Money Transfer to and from UK Banks

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A detailed comparison of major British banks' overseas money transfer services. International money transfer services are available as SWIFT (telegraphic/wire or electronic) transfers, CHAPS, foreign currency cheques, international bankers draft (demand draft) and GIRO. You may find more transfer options in our report covering international money transfer service providers.

note British banks do not charge customers for BACS transfers to accounts in other UK banks.
Telegraphic transfers to banks in UK require - a. SWIFT code, b. sort code and c. branch address.
Please read our detailed primer on money transfer to learn about hidden charges and poor rates your transfers may incur.

Abbey National (Santander)

SWIFT Code: ANILJESH
Enquiry: 0870 600 0125

  • Telegraphic Transfer (SWIFT):
    Outward - £25
    Inward - Nil
  • Foreign Currency Cheque (FCC):
    Outward -
    Inward - £10
  • CHAPS*:
    Outward - £25
    Inward - Nil
  • International Bankers Draft (DD):
    Outward - £10
    Inward -

SWIFTrank 1
FCCrank 2
CHAPSrank 2
DDrank 4

Alliance and Leicester (Santander)

SWIFT Code:
Enquiry: 0870 333 3228

  • Telegraphic Transfer(SWIFT):
    Outward - £16
    Inward - £10
  • Foreign Currency Cheque (FCC):
    Outward -
    Inward - £10
  • Euro Giro:
    Outward - £7.50
    Inward - £2.50
  • International Bankers Draft (DD):

SWIFTrank 2
FCCrank 2
GIROrank 4
DDrank 0

Bank of Scotland

SWIFT Code: BOFSGB21114
Enquiry: 0845 721 3141

  • Telegraphic Transfer(SWIFT):
    Outward - £9.50 (Online), £19.50 (Phone/Branch).
    Inward -
  • Foreign Currency Cheque (FCC):
  • CHAPS*:
    Outward - £25
    Inward - Nil
  • International Bankers Draft (DD):
    Outward - £6 - £15
    Inward -

SWIFTrank 4
FCCrank 0
CHAPSrank 2
DDrank 4

Barclays

SWIFT Code: BARCGB22
Enquiry: 0162 468 4308

  • Telegraphic Transfer(SWIFT):
    Outward
       £20 (Standard service)
       Europe £20 (Priority service)
       Rest of the world £35 (Priority service)
  • Foreign Currency Cheque (FCC):
  • CHAPS*:
    Outward - £20
    Inward - Nil
  • International Bankers Draft (DD):
    Outward - £10
    Inward -

SWIFTrank 1
FCCrank 0
CHAPSrank 3
DDrank 4

Co-operative Bank

SWIFT Code: CPBKGB22
Enquiry: 0161 872 0850

  • Telegraphic Transfer(SWIFT):
    Outward -
    Inward - £6
  • CHAPS*:
    Outward - £25
    Inward - Nil
  • TIPANET†:
    Outward - £8
    Inward -
  • International Bankers Draft (DD):
    Outward
       £25
    Inward
       £4 (Upto £100). £8 (from £100 to £2000),
       0.25% of cheque/dd amount (Over £2000)

SWIFTrank 3
CHAPSrank 2
TIPANETrank 5
DDrank 1

HSBC

SWIFT Code: MIDLGB22 (GBP), MIDLJESH (Other currencies)
Enquiry: 0845 604 0000

  • Telegraphic Transfer(SWIFT):
    Outward
       £9 (Online Up to £2,000)
       £15 (Online Over £2,000)
       £25 (Branch/Phone)
  • Foreign Currency Cheque (FCC):
  • CHAPS*:
    Outward - £17 (to HSBC account), £20 (to other banks)
    Inward - Nil
  • International Bankers Draft (DD):
    Outward -
    Inward -
       £15 (Up to £100)
       £20 (Over £100)

SWIFTrank 4
FCCrank 0
CHAPSrank 3
DDrank 2

Lloyds TSB

SWIFT Code: LOYDGB2L
Enquiry: 0845 300 0000

  • Telegraphic Transfer(SWIFT):
    Outward
       Europe (in Euros) £15 (Up to £500) £20 (Up to £5000) £35 (Over £5000)
       Rest of the World £20 (Up to £5,000) £35 (Over £5,000)
    Inward
  • Foreign Currency Cheque (FCC):
  • CHAPS*:
    Outward - £30
    Inward - Nil
  • International Bankers Draft (DD): £20 (Over £100)

SWIFTrank 2
FCCrank 0
CHAPSrank 1
DDrank 2

Natwest Bank

SWIFT Code: NWBKGB2L
Enquiry: 0800 200 400

  • Telegraphic Transfer(SWIFT):
    Outward
       Relay £10 (Up to £2,000)
       Europe (in Euros) £10
       Rest of the world £20 Urgent Transfer £27
    Inward
       £1 (Upto £100), £7 (Over £100)
  • Foreign Currency Cheque (FCC):
  • CHAPS*:
    Outward - £23
    Inward - Nil
  • International Bankers Draft (DD):
    Outward
       £8 (Up to £100), 18 (Over £100)
    Inward
       From £5 to £60, depending on transfer amount.

SWIFTrank 3
FCCrank 0
CHAPSrank 2
DDrank 3

Royal Bank of Scotland

SWIFT Code: RBOSGB2L
Enquiry: 0845 724 2424

  • Telegraphic Transfer(SWIFT):
    Outward
       Europe £10 (Economy service)
       World £10 (Budget service)
       Economy £20
       Express £27
    Inward
       £1 (Upto £100), £7 (Over £100)
  • Foreign Currency Cheque (FCC):
  • CHAPS*:
    Outward - £20
    Inward - Nil
  • International Bankers Draft (DD):
    Outward
       £8 (Up to £100), 18 (Over £100)
    Inward
       0.25% per cheque or demand draft.

SWIFTrank 3
FCCrank 0
CHAPSrank 3
DDrank 3

Yorkshire Bank

SWIFT Code: YORKGB22
Enquiry: 0845 736 5365

  • Telegraphic Transfer(SWIFT):
    Outward
       £24 (BEN/SHA‡ Clause)
       £39 (Yorkshire Bank Clause)
    Inward
  • Foreign Currency Cheque (FCC):
    Outward
       £5 (Up to £100)
       0.25% of transfer amount (Over £100)
  • CHAPS*:
    Outward - £24
    Inward - Nil
  • International Bankers Draft (DD):
    Outward
       £12 (Up to £200)
       £17 (Over £200)
    Inward

SWIFTrank 3
FCCrank 4
CHAPSrank 2
DDrank 3

* CHAPS allows same day electronic transfers within UK.
† TIPANET is available for transfers to Belgium, Germany, Spain and USA.
‡ BEN - Charges paid by beneficiary.
   SHA - Charges shared by remitter and beneficiary.

Learn more about SWIFT BIC, BACS, CHAPS, IBAN and GIRO.

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