Making an international wire transfer with Citi USA

Citibank®¹ is a popular bank in the United States, with a broad suite of products and services, including international wire transfers. Before you send money overseas with Citi, it’s a smart idea to get to know the Citibank international wire fees, rates and transfer times.

This guide has you covered - plus we’ll introduce an alternative for comparison: Wise. Wise is a non-bank alternative provider which offers low cost international transfers with the mid-market exchange rate - more on that later.

What are the fees for an international wire transfer with Citibank in the US?

The table below lists the fee structure for international wire transfers for different types of Citibank accounts.

There are lots of different account types available from Citi - here we’ve sampled some of the most popular to give an idea, so if your account type isn’t in the list, you’ll need to double check your account terms and conditions.

Note: These fees are subject to change and may vary based on the country you are sending money to and other criteria. Terms and conditions apply.

Citibank US Exchange Rates

When you’re transferring money to a different country, an exchange rate is used to determine how much the recipient will be paid out in the local currency. It compares the worth of one currency to another.

This may not seem like something you need to think too much about, but this is an area where you can lose out on a big chunk of change. Financial institutions set their own exchange rates, instead of using the standard mid-market rate that you see on Google® or XE®.

This may mean you pay an additional 4-6%, with the margin used varying depending on the currencies and the specific institution that converts your dollars for you.

Check the exchange rate you’re offered against the mid-market rate which you can find on Google to spot the markup being used. Generally finding a service which offers the mid-market exchange rate could mean you get a better deal in the end.

Additional Citibank fees

Most international bank transfers rely on the SWIFT network. If Citibank transfers your money via SWIFT, it may need to be routed through 1-3 intermediary banks.

This is a safe and established way to process international transfers - but it can also be slow and expensive as each intermediary will charge their own fees, which are then added to the standard fee for a given transfer.

These fees are not levied by the bank itself, but by additional banks needed to conduct the transfer.

Everywhere money. Meet Wise: the world's most international account

If you’re not living in the US — or if you simply want a more flexible account you can open from anywhere — check out Wise.

Wise isn’t a bank, but a money service business that allows you to have an account to hold, send and receive money, as well as getting an attached debit card — plus you’ll get some extra perks which suit anyone living an international lifestyle.

You’ll be able to hold 40+ currencies, and get local account details for up to 9 currencies including USD, to get paid easily by wire or ACH.

Wise offers linked debit cards for spending and withdrawals around the world, and all currency conversion uses the mid-market exchange rate.

That means that whenever you send a payment or spend in a foreign currency your dollars are converted with the mid-market rate with low conversion fees from 0.41%³. Easy.

This way to easy
international payments

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

How do you make an international bank transfer (international wire) with Citibank USA?

You can make an international wire transfer the following ways:

• Online

• Over the phone

• At the nearest branch

Online transfer with Citi

1. Go to https://online.citi.com

2. At the bottom of the page, click Benefits and Services.

3. Next click Move Your Money > Transfers > Wire Transfers.

Citibank on person transfer

1. To find a local branch, go to https://online.citi.com

2. Scroll to the bottom of the page.

3. Enter your home address in the field under ATM/Branch Locations to find the one nearest to you.

Transfer though Citibank by phone

1. Call 1-800-788-0002

2. Ask a Citibank representative to walk you through the steps.

What do you need in order to make an international wire transfer with Citibank?

Before you can make an international wire transfer, every financial institution will require you to have some information on hand.

Receiving an international wire with Citibank

To receive an international wire transfer through Citibank USA, you need to have the following information on hand.

How long does an international bank transfer with Citibank take?

In most cases, Citibank USA sends international wire transfers on the same day they were submitted, as long as they were processed before 6.00 pm ET. But, depending on the country, it may take a bit more time to get there.

Citibank customer support

Log into your account online to have a live chat with a Citibank representative, or call them for general questions, at 1-888-248-4226.

• Contact Citi online

If you’re a Citibank customer, sending your international transfer with Citi may be the familiar and reassuring option. It’s pretty straightforward to send a bank transfer with Citibank USA, but you may find you pay more than you need to if you’re sending a transfer overseas, thanks to the transfer fees and exchange rate markup that will be used to process your payment.

Compare your options - including fees and exchange rates - between Citi and alternative non-bank options such as Wise to see which is best for you.