How to receive an international wire transfer with Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo has a range of account products for individual and business customers, which can usually be used to receive incoming international wire transfers. Some accounts may have incoming wire fees waived – but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s free to receive incoming international transfers with Wells Fargo, as other costs can still apply.

This guide walks through how to receive an incoming wire with Wells Fargo – including the costs, currency exchange rates and information needed. We’ll also touch on how you may receive money more conveniently with alternative providers like Wise and Revolut.

Key points: Wells Fargo receive international wire transfer

💡 Key pointsWells Fargo international wire transfer
⬇️ Fees for receiving transfersThe Wells Fargo incoming international wire transfer fee is 15 USD, waived for some premium account types.
💱 Exchange ratesRate is set by either the sender’s bank, an intermediary, or Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo makes money from currency exchange. You may get a better rate with a specialist like Wise*.
🔐 SafetyWells Fargo is a safe provider which offers comprehensive customer support if you ever need it.
🎯 Incoming transfer limitsAny applicable limits are detailed in your Wells Fargo app. If you can’t receive your payment with Wells Fargo, consider an alternative account with a provider like Wise or Revolut, which has high or no incoming limits
🚀 Incoming transfer speedTransfer speed depends on the sending bank, currency, and other factors like the value of the payment.
⭐ ConvenienceView and manage your account through the Wells Fargo digital channels, making it easy to see when your payment arrives.

*Details correct at time of research – 1st October 2025. About Wise pricing: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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FAQsAnswers
💰 Does Wells Fargo charge a fee to receive an international wire transfer?The standard fee for incoming payments with Wells Fargo is 15 USD. This is waived in full or in part for some account types.
🎯 How long does it take to receive an international wire to Wells Fargo?Delivery times for incoming payments depend on the banks and currencies involved – SWIFT transfers can take several days to arrive.
⭐ Are there better alternatives to Wells Fargo for receiving international wire transfers?You may find you can get a lower overall payment cost by using a provider like Wise, Revolut or Payoneer to receive payments with local account details. More on that later.

How to receive an international wire transfer to Wells Fargo: Step-by-step instructions

Receiving an incoming international wire can seem daunting, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to arrange as long as you have your account information to hand. Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Give the sender your Wells Fargo account information

The sender will need your Wells Fargo account information including your full name and address, your account number, the Wells Fargo bank name, address and BIC/SWIFT code.

We’ll cover this information, and where to find it, in more detail a little later.

Step 2: Agree who will pay the transfer costs

A fee will apply when you receive your payment in many cases. Other fees may be deducted by the sender’s bank, or by intermediary banks involved in processing the payment.

It’s worth discussing who will pay these costs with the sender – otherwise you may receive less than you expect to your Wells Fargo account in the end.

Step 3: Wait for the money to be deposited into your Wells Fargo account

Once the sender is ready they can process the payment through their bank branch or digital banking system. All you need to do is to wait for the money to arrive.

Delivery times can vary a lot, depending on the specific payment – and may take 1 – 3 days in many cases.

Wells Fargo fees to receive an international wire transfer

Wells Fargo has a standard fee for incoming transfers, in USD or foreign currency. However, some account types or customers might have this cost waived in full or in part.

Some eligible student customers qualify for the refund of one incoming wire fee. Or if you use Prime Checking or Premier Checking accounts, you’ll have all incoming wire fees waived. However, this doesn’t mean the payment is free – there can be currency conversion costs, or third party fees, which would still apply.

Here are the Wells Fargo incoming international wire transfer fees:

💰 Fee type⬇️ Wells Fargo incoming international wire transfer fee
Incoming payment fee15 USD
Currency conversion costVariable markup – managed by Wells Fargo, the sender’s bank, or an intermediary
Third party costsVariable – deducted by intermediary banks and not paid to Wells Fargo

*Details correct at time of research – 1st October 2025

Alternatives to Wells Fargo to receive an international wire transfer

If you receive a payment to Wells Fargo, the funds are converted from the sender’s home currency to USD. This may mean paying a fee for currency conversion, as well as third party costs as the transfer is processed through the SWIFT network.

For standard account holders, there’s also an incoming payment fee of 15 USD.

You might prefer to receive your payment in the sender’s home currency instead, and then manage the currency conversion yourself.

You can do this by using a multi-currency account to receive your payment from a provider like Wise, Revolut or Payoneer.

Here’s a summary of each of these popular options side by side – with more details coming right up afterwards.

