How to make a large wire transfer with Wells Fargo

If you need to send a Wells Fargo large wire transfer, it's possible to do so, but there are some important details to understand first.

Wells Fargo is one of the biggest banks in the US, and they offer a few different ways to transfer money. However, sending very large amounts, like a down payment on a house, usually requires a visit to a branch to set up a wire transfer.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know.

We'll also introduce Wise — your international money transfer alternative. Use Wise to send stress-free transfers to over 140 countries - all at the standard mid-market exchange rate.

Learn more 🔎

Table of contents
Can I make a large transfer with Wells Fargo? What is the maximum wire transfer amount at Wells Fargo? How to make a large transfer with Wells Fargo Wells Fargo large transfer fees and charges How long does it take to make a large transfer with Wells Fargo? Is Wells Fargo safe for large transfers?

Can I make a large transfer with Wells Fargo?

Yes, Wells Fargo allows you to send large amounts of money as a wire transfer. You won't be able to use their other services, such as Zelle® or ExpressSend®, which come with pretty low limits.

It's possible to initiate wire transfers through Wells Fargo's online banking platform, but the bank limits how much you can send for security reasons. They don't publish the exact amounts you can send, but they let you know that you can "review these limits before sending a wire."¹

If you're planning on wiring money for a real estate purchase or another big investment, your best approach is to visit a Wells Fargo branch in person. This will give you access to their highest limits.

You can also call ahead to ask whether the amount you want to send falls within their online sending limits, which can save you the trip in case it does.

What is the maximum wire transfer amount at Wells Fargo?

Wells Fargo’s transfer limit is not public knowledge. Plus, factors like your account history, account type, and relationship with the bank may influence what limits apply to you.

The bank states that they limit digital transfers for security purposes and suggests that customers who need to send higher amounts should visit a branch to request increased limits.¹

Need to send a large amount? With Wise, you can send up to 1,000,000 USD per wire transfer to 140+ countries — and we automatically apply a discount when you send over 25,000 USD (or equivalent)*.

🚀Send high-amount transfers with Wise

*For more information, please visit https://wise.com/us/large-amounts/.

How to make a large transfer with Wells Fargo

For large wire transfers, visiting a Wells Fargo branch is your most reliable option. In fact, Wells Fargo explicitly recommends coming to a branch "to send a wire with a higher limit."¹

When you're there, you can also provide any documentation the bank needs right away. For example, the bank representative may ask you about the purpose of the transfer and the origin of your funds.

You should usually have the following on hand to make a wire transfer:

Valid government-issued ID, such as your passport or driver's license Recipient's full name and address Recipient's bank account number Recipient bank's routing number (for domestic transfers) or SWIFT code (for international transfers) Any additional bank identifiers required by the recipient's country Documentation explaining the transfer purpose, such as a purchase agreement, invoice, or tuition bill Proof of funds or income statements — the bank may request this for very large amounts

However, if you don't live near a Wells Fargo branch, making the trip just to send a wire transfer can be time-consuming and irritating.

You also have the option to send wire transfers digitally through Wells Fargo's online banking platform. The problem is that the bank doesn't clearly state how much you can send this way, but you may be able to see your personal limits when you log in to your account and start the wire transfer process.

Send high amount, low cost international transfers with Wise

A smart option if you’re sending money overseas: meet Wise.

With Wise, you can send up to 1,000,000 USD per wire transaction to 140+ countries, with the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees.

Over 70% of Wise payments arrive instantly* — and all Wise transfers are deposited directly into your recipient's bank account for convenience.

No ongoing fees, no hidden charges and no hassle — just fast, transparent international transfers that can beat the banks.

🚀Get started with high amount transfers

See how Wise compares with international bank transfers in our full guide

*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.

Wells Fargo large transfer fees and charges

Wells Fargo will charge you a different transfer fee depending on how you send your wire transfer:

Transfer method	Fee¹
Online/digital wire	25 USD
Branch wire	40 USD

Keep in mind that Wells Fargo's fee isn't necessarily the only charge you'll pay.

Other banks involved in processing your transfer, including non-U.S. branches of Wells Fargo or intermediary banks, may deduct their own fees from the amount you're sending.¹

Beyond the Wells Fargo transfer fee, you'll also lose money on the currency conversion when you send international transfers in foreign currency. The bank will use their own exchange rate rather than the mid-market rate and pocket the markup as profit.¹

On large transfers, these markups can cost you much more than the fixed wire transfer fee — sometimes hundreds or even thousands of USD, depending on the amount you're sending. They don't have a cap.

How long does it take to make a large transfer with Wells Fargo?

If you submit your wire before the cutoff time, Wells Fargo will process it on the same business day. If you miss the cutoff, your transfer will go out the following business day.

The cutoff times are:¹

• 3:00 pm Pacific Time for domestic wires
• 2:20 pm Pacific Time for international wires
• 4:30 pm Pacific Time for transfers between Wells Fargo accounts

The fact that your wire is processed doesn't mean that it'll arrive to your recipient that same day. While domestic wire transfers are pretty quick, usually getting there on the same or next business day, international wires can take 1 to 5 business days.

Wells Fargo may hold your wire for an internal review before sending it, especially for large or unusual transactions. If this happens, they'll get in touch with you to confirm the details of the payment and potentially request extra verification documents.

This is part of their fraud prevention process, which is great for safety, but it can cause delays.

Is Wells Fargo safe for large transfers?

Wells Fargo is serious about security, which is part of why they restrict how much you can send through their online system and push customers to do in-person transfers for larger amounts.

When you're at a branch, staff can verify your identity face-to-face and review your transaction, which reduces fraud risk.

For large transfers, Wells Fargo may also ask you to provide documentation explaining the purpose of the payment and where your funds came from. This could include purchase agreements, invoices, contracts, or proof of income.

These security measures make sense from a fraud prevention standpoint, but they can feel inconvenient, especially if you need to make multiple trips to a branch or hunt for paperwork.

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Overall, you can send a Wells Fargo large wire transfer, but you'll likely need to visit a branch in person. Trying to transfer a large amount through online banking might not work.

It's also important to think about the costs. Wells Fargo charges 25 USD for digital wires and 40 USD for branch wires, plus currency exchange rate markups for international wire transfers that don't have a cap.¹ On a large transfer, they could cost you hundreds or thousands of USD.

Even if Wells Fargo is your primary bank, it's worth exploring other options for large international transfers to see if you can find a better deal.

With Wise, you can send secure and trackable large amount transfers to 140+ countries worldwide with transparent fees and the fair mid-market exchange rate.

Have a look at the main benefits for using Wise to send large transfers:

• Dedicated support for large transfers
• Fast and easy setup with no physical paperwork
• Upfront, transparent fees
• Fully trackable transfers
• Fast transfer times
• Two-factor authentication and real-time notifications

🚀 Get started with Wise

Sources

1. Wells Fargo - Digital Wires FAQs

Sources checked 10/15/2025