International payments – business and commercial accounts

International payments can be made from a Business Current Account, Commercial Current Account, Business Foreign Currency Account, or Trust Account.

They can’t be made from savings accounts (except Trust Accounts) or Business Credit Cards.

You can make an international transfer via the following channels:

• Business Mobile Banking. To register, visit Business Mobile Banking for more information
• Business Online Plus or Commercial Online Banking. For more information, visit Business and Commercial Online Banking
• Our call centre, you can call us on 0345 08 08 508
• In store. Find your local store using our store locator.

Here’s an example of what a SWIFT international payment that includes foreign exchange could look like:

If you are making a payment of £100 from your business GBP account in Dollars you will receive the following charges:

*When you make an international payment in GBP or a foreign currency, the intermediary bank and/or recipient bank may deduct fees from the amount you send. An intermediary bank is a trusted third-party used by Metro Bank to process and route your payment. If you chose to pay the Metro Bank fee and the foreign bank charge(s) when you make a payment you will pay the intermediary bank and/or recipient bank fees or taxes so that the recipient is sent the intended amount.

**We offer an indicative exchange rate when you make a payment. The rate could move up or down after you’ve placed the payment. The final exchange rate will be applied when the money leaves your account.

***A standard margin of 3% is charged on each foreign exchange transaction. The margin is based on the difference between the rate we receive from our banking partners and the rate we offer you. This fee is already included in the indicative and the final exchange rates we show you.

****Depending on the type of account you make the payment from fees may vary. For example, if you send a payment from Business Foreign Currency Account fees vary based on the type of currency. Refer to the Important Information Summary for the type of account you have.

Yes. If you send Pound Sterling to another Pound Sterling account, there will be no currency exchange.

If you send a payment to an account held is another currency, (e.g. Euros) the receiving bank may convert the funds at its own exchange rate. This means you will not know the exact amount the recipient will receive until the money is credited.

For payments sent from a Metro Bank account in Pound Sterling to USD accounts in the USA, we have a arrangement to exchange the funds before they arrive at the recipient's account if it's not a Pound Sterling account. If the recipient account does not accept Pound Sterling, an intermediary bank may convert the funds. The exchange rate used for these conversions includes a 3.5% margin.

• When you make a payment that includes a foreign currency exchange, we will show you the exchange rate at the time (known as the indicative rate), tell you about the fees and charges that may apply and how much the recipient of the payment should receive.
• The exchange rate available at the time of the transaction will be shown to you and this is known as the indicative rate however, this could vary slightly from the final exchange rate which is applied when the money leaves your account. A standard margin of 3% is charged on each foreign exchange transactions. The margin will be included in the indicative and final exchange rate.
• Once a payment has been made and the exchange rate has been submitted, Metro Bank will not be able to change the rate or provide a refund if you decide you are no longer satisfied with the rate. A refund will only be made where there has been an error on the part of Metro Bank.
• If you want to know the exact amount that will be received by the person or business you are making the payment to, you have the option to send the payment from your Current Account or Foreign Currency Account in the currency that matches the account you are sending the money to. Please note, there are some currencies which we may not offer. Please visit a store or call us on 0345 08 08 508, if you have any questions.
• If you send a payment in a different currency to the account currency (e.g. GBP to a USD account), the money will be exchanged by the receiving bank and you will not know the exchange rate or the amount that will be sent until the funds are applied to the recipient’s account.

An international payment you have sent could be rejected for several reasons, including:

• The payment included inaccurate information
• The account you sent the money to is closed
• The recipient bank is unable to accept your payment type
• The recipient bank account does not have sufficient limits to accept the payment 

If the payment included a foreign exchange, we will convert the money that has been sent back to us using the exchange rate available at the time. This means the amount you get back could be more or less than the amount you sent.

If your payment has been rejected and you would like to speak to us, please call us on 0345 08 08 508 or visit a store.

You will need to give us accurate information about the person you are sending money to. You’ll need the:

• The account name and address of the person or business you are sending money to. Ensure you include the full name and the address that is registered to the account
• SWIFT code/Bank Identifier Code (BIC) of the bank you are sending money to
• IBAN or beneficiary account number
• The name and address of the bank receiving the funds
• Purpose of the payment
• Amount you are sending (the local currency or Pound Sterling)*

Before you make the payment check that all the details you have provided are correct. If the payment has insufficient or incorrect details, the payment will be returned by the receiving bank, and you may receive less funds back due to the difference in exchange rates or due to charges applied by the recipient bank or intermediary bank.

It’s also important to check if the country or financial institution you are sending money to has any special requirements. For example, you may be required to include the reason for the payment in the reference field of the payment.

* If you send Pound Sterling to a USD account in the United States of America, the Pound Sterling may be automatically converted into USD using the exchange rate available at the time.

We know that some of our customers may need additional support to continue with their day-to-day banking, and we’re here to help however we can.