WiseRevolutPayoneer
💡 EligibilityPersonal and business customers in the US and many other countriesResidents and business owners in the US and many other countriesBusiness customers in the US and many other countries
🌍 Supported currencies40+ currencies supported for holding and exchange25 currencies supported for holding and exchange9 currencies supported for holding and exchange
⭐ Local and SWIFT account details Local account details for 8+ currencies

SWIFT details for 20+ currencies

Local account details for USD and GBP

SWIFT details for all other supported currencies

Local account information for 9 currencies
💰 Fees to receive moneyNo fee to receive payments with local details in AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP, HUF, NZD, SGD, TRY, USD

6.11 USD to receive USD wires and SWIFT payments

Other SWIFT payments – low, fixed fees apply

No Revolut feeVariable fees depending on the payment details
💱 Exchange rateMid-market rateRevolut rate with no additional fee for weekday conversion to plan limit

Fair usage and out of hours fees may apply

0.5% fee is applied to the rate provided
🎯 Limits for incoming wiresNo limit for most currenciesNo stated limitNo stated limit

*Details correct at time of research – 1st October 2025. About Wise pricing: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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Wise

The Wise Account can be used to receive, hold, send, spend and exchange a broad selection of currencies.

Your account offers convenient ways to get paid with local account details in 8+ currencies. You can also receive money in 20+ currencies with SWIFT account details, including currencies such as USD, GBP and EUR.

If you choose, you can order a linked Wise Multi-Currency Card to spend online and in person, with currency exchange which uses the mid-market exchange rate with low conversion fees.

💡 Wise pricing & limits
💰 Account feesNo monthly fees

Transaction fees may apply depending on account usage

⬇️ Incoming transfer feesNo fee to receive non USD payments using local details

Small fees apply for USD wires and SWIFT payments. ACH payments are free to receive.

🎯 Incoming wire limitsUsually no limit to account holding
🌍 Supported currencies for receiving paymentsLocal account details for 8+ currencies

SWIFT details for 20+ currencies

💱 Exchange ratesMid-market exchange rate. Check Wise exchange rates here.
⬆️Sending transfer feesLow and transparent fees, starting from 0.57%

*Details correct at time of research – 1st October 2025. About Wise pricing: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

Open a Wise Account 🚀
 

📚 Learn more: How to receive money from abroad with Wise

Revolut

Revolut offers digital accounts which support 25 currencies for holding and exchange, and which come with account information for both local and international payments.

You can receive local payments in USD and GBP and you’ll also get SWIFT details for all other supported currencies.

Revolut personal customers in the US can choose from 3 different account tiers depending on needs, all of which come with a linked debit card and some no fee currency conversion every month.

💡 Revolut pricing & limits
💰 Account fees0 USD – 16.99 USD monthly fee depending on plan selected

Variable transaction fees depending on plan

⬇️ Incoming wire feesNo Revolut fee
🎯 Incoming wire limitsNo stated limit
🌍 Supported currencies for receiving paymentsReceive local payments in USD and GBP and you’ll also get SWIFT details for all other supported currencies.
💱 Exchange ratesRevolut rate with no additional fee for weekday conversion to plan limit

Fair usage and out of hours fees may apply

⬆️Sending transfer feesVariable fees depending on the account plan selected

*Details correct at time of research – 1st October 2025

Payoneer

Payoneer offers multi-currency business accounts which can be helpful for receiving payments in 9 major currencies.

Your account comes with the local details you need to receive foreign currency payments.

A fee may apply depending on the currency you receive, and there is also a small charge for currency conversion if you need it.

The Payoneer account is a comprehensive business account with a linked payment card for business spending and cash withdrawals.

💡 Payoneer pricing & limits
💰 Account feesNo ongoing account fees

Transaction fees apply depending on account usage

⬇️ Incoming wire feesFees vary depending on the currency involved
🎯 Incoming wire limitsNot stated
🌍 Supported currencies for receiving payments9 currencies – USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, JPY, AUD, HKD, SGD and AED
💱 Exchange rates0.5% fee applies on currency exchange
⬆️Sending transfer feesUp to 3%

*Details correct at time of research – 1st October 2025

📚 ⏩ Related article: Best ways to receive money internationally

What information is needed to receive a wire transfer at Wells Fargo

It’s important to give the sender the correct information for your Wells Fargo account, to ensure your payment arrives safely. Using incorrect information may cause delays, or mean your transfer is rejected.

