Submitting an international wire transfer through Bank of America Online Banking only to see its status remain frozen as "In Review", "Pending Verification", or "Action Required" for 24 to 72 hours is deeply anxiety-inducing—especially when meeting critical international real estate deadlines, business supplier terms, or emergency family remittances.
Your money has left your checking balance, but the recipient overseas has received nothing.
Do not panic: your funds have not disappeared into the void. An "In Review" status is an automated regulatory pause triggered by international anti-money laundering and sanctions screening.
Why Bank of America Places International Wires "In Review"
Every international wire originating from Bank of America must pass through automated compliance screening under U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) rules. If any detail in your transfer matches an automated risk rule, the transfer is shunted out of the automated SWIFT pipeline and queued for manual analyst review.
| Hold Factor | Review Trigger | Average Delay |
|---|---|---|
| OFAC Name Screening | Recipient, intermediary bank, or street name matches a sanctioned watchlist | 24 to 48 business hours |
| High-Risk Destination Country | Stricter foreign currency exchange and capital control scrutiny | 1 to 3 business days |
| First-Time Large Amount | Outgoing transfer exceeds historical user profile activity ($10,000+) | Requires verbal verification |
| Cutoff Time Missed | Submitted after 5:00 PM Eastern Time on a business day | Rolls over to next business morning |
| SWIFT / BIC Code Inaccuracy | Bank branch identifier or routing mismatch | Requires manual repair or rejection |
4 Actions to Unstick an International Wire
1. Check for Pending SafePass / SMS Security Prompts
Frequently, Bank of America places an international wire on hold because an automated fraud alert was generated after you submitted the request:
- Check your smartphone for an automated text message from shortcode
73981or99217. - Look for a message stating: "Did you attempt an international wire transfer of $X,XXX to [Recipient]? Reply YES to authorize or NO if unauthorized."
- Reply YES. The automated compliance engine will release the hold within 15 to 30 minutes and push the wire into the SWIFT transmission queue.
2. Check the Secure Message Center for Document Requests
If your wire involves a commercial invoice, foreign property purchase, or gift affidavit, Bank of America's Global Wealth & Operations desk may require supporting documentation:
- Log into Bank of America Online Banking on a computer.
- Click the envelope icon in the top right header to enter the Secure Message Center.
- Look for a message titled "Important Information Required Regarding Your Recent Wire Transfer".
- Follow the secure upload link to submit any requested invoices or beneficiary relationship explanations.
💡 Related Bank of America Solution: Encountering related issues? Check our verified fix for Bank of America Zelle Payment Blocked or Pending Review: How to Clear It.
3. Request the MT103 Tracking Document (SWIFT Confirmation)
If the wire shows as "Processed" by Bank of America but the overseas beneficiary claims the money has not arrived after 3 business days:
- Request an official SWIFT MT103 Document from Bank of America.
- The MT103 is a standardized banking message that contains the Unique End-to-End Transaction Reference (UETR) number.
- Provide this UETR number to your recipient overseas. Their bank can use it to pinpoint the exact location of the funds within their central clearing desk.
4. Call the Dedicated International Wire Operations Desk
Do not call the general 1-800 checking line; customer support reps cannot view back-office compliance queues. Call the direct wire clearing desk:
- Call Bank of America Wire Transfer Services directly at 1-877-337-8357 (Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM ET).
- If calling from abroad outside the United States, use the international collect line: +1-302-781-6374.
- Provide your Wire Reference Confirmation Number (found in your transaction history).
- Ask the specialist: "Is this wire pending manual OFAC verification or an outbound fraud confirmation call?"
Understanding International Wire Cutoff Times
Bank of America enforces strict daily processing windows:
- USD to Foreign Currency Wires: Must be approved and submitted before 5:00 PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday to execute on the same business day.
- Foreign Currency to Foreign Bank Wires: Must be submitted before 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
- Wires submitted on Saturday, Sunday, or Federal Reserve banking holidays do not begin processing until Monday morning at 8:00 AM ET.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I cancel an international wire while it is "In Review"? Yes. Under Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Remittance Transfer Rule (12 CFR § 1005.34), consumer account holders have a legal 30-minute cancellation window with a guaranteed 100% full refund of principal and fees. In your online banking wire activity screen, click Cancel Transfer if within 30 minutes of submission.
What happens if an international wire is rejected? If the beneficiary bank rejects the transfer (due to an incorrect IBAN, account number, or name spelling), the funds will be returned to your Bank of America checking account. Note that currency conversion spreads and intermediary bank processing fees ($20–$50) may be deducted from the returned total.
What is Bank of America's international outbound wire fee? Sending an international wire in foreign currency via Online Banking carries a $0 wire fee (though exchange rate margins apply). Sending an international wire denominated in US Dollars carries a standard $45.00 fee per transaction.