Types of international payments

There are 2 types of payments when you send money internationally from your Nationwide current account: SEPA payments and SWIFT payments.

To send a SEPA or a SWIFT payment, follow the instructions for making an international payment.

What is a SEPA payment?

You make a SEPA payment when you send euros to one of the 36 countries in the SEPA Zone.

Countries in the SEPA Zone

The Single Euro Payments Area includes the following countries:

What is a SWIFT payment?

If you’re not sending euros to countries in the SEPA Zone, you can make a SWIFT payment. There’s no limit to how much you can send.

You need to use your current account to send or receive a SWIFT or SEPA payment. You can’t use a savings account unless advised by one of our teams.

You'll also need some extra information to make a SWIFT payment.


What details are needed to make an international payment?

To make an international payment online from a Nationwide current account, you'll need your card reader and you must include:

  • the details of the person or company receiving the payment, including their first name and surname or full company name, as well as their full address, including the city, country and postcode or zip code

  • the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) or account number of the person or company receiving the payment

  • the name and address of the bank receiving the funds

  • the Bank Identifier Code (BIC) of the bank receiving the funds if the payment isn’t euros sent to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) Zone.

Note:

If you don't include all of this information, your payment may be rejected. Because of exchange rates and any charges applied by the bank you’re trying to send the payment to, the amount you get back might also be less than you sent.

To make an international payment in branch, you’ll also need:

  • your Nationwide current account card

  • a valid passport or full driving licence


What is the exchange rate for international money transfers?

When you request an international payment in our Internet Bank, the exchange rate is quoted in the online form. So you know exactly how much money will be sent.

We convert international payments into pounds sterling using our standard inbound exchange rate. This can vary, depending on the payment type.

If you request a payment in person at a branch, we’ll let you know the exchange rate on the day and exactly how much money will be sent. We can also give you a print out of the rates.

Exchange rate to EEA countries

When you ask us to make a payment to an account in a European Economic Area (EEA) (opens in a new window) country in euros or another EU or EEA currency, we’ll show you our charges for the currency conversion.

We calculate these by comparing our standard outbound exchange rate against the latest foreign exchange reference rates issued by the European Central Bank.


How much do international payments cost?

Sending international payments

The cost to send an international payment varies depending on the type of payment and the account you hold.

We’ll let you know the cost when you set up your payment.

Transaction fee for SWIFT payments

We charge a £20 transaction fee for SWIFT payments.

You’ll need to have enough money in your account or a covering overdraft to pay the £20 fee as well as the amount you’re sending. For example, if you were sending £100, you would need at least £120 in your account. If you don’t have enough to pay the fee, we may refuse to make the payment.

If you have a FlexBasic current account and you’re making a SWIFT payment in pounds to the EEA, the £20 fee will be refunded after the transaction is complete.

If you have a FlexOne, FlexStudent or FlexGraduate current account, there’s no transaction fee.

Supporting those in need

We want to make it easier for members who want to help those in need. So we're refunding our £20 charge for payments to Ukraine.

If you're making a payment in branch, we won't charge you. If you're paying in the Internet Bank, we'll refund the fee the next working day after we send the payment.

Exchange rate information for sending international payments

Information:

Our international payments and currency conversion services are carried out by a third party provider.

If you make an international payment from your Nationwide account, you can choose to send it in foreign currency or in pound sterling.

If you make an international payment in foreign currency, we will convert the money from pound sterling to the foreign currency before sending it. We use the latest standard outbound exchange rate, which is updated throughout the day. The standard outbound exchange rate includes a currency conversion mark-up of 2.2%. The mark-up is added by the third party processing the currency conversion. We receive a share of this mark-up. The standard outbound exchange rate shown on your statement includes the currency conversion mark-up of 2.2%.

If you choose to send your payment in pound sterling the receiving foreign bank will convert the currency. They will use their own exchange rate and may apply their own charges to the transaction.

Receiving international payments

There’s no transaction fee to receive an international payment. But we’ll convert the payment into pounds sterling using our standard inbound exchange rate. This can vary, depending on the type of payment.

There may also be fees and charges that the sender needs to cover. These can affect the amount you receive.

Exchange rate information for receiving international payments

Information:

Our international payments and currency conversion services are carried out by a third party provider.

When a foreign bank sends money to Nationwide, they will either convert the money into pound sterling before sending it to us, or they will send it as foreign currency.

When we receive an international inbound payment in foreign currency, we use the standard inbound exchange rate to convert the currency into pound sterling. A currency conversion mark-up of 0.5% is included in the standard inbound exchange rate. This percentage is set by the third party and is not an additional charge from Nationwide. The standard inbound exchange rate shown on your statement includes the currency conversion mark-up of 0.5%.

If a foreign bank converts the money to pound sterling before sending it to us, the 0.5% mark-up will not apply. However, the sending bank may apply their own charges.


How long does it take to send money internationally?

Timings vary between countries and the type of currency you’re sending.

If you’re sending euros in the SEPA Zone, your payment will arrive by the end of the next working day.

If you’re sending a currency other than euros within the EEA (opens in a new window) or the UK, your payment will normally arrive within 4 working days.

If you’re sending a payment outside the EEA, your payment will take longer than 4 working days, depending on the country and bank.

If you’re receiving an international payment, the time to get the payment will depend on where it’s coming from.


How much money can you send internationally?

There’s no limit to how much you can send internationally.

But there are different rules for whether you’re sending euros in the SEPA Zone or money outside the SEPA Zone.


How to send an international payment

You can make an international payment online in our Internet Bank or at your local branch.

In our Internet Bank

  1. Log in to the Internet Bank. Not yet registered? Register for the Internet Bank.
  2. Select the Move money tab.
  3. In the Other payments section, choose Make an international payment section.
  4. From the drop-down, choose the account you want to pay from.
  5. Select Go
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions.

You can also view a step-by-step demo (opens in a new window) of how to do this.


How to receive an international payment

You need to give the person sending money:

  • your Bank Identifier Code (BIC). These are sometimes called 'SWIFT codes'. Nationwide's BIC is NAIAGB21

  • the intermediary BIC. Our Intermediary Bank (HSBC) BIC is MIDLGB22

  • your International Bank Account Number (IBAN), which you can find in the Internet Bank or on your bank statements

  • your account number

  • your sort code

  • your full name, including your first name and surname

  • your full address, including your city, country and postcode.

The person or company sending the payment also needs to include their full name and address or the full name and address of their company.

Note:

If any of this information is missing, the payment may be rejected. This could mean the sender doesn't get back all the money they sent. This is due to the exchange rates and any charges. Always double check you've given all the right information.

You can only receive a SWIFT payment to your current account, not a savings account.


Sending international payments with savings accounts

In exceptional circumstances, you can also use a Nationwide savings account to send international payments.

One of these circumstances is following a bereavement.


Get in touch if you need help

Call us or visit your nearest branch if you need some help with making an international payment.

Over the phone

7 days a week, 8am to 8pm.

UK: 0800 30 20 11
Abroad: +44 1793 65 67 89



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