To send euros from the US, compare total costs, then use a bank wire or licensed app and enter the recipient’s IBAN and BIC correctly.
Moving money across borders feels simple until fees nibble away at the amount that lands in a European account. This guide shows the clear routes to send EUR from a US bank or app, how exchange rates change the math, and the steps that keep your transfer smooth. You’ll see where time is lost, where costs hide, and details banks and apps expect.
How to Send Euros from the US: Costs And Choices
There are four common paths. Bank wires through SWIFT reach any European IBAN. Licensed money transfer apps often beat banks on exchange rates and speed. Cash agent networks help when the recipient can’t use a bank. Paper instruments work, but they’re slow. The table below compares the options at a glance.
| Method | Best For | Typical Cost & Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire (SWIFT) | Large sums to any IBAN | Outgoing fee + exchange markup; 1–3 business days |
| Bank Wire With “OUR” Fees | Ensuring full amount arrives | Higher sender fee; recipient gets full EUR; 1–3 days |
| Online Transfer App (e.g., Wise) | Transparent pricing and mid-market rates | Low transfer fee; near-mid rate; same day to 2 days |
| App-To-IBAN (e.g., Revolut) | Frequent small payments | Low fee tiers; fast delivery during EU banking hours |
| Cash Agent Network | Recipient pickup in cash | Higher fees; minutes to hours; payout may be EUR or local |
| EUR Cashier’s Check/Bank Draft | Formal payments needing paper | Issuance fee; mailing time; clearing adds days |
| Foreign Check From US Bank | Occasional non-urgent transfers | Mailing plus collection fees; weeks to clear |
What Details You Need Before You Start
Ask the recipient for their full name as on the account, the IBAN, and the bank’s BIC/SWIFT code. Many SEPA-area banks only need the IBAN for domestic EUR credits, but US senders still enter a BIC on most wire forms. Add the address of the recipient and sometimes the bank branch. For business payments, include an invoice reference in the message field so the funds are easy to match on arrival.
Sending Euros From The US: Rules And Steps
US providers follow the remittance rule in Regulation E. You get a pre-payment disclosure with the exchange rate, fees, and the amount the recipient should receive, then a receipt after you pay. Those papers are your proof if something goes wrong. You can read the remittance transfer rule if you want the formal definitions.
Step-By-Step: Bank Wire To A European IBAN
- Log in to your US bank and choose International Wire.
- Add a new recipient with their name, address, IBAN, and BIC (if your form asks for it).
- Enter the EUR amount you want them to receive. If your bank quotes only a USD amount, switch the field to EUR so the conversion happens once.
- Choose fee option: SHA (split), BEN (recipient pays), or OUR (you pay all bank fees). For clean invoices, pick OUR when available.
- Review the total, including your bank’s transfer fee and the exchange rate markup.
- Submit, then save the confirmation and estimated delivery date.
Step-By-Step: Licensed Transfer App
- Create an account and verify your identity.
- Enter the recipient’s IBAN and name. Many apps auto-format and check the IBAN length.
- Fund the transfer with a bank debit, ACH pull, wire, or card.
- View the guaranteed rate window and fee before you approve.
- Approve and track delivery with the in-app timeline.
Within the SEPA zone, credit transfers follow a shared rulebook. If you’re curious about the plumbing that moves EUR between banks, the European Payments Council publishes the SEPA Credit Transfer rulebook. It explains why an IBAN is the anchor detail and how fees are handled inside Europe.
How Providers Make Money On FX
Two levers shape your total cost: visible fees and the exchange rate. A bank may charge a flat outgoing fee plus a hidden spread on the USD→EUR rate. Apps usually show a small fee and a rate close to the mid-market rate. Some add weekend buffers or tiered pricing. If speed matters, expect a higher price when you fund by card. ACH funding is cheaper but adds a day or two.
What A “Mid-Market” Rate Means
The mid-market rate is the midpoint between buy and sell prices on global FX feeds. You won’t trade at that exact number, but the closer your quoted rate is to it, the less you’re paying in spread. Many providers display the reference rate next to their quote so you can see the gap in real time.
