Moving money from Wise to your bank account takes one to three business days, depending on your bank and the country you're sending to
Wise (formerly TransferWise) holds your money in a Wise account, which is separate from your actual bank account. To get that money into your bank, you initiate a withdrawal through the Wise app or website, choose your bank as the destination, and Wise sends it via ACH (in the US) or the local equivalent in other countries. The money arrives in your bank account as a normal deposit — your bank sees it as an incoming transfer, not as something coming from Wise itself.
The speed depends on where you're sending the money. Within the US, ACH transfers typically land in one to two business days. International transfers take longer — usually two to five business days — because they move through correspondent banks in each country. Weekends and holidays don't count as business days, so a withdrawal you start on Friday afternoon won't arrive until Tuesday or Wednesday.
Wise charges a small fee for withdrawals in most cases, though the amount varies by currency and destination country. You'll see the exact fee before you confirm the transfer, so there are no surprises.
Key Takeaways
- Withdrawals from Wise to a US bank account use ACH and arrive in one to two business days.
- Wise shows you the withdrawal fee before you confirm, and the fee varies by currency and destination.
- You need your bank's routing number and your account number to set up a withdrawal; Wise will ask for these when you initiate the transfer.
- If your withdrawal doesn't arrive within the stated timeframe, contact Wise support with your transfer reference number and your bank's name.
How to withdraw money step by step
Open the Wise app or log into Wise.com on your computer. Tap or click the "Send" or "Withdraw" button — the exact label depends on which version you're using, but it's the main action button on your account dashboard. Select the currency you want to withdraw from (if you hold multiple currencies in Wise).
Choose your bank account as the destination. If this is your first withdrawal to that bank, Wise will ask you to enter your bank's routing number and your account number. You can find your routing number on a check, on your bank's website, or by calling your bank. Your account number is usually printed on checks or visible in your online banking portal. Wise will verify these details before processing the transfer.
Enter the amount you want to withdraw. Wise will display the fee immediately — this is the cost to move the money from Wise to your bank, separate from any currency conversion you may have already paid. Review the total, confirm the destination account details, and submit. Wise will send you a confirmation email with a reference number. Save this number; you'll need it if you have to contact support.
What happens if the money doesn't arrive
ACH transfers within the US almost always arrive within two business days. If yours hasn't shown up after three business days, log into your Wise account and check the transfer status — Wise displays this on the transaction details page. If the status shows "completed" but the money isn't in your bank account, contact your bank first. Sometimes banks delay posting deposits for a few hours, or the deposit may be pending in your account without showing as available yet.
If your bank confirms they haven't received the transfer, or if Wise shows the transfer as failed or pending after four business days, contact Wise support. Have your transfer reference number, the amount, the date you initiated it, and your bank's name ready. Wise can trace the transfer through the banking system and either resend it or refund it to your Wise account, depending on where it got stuck.
International transfers take longer and move through multiple banks, so delays are more common. If your transfer is taking longer than the stated timeframe, Wise's support team can check its status in the correspondent banking system, but they may not be able to speed it up — the delay is usually on the receiving bank's end.
Fees and exchange rates
Wise charges a withdrawal fee to move money from your Wise account to your bank. The fee is usually a small percentage of the amount you're withdrawing, plus a fixed amount in the currency you're sending. For example, a US withdrawal might cost $1 plus 0.5% of the transfer amount. The exact fee depends on the currency pair and the destination country.
You pay this fee only once, at the time of withdrawal. You don't pay it again when the money arrives at your bank. If you've already converted currency within Wise (say, from GBP to USD), you paid the conversion fee at that time; the withdrawal fee is separate and only covers the cost of moving the money to your bank.
The exchange rate Wise uses for any currency conversion is the real mid-market rate — the rate banks use with each other — plus a small markup. This is usually cheaper than what your bank would charge, but you can compare Wise's rate to your bank's rate before you transfer if you want to confirm.
Setting up a new bank account for withdrawal
The first time you withdraw to a bank account, Wise requires you to verify that account. Enter your bank's routing number and your account number, and Wise will make two small test deposits to that account — usually $0.01 each, arriving within one to two business days. Your bank will show these deposits in your account history.
Once the test deposits arrive, log back into Wise and confirm the amounts. This proves you own the account. After verification, you can withdraw to that account anytime without repeating the process. If you add a second bank account later, you'll go through the same verification process for that account.
If you enter the wrong routing or account number, Wise will catch it during verification and ask you to correct it before sending the test deposits. If you've already submitted incorrect details and the test deposits went to the wrong account, contact Wise support to cancel the verification and start over with the correct details.
Withdrawals to accounts in other countries
Wise can send money to bank accounts in over 80 countries, but the process and timeline vary. In the US, Canada, UK, and Australia, withdrawals use the local fast-payment system (ACH in the US, EFT in Canada, Faster Payments in the UK) and arrive in one to three business days. In other countries, Wise uses the SWIFT system, which is slower — typically two to five business days.
For SWIFT transfers, you may need to provide additional information: your bank's SWIFT code (also called BIC), your IBAN (if your country uses it), or your bank's address. Wise will tell you which details are required when you set up the withdrawal. You can find this information on your bank's website or by calling them.
Some countries have limits on how much you can withdraw in a single transfer, or require additional documentation for large amounts. Wise will show you any limits that apply to your destination country before you confirm the transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I withdraw money from Wise on weekends?
You can initiate a withdrawal anytime through the app or website, but Wise and banks don't process transfers on weekends or public holidays. A withdrawal you start on Saturday won't begin processing until Monday, so it will arrive one to two days later than a weekday withdrawal. The stated arrival time accounts for this delay.
What if I enter the wrong bank account number?
If you catch the error before confirming, cancel and start over. If you've already submitted the transfer, contact Wise support immediately with your transfer reference number. Wise may be able to recall the transfer before it reaches the banking system, but once it's in the system, recovery depends on whether the receiving bank can identify and return the funds.
Does my bank charge a fee to receive the transfer from Wise?
Most US banks don't charge a fee for incoming ACH transfers, but some banks do charge for incoming international wire transfers. Check your bank's fee schedule or call them to confirm. The fee, if any, is separate from Wise's withdrawal fee and will be deducted from the amount that arrives in your account.
Can I set up automatic withdrawals from Wise?
Wise doesn't offer automatic recurring withdrawals. You have to initiate each withdrawal manually through the app or website. However, once you've verified a bank account, the process takes less than a minute each time.
What's the maximum amount I can withdraw?
Wise doesn't publish a single withdrawal limit — it depends on your account history, the destination country, and the currency. Your first withdrawal may be limited to a smaller amount, and the limit increases as you use the account. When you initiate a withdrawal, Wise will show you the maximum available for that transfer.