The problem with banks and wire transfers

[Sig]

First point, there is generally no significant lower limit on RTGS. If you're willing to pay the extra fee for RTGS then the bank will do it whether its $100,$1k,$100k or $1m.

Secondly RTGS should be available to anyone at any bank if they're willing to pay the premium fee. Its a fundamental core part of the banking system, retail or otherwise, there are always going to be reasons for people to need access to a final and irrevocable payment method, which is something that only RTGS can offer.

So I called up BofA and they acted like I had two heads when I asked for this. What is a bank that does offer it and what is the additional cost?

 

[truetype]

My guess is the op got burned in the past.

Everyone likes to bloviate about how 'risky' FCMs are, but in the entire history of the futures industry almost no money -- of the hundreds of billions in aggregate seg funds -- has ever been lost. Maybe a tiny, tiny fraction of 1%. And nothing's ever been lost at a top-tier firm. Zero.

 

[Tim Smith]

So I called up BofA and they acted like I had two heads when I asked for this. What is a bank that does offer it and what is the additional cost?

What jurisdiction ? US I guess ?

I may possibly be wrong if its the US since I don't hold accounts there. But it may possibly be the case that the US is still in the last century since a Google does yield a Forbes article entitled "When will the US catch up on real-time payments" !!

But certainly where I am and in many other countries I've had experience with, RTGS is most certainly available for all at any bank and at retail level you'll typically be charged the equivalent of anywhere between 30–60USD (depending on bank and your commercial agreement with them) for a RTGS transfer.

Leave it with me, I'll try to do a bit of research and ask around.

 

[Sig]

What jurisdiction ? US I guess ?

I may possibly be wrong if its the US since I don't hold accounts there. But it may possibly be the case that the US is still in the last century since a Google does yield a Forbes article entitled "When will the US catch up on real-time payments" !!

But certainly where I am and in many other countries I've had experience with, RTGS is most certainly available for all at any bank and at retail level you'll typically be charged the equivalent of anywhere between 30–60USD (depending on bank and your commercial agreement with them) for a RTGS transfer.

Leave it with me, I'll try to do a bit of research and ask around.

Thanks, I am in the U.S. Doesn't surprise me we're behind the times, this is the place where you couldn't get a chip and pin card until a couple years ago.

 

[Tim Smith]

Thanks, I am in the U.S. Doesn't surprise me we're behind the times, this is the place where you couldn't get a chip and pin card until a couple years ago.

Yeah, it always amazed me how many places in the US didn't even ask you to sign for a card transaction, just swipe and go ! Similar story with e-commerce, billing address validation on US sites is a relatively new "innovation".

Guess it was just another thing to keep those famous US lawyers happy ! ;-)

On the plus side, it was always very flattering to be asked for my ID when buying alcohol (and very depressing when even the Americans stopped asking for my ID !).

 

[Zzzz1]

HSBC does too, internationally. They charge around 20-30 usd per wire. Which is fair. Some people on this board have an MBA and moan that such fee is outrageous, yet ignore the fact that it costs millions to maintain and upgrade payment networks. It's simple economics and I can assure that banks don't get rich by wire charges. I have studied and read bank balance sheet as part of earning my living and in fact most services surrounding cash transfers are a net negative to the banks. They lose money on offering this service.

Most large banks wire funds out immediately if an online request is submitted. Even in the US.

My local bank sends wires within minutes.

 

[Zzzz1]

I did not know there are tiers with FCMs. For heaven's sake, they are the used car dealers in finance. And yes, i can off the top of my head rattle down a list of a dozen issues with FCMs where clients lost money, sometimes huge chunks.

Everyone likes to bloviate about how 'risky' FCMs are, but in the entire history of the futures industry almost no money -- of the hundreds of billions in aggregate seg funds -- has ever been lost. Maybe a tiny, tiny fraction of 1%. And nothing's ever been lost at a top-tier firm. Zero.

 

[Daal]

I keep a good portion of my futures trading account in banks earning ~ 1% interest (it comes to a good chunk of cash for larger accounts at the end of the year). And I transfer funds into the FCM as needed for routine drawdowns so that I do not have to decrease leverage.

The banks I've encountered only process wire transfers once a day, near the end of the day, at about 4 p.m. ET. And the cut-off time to request the wire is about 3 p.m. So, if you want to wait for nearing the market's RTH close to decide whether or not to transfer additional funds to your FCM, and you initiate the wire at ~ 3:30 p.m. on Monday, your funds won't be sent until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, and maybe won't be available to be utilized at your FCM until Wednesday. And that's too long.

There's no bank I've seen that processes wires more than once a day (and near the end of the day).

Is there any bank that processes outgoing wires at least twice a day, say at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.? Is there any method of moving money faster?

Lots of FCMs will let you hold US Treasuries and trade futures using them as collateral

 

[J.P.]

Thanks @Sig and @Zzzz1 for the information about BoA and HSBC.

 

[truetype]

I did not know there are tiers with FCMs. For heaven's sake, they are the used car dealers in finance. And yes, i can off the top of my head rattle down a list of a dozen issues with FCMs where clients lost money, sometimes huge chunks.

A 'dozen' FCMs whose clients lost 'huge chunks' of money? I'd love to see the 'list.'