Why Wise takes so long
Wise takes so long usually because of bank closures on weekends and holidays, the payment method you chose, or security and compliance checks on the transfer.
Wise shows an estimated delivery time for each payment method when you set up a transfer, but several factors outside that estimate can slow the money down.
- Weekends and public holidays: Banks do not process payments on Saturdays, Sundays or local public holidays. A transfer started on a Friday evening may not move until the sending or receiving bank reopens on Monday.
- Payment method: Funding a transfer by regular bank transfer is slower than paying by debit or credit card, because Wise has to wait for your bank to send the money first.
- Security and compliance checks: Wise operates under financial regulations and may hold a transfer to run random checks, confirm your identity through KYC, or request proof of where the funds came from, particularly for large sums.
- Wrong recipient details: A small error in the account number or the recipient's name can lead a bank to reject the payment or send it for manual review.
- Intermediary banks: On some international currency routes, money has to pass through several correspondent banks before it reaches the destination account.
Speed and cost are separate choices. Card funding can move a transfer along faster than a bank payment, and Wise pricing shows what each option costs, so it is worth checking both when you set up the transfer.
If a transfer seems stuck, these steps help narrow down the cause:
- Track the transfer: Use the Wise transfer tracker in your account to see which stage your money has reached.
- Look for requests: Open the Wise app and check the transfer details for any request for information or verification.
- Confirm recipient details: Recheck the account number and name you entered against the recipient's bank records.
- Allow for bank days: Count only working days in both countries when judging whether the transfer is late.