Here’s a summary of the information you need to receive an international wire transfer, make sure to give the person sending you money these details:

📁 Required information to receive payments with Wells Fargo
  • Your complete Wells Fargo account number including leading zeros
  • Name and address of your account as it appears on your statement
  • Bank official name: Wells Fargo Bank, NA
  • Wells Fargo address
  • Wells Fargo SWIFT / BIC code

Wells Fargo SWIFT code for international transfers

A SWIFT code – also called a SWIFT/BIC code – is a unique identifier which is assigned to all banks globally participating in the SWIFT network.

This helps efficient processing of payments, making it easier for a sending bank to route the transfer, even to a bank that’s in a foreign country.

Give the person sending you money your SWIFT code to make sure your payment arrives without delay.

📌 Wells Fargo SWIFT code
Wells Fargo SWIFT code: WFBIUS6S

How to find Wells Fargo SWIFT code

If you’re not sure of the right SWIFT code to use, you can log into your Wells Fargo digital banking service and find it in your account information. Or you can visit a branch, or give the Wells Fargo service team a call to ask for advice.

Wells Fargo routing number to receive international wire

You won’t usually need a Wells Fargo routing number to receive an international wire. The SWIFT/BIC code helps the sending bank find your account.

However, if your payment is processed as a local transfer, you may be asked by the sender to find your routing number. This is used to help identify your account when a payment originates within the US.

🔢 Wells Fargo routing number
Wire Routing Transit Number (ABA / RTN) 121000248

Wells Fargo address for incoming international wires

You are likely to be asked to give the Wells Fargo address to the sender. Here you need to use the same address, no matter where you originally opened your account.

🏦 Wells Fargo address
  • Wells Fargo address: 333 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

Wells Fargo receive limits for incoming international wires

There’s not a stated limit on the amount of money you can receive as an incoming payment to Wells Fargo.

If any limit applies to your specific account, you’ll be able to see it by logging into your account online and looking through your general account limits.

If you’re looking for information about international wire transfer limits, this guide might be helpful: Limits that apply to international money transfers, and International money transfer regulations.

How long does it take for Wells Fargo to receive an international wire transfer?

The delivery time for a payment being sent to your Wells Fargo account can vary a lot. Factors including the sender’s own bank, the currency and value of the payment, and local and international public holidays can all make a difference.

While some payments processed through SWIFT can arrive in a day or two, your payment may take 3 days or more in some cases.

You might find a specialist provider like Wise, Revolut or Payoneer can help you receive your payment more quickly. Services like these tend to use local account networks which can mean your payment is processed quickly or even instantly.

Go to WiseGo to Revolut

How to track an incoming international wire transfer with Wells Fargo

You won’t be able to track your incoming payment at Wells Fargo until it is deposited to your account. However, the person sending you money is likely to be able to track the transfer in their own banking app or online service.

If you’re concerned about the progress of your payment, ask the sender to take a look at the details from their end, and give you an update.

What can you do if your transfer is not delivered yet

If you’re worried about a payment after talking to the sender, you can open a chat in the Wells Fargo banking app and get support from the bank’s virtual assistant service.

Or, you can head out to a branch or give the bank a call. There are several different phone numbers for Wells Fargo contact team, depending on your account type. You can find the right one for your account by logging into your online banking – or try calling general banking 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on 1-800-869-3557.

📚 More information: Best bank to receive money internationally

Conclusion: Wells Fargo incoming international wire transfer

Receiving a Wells Fargo incoming international wire transfer isn’t tricky – but it could end up being pretty expensive. Most customers pay a 15 USD incoming wire fee, and there may also be other costs including currency conversion fees and third party charges levied by intermediary banks. This may mean you get less than you expect in the end.

As an alternative, consider receiving your international payment to a multi-currency account from a provider like Wise or Revolut. Wise offers local account information for 8+ currencies which you can use to receive payments with no Wise incoming transfer fee – or you can receive a USD wire, or a SWIFT payment in 20+ currencies, for a low, fixed fee.

No currency conversion is needed, which means you can decide to hold your balance in a foreign currency, and convert when you choose to, with low fees and the mid-market rate.

Go to WiseGo to Revolut
Other articles in this series:

Claire Millard
Fintech Content Writer
Claire Millard is a content and copywriter with a specialty in international finance. Her work has featured in The Times and The Telegraph, as well as industry magazines and leading personal finance blogs.
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Seyma Mektepli
Editor-in-chief
Seyma is an experienced content writer and editor-in-chief at Exiap, delivering informative articles on personal finance, and money transfers.
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Last updated
December 8th, 2025