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How it works
Receiving money from overseas is a simple process for business and personal customers. Depending on whether you’re receiving Australian Dollar (AUD) or a foreign currency, this is how it works.
AUD transfers from an overseas sender
AUD amounts will be credited directly into the account number provided to us by the sender.
Foreign currency transfers from an overseas sender
NAB Foreign Currency Account holders
If you’ve given your NAB Foreign Currency Account details to the sender, you’ll be able to receive the funds in the overseas sender’s currency. It must match the currency of your NAB Foreign Currency Account.
Learn more about foreign accounts and eligible currencies.
If you’re a business customer, you’ll be able to view your NAB Foreign Currency Account and transact on it through NAB Connect.
If you’re not a business customer, this is how to access your funds or account details:
- Receiving printed account statements
- Contacting us
- Submit a request at a branch or through your banker.
Payment timeframes
We generally process on the same business day if we receive the payment instruction before cut-off times. We may not be able to notify you of delays in processing payments.
If a future payment date is advised by the sender, we’ll process your payment on or after that date.
Locating payments
If you haven’t received an expected international transfer, you can ask the sender for the exact amount and currency that has been transferred along with either:
- the SWIFT GPI tracking number of the transfer (which consists of numbers and letters)
- the name of the bank the sender has used to initiate the transfer, and any payment reference number from the sending bank.
Contact our International Help Desk on 1300 888 413 with this information to locate your payment. If NAB can’t locate the payment with the details you have and if you still haven’t received the transfer, the sender will need to address this with their transferring bank directly.
SWIFT, IBAN and BIC explained
Depending on the receiving banks requirements, you will need to know what their IBAN, SWIFT and/or BIC is.
- IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number.
- SWIFT stands for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication.
- BIC stands for Bank Identifier Code.
Transfer online via NAB Internet Banking and NAB App
To make an international transfer you need to have SMS Security switched on, which you can do via settings in NAB Internet Banking.
You can check your international money transfer limit in the NAB app or through NAB Internet Banking, and you can amend this by giving us a call at 13 22 65. Or, if you’re overseas, call +61 3 8641 9083.
Transfer using NAB Internet Banking
Under ‘Transfer & Pay’ in NAB Internet Banking, select International transfer and follow the prompts.
You will be able to view real time or indicative exchange rates before accepting.
Transfer using the NAB app
Under ‘Transfer & Pay’, select Overseas and follow the prompts.
Transfer at any branch
We can help you send money overseas from any branch. Keep in mind, making a payment using the NAB app or NAB Internet Banking may be more cost effective than making an international payment in branch.
Transfer times
After you’ve made your international transfer, the funds are usually received within 24 hours by the payee’s bank.
Help and support
Guides and support services to help you manage your international payments.
Our international transfer service
An international transfer is a secure, fast and convenient way to receive and send money. Bank Australia uses Western Union Business Solutions, a division of The Western Union Company.
Sending an international transfer
Limits and currency
Your transfer must be less than AUD $2,000 and sent in a foreign currency.
To make an international transfer higher than this amount, please contact us. Note that fees apply.
Payment details
You need the following details about the person you’re paying:
- Account name, street address and account number (or IBAN)
- Their bank name, street address and bank code/s
- Depending on the country, you may need further information to complete the payment or it may be requested at a later
stage
Do you have the right details?
International transfers are undertaken at the sender’s own risk. Western Union and/or their subsidiary companies and/or agents (Bank Australia) accept no liability whatever for any delay, mistake or omission which may occur in its transmission, or misinterpretation when received, or failure to identify the payee.
How to send an international transfer
To make the payment, log into internet banking and follow these steps:
- Go to 'Transfer/Pay' and select 'International transfers'
- Choose 'Send money overseas' and follow the prompts to validate account
- For new transfers, select 'Create transfer'. For two or more to sign accounts, locate the payment requiring approval from the list shown or use the magnifying glass to search for transactions older than 7 days.
- Select the country you are sending to, the currency you want the payment sent in, and the amount for an indicative quote (select 'Foreign' if you know the foreign currency amount you wish to send, or select 'AUD' and enter the AUD equivalent)
- Select the account you want the money to come from
- Hit 'Pay now' when you’re satisfied all details are correct
Receiving an international transfer
Good to know
Your first step is to give payment instructions to the
person or business sending money to you. These instructions vary depending on the currency being sent.
How to get your payment instructions
To get your payment instructions, simply log into internet banking and follow these steps:
- Go to ‘Transfer/Pay’ and select ‘International transfers’
- Choose ‘Receive money from overseas’
- Follow the prompts to complete the form and get your instructions
How to send payment instructions
Forward the payment instructions to the person transferring money to you.
Ask them to instruct the overseas bank to include the Payment Reference in the bank's reference field.
When received
If possible, email with the transfer receipt or bank’s remittance advice.
Drafts
A draft is like a bank cheque made out in a foreign currency.
Drafts can be sent overseas via mail and are available in a range of currencies.
Why choose the draft?
It's a cost effective way to send a payment by mail with a letter, card or invoice or when you don’t know the recipient’s bank account details.
How do you order a draft?
You can order a draft via secure email in the app or internet banking, over the phone or in a branch. Once ordered it will be available to collect at your nominated branch within 2 - 5 business days, we will contact you to let you know when it arrives. Alternatively, we can arrange for the draft to be sent to an alternative address.
Jargon and terminology
Wire
Another name for an international
transfer.
Bank codes
A bank code is a series of numbers used to identify banks around the world, for example:
- BSB (Bank-State-Branch)
- BIC (Business Identification Code)
- SWIFT Code (standard format of Business Identification Codes)
- CHIPS (Clearing House Inter-Bank Payment System) – US and Canada only
- NCC (National Clearing Code)
- BSC (Bank Sort Code)
- IFSC (Indian Financial System Code)
In some countries, you may need more than one bank code and/or an International Bank Account Number (IBAN).
IBANs
IBAN stands for ‘International Bank Account Number’.
It’s an account number format adopted by most European and many other countries. IBANs start with a two letter country code and contain between 15 and 34 letters and numbers, depending on the country.
The IBAN is written as a continuous string of alphanumeric
characters (ie. no space).
The following fees apply, noting that other fees may be charged by participating banks involved in the transaction or settlement.
Staff assisted international transfer fee
This fee is charged when you request a staff member at a branch or on the phone to debit your Bank Australia account to remit funds in a foreign currency.
- $30 per transfer
Online international transfer fee
This fee is charged when you use the app or internet banking to debit your Bank Australia account and remit funds in a foreign currency.
- $10 per transfer
Trace/recall/stop an international transfer
This fee is charged to trace, recall or stop a debit from your Bank Australia account made to remit funds in a foreign currency by you.
- $25 per transfer