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INTERNATIONAL WIRES

Pay businesses almost anywhere in the world, from one platform

Send wire payments to global teams, vendors, contractors, and partners in 148 currencies. FX, payment validation, and tracking are handled in one platform.

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200+

Countries & Territories

140+

Currencies

<1%

Return Rate

INTERNATIONAL WIRES

Reach almost any bank in the world

An international wire moves money bank to bank over SWIFT, the messaging network banks use to send cross-border payments. If your bank and your recipient's bank don't have a direct relationship, the payment passes through one or more correspondent banks on the way.

Supported Currencies
2-4
HOW IT WORKS

From payment instruction to credited account

Pay vendors almost anywhere in the world. We handle the FX, payment validation, and routing behind the scenes.

Initiate

Choose the amount, the currency, and the payee. Add remittance details your recipient needs to match the payment to an invoice.

Validate

Ascendant checks that the banking details the destination requires are present and correctly formatted, so errors surface before money moves.

Convert

Lock in a real-time exchange rate. Sending in your payee's local currency means their bank doesn't convert it at its own rate.

Send and Track

Your wire travels over SWIFT to the recipient's bank, directly or through correspondent banks. Follow it with Track 360 until the account is credited.

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WHY WIRES?

When an international wire is the right choice

Wires remain the right method for many international payments. They're the most flexible way to move money across borders, especially when reach, value, timing, or detail matters more than cost.

Near universal reach

SWIFT connects banks in more than 200 countries. If a market doesn't have a local payment network you can use, a wire will almost always get you there.

USD or local currency

Pay suppliers who invoice in USD, or convert and send in their local currency. Useful when contracts specify a currency.

Built for high-value payments

Wires have no practical upper limit, so they're well suited to large, one-time payments and major supplier settlements.

Speed when timing matters

Most wires to developed markets settle in 1 to 2 business days, and some arrive the same day. A good fit for deadline-driven payments. 

Richer remittance detail

Wires carry more reference information than most local payment networks, so you can include invoice-level details your recipient needs to reconcile.

Tracking and recall options

Payments to banks on SWIFT gpi can be tracked along the route. Traces and recalls are possible through SWIFT, though recalls require the payee's authorization

One Platform. Three ways to pay

Not every international payment should travel the same way. Ascendant gives you multiple payment options in one platform, so you can choose the right route based on cost, timing, destination, and what your recipient needs.
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International wires

Send cross-border payments securely through global banking networks. Best for high-value, urgent, or one-time payments, and for corridors where a local rail isn't yet supported.

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Global ACH payments

Deliver payments through local clearing networks, like SEPA in Europe and EFT in Canada, with no intermediary bank deductions. Best for recurring, high-volume payments in supported markets.

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Paper Check

Send a physical payment when a check is still required. Available for specific payment needs where electronic delivery is not an option.

Not sure which route to use?

Tell us the destination, currency, frequency, and value of your payments. We’ll help you determine the right payment method for each one. For many businesses, that means using a mix rather than forcing every payment down the same route.

Speak with a payments specialist
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PRACTICAL PAYMENTS GUIDE

When to use wire vs GACH

A practical breakdown of how to route international payments by cost, speed, and destination, built for AP and treasury teams.

  • The real differences between Global ACH and wire transfers

  • Common payment challenges finance teams run into

  • Best practices for managing cross-border payments

  • When each payment method actually makes sense

  • How to reduce costs and cut down on failed payments

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Send business payments anywhere in the world

Explore International Wires
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PAYEE CONNECT

Let payees onboard themselves

Payees enter and manage their own banking information through a secure self-service portal, reducing the burden on your finance team and improving payment accuracy from the start.

  • Secure storage of sensitive payee banking data outside your systems
  • Reduced manual entry and fewer re-keying errors
  • Faster onboarding and payment readiness
PAYEE VALIDATION

Fewer surprises after you hit send

Most wire problems start before the payment leaves. A missing code or a mistyped account number can leave funds sitting with an intermediary while someone on your team chases the fix.

Ascendant checks the information each wire needs before it's released. That includes country-specific requirements like POP codes, tax IDs, and bank addresses. Problems surface while they're still easy to fix.

  • Live IBAN validation 
  • SWIFT code lookup
payee intelligence
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TRACK 360

The reach of a wire, without the guesswork

Track every payment from send to receipt, including correspondent bank handoffs, fee deductions, FX conversions, and final credited amount.

Recipients receive their own secure tracking link, allowing them to monitor payments in real time without relying on your accounting team for updates. 

  • Real-time status across the full payment journey

  • Recipient-facing tracking links for self-service payment updates 

  • Transparency into fees, FX conversions, and delivery status

  • Faster issue resolution with shared payment visibility 
SCHEDULE PAY

Payment Scheduling and Automation

Set vendor payments in advance and automate recurring disbursements based on defined schedules and approval rules.

  • Schedule single or recurring payments in advance

  • Approval workflows and user permissions by amount or payment type

  • Reduces last-minute processing and improves cash flow visibility

 

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FAQs

International payments should be simple. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for here, contact us

 

What is an international wire transfer?

An international wire is a bank-to-bank payment sent across borders over the SWIFT network. Funds move from the sender's bank to the recipient's bank, sometimes through one or more correspondent banks along the way.

How long does an international wire take?

Most international wires settle in 1 to 5 business days, with 2 business days standard. Wires to developed markets often arrive in 1 to 2 days, and some arrive the same day. Correspondent banks or compliance reviews can add time.

Why did my payee receive less than I sent?

Correspondent banks and the receiving bank can each deduct fees as a wire moves through the network. If the currency sent doesn't match the account, the receiving bank may also convert it at its own rate. 

What information do I need to send an international wire?

You'll typically need the recipient's name and address, account number or IBAN, and the bank's SWIFT/BIC code. Some countries require more, such as a local bank code, tax ID, or purpose of payment code. Ascendant checks for the fields each destination requires before the wire is sent.

Can I send an international wire in USD?

Yes. Wires can be sent in USD or in the recipient's local currency. Keep in mind that if the receiving account isn't in USD, the recipient's bank will usually convert the funds.

Can an international wire be tracked or recalled?

Wires to banks on SWIFT gpi can be tracked along the route. For other banks, a trace can be requested, though answers can take weeks. Recalls are possible through SWIFT but require the payee's authorization, and can take more than 15 days.

What's the difference between an international wire and Global ACH?

A wire travels over SWIFT, often through correspondent banks. Global ACH delivers the payment through a local clearing network in the recipient's country, such as SEPA in Europe or EFT in Canada. Wires offer wider reach and currency choice. Global ACH is often better suited to recurring, lower-value payments in supported markets.