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Fifth Third Bank International Transfers & Exchange Rates

April Summers
Author 
April Summers
7 minutes
March 22nd, 2023

A culmination of its predecessors, Third National Bank and Fifth National Bank, this Cincinnati-based financial institution was founded in June 1908. Since then, the regional bank has advanced its product list and services by leaps and bounds, introducing their first mobile banking app in 2015. In this review we will cover the Fifth Third Bank exchange rates and fees and also, will be addressing the subject of international transfers, to see how Fifth Third Bank compares to the competition.

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About Fifth Third Bank

As one of the largest regional banks in the United States, and one of the biggest in the MidWest, Fifth Third Bank has established a strongest presence in 11 Central and Southern states of America. Catering to Personal, Business, Commercial and Wealth Management financial requirements, customers who value in-person service benefit from Fifth Third Bank’s large network of over 50,000 ATMs and 1,100 branches.

The bank’s headquarters can be found at Fifth Third Center Cincinnati, Ohio, and offers the full range of banking features, including foreign currency exchange services. This is good news for anyone who wants to exchange tangible cash for foreign currency, but what about sending and receiving a cross-border payment to someone in another country?

Can I Use Fifth Third Bank for International Bank Transfers?

Apart from offering foreign currency exchange, Fifth Third Bank does facilitate international transfers to recipients overseas, but their approach is somewhat old fashioned compared to leading companies in the money transfer market. Customers who choose to transfer funds overseas with Fifth Third Bank will be arranging an international wire transfer: you can find out what exactly this entails by reading our Guide to Wire Transfers.

Fifth Third Bank Exchange Rates and Fees

First and foremost, if you are debating whether or not to use your bank to send money overseas, it is important to always consider Fifth Third foreign currency exchange and various fees that will be incurred.

Many banks include a margin apart from the exchange rate. This is called mark-us. In many cases, these margins added onto foreign currency exchange rates can affect the amount of money the payee actually receives, so understanding the fee structure and foreign exchange rate employed by Fifth Third Bank before making an international money transfer is very important.

In this section we will look at how Fifth Third Bank fares in the areas.

Fifth Third Exchange Rate

When making an international wire transfer with Fifth Third Bank, customers can choose from 70 available foreign currencies, but the price of each currency comes with an added mark-up. This is because, unlike specialist money transfer companies who promise to match the mid-market rate for foreign currency exchange, most banks apply a spread of up to 4 - 6% when converting currency.In this case, Fifth Third Bank's foreign currency exchange rates can't be checked on their website as we will see below.

Disappointingly, there isn’t a great deal of transparency available online in regards to the foreign currency exchange rates offered by Fifth Third Bank; they are simply advertised as “competitive.” In addition to this, Fifth Third Bank foreign currency exchange and international wire transfers can only be dealt with in-person at a Fifth Third Bank branch which means Fifth Third Bank exchange rate for foreign currency cannot clearly or conveniently be attained.

Fifth Third Transfer Fees

Apart from the Fifth Third Bank exchange rates, there is a substantial list of fees that customers may be charged for using Fifth Third Bank’s international wire transfer services. The transfer fees are as follows:

  • $15 fee to receive an international (or domestic) wire transfer

  • $30 fee to send a domestic wire transfer using USD currency

  • $50 fee to send an international wire transfer using a foreign currency

  • $85 fee to send an international wire transfer using USD currency

  • $15 to return an international transfer

  • $33 to halt an international payment

Additional Costs

In addition to the lengthy list of fees above, Fifth Third Bank reveals that “other bank fees and taxes may apply.” This suggests that the fees listed above do not include potential costs incurred by any other banks or third parties involved in the international wire transfer.

How Do Fifth Third Bank Transfer Fees Compare to Using a Money Transfer Provider?

Fifth Third Bank does not hold up well when compared to leaders in the money transfer industry, due to the many different fees charged for international wire transfers. Furthermore, after disclosing their already high fees (up to $85 per transfer) there is limited clarity on the overall cost of a Fifth Third Bank wire transfer, due to the potential for other bank fees and taxes. In a bid to ensure total transparency and low-cost services, money transfer providers like Wiseand WorldRemitdisplay all fees and additional costs throughout the process of arranging a global remittance.

Fifth Third Bank Pros and Cons

  • $0 minimum deposit to open an account and $0 monthly service charge
  • In-person currency exchange services available at 1,100 Fifth Third Bank locations across the United States
  • Domestic transfers to friends and family in the United States with Zelle Pay

How to Open an Account and Transfer Money With Fifth Third Bank

In this section we will outline how to apply online for a Fifth Third Bank account and, once set up, how to use this account to send money.

Opening an Account

To open a Fifth Third Bank account online, you will need the following:

  • Proof of identification: drivers license, state ID or passport are all acceptable

  • Social security number: this will be securely stored and encrypted

  • Smartphone with a working camera: this will be used to scan your chosen ID

Once you collected all of the above, you will be able to get started with your online application: simply enter your personal details, verify your identity and select the account type you wish to open.

Transferring Money

It is not possible to transfer money overseas using the online services provided by Fifth Third Bank; instead, customers will need to visit their local branch to set up an international wire transfer. Find your nearest branch by searching your ZIP code using the Fifth Third Bank branch locator tool.

What Customer Support Options Are Available?

Fifth Third Bank are dedicated to providing high quality, round-the-clock support to their customers, a commitment which is accomplished through the medium of multiple customer service channels:

  • 24/7 messaging support: chat to a live or virtual agent online or via the mobile app

  • Customer service call center: available Monday to Friday between 8 am and 6 pm ET, and Saturday 10 am to 4 pm ET

  • Business customer service call center: available Monday to Friday 7 am to 10 pm ET, and Saturday 8.30 am to 5 pm ET

  • Visiting a Fifth Third Bank branch to meet with a member of staff

  • Connecting on social media via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn

Summary

There are a few reasons why we would not recommend Fifth Third Bank to those sending and receiving international transfers. The first being the relatively long list of fees incurred for both incoming and outgoing transfers. These fees are not competitive when compared to the services offered by specialist money transfer companies in the remittance industry, and the various costs will eat into the hard-earned funds of our customers.

The second reason this bank is not a viable option for most is the fact customers must arrange international wire transfers in-person, with a customer representative at a local bank branch. While many people value face-to-face customer service, there should be alternative options for those who want to send and receive international wire transfers remotely, online.

After reviewing Fifth Third Bank's international services at length, it is clear this brick and mortar bank does not keep up with the convenient, digitally-accessible offerings of money transfer companies, or the growing number of challenger banks. Weigh up all the available options by using our comparison tool, and find the best value for your foreign exchange currency transfer today.

Other Banks

Answers to key questions about Fifth Third Bank

Can I open a Fifth Third Bank account in any country?
Does Fifth Third Bank have an app?
Are there transfer limits?
How long do transfers take with Fifth Third Bank?
Can I use a Fifth Third Bank debit card when travelling abroad?

Contributors

April Summers
April Summers is an experienced Senior Financial Content Editor who combines a wide range of professional skills with her academic background in English literature and journalism. Her professional background includes key positions at the Daily Star, LBB Online, and Entertainment Daily UK, which have sharpened her financial and journalistic expertise.