NatWest Large Transfers 2025 Guide: the How-to, Limits & Fees

NatWest has transfer limits which vary depending on whether you're sending money locally or overseas, and the type of account you hold. You can increase your limits in some cases by registering for biometric verification, but the overall limits applied by NatWest are still fairly low.

Ths guide covers all you need to know about NatWest transfer limits. We'll also touch on a few alternative options like Wise and OFX which you may want to consider for a low cost international transfer which you can arrange online or in app, with higher limits for convenience.

Quick summary: NatWest transfer limits

• NatWest transfer limits depend on the payment type and destination, and the specific account type you hold

• Premier customers can send a higher amount than standard personal customers, for local transfers - international limits are the same in both cases

• NatWest online transfer limits are quite low, but you may be able to send more if you register for biometric verification

• There's no NatWest transfer fee for most digital payments overseas, but you may pay an exchange rate markup or third party costs

• You may find you can get a simple and cheap transaction experience if you choose an alternative provider like Wise or OFX instead of using your bank

NatWest daily online transfer limit - personal customers: 20,000 GBP for local transfers, up to 10,000 GBP for international payments (subject to biometric verification)

NatWest daily online transfer limit - premier customers: 50,000 GBP for local transfers, up to 10,000 GBP for international payments (subject to biometric verification)

NatWest in branch CHAPS transfer limit - No limit is usually applied (UK payments in GBP only)

NatWest receiving limit: Not specified

Overall the main drawback is that NatWest has pretty low online limits for payments both at home and abroad. This can be tricky if you need to send a large transfer, as you may be left with no choice but to visit a branch or split your payment over several days.

You might find that alternative providers like Wise or OFX can offer a cheaper, faster or more convenient service.

Can you send high value international transfers with NatWest?

NatWest imposes a limit of 10,000.00 GBP on international transfers which you can make online and in the NatWest app. There is also a lower limit for new payees if you have not already registered for biometric verification. If you need to send more, you may be able to do so in a branch, but you would have to visit in person and talk through your requirements with a member of staff to learn more.

NatWest high amount transfer fees

NatWest does not charge a fee for most standard outgoing international transfers arranged online or in the NatWest app. There's a fee of 15 GBP if you need to send an urgent payment.

Some other costs can still apply, including an exchange rate markup - which we will explore next - and third party fees. Third party fees may be paid to intermediaries which help to process your payment, and to the recipient's own bank. You may be offered the option to cover these third party costs so your recipient gets the full payment amount, but this is not always possible.

NatWest exchange rate for international transfers

NatWest exchange rates include an additional fee known as a margin or markup. This is a percentage fee which is added onto the exchange rate used to convert your money to the currency you need to pass to the recipient. As margins tend to be variable, the only way to see this fee is to compare the rate you're quoted by NatWest against the mid-market rate which you can find online with a Google search, or using a currency conversion tool. Or if you'd prefer to avoid the hassle, you could choose a money transfer service which doesn't use a markup, such as Wise. More on that later.

You can learn about NatWest's exchange rates on the online banking site, which shows the live rates for different currencies.

Is NatWest safe for large amount transfers?

NatWest is a major UK bank which is safe for sending large amounts of money, locally and overseas. Payments are securely processed, and thorough verification steps are in place.

NatWest transfer limits

The limits which apply to your NatWest transfer depend on a number of factors including the type of NatWest account you have, and where you're sending money to. If you need to send more than the stated limit you'll need to reach out to the NatWest team to understand your options.

*Details correct at time of research - 14th April 2025

Alternatives to NatWest with higher transfer limits

NatWest daily online transfer limit for international payments is pretty low. If you need to send more than this you'll need to talk to branch staff to understand your options. That's not necessarily convenient, so it's a smart idea to shop around and see if you can get a more convenient service from another provider.

Here we've picked out OFX, Wise and Xe Money Transfer as some services you might want to look at, which can support high value payments online and in app, with good exchange rates and low overall costs. Here's how they measure up:

*Other limits may apply, depending on the payment method and destination country. Details correct at time of research - 3rd April 2025

OFX

OFX allows customers to send money in 50+ currencies, all over the world. OFX does not charge any transfer fee on payments although there is a fee included in the exchange rate that's used to process your payment.

There's no upper limit on the amount of money you can send with OFX. If you're sending a high value payment you may need to talk it through with OFX using their 24/7 call line, to make sure you have all the right information and documentation to support your transfer.

Some banks have a daily or per transfer limit on the amount you can send. If your bank imposes a limit, OFX can accept partial payments for a transfer - so you can make several bank transfers to pass OFX the full amount required for processing.

Wise

Wise offers high value payments for individuals and businesses to 140+ countries, with the mid-market exchange rate and low fees from 0.48%.

Wise is a secure provider which also offers volume discounts on fees, so the costs could be reduced if you use the service regularly or if you're sending a large amount.

Wise limits when sending in GBP depend on how you want to pay. You can send up to 1 million GBP, but in some cases - such as when you pay with a card - the limit is lower. You'll be shown the payment options based on the amount you need to send so you can decide how best to pay.

If you send more than the currency equivalent of 20,000 GBP a month you could get an automatic discount of up to 0.17%. There's no need to pre-arrange the fee.

Here's how the Wise high value payment fee discounts break down:

Xe Money Transfer

With Xe Money Transfer you can send a payment online or in app to 130+ countries from the UK, for personal or business use. Xe has a fixed limit of 375,000 GBP or the currency equivalent per personal payment. This limit does not apply on business transfers.

