team specifically tells you otherwise.

💡 Learn more about Nationwide's international bank accounts in our full guide.

Nationwide exchange rates

When you send money abroad from your Nationwide account, you have two options: send it in GBP or foreign currency.

If you choose foreign currency, Nationwide will convert your GBP before sending the money. They'll use their standard outbound exchange rate, which fluctuates throughout the day and includes a 2.2% markup.¹

This markup goes to the company that handles the currency conversion, and Nationwide gets a portion of it as well. You'll see the exact markup amount before you confirm your transfer.

Make fast, secure and low-cost international transfers with Wise

Send money to 160+ countries with the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees with Wise. Set up a free Wise account online or in the Wise app on iOS and Android, to transfer money fast in 40+ currencies.

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*Transaction speed claimed depends on funds availability, approval by Wise’s proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners’ banking system, and may not be available for all transactions.

How do you make an international wire transfer with Nationwide?

There are 2 ways to send your Nationwide international transfer: through the Internet Bank or by visiting your local branch. Here are the international wire transfer instructions.

Using Internet Bank

This is a straightforward way to send money abroad with Nationwide without having to leave your home.¹

1. Sign into Internet Bank
2. Click on Move money
3. Look for Other payments and select Make an international payment
4. Choose which account you want to send from
5. Hit Go
6. Follow the prompts on your screen

Once you send your Nationwide money transfer abroad, you can track it to make sure it gets to your recipient's bank.

At the branch

You can visit your local Nationwide branch and speak with the staff. They'll guide you through the process and help set up your international transfer.

What information do I need to make a Nationwide international transfer?

The information you need to make a Nationwide international transfer depends on how you're sending your wire. If you're sending money through the Internet Bank, you'll need your card reader plus some key details about where the money's going:¹

• The recipient's full name (or company name) and complete address, including city, country, and postal code
• Their IBAN or account number
• Their bank's name and address
• Their bank's BIC (unless you're sending euros to the SEPA Zone)

You may also sometimes need the routing number to complete your transfer.

If you're heading to a branch, make sure to also bring with you:¹

• Your Nationwide current account card
• Valid ID (passport or full driving license)
• Proof of address

You'll still need the information about where the money's going, but you'll also need to prove your identity.

If you're missing any details about your transfer, Nationwide or a third-party bank can reject your wire. You'll get the money back in your account, but the exchange rates and fees will likely reduce the amount.

How to receive an international payment with Nationwide

There's no fee to receive an international wire with Nationwide.¹ But there are a few things you should know about the Nationwide exchange rate.

When someone sends you money from overseas, their bank can either:

• Convert it to GBP before sending it to Nationwide
• Send it in their local currency

If Nationwide receives the money in foreign currency, they'll convert it to GBP using their standard inbound exchange rate. This includes a 0.5% markup from Nationwide's currency conversion partner, and no extra fee from Nationwide themselves. You'll see this rate on your statement.¹

If the sending bank converts the money to GBP first, you won't pay the 0.5% markup. But the sending bank will likely charge you their own conversion rate, which could end up being higher.

How long does an international bank transfer with Nationwide take?

The time it takes to send money abroad depends on where it's going and which currency you're using. Here's how long you can expect your transfer to take:

Type of transfer	Destination	Transfer time¹
SEPA (euros)	SEPA Zone	Next working day
Other currencies	EEA or UK	Up to 4 working days
Any currency	Outside EEA	More than 4 working days

If you need your transfer to get to your recipient by a certain date, make sure to account for any holidays and weekends.

What are Nationwide’s transfer limits?

Nationwide does not limit how much you can send internationally.¹ But if you're sending a very large amount, Nationwide might ask you for documents to verify the purpose of your transfer.

Learn more about international wire transfer regulations.

More questions about your transfer?

If you need help with your Nationwide international transfer, you can call them or visit your Nationwide branch for face-to-face support.

Location	Phone number¹
UK	0800-30-20-11
International	+44-1793-65-67-89

Nationwide customer support is available by phone 7 days a week, 8 AM to 8 PM.¹

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Sending money abroad with Nationwide is a relatively simple process, and you can do it either online or by visiting a branch in person. You'll need to use your current account, and you can send both SEPA and SWIFT transfers.

That said, Nationwide has a steep currency exchange rate markup of 2.2% for incoming transfers.¹ This is in addition to the standard international transfer fee.

Use Wise to easily send money to over 160 countries with low fees and no exchange rate markups.

Sources

1. Nationwide - International payments

Sources checked 12.13.2024