How to transfer Wise balance to your bank account

To transfer money from Wise to your bank account, log into your Wise account, go to the "Send money" or "Balances" section, select the currency you want to move, and choose your linked bank account as the destination. Wise will show you the exact amount that will arrive, any fee involved, and how long the transfer takes — usually one to two business days for domestic transfers within the same country. You confirm the details and the money moves to your bank.

The speed and cost depend on which country you're in, which currency you're transferring, and whether your bank account is already linked to Wise. If your bank isn't linked yet, you'll need to add it first by providing your account and routing numbers (or the equivalent in your country). Wise verifies new bank accounts before allowing transfers, which can take a few hours to a day.

Key Takeaways

  • Wise transfers to your bank account go through the "Send money" or "Balances" section and typically arrive in one to two business days.
  • You must link your bank account to Wise before you can transfer to it, and Wise verifies new accounts before allowing the first transfer.
  • Wise shows you the exact fee and arrival time before you confirm, so you know the full cost upfront.
  • Transfers from Wise to a bank account in the same country are usually cheaper and faster than international transfers.

Linking your bank account to Wise

Before you can move money out of Wise, you need to add your bank account to your Wise profile. Open the app or website, go to Settings or your profile menu, and look for "Bank accounts" or "Linked accounts." Choose "Add a new account" and select your country and bank.

Wise will ask for your full account number, routing number (in the US), or the equivalent identifier for your country. In the UK, you'll provide your sort code and account number. In Australia, it's your BSB and account number. Have your bank statement or online banking open so you can copy the numbers exactly — errors here will cause the transfer to fail or be delayed.

After you submit the details, Wise verifies the account by sending a small test deposit or by checking the account details against your bank's records. This usually takes a few hours but can take up to a day. Once verified, you can transfer money to that account immediately.

Starting the transfer from your Wise balance

Log into Wise and navigate to your Balances or Send Money section. You'll see the currencies you're holding in your Wise account — these might include GBP, EUR, USD, AUD, or others depending on what you've received or exchanged.

Select the currency and amount you want to transfer. Wise will show you a preview: the exact amount leaving your Wise account, the exact amount arriving in your bank account, the fee Wise is charging, and the expected arrival date. Read this carefully, because the amount that arrives may be slightly less than the amount you send if there's a conversion or fee involved.

Choose your linked bank account as the destination. If you have multiple accounts linked, make sure you're sending to the right one — you cannot cancel a transfer after it's sent. Confirm the transfer, and Wise will process it immediately.

How long the transfer takes

Domestic transfers — money moving from Wise to a bank account in the same country — typically arrive within one to two business days. A transfer from your Wise GBP balance to a UK bank account usually lands the next business day. A transfer from Wise USD to a US bank account takes one to two business days.

International transfers take longer. Moving money from Wise to a bank account in a different country can take three to five business days, depending on the receiving country's banking system. Some countries, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, have slower correspondent banking networks and may take a week or more.

Wise does not process transfers on weekends or public holidays, so a transfer initiated on Friday evening may not arrive until Tuesday or Wednesday. Check the expected arrival date that Wise shows you before you confirm — that date accounts for weekends and holidays in both countries.

Fees and exchange rates for bank transfers

Wise charges a flat fee for transfers to your bank account, and the amount varies by country and currency. As of now, Wise typically charges between 0.50 GBP and 2 USD for domestic transfers, though this varies. International transfers cost more — often 1 to 3 USD or equivalent, depending on the destination country.

If you're transferring money in a currency different from your bank account's currency, Wise will convert it at its mid-market exchange rate plus a small markup. This markup is usually between 0.5% and 1.5% and is built into the rate Wise shows you. You'll see the exact conversion rate and markup before you confirm the transfer.

Wise does not charge a percentage of the transfer amount — only a flat fee — which makes it cheaper than banks for large transfers. However, your own bank may charge a fee to receive an international transfer, and you won't know that fee until the money arrives or you contact your bank.

What to do if the transfer doesn't arrive

If your transfer doesn't arrive by the expected date, first check your Wise transaction history to confirm the transfer was sent. Wise shows the status of every transfer: "Sent," "In transit," or "Delivered." If it says "Delivered," the money has reached your bank's system, and the delay is on your bank's side — contact your bank to ask where the payment is.

If the status is "In transit" and the expected arrival date has passed, contact Wise support through the app or website. Provide the transaction ID (Wise will show this in your history) and explain when you sent it. Wise can check with the receiving bank to see if there's a hold or error.

If the transfer failed — for example, because the account number was wrong — Wise will usually return the money to your Wise balance within a few business days. You'll see a notification in the app when the refund arrives. You can then correct the account details and try again.

Transferring from Wise to a business bank account

If your linked bank account is a business account, the process is the same: add the account to Wise, verify it, and transfer money to it. However, some business accounts have additional security checks, and your bank may hold the transfer for review before depositing it. This can add one to three business days to the arrival time.

If your business account is registered under a different name than your Wise account, make sure the names match as closely as possible. Some banks will reject transfers if the account holder's name doesn't match the sender's name. If you're transferring to a business account under your company's name but your Wise account is under your personal name, contact Wise support before sending to confirm the transfer will go through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer money from Wise to a bank account in a different country than where I live?

Yes. You can link a bank account in any country that Wise supports and transfer money to it, regardless of where you are. However, the transfer will take longer — usually three to five business days — and Wise may charge a higher fee for international transfers. Your destination bank may also charge a fee to receive the transfer.

What happens if I enter the wrong bank account number?

If the account number is wrong, the transfer will fail and the money will return to your Wise balance within a few business days. You'll see a notification in the app explaining why it failed. Correct the account details and try again. If the money goes to the wrong account by mistake, contact Wise support immediately with the transaction ID — they can attempt to recover it, but success depends on the receiving bank's cooperation.

Do I need to verify my identity again to transfer money out of Wise?

No. Once you've verified your identity to open your Wise account, you don't need to verify again to transfer money to your bank account. However, if Wise suspects unusual activity on your account, they may ask you to verify your identity again before processing a large transfer.

Can I set up automatic transfers from Wise to my bank account?

Wise does not offer automatic recurring transfers. You must manually initiate each transfer through the app or website. If you want to move money regularly, you'll need to do it each time — the process takes less than a minute once your bank account is linked.

Is there a limit to how much I can transfer from Wise to my bank account?

Wise sets limits based on your account age, verification level, and transaction history. New accounts typically have lower limits — often 10,000 GBP or equivalent per transfer. As your account ages and you complete more transfers, Wise raises the limit. You can check your current limit in the app under Settings. If you need to transfer more than your limit, contact Wise support to request an increase.