Xe does not market volume discounts on fees or exchange rates, but if you're using the service for a big transfer it may be worth calling them to check if there's a good deal to be had.

How long do large transfers take with NatWest?

When your recipient will get your payment through NatWest can depend on how you structure the transfer, where you're sending to, and other factors. You must submit your payment instruction before the cut off time for that payment type, to ensure it will start to be processed immediately. If you miss the cut off, the payment will not start to be processed until the next working day. Here's a quick look at your options:

*Correct at time of research - 14th April 2025

How to send a large amount transfer with NatWest

You can send a payment with NatWest online, in the NatWest mobile app, or in a branch. In a branch you'll need to visit in person and talk to a member of staff to understand what's needed - having your debit card and ID on you is helpful, in case you need to have your account verified.

Online and in app, the process is pretty similar. Here's a look at how to send a payment overseas in the NatWest online banking service as an example:

1. Log into your account and select 'Payments & transfers' from the main menu

2. Go to the 'International payments' tab and select ‘Pay one of your saved payees'

3. Select the payee name, then in the ‘Amount to send in £' section add the payment amount

4. Select ‘Calculate exchange rate' and ‘Next' to see the payment options and fees

5. Click ‘Next' and enter the reference for the payment before selecting ‘Make payment'

If you're paying someone new you'll need to first add their information as a payee, which you can do by following the details on the screen. Make sure you have the recipient's bank account information to hand to complete this step.

Information needed to send large amounts of money with NatWest

The exact information you need to send a high value payment with NatWest may depend on the destination country and currency. Generally you'll be asked for the following:

• The recipient's full name and address

• The recipient's IBAN

• The recipient's Swift/BIC

• Name and address of the recipient's bank

If more information is needed you'll be prompted through on screen messages to make sure you provide everything to process the payment.

Is it possible to increase NatWest transfer limits?

To get the maximum available NatWest transfer limit you will need to register for biometric verification. You can do this if you have registered with online and mobile banking, and have completed the steps required, such as registering with facial recognition tools, or using voice recognition.

Once you've done this, you can adjust your NatWest transfer limits to the maximum available, in the app or online.

How to increase NatWest transfer limits

Assuming you have registered for biometric verification, you can increase your payment limits with NatWest online by taking the following steps:

1. Log in to Online Banking, and select 'Payments and transfers'

2. Select ‘Make a payment or transfer' then 'Manage my personal payment limits'

3. Follow the onscreen steps to change your limit

How to receive large transfers with NatWest

You can receive some NatWest payment for free, but sometimes a fee applies:

• Receiving EUR payments is free

• Receiving other currencies costs 1 GBP when you receive under 100 GBP

• Receiving other currencies costs 7 GBP when you receive over 100 GBP

To receive your payment securely you'll need to give the sender your IBAN and BIC which you can get in the online or mobile banking service.

Alternatives to NatWest for receiving large payments

NatWest account holders usually receive payments in GBP - which means that either the sender's bank, an intermediary, or NatWest will manage the currency conversion. This can involve paying a fee.

Transfers to your bank are also not always the fastest or cheapest option. If your sender is overseas you may find you get less than you expect because of third party charges involved in sending the payment via SWIFT.

You may avoid some of these costs if you choose to receive your payment to a specialist account which lets you receive payments in a foreign currency instead:

Wise Account: Receive money with local or SWIFT account information in 20+ currencies, with quick payment options and low or no fees. Hold, send, or spend your money as you choose, with mid-market exchange rates. Learn more on Wise Account Review.

Revolut Account: Hold money in 25+ currencies in your Revolut account, which you can spend with your Revolut card, use for future payments or withdraw to your US bank later. In some cases you can receive in foreign currencies using local details – in other cases you need to use SWIFT details, which can be slower and come with higher costs.

Learn more - Best ways to receive money internationally

NatWest business payments limits

NatWest business payment limits can vary depending on the account type you have. Some businesses can use BankLine which is the NatWest business banking service, while others - like sole traders - use NatWest's standard online banking, or specialist community banking services.

All of these account options have their own limits, which can vary depending on how you use your account and your relationship with the bank. Contact NatWest directly if you need to learn more about how business payment limits may apply to your own account.

NatWest customer support for high amount transfers

NatWest offers support in branches, which means you can speak face to face with a team member about your payment if you need to.

Your other key option is to open a chat with the NatWest digital assistant. The chatbot will try to answer your questions, and can then pass you on to a member of staff if needed.

Conclusion: Does NatWest have transfer limits?

NatWest has transfer limits which depend on the type of account you have and where you're sending money to. Customers are limited to payments of up to 10,000 GBP for international payments (subject to biometric verification), while you can send more in GBP if you need to.

If you have to send a higher amount to someone overseas you'll need to contact the bank directly to see if they can help - or avoid the hassle entirely, and compare your options with some other providers, such as Wise and OFX to see which can offer the best available deal on your specific payment.

NatWest transfer limits FAQs

How much can I transfer with NatWest internationally online?

NatWest customers are limited to payments of up to 10,000 GBP per day for international payments (subject to biometric verification).

What is the maximum amount you can transfer abroad with NatWest?

The marketed limit for overseas payments with NatWest is 10,000 GBP per day. If you need to send more than this you'll need to contact the bank directly or look at other providers, such as Wise and OFX  which can offer higher value transfers.

How can I increase the NatWest maximum transfer limit?

To get the highest available NatWest payment limit you must register for biometric verification online or in the NatWest app. If you're sending a payment in the UK you can also arrange a CHAPS transfer with no upper limit, in a branch.