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Ways to Bank

Sending
money abroad

How do I send money abroad?

Sending money to a foreign country is a big deal and something you should feel 100% comfortable in doing. Here's everything you need to know about sending money across borders, from comparing fees, to actually doing it.

Compare international payment options for all currencies, worldwide

When sending money abroad, you'll pay different amounts depending on when or where you're sending it to and how quickly you need it to arrive.

Select your preferred way of doing it

The quickest route

What you'll need

The mobile app

An existing international payee already set up in Digital Banking

Any other country specific requirements

Note: You will need to set up your payee first.

Country specific requirements

Americas Close

Americas

Brazil

A beneficiary phone number is required as banks will phone the customer to call in with ID before the payment is credited to their account.

Canada

Payments to Canada require the beneficiary account number, name and address. An 8-digit Bank Transit Number should be provided in preference to a BIC wherever possible. The Bank Transit Number should be entered into the National Clearing Code box.

When sending Relay/Budget payments to Canada, they will more than likely have a 3 figure bank code as that is all they are provided with by the Canadian banks. However, a 4 digit code is required so an additional ‘0’ should be added at the beginning of the code e.g. Royal Bank of Canada 003 should be 0003; HSBC 016 should be 0016.

Mexico

Mexican account numbers are 18 digits long and called a CLABE.

United States of America (USA)

The USA does not generally accept any payment that is not in USD and will convert if sent in Sterling. USA banks are identified using Fed Wire Routing numbers and ABA numbers (equivalent of UK sort codes) which are always 9 digits. This should go in the National Clearing Code box, and should be provided in preference to a BIC wherever possible.

For payments to Credit Unions, please contact the Retail Payments Helpdesk for assistance on 0845 300 3512.

Europe Close

Europe

France

Payments to La Poste can only be made in Euros.

Hungary

A reason for payment is required to be sent with all payments.

Italy

A reason for payment is required to be sent with all payments.

Romania

A reason for payment is required to be sent with all payments.

Turkey

Payments must have a 26 digit IBAN.

Ukraine

A reason for payment is required to be sent with all payments.

Asia pacific Close

Asia pacific

Australia

A BSB number is an Australian sort code which has 6 digits, the account number has 9 digits.

A BSB should be provided in preference to a BIC wherever possible. The BSB should be entered in the National Clearing Code box.

India

Payments to India may require an IFSC code (Indian Financial System Code). This is an alpha-numeric code that uniquely identifies a bank-branch participating in the NEFT system (clearing system in India) and has an 11-digit code.

All payments require a beneficiary address.

New Zealand

A BSB number is a New Zealand sort code which has 6 digits. A BSB should be provided in preference to a BIC wherever possible. The BSB should be entered in the National Clearing Code box.

Pakistan

Payments require the beneficiary address.

Middle east and Africa Close

Middle east and Africa

Egypt

A reason for payment is required to be sent with all payments.

Jordan

All payments must be sent with an IBAN & BIC.

Lebanon

Payments must have a 28 digit IBAN.

Turkey

Payments must have a 26 digit IBAN.

01

Log in to mobile banking
02

Select the account that you wish to send your payment from
03

Select ‘International payments’
04

Select ‘Choose saved payee’
05

Choose a payee from your list
06

Select 'enter amount', enter the amount you want to send and press ‘Done’
07

Then choose between the transfer types ‘Standard’ or ‘Urgent’
08

Select the fee type
09

Review your payment and if happy with all the details, click ‘Confirm payment’
10

You’re almost there. Make sure you read the terms and conditions
11

Accept and voila! You’re done

App available to Digital Banking customers with a UK or international mobile number in specific countries.

You will need to set up your payee first on Digital Banking.

What you'll need

Your debit card

Your enabled card-reader

The recipient's IBAN or Account number

BIC/SWIFT code or NCC number

Any other country specific requirements

Country specific requirements

Americas Close

Americas

Brazil

A beneficiary phone number is required as banks will phone the customer to call in with ID before the payment is credited to their account.

Mexico

Mexican account numbers are 18 digits long and called a CLABE.

United States of America (USA)

For payments to Credit Unions, please contact the Retail Payments Helpdesk for assistance on 0845 300 3512.

Europe Close

Europe

France

Payments to La Poste can only be made in Euros.

Hungary

A reason for payment is required to be sent with all payments.

Italy

A reason for payment is required to be sent with all payments.

Romania

A reason for payment is required to be sent with all payments.

Turkey

Payments must have a 26 digit IBAN.

Ukraine

A reason for payment is required to be sent with all payments.

Asia pacific Close

Asia pacific

Australia

A BSB number is an Australian sort code which has 6 digits, the account number has 9 digits.

A BSB should be provided in preference to a BIC wherever possible. The BSB should be entered in the National Clearing Code box.

India

All payments require a beneficiary address.

New Zealand

A BSB number is a New Zealand sort code which has 6 digits. A BSB should be provided in preference to a BIC wherever possible. The BSB should be entered in the National Clearing Code box.

Pakistan

Payments require the beneficiary address.

Middle east and Africa Close

Middle east and Africa

Egypt

A reason for payment is required to be sent with all payments.

Jordan

All payments must be sent with an IBAN & BIC.

Lebanon

Payments must have a 28 digit IBAN.

Turkey

Payments must have a 26 digit IBAN.

