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Wire Transfers — Western Alliance Bank Domestic Fedwire and International SWIFT

Western Alliance Bank wire transfers send funds domestically through the Federal Reserve Fedwire system with a 5:00 PM Eastern Time cutoff for same-day settlement, and internationally through the SWIFT network to 200+ countries for 1-2 business day settlement on USD-denominated wires. Every wire requires dual authorization, step-up multi-factor authentication, and OFAC screening before release.

Treasury operators originate wires inside the business portal, from the online banking web portal, or through the mobile app (template-based wires only on mobile; free-form wires are web-only). Approvers receive push notifications and release with biometric confirmation or hardware-token code. MT103 confirmations post to the wire history inside the portal within minutes of Fedwire or SWIFT acknowledgement.

Wire Release Guide Payment Solutions
Western Alliance Bank business portal wire transfer origination screen showing domestic Fedwire and international SWIFT options

Wire Transfers Quick Reference — Western Alliance Bank

  • Domestic Fedwire cutoff: 5:00 PM Eastern Time for same-day settlement
  • International SWIFT: 200+ countries, 1-2 business days USD, 2-4 days non-USD
  • Dual authorization required above administrator-configured thresholds
  • Step-up MFA — RSA SecurID or push approval — for wires above a second threshold
  • OFAC screening runs on every wire before release; matches escalate to compliance
  • MT103 confirmation posts to portal wire history within minutes of acknowledgement
  • Wire templates accelerate recurring beneficiaries; free-form wires require web portal

Wire Transfer Comparison

Domestic vs international, cutoffs, settlement, fees, and required data.

AttributeDomestic FedwireInternational SWIFTIncoming Wire
NetworkFederal Reserve FedwireSWIFTFedwire or SWIFT
Cutoff (same-day)5:00 PM ET3:00 PM ETN/A
SettlementSame-day1-2 days USD; 2-4 days non-USDSame-day upon receipt
Beneficiary Data RequiredName, account, routingName, account, SWIFT BIC, IBAN (EU)N/A (inbound)
AuthorizationDual + MFADual + MFA + OFACN/A
ConfirmationFedwire IMAD/OMADMT103MT103 or Fedwire tag
Correspondent FeesNonePossible intermediary feesPossible deductions
CurrencyUSD onlyUSD and 130+ currenciesUSD (converted if non-USD)
ReversibilityVery limited — recall request onlyVery limited — recall request onlyN/A
Typical UseReal estate closings, acquisitions, large vendor paymentsSupplier payments abroad, subsidiary funding, cross-border M&ACustomer payments, funding

Fedwire is operated by the Federal Reserve. International wire compliance requires OFAC screening. Review FDIC consumer-protection guidance for wire-related fraud education.

Release Workflow — Dual Authorization

Every wire passes through four gates before funds move.

Western Alliance Bank wire transfer release workflow showing prepare, compliance screen, approve, and release gates

Prepare, Screen, Approve, Release

Prepare. The initiator enters beneficiary, amount, purpose, and account. Free-form wires require all fields; template wires pre-fill beneficiary data from saved templates. Screen. The portal runs OFAC checks against sanctioned parties and countries. Matches escalate to the compliance queue and block release until cleared. Approve. A separate user reviews and approves. Above threshold, a second approver co-signs. Above a second threshold, a token-holder provides a hardware-token code. Release. The wire submits to Fedwire or SWIFT with an IMAD/OMAD or MT103 reference. Confirmations post back to wire history in minutes.

Cross-reference the business portal role configuration — who can prepare, who can approve, at what threshold — to align wire policy with your internal controls. Account alerts notify designated staff of every outbound wire above a threshold so finance leadership maintains visibility without approval fatigue.

International Wire Specifics

Cross-border wires require additional data, compliance steps, and longer settlement windows.

Data Requirements

SWIFT international wires require beneficiary name, beneficiary bank name, beneficiary bank SWIFT BIC, and beneficiary account number or IBAN for European destinations. Non-USD wires require the destination currency ISO code. Address lines for beneficiary and beneficiary bank support regulatory reporting. Missing or malformed data triggers correspondent bank returns — the portal validates BIC and IBAN format at prepare time to minimize failed sends.

Compliance Screening

OFAC screens every international wire against Specially Designated Nationals lists and country sanctions programs. Matches trigger a compliance hold and manual review. The portal records the match reason, the compliance analyst who cleared or returned the wire, and the final disposition in the audit log. International wires to high-risk jurisdictions receive enhanced due diligence consistent with BSA/AML program requirements and guidance issued by the OCC.

Send Wires With Confidence

Dual authorization, step-up MFA, OFAC screening, and complete audit trail protect every Fedwire and SWIFT release at Western Alliance Bank. Templates accelerate recurring payees; free-form wires support one-off large payments. Reach treasury at +1-800-444-7441 Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM Mountain Time for wire fee schedules, threshold configuration, and enrollment.

Wire Release Guide Contact Treasury

Wire Transfers FAQ

Cutoffs, countries, dual authorization, fees, and returns.

What is the domestic wire cutoff?

5:00 PM Eastern Time for same-day Fedwire settlement on business days. After the cutoff, wires queue for the next business morning. Review payment solutions for ACH same-day alternatives.

How many countries for international wires?

200+ countries via SWIFT. USD wires settle in 1-2 business days; non-USD in 2-4 days. OFAC screening and BSA/AML compliance apply to every international wire.

What is dual authorization?

Two separate users — one prepares, one approves — release each wire. Thresholds configured by your administrator through the business portal. Above higher thresholds, additional approvers or token holders co-sign.

What are the fees?

Set per your treasury services agreement — flat fees for domestic outgoing, international outgoing, and incoming wires. Correspondent bank fees may apply to international wires. Contact your relationship manager for your fee schedule.

What if a wire is rejected or returned?

Returns post back to the originating account with an MT103 or MT202 return message detailing the reason — bad account, closed account, OFAC match, correspondent restriction. Returns appear in account alerts and wire history.