SWIFT transfer
A SWIFT transfer is an international bank wire routed through the SWIFT global messaging network, commonly used to send larger payments directly between bank accounts across countries.
SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is the messaging system banks use to instruct each other to move money internationally — it is not a company you sign up for directly, but the rail underneath many traditional bank-to-bank wires.
SWIFT transfers can pass through several intermediary banks, each of which may deduct a handling fee, and typically take a few business days to arrive. For recurring freelance or salary payments, a dedicated platform like Wise is usually faster and more transparent than asking a client to send a one-off SWIFT wire.