TL;DR: Most major U.S. banks stop sending international wires between 2:20 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. local time, and that’s often earlier than their domestic cutoff. Bank of America closes international wires at 5:00 p.m. ET, Wells Fargo at 2:20 p.m. PT, and U.S. Bank at 3:00 p.m. CT. Capital One only sends international wires from a branch. Chase doesn’t publish a cutoff for personal accounts, so check your app before you send.
If you miss your bank’s international wire cutoff, your transfer goes out the next business day. Weekends, U.S. federal holidays and bank holidays in the recipient’s country can push it back further. This guide lists each major U.S. bank’s verified international wire cutoff, in the bank’s own time zone and in Eastern Time, along with how long delivery usually takes and what to check before sending money abroad.
Quick answer: international wire cutoff times by bank
| Bank | International cutoff | Pacific (PT) | Central (CT) | Eastern (ET) | Typical delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of America | 5:00 p.m. ET (USD or foreign currency) | 2:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 1–5 business days |
| Wells Fargo | 2:20 p.m. PT | 2:20 p.m. | 4:20 p.m. | 5:20 p.m. | Varies by country |
| Capital One | 3:00 p.m. ET, branch only | 12:00 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | Up to 10 business days |
| U.S. Bank | 3:00 p.m. CT, weekdays only | 1:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Not published |
| Citibank (personal online) | 6:00 p.m. ET | 3:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. | Up to 5 business days |
| Truist | 6:00 p.m. ET | 3:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. | Not published |
| Chase (personal) | Not published. Check your app. | — | — | — | Not published |
Cutoffs can differ by channel (online, phone or branch) and by account type (personal or business). Confirm the time for your account in your bank’s app before you count on it.
What is an international wire cutoff time?
An international wire cutoff time is the latest point in the business day when your bank will accept an outgoing wire to another country and send it that same day. If you submit before the cutoff, your bank sends the wire that day. If you submit after, it waits until the next business day. For a broader look at cutoff times, see Remitly’s cutoff time glossary entry.
The cutoff controls when your money leaves, not when it arrives. After your bank sends the wire, it may pass through one or more correspondent banks and then the recipient’s bank, and each one keeps its own hours and holidays.
Why international wire cutoffs are earlier than domestic ones
At most banks that publish both times, the international cutoff is earlier:
- Wells Fargo: 2:20 p.m. PT international vs. 3:00 p.m. PT domestic
- U.S. Bank: 3:00 p.m. CT international vs. 4:30 p.m. CT domestic
- Citibank: 6:00 p.m. ET international vs. 6:45 p.m. ET domestic
International wires take extra steps that a domestic wire doesn’t. The bank may have to convert currency, route the payment through correspondent banks, and fit around banking hours in the recipient’s country. For personal transfers abroad, U.S. law also requires the bank to tell you the exact fees and exchange rate before you send.
Bank of America (5:00 p.m. ET for both) and Truist (6:00 p.m. ET for both) are the exceptions in this list, with the same cutoff for international and domestic wires.
International wire cutoff times by bank
What is Bank of America’s international wire cutoff time?
Bank of America’s international wire cutoff is 5:00 p.m. ET, whether you send in US dollars or foreign currency. Funds usually arrive in 1–5 business days, depending on the currency, the receiving bank and local holidays. Bank of America charges no wire fee for international wires sent in foreign currency, but the exchange rate includes a markup. Wires sent in US dollars cost $45. Bank of America recommends sending in USD to some countries, including Colombia, Nigeria and Venezuela.
What is Wells Fargo’s international wire cutoff time?
Wells Fargo’s international wire cutoff is 2:20 p.m. PT (5:20 p.m. ET). Wires submitted after that are sent the next business day, and delivery times depend on the recipient’s country. Consumer accounts pay no Wells Fargo fee on digital wires sent in foreign currency, though the exchange rate includes a markup. Wells Fargo notes that a security review can delay a wire. Some countries need extra codes, such as a CLABE for Mexico or an IFSC for India.
What is Capital One’s international wire cutoff time?
Capital One only sends international wires from a branch, with a 3:00 p.m. ET cutoff. You can’t send them online or by phone, and not every account type is eligible, so Capital One suggests calling 1-800-655-BANK before you visit. International wires can take up to 10 business days to arrive. You can cancel within 30 minutes by calling the branch that sent the wire. See Capital One’s wire transfer support page.
What is U.S. Bank’s international wire cutoff time?
U.S. Bank’s international wire cutoff is 3:00 p.m. CT (4:00 p.m. ET), and international wires go out Monday through Friday only. The cutoff is the same for wires in US dollars and in foreign currency. See U.S. Bank’s wire cutoff times.
What is Citibank’s international wire cutoff time?
Citibank’s international cutoff for personal online wires is 6:00 p.m. ET. Wires requested after that are usually sent the next business day. Personal international wires can be canceled or changed within 30 minutes of authorizing them. See Citi’s online wire instructions and its online funds transfer agreement.
