How much does an international bank transfer really cost for a business?

Visible fees: what your bank announces to you

Most banks advertise a fixed fee per international transfer, usually between 15 and 50 euros. This is the only figure clearly stated before sending, and it is also the smallest part of the actual cost for a transfer of a significant amount.

Hidden fees: the exchange rate markup

This is where the bulk of the cost lies. A traditional bank almost never applies the real market exchange rate: it adds a markup, often between 1.5% and 4%, without clearly disclosing it as a fee. On a transfer of 50,000 euros, a 3% markup represents 1,500 euros—invisible on your statement, yet very real on the final amount.

Correspondent banks: a third layer of fees

When a transfer travels through the SWIFT network via several intermediary banks before reaching the beneficiary, each institution may deduct its own processing fees, between 10 and 30 euros each. This explains why your supplier sometimes receives less than the amount you sent, without either party being at fault.

A full breakdown example

An SME pays 50,000 USD to a Chinese supplier via its traditional bank. Here is the actual cost breakdown:

• Fixed transfer fee: 35 euros

• Exchange rate markup (3%): approximately 1,500 euros

• Correspondent bank fees (2 intermediaries): approximately 40 euros

• Total actual cost: approximately 1,575 euros, representing over 3% of the transferred amount

Out of this amount, only 35 euros were clearly displayed before sending. The rest was absorbed into the exchange rate and intermediary charges.

How to effectively reduce these costs

Always ask for the applied exchange rate before confirming a transfer, and compare it to the current market rate. Opt for an international payments specialist that transparently displays its margin, rather than a bank that embeds it without specifying. For recurring transactions, a multi-currency account with a dedicated IBAN avoids part of the conversion and correspondent banking fees.

How OSolto makes these costs transparent

OSolto, an international payments specialist registered with ORIAS (no. 26004337), offers an exchange rate close to market conditions, with no hidden margins. You know exactly what you are paying before approving each transaction, and your beneficiary receives the expected amount, without unpleasant surprises from correspondent bank fees.

Want to know the real cost of your international transfers? Speak with an OSolto expert for a free analysis of your payment flows.

FAQ: cost of an international transfer

How do I find out what markup my bank applies to the exchange rate? Compare the rate you are offered with the current interbank exchange rate, which can be viewed online. The difference between the two corresponds to the applied margin.

Why is the amount received by my supplier less than the amount sent? This is generally due to fees deducted by correspondent banks handling the transfer along the way. A direct payment intermediary such as OSolto reduces the number of intermediaries involved.

Is a cheaper transfer always slower? No, not necessarily. A specialised payment intermediary can offer a rate closer to the market while maintaining processing times that are similar to, or even better than, those of a traditional bank.