Can Interac e-Transfer Be Used to Transfer Money to the United States? Understanding the Advantages and Fees of Electronic Transfers

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Many people are curious whether Interac, commonly used in Canada, can directly send money to the USA.

The answer is yes, but not directly. Interac helps you complete transfers to the USA through its international remittance partners (such as Western Union). You can think of this as an “upgraded” feature that combines the familiar Interac e-Transfer experience with professional cross-border remittance services.

This service allows you to initiate international remittances within your own bank app, making the operation very convenient.

Key Points

• Interac can transfer money to the USA through partners (such as Western Union), with the operation completed within your bank app.
• When sending money to the USA, you need to provide the recipient’s complete bank information, including the bank account number and ABA routing number.
• Interac international transfers have fixed fees and exchange rate markups, which may not be the cheapest remittance method.
• In addition to Interac, you can also choose bank wire transfers, online remittance platforms (such as Wise), or digital wallets (such as PayPal) to send money to the USA.
• Interac is very convenient, fast, and secure for transfers within Canada, making it a great tool for daily payments.

How Interac Sends Money to the USA

When you use Interac to send money to the USA, you are actually utilizing a clever partnership system. Interac itself does not directly handle cross-border business but partners with international remittance experts like Western Union or Mastercard to provide the service.

Partnership Remittance Mechanism

The principle of this mechanism is simple. You initiate the remittance through your familiar bank app, and Interac securely deducts the funds from your Canadian bank account. Then, the funds are instantly transferred to its partner, such as Western Union. Finally, Western Union uses its vast global network to pay the recipient in the USA.

This process combines the instantaneity and convenience of Interac e-Transfer with the efficiency of professional international remittance services. You don’t need to register for a new platform and can complete all operations in a trusted banking environment.

Operation Steps Overview

Although the interfaces of different banks vary slightly, the basic process is very similar. You can follow these steps:

1. Log in to your online banking: Open your bank app or website and find the transfer function.
2. Select international remittance: In the transfer options, look for “International Transfer” or an entrance directly marked with a Western Union partnership.
3. Fill in recipient information: Enter the recipient’s name, address, and their US bank account information or choose cash pickup.
4. Confirm and send: Check the exchange rate and fees, and send after confirming no errors.
5. Obtain tracking number: You will receive a Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN). Share this number with the recipient so they can track the remittance status or pick up cash.

Fees and Limits

Using this service involves fees and transfer limits, which you need to understand in advance.

💡 Tip: Before confirming the transfer, be sure to carefully check the final amount received. The hidden costs in the exchange rate are sometimes higher than the fixed fees.

For cross-border transfers, it helps to front-load routing and FX checks. Start with BiyaPay’s free exchange-rate checker and comparison tool to see the live CAD→USD mid-market rate and the implied spread, then decide whether your bank’s partner route or an alternative fits better.

If you prefer clearer cost and delivery estimates, you can initiate a compliant international remittance on the BiyaPay website: the order screen shows expected fees, delivery options, and indicative arrival times so you can benchmark against your existing bank flow. When a form asks for bank identifiers, BiyaPay’s concise SWIFT/BIC field notes help complete required entries and reduce returns caused by missing details.

BiyaPay positions itself as a multi-asset wallet for cross-border payments and treasury-like needs, offering practical tools—from information validation to cost estimation—that sit alongside your current banking setup and support a more deliberate trade-off between convenience, speed, and total cost.

How to Send Money to the USA via Interac e-Transfer?

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Although it sounds like an international feature of Interac, the actual operation is very simple because it is fully integrated into the bank app you use daily. Below, we take the general process of mainstream Canadian banks as an example to provide you with a detailed operation guide.

Log in to Online Banking to Initiate Transfer

First, you need to log in to your online banking or mobile banking app. This is the familiar environment where you usually check your balance and make transfers.

1. Find the international remittance entrance: On the main menu or transfer page, look for options like “International Money Transfer” or “Global Money Transfer”. Some banks will directly indicate their partner, such as displaying “Powered by Western Union”.
2. Choose to initiate remittance: After clicking in, select “Send Money” or a similar option to start filling in the remittance information.

Operation Tip: This function’s entrance is usually under the same “Transfer” category as regular Interac e-Transfers. If you can’t find it, try searching “International” or “Global” within the app.

Fill in Recipient Information

Next, the system will guide you to fill in the recipient’s detailed information. Accurately filling in this data is key to ensuring the funds arrive smoothly.

You need to prepare the following information:

• Recipient’s full name: Must exactly match the name on their bank account.
• Recipient’s residential address: Including street, city, state, and postal code.
• Name and address of the recipient’s bank.
• Recipient’s bank account number (Account Number).
• Bank ABA Routing Number: This is a nine-digit code used by the US banking system to identify financial institutions and is very important.

You just need to enter this information one by one as prompted on the screen. The system will process your request and notify the recipient by email after the funds are sent.

Confirm Exchange Rate and Fees

Before clicking the “Send” button, you will see a final confirmation page. This page is very important; please carefully verify all details.

You will see here:

• Exchange Rate: The page will clearly display the CAD exchange to USD rate. Note that this rate usually already includes the provider’s profit and is slightly higher than the mid-market rate.
• Transfer Fee: A fixed service fee, usually between $5 and $10 USD.
• Final Amount: This is the USD amount the recipient will actually receive after deducting all fees.

