Understanding Bankwest International Transfers
Transferring funds across international borders requires an understanding of your bank's specific processing rules, limits, and fee structures. For Australian residents holding a Bankwest account, managing international payments involves two distinct processes depending on whether you are receiving foreign funds into your domestic account or attempting to send Australian dollars to an overseas beneficiary.
It is important to note a significant operational update: Bankwest no longer facilitates direct outward international money transfers through its own online banking systems. Customers wishing to send money overseas must now utilize regulated third-party foreign exchange providers. Bankwest accounts continue to fully support receiving inward international wire transfers via the SWIFT network without applying inward processing fees for personal accounts.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Sending Money Overseas | Requires a third-party international transfer provider |
| Receiving Money | Processed via Bankwest SWIFT code BKWAAU6P |
| Inward Processing Time | Typically 3 to 5 business days, pending intermediary banks |
| Inward Fees (Personal) | $0 Bankwest fee for receiving international transfers |
How to Make an International Money Transfer in Bankwest
Via Online Banking
- Log in to your Bankwest Online Banking account.
- Navigate to Payments & transfers.
- Select Make a payment, then choose International transfer.
- Complete the international money transfer form with the required details.
- Click Create transfer.
- Opt for SMS me now to receive a verification code.
- Confirm the transaction using the code sent to your mobile device.
Via Mobile Banking App
- Open the Bankwest mobile banking app and log in.
- Tap on the Menu.
- Choose Make a payment.
- Select the account or credit card for the transaction.
- Choose BPAY Biller.
- Tap on Add Biller or select a company from the list.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the transfer.
Troubleshooting Payment and Access Issues
If you encounter technical barriers while attempting to fund your third-party international transfer, review these standard resolution paths:
- MFA / Login Issues: If you are attempting to authorize the domestic transfer to your chosen provider but do not receive the SMS security code, network congestion is the likely cause. Ensure your device has cellular reception and wait 60 seconds. If the issue persists, contact Bankwest phone support to verbally authenticate and verify the phone number registered to your profile.
- Browser or App Errors: The Bankwest App may time out or display a generic error code during the payment confirmation screen due to stale cache data. Force close the application, clear your device cache, and restart the banking session. If the application continues to fail, use a desktop computer to log into the online banking portal as a reliable alternative.
- Locked Account / ID: Attempting to transfer a sum larger than your approved daily limit can trigger an automated security lock, suspending your digital access. This occurs as a fraud prevention measure. You cannot bypass this security hold digitally; you must call the Bankwest fraud or customer service team to verify your identity and restore access.
Pro-Tip: To prevent costly routing errors when receiving money from overseas, instruct the sender to combine your 6-digit BSB and your specific account number into one continuous 13-digit number (with no spaces or dashes) alongside the Bankwest SWIFT code. Providing a standalone BSB or adding spaces frequently causes intermediary banking systems to reject the inward wire, resulting in the funds bouncing back to the sender.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was my incoming international payment delayed?
Incoming international transfers rely on a complex network of intermediary banks operating across different time zones and jurisdictions. Delays standardly occur if the sender provided incorrect SWIFT formatting, if the transaction crosses foreign public holidays, or if the funds require mandatory anti-money laundering (AML) screening before clearing. If the expected funds have not appeared in your Bankwest account after five business days, request that the sender initiate a formal trace through their local financial institution.
Does Bankwest charge a fee to receive money from overseas?
Bankwest does not charge an inward telegraphic transfer fee for receiving international payments into personal transaction accounts, and the bank absorbs standard intermediary fees for non-AUD transfers. However, if the sender's financial institution converts the payment into Australian Dollars before dispatching it, the routing intermediary may deduct a handling fee from the principal amount. Advise your sender to select the option to cover all processing fees upfront if you require an exact monetary amount to land in your account.
How do I adjust my transfer limit to fund a large overseas payment?
When you fund a third-party international provider via a Bankwest domestic transfer, the transaction is restricted by your default daily 'Pay AnyBody' limit, which is typically set at $1,500. To send a larger sum, the system requires you to authenticate the change with an SMS code to raise this limit up to a maximum of $50,000 via the mobile app. Log into your app, navigate to 'Payment limits' under the Money tab, increase your limit to the required amount, and confirm the change before attempting the transfer again.
