How to Send a Bank Wire Transfer Online: What It Is and How to Stay Safe

A wire transfer is a way to send money directly from one bank account to another — either within the United States (domestic wire) or to another country (international wire). Wire transfers move money faster than most other methods. Domestic wires typically arrive the same business day if sent before the bank's cutoff time.

Wire transfers are used for large transactions where speed and certainty matter: buying a home, paying a contractor, sending money to family in another country, or paying a large invoice. You need the recipient's bank name, routing number (a 9-digit number that identifies the bank), and their account number.

Most banks allow you to send a wire transfer online through your bank's website or app, though some still require you to do it in person or by phone. Domestic wires typically cost $15–$35 per transfer. International wires cost more — often $35–$50.

Wire transfers are final. Once a wire transfer is sent and received, it cannot be reversed. This is why wire fraud is so serious — scammers use wire transfers because the money disappears immediately and cannot be recalled.

Common wire fraud scams include: contractors or vendors who "change" their bank account information right before you pay (their email was hacked), fake real estate closings where scammers pose as the title company, and romance scammers who ask for wire transfers after gaining trust online.

Before sending any wire transfer, especially a large one, call the recipient directly at a phone number you already have — not a number from the email or message asking for the wire. Verify the account details verbally. This one step prevents the vast majority of wire fraud.