Why did my transfer fail and how do I fix it?

Last updated: March 24, 2026

Wire transfers may occasionally fail for various reasons. Here's how to troubleshoot and resolve common wire transfer issues:

Check the transfer type

If you don't see SWIFT as a transfer option, you may need to upgrade your account to access international wire transfer capabilities.

Feature availability (e.g. SWIFT, SEPA, USDT) depends on your account setup.
You can check your enabled features here: https://app.onesafe.io/app/endorsements

If you are sending money from outside the SEPA region (such as Asia, Americas, or other non-SEPA countries), you must use SWIFT transfer details, not SEPA details. Using SEPA bank details for a SWIFT transfer will result in the payment being bounced back to your account. More on different types of deposits here.

If a payment is bounced, it can take 2-3 weeks for the funds to be returned to your sending account.

Check the purpose/reason field

If your wire transfer fails without a specific error message, first check the "purpose" field in your transfer details:

  • Avoid selecting "Personal Account" and "Other business services" as the purpose, even when sending to your own account

  • Instead, choose a business-related purpose that best matches the transfer (e.g., "Investing", "Utilities", etc.)

Check the account name

Make sure the account name and transaction purpose match precisely. Even small inconsistencies, like a slightly different business name or choosing the wrong purpose type, can cause the transaction to be rejected. Always double-check both fields before submitting.

Verify character limits

Ensure your transfer memo/description is under 50 characters long. Longer memos can cause transfers to fail.

Additional documentation may be needed

In some cases, our banking partners may require additional documentation to process the transfer, such as:

  • Purpose/nature of transfer

  • Supporting documents (e.g., invoices referenced in the transfer)

  • Source of funds documentation

What to do when it says "insufficient balance"?

Q: Why am I getting an "insufficient balance" error when trying to send a wire transfer even though I have enough funds?

A: This is typically an internal error and we would recommend that you contact support for help.

What to do if your transfer fails

  1. Review the above common issues and make any needed corrections

  2. Try submitting the transfer again

  3. If the transfer fails again, contact support (via support@onesafe.io or the in-app widget) with:

    • Screenshots of the failed transfer

    • Any error messages received

    • Proof of payment/supporting documentation

While bank holidays in other countries don't affect transfers, only US federal banking holidays and weekends impact processing times.