If you have any other questions or need a communication in another format – such as large print, braille, or audio CD – please contact us. You can call us on 0345 08 08 508, pop into one of our stores, or speak to us via Live Chat.

If someone contacts you claiming to be from Metro Bank – or another bank or organisation – and asks you to move your money into a safe account, it’s a scam. If this happens, please call us straight away on 0345 08 08 508.

An intermediary bank may deduct fees from the amount before you receive it. If the person sending the payment selects the 'pay all fees' option, they will pay a fee upfront for any intermediary bank fees. However, if they do not select ‘pay all fees’ you may receive less than the amount they send due to intermediary fees and taxes.

When a payment is sent to your account you may receive transactional charges dependant on the type of the account, for example if the money is received in to a Business Foreign Currency Account (see below examples for more details).

If the payment is sent in a different currency to the currency in your account, then we will exchange the funds into GBP or the relevant currency using the exchange rate available at the time. This exchange rate will include a 3% margin.

Here’s a summary of the charges you can expect for international payments coming into your account.

* A standard margin of 3% is charged on each foreign exchange transaction. The margin will be included in the indicative and final exchange rate.

**An intermediary bank may deduct fees from the amount before you receive it. If the person sending the payment selects the 'pay all fees' option, they will pay an upfront fee for the intermediary bank fees. However, if they do not select ‘pay all fees’ you may not receive the intended amount. 

*** Transactional fees may apply depending on the type of account you hold i.e. a Business Foreign Currency Account. For further information on the fees and charges specific to your account, please refer to the account specific important information summary which can be located below, call us on 0345 08 08 508 or visit a store.

See all the details on our fees

• Business Bank Account Important Information Summary
• Commercial Account Important Information Summary
• Business Foreign Currency Accounts Important Information Summary
• Community Current Account Important Information summary
• Insolvency Practitioner Account Important Information Summary

If someone is sending you money from outside the UK, they will need the following information:

• The full name and address on the account. Ensure you include the full name and the address that is registered to the account
• SWIFT Code/BIC
• The bank name and address
• IBAN or account number (this can be found on your bank statement)

If a payment is sent in Euros from a bank within the EEA (SEPA payment), the payment should be in your account by the end of the following working day. This will be dependent on the sending banks cut off times for international payments.

For all other international payments, it will depend on when and how the sending bank sends the payment to your account.

For an international payment into your account, if the funds are in a currency different to the currency of funds in your account, then our exchange rate that’s available at the time, will be applied to the payment when the payment reaches your account.

A standard margin of 3% is charged on transactions that include foreign exchange when you receive a payment. The margin will be included in the final exchange rate.

Other fees and charges may apply before the payment is received into your account. Please see ‘What are the fees for receiving an international payment?’ section for more information.

To get an indicative figure for a foreign exchange payment, or to find out more call us on 0345 08 08 508.

To find out the charges you can expect for making an international payment, see the ‘How much does it cost to make an international payment?’ section above.

After the 12 June 2026 any Euro cheques presented for depositing into any Metro Bank account will be returned, and you will need to advise the payer to make a payment into your account via another method. You will be able to receive Euro international payments into your account electronically, see the What account information will the sender need? section above for more information on what details the sender will need.

Metro Bank accepts foreign cheques in Euros (until 12 June 2026) and USD (issued by a US bank) for customers who have a Metro Bank account (this includes Current Account, Cash Account, Savings Accounts and Foreign Currency Accounts). To receive money from overseas or in Euros and USD currencies the quickest and most convenient way is an international transfer. See the ‘Receive an international payment into your account’ section of this page for more information.

Cheques will be accepted into your account if they are made payable to the same name as on your account.

It can take between 6 – 8 weeks for the funds from a Euro or USD cheque to be paid into your deposit account.

There are deposit limits for foreign cheques paid into your account, for further information talk to your relationship manager, visit a store, or call us on 0345 08 08 508.

If the cheque is in a different currency to the funds held in your account, the money will be exchanged* when it is processed based on the exchange rate available at the time. If the money is in the same currency, for example a Euro cheque paid into a Euro account, there will not be a conversion. 

The exchange rate will include a 3% margin*

Here’s a summary of the charges to pay in a foreign currency cheque:

* A standard margin of 3% is charged on each foreign exchange transaction. The margin will be included in the indicative and final exchange rate.

** Metro Bank use third parties to process Euro and USD cheques who may apply additional charges before the money is paid into your account. The issuing bank for the cheque may also apply charges which will be deducted before the funds are paid into your account. For further information visit a store or call us on 0345 08 08 508.

We know that some of our customers may need additional support to continue with their day-to-day banking, and we’re here to help however we can.

If you have any other questions or need a communication in another format – such as large print, braille, or audio CD – please contact us. You can call us on 0345 08 08 508, pop into one of our stores, or speak to us via Live Chat.

