Wire Transfer Services

Rate Information

Valley First charges $15 for outgoing domestic wires and $35 for outgoing international wires, with incoming wires at no cost and same-day processing for domestic transfers submitted before 2:00 PM PT.

Wire transfers move money faster than standard ACH transfers and are the preferred method for large transactions like real estate closings, business payments to suppliers, and sending funds to family members abroad. Valley First processes wire transfers through the Federal Reserve Wire Network for domestic transfers and the SWIFT network for international transfers, both of which provide secure, traceable routing with confirmation at every intermediate bank.

The fee structure is simple. Outgoing domestic wire transfers carry a $15 fee per transfer. Outgoing international wires cost $35 per transfer. Incoming wire transfers — both domestic and international — are free. Members with premium checking accounts may qualify for a limited number of free outgoing domestic wires per statement cycle. Business checking members who send high volumes of wires can discuss volume-based pricing with a Valley First business banking advisor.

Wire transfers differ from ACH transfers in important ways. Wires are irrevocable — once sent, they cannot be reversed, which is why they settle with certainty and speed. ACH transfers, by contrast, can be disputed and reversed under certain circumstances, but they take one to three business days to settle. For time-sensitive, high-value transactions where certainty matters more than cost, wire transfers are the appropriate tool.

Domestic Wire Transfers

Domestic wires submitted before the 2:00 PM PT cutoff typically arrive the same business day, with funds available immediately upon receipt at the destination bank.

Sending a domestic wire from Valley First requires the recipient's full name as it appears on their bank account, the recipient bank's ABA routing number (a nine-digit code), and the recipient's account number. Some banks also require the recipient's physical address. Wire transfer specialists at Valley First verify routing numbers against the Federal Reserve directory before processing to catch transcription errors that could delay or misroute funds.

Domestic wires move through the Federal Reserve Wire Network, which operates during U.S. banking hours. The 2:00 PM PT cutoff is firm — wires submitted after that time process the next business day. Most domestic wires arrive at the destination bank within two to four hours of the processing cutoff. Valley First sends confirmation by email or secure message when the wire transmits and again when the receiving bank acknowledges receipt. Members can initiate domestic wires through online banking, by phone, or in person at a branch.

For receiving domestic wires, provide the sender with the Valley First routing number and your account number. Incoming domestic wires post to your account as soon as Valley First receives them through the FedWire system, with no hold period for standard amounts. Very large incoming wires — typically over $250,000 — may require brief compliance review before funds become available, which is standard practice across all U.S. financial institutions under anti-money laundering regulations enforced by agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

International Wire Transfers

International wire transfers through Valley First use the SWIFT network and typically arrive in one to three business days, with full tracking from initiation through final credit at the destination bank.

International wires require additional information beyond what a domestic wire needs. In addition to the recipient's name and account number, the sender must provide the recipient bank's SWIFT/BIC code — an eight-to-eleven-character identifier that uniquely identifies banks worldwide — the recipient's full physical address, and the reason for the transfer. Common reasons include family support, business invoice payment, education expenses, or real estate purchase. Providing an accurate and specific reason speeds compliance review.

The SWIFT network routes international wires through a chain of correspondent banks between Valley First and the destination bank. Each intermediary bank may deduct a small handling fee, which is why the amount that arrives at the destination can be slightly less than the amount sent. Valley First displays an estimate of intermediary fees at the time of wire initiation, though the exact deduction depends on the specific routing path the SWIFT network selects. For wires sent in a foreign currency, the exchange rate is set at the time of initiation, and the recipient receives the exact foreign currency amount quoted.

Valley First requires international wire requests to be submitted in person or by phone for the first transfer to a given recipient. This in-person verification step satisfies regulatory requirements for customer due diligence under the Bank Secrecy Act. Members who send international wires regularly to the same recipients may qualify for digital initiation through online banking after the initial verification is on file. International wire transfers cannot be initiated through the mobile app due to additional compliance documentation requirements.

Wire Transfer Types and Fees

Transfer Type	Fee (Outgoing)	Fee (Incoming)	Processing Time	Initiation Methods
Domestic Wire	$15	Free	Same business day (before 2:00 PM PT cutoff)	Online, phone, branch
International Wire (USD)	$35	Free	1-3 business days	Phone, branch; online after initial verification
International Wire (Foreign Currency)	$35 + exchange margin	Free	1-3 business days	Phone, branch
Premium Checking (Domestic)	First 3 free per cycle, then $15	Free	Same business day	Online, phone, branch
Business Volume Pricing	Custom quote	Free	Same business day	Online, phone, branch

Security and Fraud Prevention for Wire Transfers

Valley First verifies wire transfer requests through multi-channel confirmation and implements call-back procedures for wires above $10,000 to protect members from wire fraud and social engineering schemes.

Wire transfer fraud is a serious risk. Because wires are irrevocable, fraudsters target wire transfers to steal funds that cannot be recovered. Valley First employs several layers of protection. Every wire transfer request triggers an automatic confirmation to the phone number or email address on file. For wires above $10,000, a Valley First representative calls the member at the phone number on record to verbally confirm the transfer details before processing. This call-back procedure is mandatory and cannot be waived.

Members should be aware of common wire fraud schemes. In real estate transactions, fraudsters sometimes impersonate title companies or real estate agents and send fraudulent wiring instructions to home buyers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends always verifying wire instructions by calling the intended recipient using a phone number you have independently confirmed — never a number provided in an email that contains wire instructions. Valley First staff can help members identify red flags in wire transfer requests before funds leave the account.

For international wires, Valley First also screens recipients against sanctions lists maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Wires to individuals or entities on these lists are blocked by law. This screening happens automatically during wire processing and adds no delay for compliant transfers. Members sending international wires should expect to answer questions about the purpose of the transfer and their relationship to the recipient, as these are standard regulatory requirements that Valley First must fulfill.