Sending & receiving international payments

Send money overseas via a telegraphic transfer or international direct credit. You can also safely and securely get paid or receive money from overseas through an international payment or bank transfer.

Send money overseas

Telegraphic transfers

This is the fastest way to send money to an overseas account, but unlike international direct credits, the receiving bank may deduct fees, so the full amount you send may not be credited to the recipient’s account.

How it works

Speed

Money should arrive in the account you’re sending it to within one to three business days, although the final delivery time is up to the receiving bank.

For payments to Australia in Australian dollars, if sent before 1pm, it should arrive in Australia the same day.

Fees for recipient

The other banks involved in processing the transfer may deduct fees, so the full amount you send may not be credited to the recipient’s account. See all fees.

Reference

You can include reference details with the payment so it can be easily identified in the recipient’s bank statement (this can’t be done with international direct credits).

International direct credits

Unlike with telegraphic transfers, no fees will be charged at the receiving end of the transaction, so the full amount you send will arrive in the recipient’s account.

How it works

Speed

It will take three to five business days to arrive in the account, depending on the country you’re sending money to.

Fees for recipient

There are no fees for the recipient, so what you send is what they get. See all fees.

Where to?

Only available to accounts in the United Kingdom in British pounds and Australia in Australian dollars. Direct credits can only be made to bank accounts, not credit cards.

Reference

Unlike with telegraphic transfers, you can’t include reference information like invoice numbers or messages that will appear on the recipient’s statement.

See our step-by-step guide on how to send money overseas.

Receive money from overseas

You can receive money into either an everyday account or a foreign currency account from another bank electronically.

The person sending you the money will need specific information to complete the payment including:

  • Your account details
  • Their account details
  • Our SWIFT code
  • An international bank account number (IBAN) or BSB number (some overseas banks might ask for these).

See our guide for more details on the information the sender will need.

Fees

You’ll be charged an inward international payment fee when you receive an electronic payment from an overseas bank account into your account. Other fees may also apply. See our foreign exchange rates and fees page for details on our inward payment fee.

This information is subject to change. Kiwibank accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions.