How to start a wire transfer at Bank of America

To send a wire transfer from Bank of America, log into your online banking account or mobile app, select "Transfer money," then choose "Wire transfer." You'll enter the recipient's name, bank routing number, account number, and the amount. Bank of America will show you the fee (usually $15 for domestic wires, $45 for international) before you confirm. The transfer processes immediately for domestic wires sent before 2 p.m. ET on a business day; international wires take one to three business days.

If you prefer not to use online banking, you can walk into any Bank of America branch and ask a teller to initiate the wire. Bring your account information and the recipient's banking details. You'll pay the same fee and follow the same timeline, but the teller will handle the entry for you.

Phone wire transfers are also available: call the number on the back of your debit card or the customer service line for your account type. A representative will verify your identity, collect the recipient's information, and process the wire. This method takes slightly longer because of the verification step, but it works if you don't have online access.

Key Takeaways

  • Domestic wire transfers from Bank of America cost $15 and process the same day if sent before 2 p.m. ET on a business day.
  • International wire transfers cost $45 and take one to three business days to reach the recipient's bank.
  • You need the recipient's full name, routing number, account number, and the amount; Bank of America will not send the wire without all four pieces of information.
  • Once you confirm a wire transfer, it cannot be stopped or reversed, so double-check the recipient's account number before you submit.
  • You can send a wire online, through the mobile app, at a branch, or by phone; all methods charge the same fee and follow the same timeline.

What information you need before you start

Gather the recipient's details before you log in. You will need their full legal name (exactly as it appears on their bank account), their bank's routing number, their account number, and the amount you want to send. If the recipient's bank is outside the United States, you may also need their SWIFT code or IBAN (International Bank Account Number), depending on the country.

The routing number is a nine-digit code that identifies the bank or credit union. The account number is the unique identifier for the recipient's account at that bank. If you have the recipient's check, both numbers appear at the bottom: the routing number is on the left, the account number in the middle. If you don't have a check, ask the recipient directly or look up the routing number on the bank's website.

For international wires, the process is more complex. Some countries use SWIFT codes (an eight or eleven-digit code that identifies the bank), while others use IBAN numbers (which can be 15 to 34 characters long). Ask the recipient which one their bank requires. Bank of America's website has a SWIFT code lookup tool if you know the bank's name and country.

Domestic wires versus international wires

A domestic wire stays within the United States. It costs $15, processes the same business day if you send it before 2 p.m. ET, and requires only the recipient's routing number and account number. Most domestic wires arrive within hours.

An international wire goes to a bank outside the United States. It costs $45, takes one to three business days, and requires the recipient's SWIFT code or IBAN in addition to their account number. Some countries add an extra layer: the recipient's bank may charge a fee on their end to receive the wire, which comes out of the amount that arrives. Ask the recipient whether their bank charges an incoming wire fee, and if so, how much, so you can send extra to cover it.

International wires also carry a higher risk of error because the information must match the recipient's bank records exactly. A single digit wrong in the IBAN or SWIFT code will cause the wire to bounce back to Bank of America, which then returns it to your account. This reversal takes five to ten business days. For this reason, confirm the recipient's SWIFT code or IBAN directly with them, not from an email or website.

Fees and what happens to your money

Bank of America charges $15 for each domestic wire transfer and $45 for each international wire transfer. These fees are deducted from your account at the time you send the wire. If your account does not have enough money to cover both the wire amount and the fee, the transfer will not go through.

Once the wire leaves your account, it is gone. Bank of America cannot reverse it, and neither can the recipient's bank. If you send money to the wrong account by mistake, you have no automatic recovery. Your only option is to contact the recipient's bank directly and ask them to return the funds, which they are not required to do. For this reason, confirm the account number one more time before you hit submit.

If the wire fails—for example, because the routing number was wrong or the account was closed—Bank of America will send the money back to your account. This reversal takes five to ten business days. You will not be charged a fee for a failed wire, but you also will not get the $15 or $45 fee back if it was already deducted.

