One of the main components that make up international transfer costs is SWIFT transfer costs. Often, these transfer costs by banks can reach up to RM70 to RM100!
Cross-border payments (or International Money Transfers) are confusing and expensive. We are bombarded by ‘hidden charges’ and ‘transaction fees’ for instance. On top of that, the high exchange rate mark-ups make the whole experience even more unappealing.
It sucks that most people are often unaware of any other cheaper alternative. So, they tend to stick to what they know best (banks, ew.) – even if they don’t make the best financial sense. Now, it is about time for us to shed some light on this topic:
What is SWIFT? 🏃
You can’t talk about international money transfers without first understanding SWIFT.
SWIFT stands for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications.
It is a messaging network that financial institutions use to securely transmit sensitive payment information and instructions through a standardized system of codes. SWIFT assigns each financial organization a unique code that has either 8 or 11 characters.
How is it used in international money transfers? 🤨
Institutions send payment orders between institutions’ accounts, using SWIFT codes.
Generally, sending money overseas involves intermediary banks. These are banks which are acting on behalf of the beneficiary bank. Most of these banks are affiliated with the SWIFT network.
We wish banks would do this for free! There are two main components that make up the fees when it comes to sending money overseas. These are SWIFT charges and transaction fees. This can make international money transactions expensive (as heck!) as often times, each intermediary bank involved will impose steep fees to consumers. For example, Malaysian banks often charge anywhere from RM15 to RM25 in transaction fees and RM70 to RM100 in SWIFT charges.
Does SWIFT help me transfer funds? 💶💵
No, SWIFT is simply a messaging system. It does not hold or transfer any funds.
Who pays for these fees? 😢
If the consumers are sending funds through traditional banks, these charges are usually borne by either the sender or recipient (or even both).
However, recently other industry players (like us, MoneyMatch) have popped up in the market by offering something different to the user – one where users do not have to bear these hidden fees.
Who uses SWIFT? 🤪
A range of institutions uses the SWIFT network in order to securely facilitate money transfers. These can include but are not limited to:
- Banks
- Brokerage Institutions and Trading Houses
- Clearing Houses
- Treasury Market Participants and Service Providers
So, are there any other alternatives to the SWIFT system? 🤩
With the advent of technology and a vibrant global FinTech industry, many challengers are popping up every day! For example, the Ripple Blockchain network is giving the SWIFT system a run for its money. Heck, we made the news recently for being the first in Malaysia to complete payments using the Ripple network.
Take MoneyMatch for instance, we charge only a fixed transfer fee of RM8 per transfer. We work hard to achieve straightforward fee structures for our customers. Above all, our fees are transparent, with no hidden charges.
What are your thoughts on the fees imposed for cross-border payments? Let us know in the comments below!
Have you created an account with MoneyMatch yet? Create an account here!