If someone contacts you claiming to be from Metro Bank – or another bank or organisation – and asks you to move your money into a safe account, it’s a scam. If this happens, please call us straight away on 0345 08 08 508.

International payments can be made from a Business Current Account, Commercial Current Account, Business Foreign Currency Account, or Trust Account.

They can’t be made from savings accounts (except Trust Accounts), cash accounts or credit cards.

The person receiving the payment into their account.

• SEPA payments usually arrive within 1 to 2 working days:
  • Payments that are submitted by 2pm in store and via our call center will be processed the same day
  • Payments received after 2pm in store and via our call center will be processed on the next working day
  • Payments submitted on a weekend, or a Bank Holiday will be processed on the next working day

• SWIFT Payments within Europe usually arrive the same working day but can take up to 5 days. Outside of Europe, payments are usually received within 2 to 5 working days:
  • Payments that are submitted by 2pm in store and via our call center will be processed the same day
  • Payments received after 2pm in store and via our call center will be processed on the next working day
  • Payments submitted on a weekend, or a Bank Holiday will be processed on the next working day

A SEPA (Single Euro Payment Area) payment means you can send a Euro payment to participating countries (take a look at the European Payments Council  for a full list of countries).

A SWIFT payment is made if you need to send money outside of the UK, or within the UK if the payment is not in Pound Sterling.

There are different fees for these payments. To find out the charges you can expect when you make an international payment, select the channel you will use to make the payment at the top of this page, and the relevant charges will be shown.

SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) and BIC (Bank Identifier Code) codes are two terms for the same thing and identify a financial institution for international money transfers. The codes are eight to eleven characters long. The first six characters are letters, and the remaining characters are either letters or numbers. The fifth and sixth characters of the SWIFT code (e.g. MYMBGB2L) represent the country the payment is being sent to (in this case, GB = Great Britain).

If both SWIFT/BIC and IBAN codes are supplied, the country codes must be the same in each one.

An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is an international code that identifies a specific bank account for cross-border transaction. The first two characters of the IBAN are letters, and the next two characters are numbers. The remaining characters are either letters or numbers.

The first two characters of the IBAN (e.g. GB01MYMB23058012121212) represent the country the payment is being sent to (in this case, GB = Great Britain).

If both SWIFT/BIC and IBAN codes are supplied, the country codes must be the same in each one.

We know that some of our customers may need additional support to continue with their day-to-day banking, and we’re here to help however we can.

If you have any other questions or need this communication in another format – such as large print, braille, or audio CD – please contact us. You can call us on 0345 0808 508, visit one of our stores or speak to us via Live Chat.

An intermediary bank acts on behalf of Metro Bank when we are sending a payment to a bank that we do not have a direct relationship with. The trusted third-party intermediary bank helps to process and route the international payment so it safely reaches the right person.

Metro Bank use intermediary banks for some international transactions to send or receive money.

An intermediary bank may deduct fees from the amount before it’s recieved. If the person sending the payment selects to pay both the sending and the receiving bank’s fees, they will pay a fee upfront, so the intended amount is sent to the recipient. However, if this is not selected the recipient may receive less than the amount sent. This could be due to intermediary fees and taxes.

If someone is sending you money from outside the UK, they will need the following information:

• The full name and address on the account. Ensure you include the full name and the address that is registered to the account
• SWIFT Code/BIC
• The bank name and address
• IBAN or account number (this can be found on your bank statement)

If the money you receive is in a different currency, we will convert it using the exchange rate at the time. Foreign exchange payments into your account will have a 3% margin applied to them.

Your SWIFT/BIC is MYMBGB2L.

You can find your IBAN number on the top of your monthly statement or on your welcome letter.

You can also find your IBAN through the:

• Mobile App under ‘Account Details’ by clicking on the share button next to your account
• Online banking under ‘Account summary’

Metro Bank must respect any restrictions imposed by the UK Government or by the international community on sending payments to countries currently included in the relevant sanctions list.

For more information, visit a store or call us on 0345 08 08 508.

If someone contacts you claiming to be from Metro Bank – or another bank or organisation – and asks you to move your money into a safe account, it’s a scam. If this happens, please call us straight away on 0345 08 08 508.

When you make an international payment, you will be shown the exchange rate, the amount being sent and the amount the recipient of the payment will receive before you submit the payment. If you are not happy with the rate offered by Metro Bank you do not have to submit the payment, and you can look at alternative exchange rates provided by other financial institutions. 

To discuss this further visit one of our stores or call us on 0345 08 08 508.

The person or business sending the payment can send the money in the same currency as your account. If they do not do this when the payment reaches your account our exchange rate will be applied, which will include a 3 % margin, and you may receive less funds than you asked for.

The person or business sending the payment can select the 'pay all fees' option, which means they will pay a flat upfront fee for their bank charges for sending the payment and intermediary bank fees and taxes. If they do not select ‘pay all fees’ you may receive less than the amount they send.