What happens when someone sends you money by wire
When someone wires money to your Chase account, the bank receives the transfer through the Federal Reserve's wire network or through SWIFT (for international transfers). The sender's bank pulls the money from their account and sends it directly to Chase with your account number and routing number. Chase then deposits the funds into your account — usually within one business day for domestic wires, though the exact timing depends on when the sending bank initiated the transfer and what time of day it arrived.
You do not need to do anything to receive a wire. The money arrives automatically once Chase processes it. However, you do need to give the sender the correct information so the wire reaches your account and not someone else's.
Key Takeaways
- Provide your Chase account number and routing number to anyone sending you a wire; the routing number is 021000021 for most Chase accounts, but confirm it with your bank first.
- Domestic wires typically arrive within one business day; international wires can take three to five business days depending on the receiving country's banking system.
- Once the wire arrives, the money is in your account and available to use immediately, though Chase may place a hold on large or unusual transfers.
- If a wire does not arrive within the expected timeframe, contact Chase with the sender's name, amount, and the date it was sent so the bank can trace it.
- Wire transfers are generally irreversible once sent, so confirm all account details with the sender before they initiate the transfer.
Information to give the sender
The sender needs your Chase account number and your routing number. Your account number appears on the bottom left of your checks and in the Chase mobile app or online banking under account details. The routing number for most Chase personal accounts is 021000021, but this can vary by state and account type — call Chase at 1-800-935-9935 to confirm the correct routing number for your specific account before giving it to the sender.
For international wires, the sender may also need your SWIFT code, which identifies Chase to foreign banks. Chase's main SWIFT code is CHASUS33, but some branches have different codes. Ask Chase which SWIFT code applies to your account if you are receiving money from outside the United States.
Double-check all numbers with the sender before they send the wire. A single digit wrong in your account number or routing number can send the money to the wrong account or back to the sender's bank, and recovering it takes weeks.
How long it takes for the money to arrive
Domestic wires sent before 5 p.m. Eastern Time on a business day usually arrive in your Chase account by the next business day. Wires sent after 5 p.m. or on weekends and holidays are processed the next business day and arrive the day after that. If the sending bank is in a different time zone, the cutoff time may be earlier in your local time.
International wires take longer because they pass through multiple banks and clearing systems. A wire from Canada or Mexico typically arrives within one to two business days. Wires from Europe, Asia, or other regions can take three to five business days. The receiving country's banking system and holidays also affect timing — a wire sent on a Friday may not clear until the following Tuesday if Monday is a holiday in that country.
Chase does not control how fast the sending bank initiates the wire or how fast intermediate banks process it. If the sender says they sent the wire days ago and it has not arrived, ask them to contact their bank to confirm the wire was actually sent and to get a reference number. Then contact Chase with that reference number so the bank can trace the transfer.
What to do if the wire does not arrive
If you are expecting a wire and it has not arrived within the timeframe the sender told you, contact Chase immediately. Call 1-800-935-9935 or use the secure message feature in Chase online banking or the mobile app. Have ready the sender's name, the amount of the wire, the date it was supposed to be sent, and the sender's bank name if you know it.
Chase will file a trace on the wire, which means the bank contacts the sending bank and intermediate banks to locate the transfer. This process can take five to ten business days. If the wire was sent to the wrong account number, Chase may be able to recover it, but recovery is not may provide — the receiving bank must cooperate and the account holder must agree to return the funds.
If the wire was sent to your account but you do not see it, it may be held pending verification. Chase sometimes places holds on large wires or wires from unfamiliar senders. Check your pending transactions in online banking or the app, or call Chase to ask if a hold is in place and when it will clear.
Holds on wire transfers
Chase may place a temporary hold on a wire transfer if the amount is unusually large for your account, if the sender is new, or if the wire comes from a country with higher fraud risk. A hold does not mean the money is not yours — it means Chase is verifying the transfer before making it fully available. Holds typically last one to five business days, depending on the circumstances.
You can ask Chase to release the hold early by calling 1-800-935-9935 and explaining the wire's purpose and who sent it. If you can confirm the sender's identity and the legitimacy of the transfer, Chase may clear the hold immediately. However, the bank is not required to do so and may keep the hold in place for the full period.
Wire transfer fraud and protection
Wire transfers are generally safe to receive because the money comes directly from the sender's bank, not from an unknown source. However, confirm with the sender through a separate channel (a phone call, not email or text) that they are actually sending you a wire before you give them your account information. Scammers sometimes pose as someone you know and ask for your account details to "send you money," then use those details to commit fraud.
Once a wire arrives in your account, it is yours and Chase's fraud protection does not cover it the way it covers debit card fraud or unauthorized transfers. If you receive a wire by mistake or from someone you do not know, contact Chase immediately. The bank can sometimes reverse the transfer if it is caught quickly, but this is not may provide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive a wire transfer to a savings account instead of checking?
Yes. Wire transfers can go to any Chase account type — checking, savings, or money market. Give the sender your account number for whichever account you want the money in, along with the routing number. Make sure the sender knows which type of account it is, since some banks ask for that information.
What if someone sends me a wire to the wrong account number?
If the account number belongs to another Chase customer, Chase will deposit the money into that account and you will not receive it. Contact Chase immediately with the sender's name and the amount. The bank will file a trace and attempt to recover the funds, but this requires the other account holder's cooperation. If the account number does not exist, the wire will be returned to the sender's bank after a few days.
Do I need to report wire transfers to the IRS?
Wire transfers themselves are not reported to the IRS by Chase. However, if the wire is payment for work or services, it is taxable income and you must report it on your tax return. If someone sends you a wire as a gift, it is generally not taxable to you, though the sender may have gift tax obligations depending on the amount. Consult a tax professional about your specific situation.
Can I receive a wire transfer if my Chase account is closed?
No. If your account is closed, any wire sent to that account number will be rejected and returned to the sender's bank. If you recently closed an account and are expecting a wire, open a new account and give the sender your new account number and routing number before they send the transfer.
Is there a limit to how much money I can receive by wire?
Chase does not set a maximum limit on incoming wire transfers. However, the sending bank may have limits on how much they allow a customer to send in a single wire, and international wires may be subject to limits set by the sending country's government. Ask the sender to check with their bank if they are trying to send a very large amount.