Why is Wise charging me a fee
Wise is charging you a fee because certain actions carry a cost, mainly converting currency, ordering a card, receiving Swift or USD wires, and withdrawing cash at ATMs.
Wise does not use subscriptions or plans. You pay only for the specific services you use, so a fee usually points to one particular transaction rather than an account charge.
- Currency conversion: Changing money from one currency to another carries a variable percentage fee. Wise applies the mid-market exchange rate without adding a markup to it.
- Card ordering: Getting a physical Wise debit card can involve a small one-time fee for production or delivery, and the amount depends on your country.
- Receiving international wires: Receiving local payments is usually free, but incoming Swift transfers and USD wire payments come with a fixed fee.
- ATM withdrawals: Taking out more than your monthly free withdrawal allowance, or withdrawing in a currency you do not hold, triggers small fixed and percentage fees.
- Third-party charges: Paying for a transfer with an external credit or debit card can add processor fees, and intermediary banks on the Swift network may deduct their own charges.
Not every deduction comes from Wise itself. The sender's bank may take a fee before the money arrives, so if a received amount looks short, ask the sender to check with their bank.
To find the exact reason for a charge, work through these checks:
- Transaction type: Identify whether the fee came from sending, converting, receiving or spending money.
- Currencies involved: Note which currencies were used, since conversion is a common source of fees.
- Published rates: Compare the charge against the Wise pricing page for your region, which lists costs by transaction type.
- Card activity: Review how many ATM withdrawals you made that month and in which currency.
Fees differ between countries, so the figures that apply to your account depend on where it is registered.