International Transfer with FNB: Fees, Time, Process

FNB offers a Global Payments service, which lets you send and receive international payments through the SWIFT system, either online or via the FNB mobile banking app.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about FNB international money transfers. This includes fees, exchange rates and how to set up a payment.

We’ll also introduce you to Wise, a bank alternative which could save you money when making an international transfer to South Africa. You can send money to ZAR with Wise for low fees and mid-market exchange rates⁶.

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FNB international transfer fees

Before we look at anything else, let’s start with the most important question on your mind - how much does it cost to make an international transfer with FNB?

The bank charges what it describes as competitive fees for transfers. These vary depending on how much you send, and whether you do it online/app or via phone/banker.

Let’s take a look at the full list of FNB international transfer fees for sending and receiving money¹:

Sending international transfer from South Africa	Fee for online/app	Fee for phone/banker
Up to R1000	R100	R200
R1000.01 to R2000	R130	R230
R2000.01 to R5000	R150	R250
R5000.01 to R10000	R200	R300
R10000.01+	0.55% , (min. R275 and max. R550)	0.55% (min. R550 and max. R875)

Receiving international transfer in South Africa	Fee for online/app	Fee for phone/banker
Up to R500	R75	R75
R500.01 to R1000	R100	R130
R1000.01 to R2000	R130	R230
R2000.01 to R5000	R150	R250
R5000.01 to R10000	R175	R275
R10000+	0.55% (min. R175 and max. R450)	0.55% (min.R350 and max. R760)

So, how does FNB stack up against other providers? To help you compare options, here’s a quick example of a transfer in ZAR with Wise.

Let’s imagine you want to send $500 (approx. R9117) in USD to South Africa. With Wise, it’ll cost just $9.89 USD* (around R184) in transfer fees⁶, and you’ll get the benefit of the mid-market exchange rate too². Do the same with FNB and you’ll pay at least R200 in fees plus the difference in exchange rate.

*fee for Wise transfer carried out with connected bank account, as of 7th August 2023

FNB international transfer exchange rate

FNB says it offers ‘personalised’ exchange rates to its customers, so you’ll need to initiate a transfer in order to check the live rate available to you.

However, you can also check the rates available to everyone else on the FNB website⁸.

The mid-market exchange rate is the rate banks use to trade currency with each other, and is thought to be one of the fairest you can get. Like many banks, FNB is likely to add a margin or mark-up to the mid-market rate.

Wise only ever uses mid-market exchange rates, with no margins, markups or hidden fees. You can always see fees and rates upfront before making an international transfer⁶.

Use Wise for quick, cheap international transfers

Would you rather avoid high transfer fees, hidden charges and unfavourable exchange rates? You might want to consider another way of sending money abroad.

Wise provides a transparent, cheap, and fast solution for international transfers to South Africa⁶.

You can say goodbye to hidden fees and expensive transfer charges, as Wise uses mid-market exchange rates and only a minimal transfer fee made available upfront⁶.

For those who value transparency, sending money with Wise is the ideal choice.

Our mission at Wise is to make transfers instant for everyone, everywhere.⁷* And we can save you money compared to other providers⁶.

How long does an international transfer take with FNB?

The time it takes for FNB international transfers can vary depending on a few factors. This includes the destination and currency among others.

But as long as your transfer meets all regulatory requirements, it should arrive within 2-3 business days³.

FNB international transfer process

To make an FNB international transfer online, simply follow these steps:

1. Go to the FNB website and login to Online Banking
2. Click the ‘Forex’ tab
3. Select ‘Global Payments’
4. On the left of the screen, select the Forex menu.
5. Choose from either ‘One-off Global Payment’ or ‘Recipients’ for a repeat payment
6. Provide all required information when prompted, including the recipient’s bank details
7. Choose a reason (BoP) code for the payment
8. Follow the on-screen steps and confirm your transaction.

The process is just the same if you’re using the FNB app on your phone.

FNB international transfer requirements

To send an FNB international transfer between countries, you’ll need to provide the following details:

• The recipient’s full name and address
• Their bank account number
• IBAN number
• SWIFT code
• SORT or routing code (depending on destination)
• Balance of Payments Reporting (BoP) code - indicating the reason for the transfer.

You may also be asked to upload documents, under South African Reserve Bank regulations for cross-border payments. You’ll be told what you’ll need after choosing a reason (BoP) code for your transfer.

FNB international transfer limits

The maximum amount it’s possible to send from South Africa with FNB is R5 million⁵. However, payment limits can vary between account holders, so not everyone will get this maximum limit.

You’ll need to contact the bank if you’re not sure what your maximum transfer limit is, or if you’d like it to be increased.

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After reading this guide, you should have the information you need to make your first international transfer with FNB. We’ve looked at everything from fees to transfer times, plus helpful info on exchange rates and limits.

Just don’t forget to do a quick price comparison before hitting ‘send’ on your payment to South Africa. Wise can be a cheap and convenient option for international transfers to ZAR⁶.

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Sources

1. FNB - FNB Foreign Exchange pricing guide
2. Wise - Send money to South Africa
3. FNB - Understanding forex
4. FNB - Global payments
5. FNB - Online Banking payment cut-off times and service types
6. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
7. Transaction speed claimed depends on funds availability, approval by Wise’s proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners’ banking system, and may not be available for all transactions.
8. FNB - Exchange Rates

Sources last checked on date: 07-Aug-2023