After confirming all information is correct, you can authorize the transaction. Once sent, you will receive a Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN); remember to share it with the recipient so they can track the fund status. From this step, the subsequent clearing and payment processes are fully handled by partners like Western Union.

Comparison of Other Canada-USA Remittance Options

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Although using Interac’s international remittance function through your bank app is convenient, it is not the only option. Depending on your needs for fees, speed, and convenience, other solutions may be more suitable.

Bank Wire Transfer

Bank wire transfer is the most traditional international remittance method. If you need to transfer large amounts and prioritize security, this is a reliable choice.

• Advantages: Extremely high security, suitable for large transactions.
• Disadvantages: Expensive fees and slower speed. Fees are usually between $30 and $80 USD, and funds take 1-5 business days to arrive. You also need to provide accurate recipient bank information, and once sent, it’s hard to cancel.

Online Remittance Platforms

In recent years, online remittance platforms like Wise and Remitly have become increasingly popular. They are usually faster and cheaper than traditional banks.

The biggest advantage of these platforms is low fees and excellent exchange rates. The operation is completely online and can be easily done via mobile app, with some transfers arriving in just minutes.

Platform Comparison: Wise vs. Remitly

• Wise (formerly TransferWise): Known for its transparency. It uses the mid-market exchange rate and charges only a small, disclosed fee (e.g., starting at 0.48%). The amount you see is the amount that arrives, with no hidden fees.
• Remitly: Often offers first-transfer promotions for new users, such as fee-free. However, note that subsequent transfers may include exchange rate markups, making long-term costs potentially higher.

Digital Wallet (PayPal)

If both you and the recipient have PayPal accounts, this is undoubtedly a convenient choice. You only need the other party’s email address to initiate the transfer.

However, convenience comes at a cost. When using PayPal for international personal remittances, you need to pay two types of fees:

1. Transaction Fee: Approximately 5% of the transaction amount, capped at $4.99 USD.
2. Currency Conversion Fee: When converting CAD to USD, PayPal charges up to 4.00% exchange rate markup.

This hidden exchange rate cost is much higher than its fixed transaction fee, so PayPal is usually not the most cost-effective choice for international remittances.

Core Advantages of Interac Within Canada

Although Interac provides a channel for sending money to the USA, its true core advantages lie within Canada. For those living in Canada, it is almost an indispensable payment tool in daily life.

Convenience of Domestic Transfers

Interac’s convenience for domestic transfers in Canada is unmatched. In 2022 alone, Canadians processed over 1 billion transactions, proving its widespread use. You can send money to almost anyone or any business with a Canadian bank account.

Its convenience is reflected in multiple aspects:

• Simple operation: You only need the recipient’s email or phone number to initiate a transfer.
• Wide range of uses: You can use it to pay rent, split bills with friends, or even donate to charities.
• Budget control: Funds are deducted directly from your bank account, helping you better manage expenses.

Time-saving tip: Enable Autodeposit You can suggest that the recipient enable the “Autodeposit” function. This way, the funds you send will automatically deposit into their account without the recipient needing to answer security questions, making the process smoother.

Speed and Security

Speed and security are the two pillars of Interac e-Transfer, allowing you to transfer funds quickly and with peace of mind.

In terms of speed, transactions are usually instant. In most cases, funds arrive in the recipient’s account within 30 minutes. This feature is very reliable when you need to complete payments quickly.

In terms of security, Interac employs multi-layer protection measures to safeguard your funds.

• Advanced encryption technology: Your financial information is converted into nearly unbreakable secure code during transmission.
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Before completing a transaction, the system requires verification through a second method to effectively prevent unauthorized access.
• Secure communication channels: All communications between banks occur in encrypted channels, ensuring information is not tampered with during transmission.

These robust security measures allow you to confidently transfer funds between different accounts and financial institutions.

In summary, through partners, Interac e-Transfer can indeed help you send money to the USA. It is a convenient option but not the only one.

You can decide based on your core needs:

• Pursue convenience: Operate directly within your bank app, simple and fast.
• Pursue low cost: Professional platforms like Wise offer better exchange rates and fees.
• Pursue high security: For urgent, large, or high-value transactions, bank wire transfers are more reliable due to their direct bank-to-bank processing.

Ultimately, weigh convenience, fees, and speed to choose the remittance method that best suits you.

FAQ

Can I directly send an Interac transfer to a US recipient’s email?

You cannot directly send funds to a US recipient’s email or phone number. You must use the “International Transfer” function within your bank app. This function processes the transaction through its partners (such as Western Union), depositing the funds into the recipient’s US bank account.

How long does it take to send money to the USA via Interac?

Funds usually do not arrive instantly like domestic Canadian transfers. Depending on the recipient’s chosen receiving method (bank deposit or cash pickup), the entire process may take a few hours to 1-3 business days.

Is this the cheapest way to send money to the USA?

It is very convenient but usually not the cheapest option. In addition to the fixed transfer fee, its exchange rate typically includes a certain markup. Professional remittance platforms like Wise may offer rates closer to the mid-market rate, resulting in lower total costs.

What information do I need from the recipient?

You need the recipient’s complete bank information, not just an email address. This usually includes:

• Recipient’s full name and address
• Bank name
• Bank account number (Account Number)
• Bank ABA Routing Number