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By Gianvito Grieco
Picture this: a business does its research and finds strong demand for its products overseas. Competition is not very strong and there’s good consumer buzz. The company devises an excellent cross-border strategy, including cost-effective ways to enter multiple markets. Initial orders are starting to flow in – and clients the most cost-effective ways to pay. There’s the challenge: options for receiving money from overseas clients can vary in cost, customer support, timeliness and other factors. It’s important to understand the differences and select the option that best matches a business’ particular needs and situation – sometimes on a transaction-by-transaction basis.
Wire transfers are a popular choice for sending or receiving money from overseas despite an average cost in the U.S. of $47.50 for the sender and $18 for the recipient.1 Wire transfers are unique among all domestic and international forms of payment in that their use increases by company size (measured in revenue).2 It is reasoned that larger firms may obtain volume discounts, and can develop more efficient wire transfer processes when doing a large volume of transfers. That enables larger firms to spread internal costs over more transactions when sending or receiving money from overseas clients. Businesses also can save money by properly identifying and matching the specific needs of a given payment with the appropriate provider in order to avoid overpaying unnecessarily for things that may not be needed, such as a faster transfer time.
Unlike domestic wire transfers, money received from overseas via wire transfer can take multiple days to clear because an additional foreign correspondent bank is needed. In terms of cost, wire transfers usually involve a flat fee for both sender and recipient. But the average rates mentioned above can vary significantly depending upon the provider. Fees charged by the top 10 U.S. banks for sending money overseas via wire transfer range from $40 to $65; fees to receive money from overseas via wire transfer range from $15 to $30.3 However, if a business and its customer have accounts with the same bank, it may be possible to wire money for a low fee – or none at all.
The flat fee for a wire transfer is not the only cost consideration when sending or receiving money from overseas. Low upfront fees, for example, may be paired with unfavorable exchange rates. So, before deciding on a bank wire transfer, carefully consider the exchange rate offered. Also, be aware that the exchange rate quoted before a transaction may be estimated, not fixed; exchange rates can change from moment to moment. To reduce risk, it’s possible to fix the rate in advance of settling the transaction. Another factor to be aware of is that the exchange rate quoted by any bank may be different than the “spot rate,”4 which is the rate most commonly cited by public sources. Banks may set their own exchange rates, which can differ based on transaction size.
When choosing a provider for sending or receiving money from overseas consider many metrics, including fees, exchange rates, customer support and speed. Choosing a method solely because it offers the lowest exchange rate, or the fact that there is no commission or upfront fees, may be a costly mistake in the long run, especially if a transaction goes awry. Experienced customer support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, can prove invaluable if issues come up before, after or during a transaction. Additionally, consider a provider’s experience, as seen in metrics such as transaction volume and the number of countries and currencies available. Just as one might choose a surgeon based on the number of times he or she has performed a given procedure, experience counts when it comes to potentially complex overseas transactions.
To save on costs when receiving money from overseas clients, consider the big picture. Go beyond comparing the different methods and providers based solely on one metric, such as exchange rates or fees. If something during the transaction goes wrong, and service and support is poor, the lost time and cost of resolving difficulties can be more than the anticipated savings. This is especially the case when transactions involve large amounts.
Gianvito Grieco has served in a variety of roles in investment banking, financial services, and law. Gianvito holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Florida, and a Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law. He is also fluent in English, Italian, and Spanish.
Sources
1. Comparing Wire Transfer Fees at the Top 10 U.S. Banks, MyBankTracker.com, https://www.mybanktracker.com/news/wire-transfer-fee-comparison-top-10-us-banks.
2. Business-to-Business Wire Transfer Payments: Customer Preferences and Opportunities for Financial Institutions, The Clearing House Payments Company and the Federal Reserve Banks, https://www.frbservices.org/files/communications/pdf/research/wire_transfer_research_final.pdf.
3. Comparing Wire Transfer Fees at the Top 10 U.S. Banks, MyBankTracker.com, https://www.mybanktracker.com/news/wire-transfer-fee-comparison-top-10-us-banks.
4. Forex Spot Rate, Investopedia, http://www.investopedia.com/terms/forex/f/forex-spot-rate.asp.
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