Navy Federal international wire transfer: Fees, limits, and transfer time

As a major credit union in the United States with more than 11 million members, Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) also offers wire transfer services to its customers.

If you’re a Navy Federal customer, here’s everything you need to know about sending an international wire transfer.

Wise may be able to save you money and hassle on your international money transfers - you could save money compared to banks, but more on this later.

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What are the fees for Navy Federal Credit Union in the US?

International Wires	Regular fees
Incoming international transfer	$0¹ + possible exchange rate mark-upⁱ + likely other bank chargesⁱⁱ
Outgoing international transfer	$25¹ + possible exchange rate mark-upⁱ + likely other bank chargesⁱⁱ
Exchange rate mark-ups²	This can be the highest cost of the entire transaction. And Navy Federal notes that there is a spread involved.² See the next section for more information.
ⁱOther bank charges	Often $10-$50 deducted from the transfer by up to 4 banks. You may be able to decide with the recipient who pays these fees.

Keep in mind that fees ultimately depend on what country you’re sending money to, what kind of account you have, and Navy Federal’s terms and conditions, which can change at any time. Though the information taken above was correct at the time of writing, It’s always a good idea to double-check that the above information is the most up to date.

Navy Federal Credit Union exchange rates

When you send money internationally, usually the currency needs to be converted from the sender’s home currency to the recipient’s home currency. But is that exchange done at the mid-market rate or the exchange rate you see on Google? Generally, no.

As Navy Federal partners up with correspondent banks to carry out international wire transfers, there is an additional markup added to the bank’s exchange rate.

💡 But there are other options if you want a better rate. A specialist provider like Wise gives you the same rate you see online. And Wise tells you all the fees you’ll be paid upfront, so there aren’t any surprises.

A cheap and transparent alternative: Wise

Wise only moves money at the mid-market rate — there are never any markups, hidden fees or intermediary bank fees. To send money online with Wise, you'll only pay a small, flat fee and a percentage of the amount that’s converted.

Wise also offers multi-currency accounts, which allow you to send, receive, and manage money in multiple global currencies all at once.

With a Wise Account, you’ll get:

• Bank details in 10 currencies
• The option to hold, send, spend and convert 40+ currencies at once
• Send money overseas with low and transparent fees,
• You can order a Wise card for a one time fee of just $9 - for use in 174 countries
• Mid-market exchange rates on all transactions.

See how much you can save with Wise:

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

How long does an international bank transfer with Navy Federal take?

Navy Federal estimates that funds wired internationally should be available in the destination account within 5-7 business days.²

What are Navy Federal’s wire transfer limits?

As stated on Navy Federal's official website, any wire transfer requests surpassing the amount of $5,000 need to be submitted in writing, either via a secure message or by visiting a branch in person.²

How do you make an international wire transfer with Navy Federal in the US?

You’ll have a few options on how to make your transfer with Navy Federal.

Submit the form via secure eMessage²

You can log into your Navy Federal online banking and send your completed form in a secure eMessage. Once the message is received, someone from Navy Federal will contact you to process your wire transfer.

Submit the form in person at a local branch²

Once you’ve found a branch nearby that processes international wires, head there with your completed request form and a representative will assist you.

Submit the form via by snail mail²

• Navy Federal Credit Union
• Attn: Funds Disbursement Section
• 820 Follin Lane SE
• Vienna, VA 22180

Call the Navy Federal at their 24/7 Member Services²

Another option is to call Navy Federal’s customer support number at 1-888-842-6328 where they should be able to help you with your wire transfer request.

💡 Navy Federal’s SWIFT code is NFCUUS33 or NFCUUS33XXX.

What do I need in order to make an international wire transfer?

Navy Federal offers an international wire transfer checklist⁴ to make sure you have all the information you need, including:

• Your name, account number, and address
• The recipient’s name and address as well as account number and account type
• The recipient bank’s name and SWIFT/BIC code
• The amount of the transfer as well as the reason
• You may also want to agree who will pay the charges, especially in regards to intermediary bank fees

What do I need or what should I give to the sender in order to receive an international bank transfer?

To receive an international wire transfer at Navy Federal, you’ll need to give the sender:²

• Your full name and account number with Navy Federal
• Navy Federal's routing number
• Navy Federal's address
• Since Navy Federal is not part of the SWIFT network, you’ll also need to give information for a correspondent bank to conduct the transfer through. Contact Navy Federal for help with this.

Contact / Help - More questions around your transfer?

If you still have questions or need more help with your Navy Federal international wire transfer, these resources should help:

• Navy Federal Phone number: 1-888-842-6328
• Navy Federal Helpdesk
• Navy Federal Support Chat
• Navy Federal branch locator

Hopefully, with this guide, you have a better idea of what to expect when making an international wire transfer with Navy Federal.

You should also now have the information you need to decide whether Navy Federal is the best service for your transfer needs, or if you might want to go with an alternative, like Wise. Whichever you choose, best of luck!

Learn more about Wise

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Sources:

1. Navy Federal - Schedule of Fees and Charges
2. Navy Federal - Wire Transfers
3. Navy Federal - Request for an International Wire Transfer

All sources checked on 26 May 2023