01

Select 'Payments and transfers' from the left hand menu
02

Under the 'International payments' section select 'Make a Payment'
03

If you are setting up a new international payee, select 'Get a quote for paying someone new' then select 'Next'. If you are sending to an existing payee, skip to step 7
04

The next screen will ask you some questions to provide you with a quote in pounds and pence. The quote will have converted the amount you want to pay into local currency and will include the relevant fees
05

Enter the country, the currency, the amount you want to send, how fast you want it sent, and the relevant fee options. The website will give you a quote in pounds and pence of how much it will cost in total. Once done, click ‘Next’
06

Enter the relevant account details, which will vary depending on the country you are sending to. If unsure what they are, click on the information icon next to the required details on the website
07

You’ll also need to enter a reference for the payment, the account you want it to leave from, and the date you want it to be sent. Once done, select ‘Next’
08

You’ll be given a summary of all the information you have entered, please check that everything is fine before continuing. You’ll then need to follow the onscreen instructions to authorise the payment with your card reader
09

Once the card reader has been enabled, select ‘Confirm’ to send the payment
10

You're done! Click below to send your International Payment with Digital Banking now

Digital Banking available to customers aged 11+ with a Royal Bank account.

Frequently asked questions

What is an International Bank Account Number (IBAN) Close

IBANs are used by banks of other member or joining countries of the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland as well as a few others. A list of all IBAN compliant countries is available.

Using the IBAN is an internationally agreed method for transactions between banks located in different countries. It provides a simple means for foreign banks to check the validity of your bank account number.

An IBAN is always used in conjunction with your BIC (Bank Identifier Code). A BIC (sometimes referred to as SWIFT code) is a unique set of characters, being either 8 or 11 numbers and letters. This enables easy identification of financial institutions (e.g. banks) when carrying out international transactions.

What details are required to receive an international payment? Close

To receive international payments you need to supply your IBAN and BIC, these can be found in the 'View/Share account details' section of the mobile app, on Digital Banking or your account statement.

Where can I find my IBAN and BIC numbers? Close

The easiest way to find your IBAN and BIC is from the mobile app, you could also use Digital Banking or your account statement:

Mobile app

Log in to your app
Tap on the account you want to see
Select the three dots on the top right of your screen
Tap 'View/Share account details' to see your IBAN and BIC code

Digital Banking

Log in to www.rbsdigital.com
Select the account you wish to view from the 'Account summary' screen
Select the option 'View account details'
You will see the IBAN & BIC code listed on screen

How do I find out the exchange rate when I send an international payment? Close

You will receive a guaranteed rate when making a payment via the mobile app or Digital Banking.

In the event the rates system is unavailable, the payment is future dated or the payment is initiated after the cut off time, then you will receive an indicative rate. This is due to a delay between the date and time the payment transaction is made and the date and time the payment transaction is processed by Royal Bank of Scotland, the actual rate used on your payment may differ because the rate is set when your payment is processed.

How can I check my recent international payments? Close

A recent payment is a payment which has already be debited from your account.

If you have just made an International Payment you will be able to see the transaction on the mini statement of the account the money has left.

You will see any international payments you have made in the last 6 months by selecting the 'View recent payments' option in the 'International payments' section of the 'Payments and transfers' page. Other previous payments can be viewed within 'Statements'.

How can I check my scheduled international payments? Close

A scheduled payment is a payment which has been created to be paid on a future date.

To view a scheduled international payment, select 'Payments and transfers' from the main menu. From the 'International payments' section select 'View or cancel a scheduled payment'. A list of your future dated international payments will appear. You may choose to cancel a payment by selecting it from the list and then 'Cancel Payment'.

Scheduled international payments can be cancelled up to 4.00 pm (UK time) on the business day before the payment is due to be made.

Please note: if you have set up a scheduled payment at a branch, it will not appear in your list of scheduled payments. Please contact a branch for further details of this payment.

How do I change the bank details of an international payee? Close

If you need to change the foreign bank details of a payee to make an international payment you will need to delete the existing payee and set them up again with the new account details.

To delete an International Beneficiary:

Log in to your Digital Banking service at www.rbsdigital.com
Select ‘Payments and transfers’ from the left hand menu
From the ‘International payments’ section select ‘Manage beneficiaries’
Select the appropriate payee from your Beneficiary list of Scheduled Payments, and then 'Delete beneficiary'
If you are happy to delete the beneficiary, select 'Confirm'

To set up the payee again with their new bank details and to make a payment to them follow the steps at the beginning of this page.

Please note: You'll need a card-reader and a card you can use with that reader to complete this process.

Can I recall an international payment? Close

To discuss the possibility of recalling an international payment, please call Telephone Banking.

Any attempt to recall international payments are done so on a best endeavours basis. Please note that any payments that are recalled successfully may be subject to currency exchange loss upon return (if initially converted to another currency).

A £25 admin fee also applies.

Want help using our Mobile app or Digital Banking?

Sending
money abroad

How do I send money abroad?

Compare international payment options for all currencies, worldwide

Payment type

Time taken

Fees

Mobile Banking cutoff time

Digital Banking cutoff time

Max amount

Select your preferred way of doing it

What you'll need

Country specific requirements

Americas

Europe

Asia pacific

Middle east and Africa

Your step-by-step guide:

What you'll need

Country specific requirements

Americas

Europe

Asia pacific

Middle east and Africa

Your step-by-step guide:

Frequently asked questions

Mobile app

Digital Banking

Something else we can help you with?

Support centre

@RBS_Help

Find a branch

Want help using our Mobile app or Digital Banking?

Sending money abroad

How do I send money abroad?

Compare international payment options for all currencies, worldwide

Payment type

Time taken

Fees

Mobile Banking cutoff time

Digital Banking cutoff time

Max amount

Select your preferred way of doing it

What you'll need

Country specific requirements

Your step-by-step guide:

What you'll need

Country specific requirements

Your step-by-step guide:

Frequently asked questions

Something else we can help you with?

Support centre

@RBS_Help

Find a branch

Sending
money abroad