ING Australia international transfer (2025): All you need to know

In our increasingly connected work, it’s not unusual to have to send or receive money from overseas, but can you do that with ING Australia?

The answer to that is a little complex, so this guide is going to simplify things and walk you through what is and isn’t possible with an ING international money transfer here in Australia. We’ll also let you know a bit about Wise, a secure and cost-effective alternative that can help make transferring money across borders simpler.

What is ING Australia?

ING Bank Australia (ING), formerly ING Direct, is a subsidiary of the ING Group that is based in the Netherlands. ING has been in operation in Australia since 1994 and is now Australia's fifth-largest bank, servicing more than 2 million Australian customers.¹

Is ING Australia international transfers possible?

Whether an international transfer is possible with ING Australia depends on the direction of the transfer - are you trying to send the money abroad, or receive it?

Can I send money internationally with ING?

Unfortunately, it’s not possible at the moment to transfer funds internationally from an ING account.¹ To get around this, they suggest using a third-party service.

The way that works is you send AUD from your ING account to a secure, third-party transfer service that operates locally. For example, Wise lets you send money to 140+ countries by converting and forwarding your funds to the intended recipient.

Can I receive money internationally with ING?

It is possible to receive an international money transfer to an ING Australia account, but it does depend on the account type.

SWIFT transfer

If you have one of these ING accounts, you can receive a SWIFT transfer from overseas.

• ING Orange Everyday Account
• Savings Maximiser Account
• Home Loan
• Personal Loan

A SWIFT transfer, also called an international wire transfer, is sent via the SWIFT payment network. It’s one of the biggest financial systems in the world that’s used by a multitude of banks, and is generally considered safe and secure. The downside is it can take days for the transfer to clear, and there’s usually fees just for using it.

The main caveat for ING international SWIFT transfers is the funds must be paid in AUD, otherwise the transaction will be rejected. If you want to organise a SWIFT transfer to an ING account, you need to provide the sender with your full account name, account number, BSB and the ING SWIFT code, which is INGBAU2S.

Visa Direct

Customers with an Orange Everyday Account also have the option to receive funds via a Visa Direct transfer.

Visa Direct allows certain businesses to send money to eligible Visa card accounts, quickly and securely.

To do a Visa Direct transfer to your ING account you just need to give your 16-digit card number to the sender, and they take care of the rest. Once again, the payment needs to be done in AUD, or it will be rejected.

Fees to receive money with ING

ING doesn’t charge fees to receive money from abroad, as the funds must be sent in AUD. They do warn that you may be charged a flat rate or percentage fee for converting foreign currency to AUD by whichever institution takes care of that, but that it’s outside of ING’s control.

Why did ING Australia stop offering international transfers?

When they stopped offering international transfers, ING Australia didn’t explain why. Whatever the reason, it meant that customers needed to find an alternative way to manage their international transfer needs.

ING Australia international transfer alternative: Meet Wise

Wise is an easy way to save up to 3x when sending money overseas. You can make extra secure transfers to 140+ countries, which are easy to set up with no physical paperwork and completed usually in seconds.

With low, transparent pricing and the mid-market exchange rate for all your currency conversions for your foreign transfers, you'll usually get the best value for your money. Wise lets you see exactly what you're paying for a transfer, and what the recipient will get, with no hidden fees.

For managing foreign currencies even easier, create a free Wise account, and you'll be able to manage and convert your money in AUD and 40+ other currencies. Plus, you'll get local account details in 8+ currencies, making it easy to receive money from abroad whenever you need. You'll be able to track your transfers all in one place.

When it comes to international transfers, Wise makes things easier and cheaper.

📤 Send money with Wise

ING contact number and support

If you have any questions or need to get in touch with ING Australia, you can securely message them by logging into your account on the ING app or online banking. They should get back to you within 24 hours.

Alternatively, you can give them a call, checking the ING Australia website for the most up-to-date contact details.