N1cky

Me too, mine typically take the same amount of time as yours are.

GeoffM

Personally I don't "pay" as such - the transfer from Lloyds to XE is free, and the ACH payment from XE to HSBC is free. However, XE call it a "wire" from Lloyds to XE. Whether it really is, I don't know!

Of course, they make their money on the exchange rate - but so does everybody, some more so than others.

Ja5on

I noticed it took longer this month. I figure because there was a bank holiday plus a national holiday.

Dan725

I think mine have always taken about a week or so - I don't really have a need to do them urgently or regularly so no biggie.

As an aside, what I'm wondering though is does xe still have a competitive rate? I've not checked other providers lately, and it might just be me, but I don't think xe's commission withholding rate is that great really. For instance, one of my US credit cards just about gives the live rate when used abroad - they eat the fees. Nowadays when I travel to the UK I tend to use that.

King Gimp

My last transfer from UK First Direct to US Chase came through. They sent a check to my house for some reason though instead of putting it into the bank directly.
Took 1 week to come but a couple of days longer as I didn't check my mail.

mancave3000

XE, UKForex. What is the best for low rates please?
I transfered some from a UK bank to a US bank and lost 10%

GeoffM

Without wishing to be rude, why don't you look it up? One minute XE might be better; the next minute UKForex might be better - the rates fluctuate constantly.

10% of what? You must have some reference point to come up with that figure - though the banks' rates are crappier than the forexes.

E3only

Day 1 trade booked
Day 2 BPay into Australia account
Day 4 Money is US

& it was a large sum too....

scrubbedexpat099

The problems seem the other way.

E3only

I have never, ever transferred any money without talking to an associate. They give you better than online quote. Just tell them competitor rate and see what they can do. If they can not, just dont give them the business....

Like anything in life...you have to negotiate and find the right deal that works for you. . .

GeoffM

Latest transfer: setup transaction on 11th, transfer to XE within a couple of minutes, recorded as credited to my HSBC business on 13th.

Bink

Yes, I have noticed that transfers from UK to US are noticeably quicker than the other way around. I too have a Lloyds UK account and transfer the money electronically from Lloyds to XE (XE call it a wire but it's free from Lloyds). Most banks in the US that I've come across don't let you make transfers like that for free if it's instigated by the bank (rather than being debited from the account).

I seem to recall that my last UK to US transfer took maybe 3 days and my last US to UK transfer was more like 10 days...