Nationwide International Transfer: Fees, Transfer Time And Rates

Planning to transfer money abroad with Nationwide? This guide covers everything you need to know 📝- how much international transfers with Nationwide cost, how long they take, and how to make one.

Despite having a proud history stretching right back to 1884, Nationwide might not be the best option if you need to send an international payment.

Services like Wise, Xe money transfer, and OFX can be cheaper, faster and more intuitive to use. 💡

Key info on transferring money overseas with Nationwide

Nationwide international money transfer comparison 🔍

Whenever you send an international payment there could be up to 3 different fee types to watch out for:

• Transfer fee - this is often the easiest to spot and can be low, or even free

• Exchange rate markup - this can be the highest fee, but it’s often hard to see 💸

• Intermediary bank fees - you may not see these in advance so your recipient gets less than they expect

We’ll dive into what these fees look like, and how they work in a moment. Let’s start with a comparison of the costs and delivery times involved when sending an international transfer with Nationwide compared to some specialist providers.

Here we’ll use the fees that would apply for a payment to a friend in France, assuming we want the end amount received to be 1,000 EUR. 💶

*Fees and exchange rates correct at time of research - 21st June 2026

*The speed of transaction claims depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions

Nationwide’s exchange rates include a markup on the mid-market rate, which varies by currency. Since banks and building societies frequently add markups of up to 3%, this can noticeably increase the total cost of your transfer.

You might also encounter unpredictable intermediary fees if your payment travels via the SWIFT network, making it difficult to calculate your exact upfront costs.

In contrast, international money transfer specialists like Wise, Xe Money Transfer, or OFX often provide better exchange rates and faster delivery times. 📲

Nationwide international transfer fees

Here are the international transfer fees when you transfer money overseas with nationwide:

*Information correct at time of writing - 21st June 2026

Nationwide exchange rate

Nationwide publishes its international payment exchange rates online, updating them throughout the day. 🖥️

When you send a foreign currency transfer, a standard outbound exchange rate is applied that includes a flat 2.2% currency conversion markup. This fee is built directly into the rate, but the building society will show you the total breakdown of the markup upfront whenever you set up a payment. Check the live Nationwide exchange rates here.

Need a cheaper alternative? 💸

⚠️ Nationwide additional fees

Nationwide international money transfers which are processed through the SWIFT network may incur extra fees:

This is common under the SWIFT network, but may mean a smaller amount ends up in your recipient’s account in the end. It’s also not always possible to know in advance exactly what fees will be deducted. 👇

Specialist providers don’t always use the SWIFT network. By processing payment through their own networks, they’re able to cut out the extra intermediary costs, and pass the savings on to customers. 🌱

How long does a Nationwide international money transfer take? ⏳

The delivery times for Nationwide international payments vary based on currency and destination country:

*Fees and exchange rates correct at time of research - 21st June 2026

Need a faster alternative? 🚀⏳

Banks and building societies like Nationwide don’t always offer the fastest payment service available.

*The speed of transaction claims depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions

Pros and cons of transferring money abroad with Nationwide ⚖️

📲 How to make an international transfer with Nationwide

You can send an international payment in the Nationwide online banking service, or in a branch. If you plan to send your payment in a branch you’ll have to take along your Nationwide account card, your passport or driving license and a proof of address.

Here’s how to get started through online banking:

What information do you need to make an international transfer with Nationwide? 🗂️

Whether you’re sending your payment online or in a Nationwide branch, you’ll need to collect some information first:

⏱️ How to track your Nationwide transfer

Once you submit your payment, you can check on its progress on your  Nationwide online banking. 💻

Customers can track their transfers via the Pay and transfer tab and review their international payments processing status or go onto the main current account dashboard to view their recent statement activity.

Nationwide international transfer limits

Unlike most UK banks that restrict how much you can send online each day, Nationwide doesn’t  impose any maximum transaction or daily caps on outgoing international transfers. Whether you are sending money via SEPA or the SWIFT network, you can move small or large amounts in a single transaction.

Need to send a larger transfer?

*Fees and exchange rates correct at time of research - 21st June 2026

🏛️ How to send a high amount transfer with Nationwide internationally

When you want to arrange a large international wire transfer through Nationwide, you can complete the transaction either via your desktop internet banking profile or in person at a physical branch.

If you choose to process a high-value transfer online, you must have your physical Nationwide debit card and a secure card reader handy to authorise the transaction. 🔑

For transactions arranged at a local branch, you will need to bring physical photo identification, such as a valid passport or driving license, plus your debit card and a current proof of address.

🌍  Supported countries

Nationwide allows personal account holders to send international transfers to a wide choice of destinations worldwide. You can complete SEPA payments in Euros across the entire European Economic Area (EEA), or route funds to popular international destinations including the US, Australia, India, and the Philippines.

While the building society supports a broad selection of major global currencies online, certain countries are barred due to international sanctions, but you’ll be able to easily see if your destination country is available when you start to set up your payment online or in a branch.

More about the alternatives to Nationwide 🌐

Specialist money transfer providers can often be cheaper and faster because they avoid processing your payments through the global SWIFT banking network. Instead, companies like Wise, OFX, and Xe use their own internal payment networks. This allows them to eliminate costly intermediary bank fees and deliver your money abroad significantly faster than a building society.

*Fees and exchange rates correct at time of research - 21st June 2026

*The speed of transaction claims depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions

Receiving money from abroad with Nationwide 📥

There’s no fee to receive an international payment into your Nationwide account. You’ll need to give the sender:

Nationwide SWIFT codes

A SWIFT code is a unique identifier assigned to banks and other financial institutions. In international transfers, the SWIFT code helps to guide your money to the right bank and account - so the payment arrives quickly and safely.

The Nationwide SWIFT code is NAIAGB21. You’ll also need to provide the SWIFT code for the intermediary bank used by Nationwide (HSBC) - that is MIDLGB22.

🏛️ Nationwide bank address for incoming wires

If someone is sending you a wire transfer from abroad into your Nationwide account, they will need the central building society address alongside your personal IBAN to ensure the payment routes smoothly.

Nationwide contact information

If you need help setting up an international transaction or tracking an incoming payment, you can connect directly with the customer service team. 💬