It can be confusing trying to get clear and helpful information from the big banks.
I’ve put together this guide to save you time searching for the answers.
You will find out what Lloyds charges for an international money transfer, how long it takes, and how the process works.
Lloyds international transfer fee
One of the most common things people want to know is the fee Lloyds charge for an international transfer.
Lloyds Bank charges a flat fee of £9.50 for international transfers, whether it is done online or in a branch. There is no fee if you transfer money to another Lloyds bank account.
Lloyds International Payments | Online | Branch or Telephone | Lloyds to Lloyds |
|---|---|---|---|
Transfer Fee | £9.50 | £9.50 | Free |
You should be aware that Lloyds also charge a ‘correspondent bank fee’.
This is an additional fee paid to intermediary banks used by Lloyds in executing your payment.
The correspondent bank fee is £12 for payments to the USA, Canada & Europe, or £20 for anywhere else in the world.
You can elect to share the correspondent fee with the recipient.
If you need to amend, cancel your transfer, or change the beneficiary details, there are ‘additional fees’, but Lloyds does not state how much these will be.
You can avoid paying these fees by using a money transfer company.
Note – some money transfer companies will also charge you fees, but some don’t.
Lloyds Bank exchange rates (the more important charge)
A lot of customers think the transfer fee is the only charge.
Unfortunately, they don’t realise that the real cost of their international transfer also depends on the exchange rate you get.
Like all the banks, Lloyds sets its exchange rates.
The exchange rate you are offered has a profit margin already added by Lloyds, but it varies based on the amount you send.
The fee is just an annoyance.
You might even call it a diversion.
On discussion boards, and even on Google search results, all the talk seems to be about the fee.
What’s the fee? How much is the fee?
The exchange rate barely gets a mention.
I suspect most people aren’t aware of the real cost.
I also suspect the banks want you to focus on the fee.
The exchange rate is the elephant in the room. By looking at the mouse (the fee), you miss the elephant (the exchange rate).
The broader point is if you just use Lloyds Bank for your international payments without even comparing their exchange rates, you may be a lot worse off.
Small differences in the rate can make a big financial difference to you.
My advice is to always get a quote from an alternative provider and compare how much money you would receive for your pounds.
There’s no harm in shopping around.
If you carry out a comparison, do it at roughly the same time because exchange rates move throughout the day.
You want to be comparing apples with apples.
How long does a Lloyds Bank international payment take?
The time taken depends on the currency and destination.
For payments in euros to the UK or an EEA country, your money should be delivered the next working day.
Payments in other any other currency generally take up to 4 working days.
Business customers can pay for an express service, but this option is not available for personal customers.
Lloyds has a daily cut-off time of 3 pm.
If your payment is made after that time, it will count as the next working day.
Does Lloyds have a daily limit?
Lloyds has a daily limit of £100,000 for international transfers using online banking.
That will be plenty for most people unless your transfer is connected to an overseas property transaction, in which case you may need to send more.
If you need to make a transfer over £100,000, you may want to consider using a money transfer specialist, as they do not have daily limits.
It will save you time (and fees).
The real issue is whether you are comfortable sending large amounts of money online.
I know a lot of people (including myself) who would hesitate at sending a big chunk of my money through an online platform.
It’s easy to make a mistake with international transfers, including things like the direction of currency, the beneficiary details, and picking the best time to exchange your money.
You may get greater comfort by speaking to someone familiar with international money transfers.
It can take away the stress and worry of making a mistake.
You may even save money by exchanging your currency at a favourable time.
The information you will need
You may not be familiar with a BIC or IBAN.
The BIC identifies a specific bank, and the IBAN identifies an individual account.
All banks in the world have a BIC. It is also known as a SWIFT code.
It’s usually on a statement or shown when you log in.
If not, you can look it up online (it is not confidential information).
An IBAN is a long string of letters and numbers.
It varies in length from country to country.
There are quite a few free online IBAN generators.
If you’re a bit nervous about putting your IBAN together, you can get assistance within a branch or ask a money transfer specialist.
How to send money abroad with Lloyds
The first step is to choose how you want to send your money:
- Internet Banking
- Mobile App;
- PhoneBank; or
- Branch
Here’s a quick overview of each…
Internet Banking:
- Log in as usual
- Select ‘More actions’ (on the right-hand side menu)
- Select ‘Send money outside the UK’ (second one down).
- Select either ‘Pay someone new’ or ‘Select an international recipient’ (for an existing recipient).
- Enter all the recipient information as required above.
- Choose the number of pounds (GBP) to send and the currency needed.
- Select ‘Continue’ and if happy with the details ‘Confirm payment’.
- Input your password.
The process drags on a bit.
There’s a lot of information and steps needed as an international transfer is not as straightforward as a domestic payment.
Mobile app:
To get started, click on the ‘three dots’ in the top right-hand corner.
From the right-hand menu, select ‘Send money outside the UK’ (sixth one down).
Then the steps are pretty much the same as Internet Banking.
PhoneBank:
To carry out an international transfer with Lloyds, you must register for PhoneBank first.
Once that’s done, you can call the numbers below.
From the UK, call 03457 449900
From outside the UK, call +44 (0) 1539 736626
Branch:
Remember to bring your ID!
Lloyds states that to prove your ID, in most cases, you will only need to produce one of the following:
- a current photo driving licence
- passport from the United Kingdom
Maybe best to bring both along just in case.
It’s then just a case of speaking to someone in the branch, and they will find the right person to help.
Also, don’t forget to bring the details of the recipient (as listed above).
