St. George international money transfers
Summary
St. George lets you send money overseas but are more expensive than specialised money transfer providers
Details
Product details
| Product Name | St. George |
| Pay By | Bank transfer, Cash, Phone banking |
| Receiving Options | Bank account |
| Customer Service | Phone, In person |
| Maximum Transfer Amount | $50,000 |
St. George began operations as a co-operative building society in 1937. In time, it went on to become the country’s leading building society. In July 1992, it acquired its banking license and achieved full banking status. It went on to become a full service bank in 1994, after taking over Barclays’ Commercial Banking division.
In 2006, the bank accomplished two significant milestones. It exceeded $100 billion in assets for the first time and it achieved an after tax result of more than $1 billion. The merger between St. George and Westpac Banking Corporation took place in December 2008. Now, the former functions as a major operating division of the latter, contributing significantly to its overall revenue.
St. George Bank lets its customers send money overseas in different ways. If you choose to transfer funds internationally through this bank you can benefit by paying a flat fee per transfer. The dependability of dealing with a trusted name is also a plus.
St. George exchange rates
If you’re thinking about sending money overseas with St. George Bank, you can use their calculator to see their exchange rates. There, you can see exchange rates the bank offers for telegraphic transfers, drafts, travellers’ cheques and cash.
For example, when you exchange AUD to USD, St. George currently adds a 3.8% markup onto the mid-market rate and charges a flat fee of $20. The rates are typically weaker than specialised money transfer companies such as OFX, TorFX and Wise.
How much does it cost to transfer money with St. George?
Australian banks tend to charge fees to transfer funds overseas. Sending money through St. George Bank’s online platform can have you paying fees in different situations, as you can see from the table.
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer fee | $20 |
| Trace fee | $25 (plus applicable overseas bank charges) |
| Cancellation fee | $25 (plus applicable overseas bank charges) |
| Amendment fee | $15 (plus applicable overseas bank charges) |
While St. George charges a flat $20 fee per transfer, you may incur additional costs. These can come in the form of fees charged by an intermediary bank used for the transfer and/or the recipient’s overseas bank. In such a scenario, any amount charged deducts from the money you send. If you send funds in a foreign currency you will pay a fee of $10.
Cheaper alternatives to St. George when sending money overseas
Banks tend to have higher fees and less competitive exchange rates than specialised money transfer companies.
Minimum transfer amount and available countries
There is no mention of a minimum limit you can send to international accounts through this bank. However, a cumulative daily transfer limit of $50,000 applies. In case you’re not sure if St. George Bank sends money to a country of your choice, simply speak to a bank representative over the phone. The given list includes currencies you can send through this bank.
| Currency | Currency code |
|---|---|
| US Dollar | USD |
| Euro | EUR |
| British Pound Sterling | GBP |
| Japanese Yen | JPY |
| Canadian Dollar | CAD |
| Danish Krone | DKK |
| Fijian Dollar | FJD |
| Hong Kong Dollar | HKD |
| Indian Rupee | INR |
| New Zealand Dollar | NZD |
| Norwegian Krone | NOK |
| Philippine Peso | PHP |
| Singapore Dollar | SGD |
| South African Rand | ZAR |
| Swedish Krona | SEK |
| Swiss Franc | CHF |
| Thailand Baht | THB |
What types of transfers can you carry out with St. George?
If you turn to St. George to send money overseas, you get to choose from two basic options.
- Telegraphic transfers. While you can initiate a telegraphic transfer using the St. George online banking platform, you can also walk into any branch to get started with the process. The online system uses the latest in encryption technology, so you can be sure that your details remain safe and secure.
- Drafts. You can purchase an international draft from St. George Bank, which you can send to the recipient via mail.
If you need assistance at any stage, you can always get in touch with a St. George representative in person or over the phone.
The registration and transfer process
You should have an operational transaction or savings account with St. George Bank if you wish to use its services to send money overseas. While you can visit a branch to go through with the transfer, you can do so via online banking as well.
Before transferring money overseas for the first time you have to request for access to overseas transfers, which you can do online. Alternatively, you can complete the Internet Banking - Request to Authorise/Cancel Overseas Telegraphic Transfer Access form, and send it across via fax or mail. It can take the bank up to two business days to process your request, so remember that you may not be able to send money as quickly as you would like.
Once the bank processes your request you can use the online platform to carry out overseas transfers as per your convenience. To go through with the transfer, you’ll have to provide details such as the recipient’s name, address, account number, bank’s name and bank’s SWIFT code.
If the bank confirms your payment before 5pm (AEST) on a business day, Monday to Friday, it processes on the same day. The time it takes for funds to credit into an international account can vary, which is why St. George does not provide definitive turnaround times.
Pros and cons of using St. George
Pros
- Customer service. If you send money overseas on a regular basis, there is no telling when you might need some kind of assistance. This is where the in branch and over the phone support that St. George provides can come in handy.
- Flat fee. No matter how much money you wish to send, you end up paying a nominal flat fee. This can lead to savings, especially if you plan to transfer a large sum.
Cons
- Turnaround time. Since St. George does not give you a clear picture of how long the transfer may take to go through, you might be better off working with a money transfer company that offers a fixed turnaround time of one to three days. This way, there’s no uncertainty surrounding when the recipient will receive the money.
- Fees. Since you can find money transfer companies that provide fee-free services, the exchange fee St. George charges can work as a drawback.
What other products and services does St. George offer?
St. George Bank offers an array of banking services and products for personal and business customers. Some of its solutions are best suited for overseas travellers.
- Travel money card. You can use this reloadable Visa prepaid card to make payments in different countries, in person and online. This card lets you choose from 11 currencies, allowing you to load up to five at a time. You don’t have to pay any overseas ATM withdrawal fees when you use your card at more than 50,000 ATMs that are part of the Global ATM Alliance.
This card does not attract the typical 3% St. George foreign transaction fee when you use it for shopping or when you withdraw money in a currency available on the card. You can load your card using the online and mobile banking platforms at any time, which you can also use to move between currencies. You can lock in an available exchange rate as and when you wish.
- Credit cards with travel insurance. Some credit cards offered by St. George come with complimentary travel insurance. These include its Amplify Platinum, Amplify Signature and Vertigo Platinum cards
Commonly asked questions
While you can consider using the services of St. George Bank to send money overseas, don’t make a decision without comparing your options first.
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