Bank Transfer Frequently Asked Questions
Send money to a bank account
What is the Western Union® Direct to Bank Account money transfer service?
What information is required from the sender to send a Direct to Bank Account money transfer?
How can I send money to a bank account?
What currencies are available for payouts?
How long will it take my money to get there?
How can I find out if my money has been sent?
What is the Western Union® Direct to Bank Account money transfer service?
The Direct to Bank Account money transfer service offers senders an easy and convenient way to send funds directly to a receivers’ bank account.
What information is required from the sender to send a Direct to Bank Account money transfer?
The bank information required to send a Direct to Bank Account money transfer varies by country. In generally you will need to know:
Your Receiver’s bank name. Your Receiver’s Bank Code and bank account number. The amount and currency you wish to send. You can refer to the Direct to Bank Account - Country Information section to see specifically what details are required for each country.
How can I send money to a bank account?
This service is available for certain countries. Direct to bank money transfers will generally be credited at the receiver's Bank account within 3 banking business days after money is sent, subject to Restrictions. See Terms and Conditions for details.
After you sent the money, ask your receiver to contact their bank or check their bank statement to verify the deposit.
A bank code is a series of numbers used to identify banks around the world. The bank code can be 3-23 digits, depending on the country and the type of code.
A bank code may be known as:
- BSB
- SWIFT code
- BIC (Bank Identification Code)
- CHIPS (Clearing House Inter-Bank Payment System) — US and Canada only
- NCC (National Clearing Code)
- BSC (Bank Sort Code)
- IFSC (Indian Financial System Code)
For some countries, you also may need an international bank account number (IBAN) in addition to the bank code.
You should obtain the bank code and IBAN (if applicable) from your receiver.
An IBAN is used in some countries to identify a customer's bank account. The IBAN is an alphabetical country code followed by 2 digits and then as many 35 characters for the bank account.
You should obtain the IBAN from your receiver.
What currencies are available for payouts?
Payouts will only be made in the local currency. Senders should ensure their receiver's bank account is a local currency account to avoid potential service delays or additional charges from the receiver's bank.
How long will it take my money to get there?
Direct to back money transfers will generally be credited at the receiver's Bank account within 3 banking business days after money is sent, subject to Restrictions. See Terms and Conditions for details.
How can I find out if my money has been sent?
You can use the transfer status service to track the status of any money transfer. All you need is the tracking number (MTCN) and the sender's name.
A BIC is a worldwide code for bank identification. The BIC is the same as the SWIFT code and is either 8 or 11 digits.