What is Truist’s international wire cutoff time?
Truist’s published cutoff is 6:00 p.m. ET for international wires. That figure comes from Truist documentation written mainly for business clients, so confirm the cutoff for a personal account with Truist. See Truist’s wire transfer information.
What is Chase’s international wire cutoff time?
Chase doesn’t publish an international wire cutoff for personal accounts, so check the Chase app before you send.
What happens if you miss the cutoff?
If you miss the cutoff, your wire goes out the next business day. For international wires, three calendars can affect timing:
- U.S. business days: Fedwire doesn’t run on Saturdays, Sundays or Federal Reserve holidays. See the Federal Reserve holiday schedule.
- Correspondent bank holidays: an intermediary bank’s local holiday can hold up the payment.
- The recipient’s country: Bank of America lists local bank holidays among the things that can delay an international wire.
A wire sent after the cutoff on a Friday before a holiday weekend could arrive days later than you expect.
Tips for sending an international wire on time
- Send early in the day, especially if you’re on the West Coast, where an Eastern Time cutoff comes three hours earlier.
- Have the right bank codes ready. Most countries need a SWIFT/BIC code. Many also need an IBAN, and some use their own codes, such as a CLABE for Mexico, an IFSC for India or a transit number for Canada.
- Decide whether to send in USD or local currency. It changes your fees and who converts the money. Some banks waive the wire fee for foreign-currency wires but include a markup in the exchange rate.
- Allow time for security reviews, especially for large amounts or new recipients.
- Know your 30-minute window. Federal law lets you cancel most personal international transfers within 30 minutes of paying, and Bank of America, Chase, Citi and Capital One all offer this.
- Watch for scams. Once a wire is processed, getting the money back is very unlikely.
Sending money to family abroad? Consider Remitly
A bank wire works, but it was built for moving money between bank accounts. If you’re sending money to family in another country, Remitly is an alternative built for that.
Choose how your family receives it. A wire can only land in a bank account, and you need the recipient’s SWIFT code and often an IBAN or a local code such as a CLABE or IFSC. With Remitly, your recipient can get money by bank deposit, mobile wallet or cash pickup, depending on the country.* See the exact fee before you send. Remitly shows your fee, exchange rate and the amount your recipient gets before you confirm, so there are no surprises.
Know when it’ll arrive. You get a delivery estimate before you send, and you can track your transfer in real time in the app. Remitly guarantees on-time delivery or refunds your fees.**
Learn more about how to send money with Remitly.
*Delivery options vary depending upon the recipient’s location. **Transfers arrive on time or refund issued for applicable transfer fee.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What time do international wire transfers stop for the day?
It depends on your bank. Bank of America’s cutoff is 5:00 p.m. ET, Wells Fargo’s is 2:20 p.m. PT, U.S. Bank’s is 3:00 p.m. CT and Citibank’s is 6:00 p.m. ET.
Why is the international wire cutoff earlier than the domestic one?
International wires need extra steps, such as currency conversion, routing through correspondent banks and the fee disclosures US law requires. Banks set earlier cutoffs to make room for that work.
How long does an international wire transfer take?
Usually 1–5 business days at Bank of America and Citi, and up to 10 business days at Capital One. Timing depends on the currency, any intermediary banks and holidays in the recipient’s country.
Can I send an international wire on the weekend?
You can submit one in some banks’ apps, but it won’t go out until the next US business day. U.S. Bank only sends international wires Monday through Friday.
Can I cancel an international wire transfer?
Usually yes, within 30 minutes of paying, if it’s a personal transfer. Bank of America, Chase, Citi and Capital One all offer this window. After that, cancellation depends on the banks involved.
Should I send an international wire in U.S. dollars or foreign currency?
It depends on your bank and where the money is going. Some banks charge no wire fee for foreign-currency wires but include a markup in the exchange rate. Others charge a flat fee for USD wires, and the recipient’s bank may then convert the money at its own rate. Bank of America recommends USD for some countries, including Colombia, Nigeria and Venezuela.
How we researched this article
We took every cutoff time in this guide from the bank’s own published materials: its wire transfer pages, help center FAQs, customer agreements and official PDFs. Fedwire hours come from the Federal Reserve’s Fedwire Funds Service operating hours page. Each bank section links to the source we used, so you can check it yourself.
What we included. We list the cutoff for sending an international wire on the same business day from a personal account, using the channel the bank names (online, phone or branch). Where a bank lists different times for different channels or account types, we say so.
What we left out. Many third-party sites list bank cutoff times, and several of them conflict with what the banks publish. When we found a conflict, we used the bank’s own figure. If a bank doesn’t publish a cutoff for personal accounts, we say that rather than estimate one.
Time zones. We give each cutoff in the bank’s own time zone, with the Eastern Time equivalent in parentheses.
When we checked. We last verified these cutoffs on Tuesday November 3. 2026 and review them quarterly. Banks can change cutoff times without notice, so always confirm the time for your account in your bank’s app before you send.
