Wire Transfers
A wire transfer one method of transferring funds. It involves a direct electronic transfer of money between banks or credit unions. If anyone asks for a bank wire, it typically indicates that they want the traditional bank-to-bank transfer.
When to Use | Wire Instructions | Cost | FAQs
When to Use
For significant transactions—like buying a home—wire transfers or cashier's checks might be your only options. Why? The short answer is that the funds are available to the recipient more or less immediately.
Wire Transfer Scams
When buying a home, always verify where the money is supposed to be wired—especially if you get wire instructions by email.
Down payments, closing costs, and other wires to a title company or real estate professional can be an attractive target for hackers.
- Your bank account number
- The recipient's name and street address
- The recipient's bank name and address
- The recipient's bank's American Bankers Association number, commonly called a an ABA wire routing number (for transfers within the U.S.)
- Outside of the United States, a SWIFT code (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) or BIC (Bank Identifier Code)
- Additional bank identifiers maybe needed depending on the country of the recipient
- BECU's routing number, 325081403
Incoming Wire Instructions PDF | Outgoing Wire Instructions PDF
Wire Transfer Costs
- Domestic Wire Transfer - $25
- International Wire Transfer - $35
BECU charges a domestic wire transfer costs $25.00, and an international wire transfer costs $35.00. Both will be posted as a separate transaction and debited from the same account the wire is drawn on.
Other financial institutions that process the incoming wire may charge a fee. BECU does not charge a fee for incoming wires, or returned wires.