RBC Royal Bank international transfer: All you need to know

As the largest bank in Canada, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has been offering international money transfers to its customers for a long time.

In this article, we’re going to show you how to do international money transfers with RBC, what are the fees involved, and how long does it take.

You may also find that using an alternative provider online, like Wise could help you save compared to regular banks. But more on that later.

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Can you do international transfers with RBC?

Yes, you can! However, as previously mentioned, RBC distinguishes between two kinds of transfers. These are either¹:

• International Money Transfers
• International Wire transfers

How does an RBC International Money Transfer differ? In fact, there are limitations to sending money with the RBC International Money Transfer, such as¹:

• You cannot set up the transfer via telephone banking or at the branch
• The receiving bank needs to be able to accept cash pick-ups for the transfer to be successful
• You can only use the service with an RBC checking or savings account. Some restrictions may still apply, so check with your bank if your account is eligible.
• You cannot use the service to transfer money from a USD denominated bank account
• You cannot use the service with a High-Interest eSavings account

Should you want to transfer a larger sum of money abroad, you can do so by setting up an international wire transfer instead. 

This method is generally more expensive, so let’s see the ‘Fees’ and ‘Additional fees’ now.

How much does RBC charge for international transfers?

Fees can be different for RBC’s International Money Transfers and their international wire transfers, which we indicated on this table.

RBC international transfers	Regular fees²
Incoming international transfer	Free for C$50 and under C$17 or USD$17 if over C$50 (depending on the currency of the incoming payment)
Outgoing international transfer	International Money Transfer (RBC online banking and mobile app): C$6 if the amount is or smaller than C$1000 C$10 if the amount is bigger than C$1000 Wire transfer: starting at C$45
Additional fees may apply	See Additional fees section below

RBC Royal Bank exchange rates

RBC Royal Bank usually allows you to specify the currency you want your recipient to receive his or her funds in. 

However, sending or receiving money in a currency different than what’s in your account means that either the recipient bank or an intermediary bank will convert the currency at an exchange rate that it chooses.

That rate will oftentimes be 4-6% more expensive  than the mid-market rate - the rate you see when you do a Google search for the exchange rate - allowing the bank to make a profit on the transfer.

For the most up-to-date exchange rates offered by RBC Royal Bank, you’d have to contact your local branch, and then compare current rates to the mid-market rate (using an online currency converter)

💡 In fact, on their website, RBC notes that the exchange rate they offer customers includes a markup - something they call a retail rate.³

RBC Canada Additional fees

International transfers can have some additional fees, like these:

RBC Royal international transfer	Additional fees⁴
Recipient bank and/or intermediary bank(s) fees when sending money abroad	RBC Royal Bank notes, “While RBC doesn't charge the recipient any fees for receiving money, any intermediary financial institution or the recipient’s financial institution may require additional fees or service charges to be paid.”
Cancellation or amendment of international payment	Starting at C$25 plus goods and services tax
If an IBAN is not provided for a wire payment going to a country that uses IBANs	Additional C$35
Advice on incoming/outgoing wires	C$5 by telephone/fax C$3 by mail
Tracing of an international payment	Free if not delivered as instructed Starting at C$25 plus goods and services tax if delivered as instructed

A cheap and transparent alternative: Wise

One alternative to making an international bank transfer is to use Wise, which lets you send money at the mid-market rate - the same rate you see when you Google it, plus a small transfer fee that’s spelled out upfront. That means fair, cheap money transfers, every time. So, to send money online with Wise, you will pay a small, flat fee and a percentage of the amount that’s converted.

Because Wise only moves money through local bank transfers, there are no international or intermediary bank fees. 

To see how Wise can be cheaper for you, we’ll show you an example.

Say you’d like to send C$1000 from Canada to a friend’s bank account in the UK:

Provider	Fee	Exchange Rate	Total Cost
RBC (Canada)	C$10¹	Exchange rate + markup	C$10 + exchange rate markup + fees from intermediary and recipient banks + excess debit transcation fee¹
Wise	C$8.47	The real exchange rate - the same one you find on Google	C$8.47

(03/01/2022)

At first glance, it already looks like RBC might be more expensive.

To make sure you really know what you’re getting before you commit, compare the exchange rate you’re being offered with an honest comparison tool to find out how much your international transfer is really costing you. 

💡At Wise, we never hide extra fees and charges in the exchange rate. We just use the exchange rate – independently provided by Reuters. That means fair, cheap money transfers, every time.

Get a free Wise account today

Royal Bank of Canada wire instructions

With RBC, wire transfers can only be done if you visit a branch.

To send money internationally with RBC online, you have two options. You can either use your browser on your desktop computer or use RBC’s mobile app. We’ve listed out the steps for each in the following two segments.

RBC online international transfer

To do an international transfer with RBC on your desktop, you need to follow these steps:

• Gather the relevant information for the recipient bank (more on that below)
• Sign into RBC Online Banking
• On the right side of the “Accounts Summary” page, under “Quick Payments & Transfers,” select “International Money Transfer.”
• Follow the on-screen instructions

On the RBC Mobile app

Follow these steps to do send money abroad with RBC using their mobile app:

• Open and sign into the RBC Mobile app
• Select “Send Money” / “Move Money” and then select “International Money Transfer.”
• Follow the on-screen instructions.

What do I need to make an International wire transfer with RBC?

To make an international transfer with RBC Royal Bank, you’ll need⁵:

• An RBC Royal Bank personal checking or savings account
• Access to RBC online banking or the RBC Mobile app if sending an International Money Transfer
• The recipient’s bank account number, IBAN or CLABE (for transfers to accounts in Mexico)
• The BIC/SWIFT code of the recipient’s bank. If you don’t know it, an online tool can help.

What should I give to the sender in order to receive an international bank transfer?

To receive an international money transfer to RBC Royal Bank, you’ll need to give the sender⁵:

• Your full name and address
• Your 5 digit transit number (including zeros)
• Your 7 digit account number
• Your bank name - Royal Bank of Canada
• Your branch’s address and phone number
• RBC Royal’s SWIFT/BIC code, which is ROYCCAT2

💡 You can find this information by logging into RBC’s online banking, visiting a branch or calling 1-800-769-2511.

How long does an International wire transfer with RBC take?

Typically, international transfers take 2-5 business days to process with RBC Royal Bank⁶. However, transfer times aren’t guaranteed, as processing times can vary depending on the transfer destination. Some banks simply process incoming international payments quicker, than others.

Royal Bank of Canada customer service

RBC Royal Bank’s customer support has many options for getting in touch if you have further questions. However, numbers will vary based on your location, so you should check their site for the best option for you.

Armed with the right knowledge, transferring money overseas doesn’t need to be complicated or costly. This information should make it as painless as possible, and help you protect your money by getting the best possible deal.

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Sources:

1. RBC - International Money Transfer
2. RBC - Additional Account Services
3. RBC - Foreign Exchange Calculator
4. RBC - Outgoing Wire Payments
5. RBC - How to send and receive a wire payment or wire transfer
6. RBC - International Money Transfer FAQ

All sources checked on 1 March 2022