Wire Money to the US Without Freezes
Preventing compliance holds on international investment transfers
Why Wires Get Frozen
$10K+
CTR Threshold
Automatic reporting
$100K+
Enhanced Review
Common freeze trigger
3-30
Days Frozen
Typical hold duration
48 hrs
Pre-Notify
Recommended lead time
Pre-Notification Strategy
Pre-notification reduces freeze risk by 80%+
Contact your US bank BEFORE the wire is sent. This simple step prevents most freezes.
What to Tell the Bank
- Expected wire amount
- Sender name and country
- Purpose of transfer
- Expected arrival date
- Reference number if available
Who to Contact
- Your personal banker
- Business banking specialist
- Wire department directly
- Get confirmation in writing
Documentation to Prepare
Source of Funds
- Bank statements (3-6 months)
- Property sale documents
- Investment account statements
- Business sale proceeds
- Inheritance documentation
Purpose Documentation
- Business acquisition LOI
- Real estate purchase contract
- Investment subscription docs
- Capital contribution agreement
- Immigration case documentation
Amount Strategy
Structuring to avoid reporting is illegal
Best Practices
- Send full amount needed
- Round numbers are fine
- Avoid splitting to evade reporting
- Pre-notify for any large amount
- Document everything
Avoid These Mistakes
- Breaking into $9,999 chunks
- Multiple wires same day
- Unusual patterns
- Unexplained round trips
Best Banks for International Transfers
Generally More Friendly
- HSBC (international focus)
- Citibank (global network)
- Mercury (for businesses)
- First Republic (relationship banking)
- Silicon Valley Bank (tech/VC)
Key Factors
- International experience
- Relationship banking model
- Dedicated business banker
- Pre-notification process
Banks With Higher Freeze Risk
Higher compliance friction does not mean worse banks
More Conservative
- Wells Fargo (recent scrutiny)
- Bank of America (large volume)
- Chase (automated systems)
- Regional banks without int'l focus
Mitigation Steps
- Establish relationship first
- Start with smaller transfers
- Always pre-notify
- Consider specialized banks
What to Do If Funds Are Frozen
Immediate Steps
- Stay calm - this is common
- Contact bank immediately
- Ask for compliance department
- Request specific document list
- Get timeline estimate
Documentation to Provide
- Source of funds proof
- Purpose of transfer
- Your identity documents
- Sender verification
- Business documentation
Escalation Process
Escalation Path
- Branch manager
- Regional compliance officer
- Customer advocate office
- OCC complaint (if needed)
- CFPB complaint (consumer)
When to Get Help
- Freeze exceeds 30 days
- Bank unresponsive
- Funds returned without cause
- Threatened account closure