Timing: when the wire actually leaves and arrives

For domestic wires, the cutoff time is 2 p.m. ET on business days (Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays). If you send a domestic wire before 2 p.m. ET on a Tuesday, for example, it will leave your account that same day and arrive at the recipient's bank the same day or the next morning. If you send it after 2 p.m. ET or on a weekend, it will not leave until the next business day.

International wires do not have a same-day option. They take one to three business days from the time you send them. The exact timeline depends on the recipient's country and bank. Some countries' banking systems are slower than others. If the recipient's bank is in a different time zone, the wire may not arrive until the next calendar day even if it leaves your account the same day you send it.

Bank of America's system shows the wire as "sent" or "pending" in your account history within minutes of you submitting it. This does not mean the recipient has received it. Check back the next business day to confirm the wire shows as "completed" in your account. If it still shows "pending" after two business days for a domestic wire or four business days for an international wire, contact Bank of America customer service.

How to track your wire transfer

Log into your Bank of America online account or mobile app and go to "Transfer money" or "Recent transfers." You will see a list of all wires you have sent, with the date, amount, recipient name, and status. The status will show as "pending" while the wire is in transit and "completed" once it has left your account and reached the recipient's bank.

For domestic wires, the status usually changes from "pending" to "completed" within a few hours. For international wires, it may take one to three days. If a wire shows "pending" for longer than expected, note the reference number (a unique identifier Bank of America assigns to each wire) and call customer service. They can check the wire's status with the recipient's bank.

Bank of America does not send you a notification when the wire arrives at the recipient's bank. The recipient's bank will notify them. If the recipient says they have not received the money after the expected timeline has passed, ask them to check with their bank. Sometimes wires arrive but are held for review or require the recipient to take action to release them.

What to do if a wire transfer goes wrong

If you sent the wire to the wrong account number, contact Bank of America immediately. Explain what happened and provide the reference number from your transfer history. Bank of America will file a trace request with the recipient's bank asking them to return the funds. The recipient's bank is not legally required to comply, but most will if the account holder agrees. This process takes two to four weeks.

If the wire bounced back because the routing number or account number was invalid, Bank of America will automatically return it to your account within five to ten business days. You will see the reversal in your account history. The original $15 or $45 fee is not refunded, so you will have lost the fee even though the wire did not go through.

If you believe the wire was sent fraudulently—for example, because someone else accessed your account—contact Bank of America's fraud department immediately. Call the number on the back of your debit card or go to a branch. Bank of America will investigate and may be able to stop the wire if it has not yet been delivered. After delivery, recovery depends on whether the recipient's bank cooperates, which is not may provide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel a wire transfer after I send it?

Not reliably. Once you submit a wire transfer, it leaves your account within minutes. If you catch the error within a few minutes and call Bank of America immediately, they may be able to stop it before it reaches the recipient's bank. After that, it cannot be stopped. Call the number on the back of your debit card right away if you need to attempt a cancellation.

What if the recipient's bank says they never received the wire?

Ask the recipient to check with their bank's customer service and provide the wire's reference number (which you can find in your Bank of America transfer history). The recipient's bank can search their records by reference number. If the wire truly did not arrive, Bank of America will file a trace and investigate. This takes one to two weeks. In the meantime, ask the recipient to confirm their routing number and account number are correct.

Do I need to tell the recipient I'm sending a wire?

Yes. Let them know the amount, the date you're sending it, and ask them to confirm their routing number and account number one more time. This prevents wires from going to the wrong account. Also tell them approximately when to expect it (same day for domestic, one to three days for international) so they know whether to follow up if it does not arrive on time.

Can I send a wire transfer from a savings account or only from checking?

You can send a wire from either a checking or savings account at Bank of America. The process is the same, and the fee is the same. The money comes out of whichever account you select when you initiate the transfer.

What's the maximum amount I can wire?

Bank of America does not publish a single maximum wire amount. Limits depend on your account type, your account history, and whether you are a new customer. Log into your account and try to send the amount you need; the system will tell you if you have hit a limit. If you do, call customer service to discuss increasing your limit or sending the wire in multiple transfers.