Question 1

What’s a bank code, and how do I find my receiver's bank code?

Accepted Answer

A bank code is a series of numbers used to identify banks around the world. These codes range from 3 to 23 digits depending on the country of the bank and the type of code.

A bank code may be known as:

• BIC (Bank Identification Code)
• BSC (Bank Sort Code)
• CHIPS (Clearing House Inter-Bank Payment System)
• IFSC (Indian Financial System Code)
• NCC (National Clearing Code)
• SWIFT Code

Depending on your receiver’s location, some countries may require an International Bank Account Number (IBAN) as well as the bank code, to complete the money transfer.

Question 2

What is a BIC/SWIFT code?

Accepted Answer

BIC stands for Bank Identification Code. This is a code used to identify banks worldwide for your money transfer. A BIC is the same as a SWIFT code – the terms are interchangeable. A BIC will either have 8 or 11 digits.

Question 3

What is an International Bank Account Number (IBAN)?

Accepted Answer

Some countries use an IBAN to uniquely identify a customer’s bank account. The IBAN consists of an alphabetical country code followed by two digits, and then up to 35 characters for the bank account number. Some countries require that payments sent from Australia include an IBAN.

Question 4

What information is required for an international bank transfer?

Accepted Answer

To make an international bank transfer you’ll need your:

Bank account, debit card or credit⁴ card details
Receiver’s bank name and bank code
Recipient’s account name and number

You may also need proof of ID to set up your profile initially or complete your transfer at one of our agent locations.

Question 5

How much money can I send internationally?

Accepted Answer

The amount of money you can transfer internationally varies from country to country. You can see the transfer limits, exchange rates and any transfer fees³ for your receiver’s location on our send money page – with no obligation to continue.

Question 6

How much is an international bank transfer?

Accepted Answer

You can get a price estimate for your international bank transfer on our send money page, without having to commit to your money transfer. This should include any transfer fees.

International Bank Transfers with Western Union Australia

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How to complete an international bank transfer

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Enter your transfer details

Enter your receiver’s bank details

Pay and send

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Frequently Asked Questions about international bank transfers

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