Intermediary Banks And Lifting Fees
SWIFT payments may cross one or two correspondent banks. Each can deduct a small fee unless you chose the OUR option. That’s why a recipient sometimes sees a few euros missing. If the amount must land intact, wire in EUR with OUR fees or use an app that pays out via local rails in Europe.
Proof, Limits, And Safety Checks
Providers ask questions when you send larger amounts. You might see requests for a driver’s license, a source-of-funds note, or a copy of an invoice. Daily or monthly caps vary by provider and by your account history. For time-sensitive transfers, start early and allow for extra verification.
Tracking And Fixing Delays
If a wire hasn’t arrived after the quoted window, ask your provider for a trace. They can send an investigation message over SWIFT to follow the path and spot where the funds paused. For app transfers, use the support chat with your reference number. Clear, specific prompts get faster responses.
Cost Scenarios: What You’ll Likely Pay
Small, frequent transfers: an app that uses the mid-market rate plus a low fee is usually cheapest. Mid-size invoices: a bank wire with OUR fees gives clean delivery, and the added fee can be worth it. Large moves over USD 10,000: compare both paths; small spreads add up. If a bank offers a better rate by phone, ask them to lock it before you submit.
| Fee Type | Who Charges It | How To Reduce It |
|---|---|---|
| Outgoing Wire Fee | Your US bank | Use an app for small sums; ask for a bundled plan |
| Exchange Rate Spread | Bank or app | Compare quoted EUR for the same USD; pick the best net |
| Intermediary Fee | Correspondent bank | Choose OUR fees or an app with local payout |
| Recipient Bank Fee | Recipient’s bank | Send OUR; confirm with the recipient’s branch |
| Card Funding Fee | Transfer app | Fund by ACH or wire instead of card |
| Weekend Rate Buffer | Some apps | Send on weekdays when markets are open |
| Return/Repair Fee | Any bank on the path | Double-check IBAN, name, and messages |
Country-Specific Notes You’ll Care About
Eurozone IBANs
Most EUR accounts in the eurozone accept SWIFT wires and SEPA credits. If the recipient sends you a short local account number, ask for the IBAN instead. It carries the country code and checksum, which cuts errors.
UK, Switzerland, And Non-Euro SEPA Countries
IBANs in the UK, Switzerland, and other SEPA participants still accept EUR credits, even when the local currency isn’t EUR. The bank converts or holds EUR depending on the account type. Ask the recipient if their account is EUR-denominated to avoid surprise conversion.
Paying Invoices To EU Businesses
Include the invoice number in the payment message and match the beneficiary name exactly as shown. Many accounting teams post automatically from the reference line, so clear text saves back-and-forth emails.
Practical Tips That Prevent Headaches
- Enter the IBAN as one continuous string. Most forms auto-space it.
- Always paste the IBAN to avoid transposed characters.
- Send a small test payment the first time you pay a new recipient.
- Avoid Friday night wires; cutoff times push delivery into next week.
- Keep your receipt; it shows the rate, the fees, and the delivery window.
When To Use The Exact Phrase “How to Send Euros from the US”
Searchers type how to send euros from the us when they want a clean, step-by-step path that avoids extra fees. You can follow the steps above for either a bank wire or a transfer app and you’ll get a tidy receipt with all the numbers.
Straight Answers To Common Sticking Points
Do I Need A BIC?
Many US wire forms still ask for it. If the recipient’s bank says it isn’t needed for SEPA, enter the BIC anyway so the wire routes cleanly through SWIFT.
Can The Recipient Pay Nothing?
Send with OUR fees or use an app that pays out through local rails to keep the full amount intact on arrival.
What If I Entered The Wrong IBAN?
Contact your provider at once. If the funds haven’t posted, a correction is simple. If they posted, your provider must request a recall from the receiving bank. That can take time.
Bottom Line Actions
Decide how fast the money needs to land. Gather the recipient’s name, address, IBAN, BIC, and any invoice reference. Compare your US bank’s total (fee plus rate) with a licensed app’s total for the same EUR amount. Pick the cheapest path that still meets your timeline. Send, save the receipt, and confirm safe delivery with your recipient.
If you’re hunting for a single sentence to anchor your notes, it’s this: how to send euros from the us without friction comes down to clean details, a fair exchange rate, and the right channel for the amount.