Separate three recipient-side deductions
The recipient may see one smaller credit even when several events caused it.
| Cost | Where it happens | Evidence to check |
|---|---|---|
| Intermediary fee | While the payment travels between banks | Sending-bank trace or payment details |
| Incoming-wire fee | When the recipient bank accepts the payment | Recipient account tariff and statement |
| Currency conversion | When the account cannot hold the sent currency | Credited currency, applied rate and statement |
Ask about the account currency before sending. A correct account number does not guarantee that the sent currency will be held.
Questions for the recipient before payment
The recipient is best placed to check the receiving account terms.
- What name must match the account?
- Which account number or IBAN and BIC are required?
- What currency can the account hold?
- Does the bank charge for incoming international payments?
- Will the bank convert foreign funds automatically?
- Is a payment purpose or reference required?
Example: an unexpected currency conversion
A sender transmits USD to an account that only holds EUR. The sending service performs no conversion, but the recipient bank converts the dollars before crediting euros.
The recipient needs the bank statement and tariff to separate the conversion spread from an incoming-wire fee. A multi-currency product name alone is not proof that each account detail accepts every currency.
Reconcile the final credit
Use evidence from both ends of the route.
Save the sender confirmation
Keep the instructed currency, amount, charge option and reference.
Read the recipient statement
Record the credited amount, currency, rate and separate bank charge.
Ask for a trace when needed
Use the sending bank when the route deduction cannot be explained from the recipient statement.
Use the recipient statement to identify the missing value
A recipient may report only the net credit, while the route contains several possible deductions. Ask for the credited currency, credited amount, value date and transaction description. Compare that record with the provider's disclosure before deciding whether the difference came from a fee or from automatic currency conversion.
If the payment arrived in the wrong currency, establish whether the sender instructed a conversion, the provider paid out in a different currency or the recipient bank converted an unsupported incoming currency. The rate on the recipient statement belongs to a different step from the provider's customer rate. Combining the two spreads into one percentage hides where the value changed.
For repeat payments, keep a small receiving-side ledger. Record the provider's expected credit, actual credit, incoming fee, conversion and posting time. A single transfer can be unusual; a repeated deduction may reveal a stable tariff or route. The recipient can then ask the bank a precise question and the sender can compare a different payout structure on the next cycle.
Use this in the next decision
The final credit can also change when choosing cash pickup instead of bank deposit.
Compare recipient-side evidence for local payout and international wire routes.
Model the amount that may arrive
Enter a known receiving fee separately, then work backward when the recipient needs an exact amount.
International Transfer Quote Comparison Calculator
Compare international transfer quotes by the amount the recipient receives and the estimated all-in cost.
Recipient Amount and Send Cost Calculator
Work backward from the exact amount a recipient needs and estimate the principal and total debit required.
Questions to ask the receiving bank
Can the sender prepay a recipient-bank fee?
Sometimes an OUR charge option is available, but it does not automatically override every receiving bank's tariff. Ask whether the provider guarantees a specific credited amount.
Who should investigate a missing deduction?
Start with the sending provider's payment confirmation, then ask it for route or trace information. The recipient can compare that record with the receiving bank's statement and fee schedule.
Does a test transfer reveal the final fee?
It can validate routing, but fixed charges make a small test unrepresentative of the percentage cost of the larger transfer.
Evidence about receiving-side charges
These references frame receiving-side deductions and transfer disclosures. The recipient bank's current tariff determines the charge on a particular account.
This page uses worked reasoning and authoritative references; it does not claim first-hand testing or personalized advice. See our editorial policy.
This guide belongs to the sending money abroad collection, which connects quote comparison, delivery timing and payout choices.