Understanding Intermediary/Correspondent Bank Fees
When you send or receive payments globally through LiquidTrust, your money travels through a network of banking partners to reach its final destination.
Sometimes, one or more intermediary banks—also called correspondent banks—help move the payment along. These banks may charge their own separate fees for processing funds, which are outside of LiquidTrust’s control.
Think of it like this:
When there isn’t a direct connection between your bank (or LiquidTrust’s partner bank) and the recipient’s bank, the payment must pass through one or more “middleman” banks. Each of these may deduct a small handling fee as it routes the money onward.
*Intermediary fees apply to international USD wire payments only. Payments sent in other currencies or to US banks directly (including Wise) are exempt from intermediary fees.
How Intermediary Fees Work
When Sending Money
If the Payor sends funds across countries or currencies, the payment may pass through several intermediary banks before reaching the Payee’s account.
These banks may deduct a small amount from the total transfer as it moves through their systems.
When Receiving Money
If you’re a Payee, incoming funds might also pass through intermediary banks before reaching your LiquidTrust Wallet or external bank account.
In these cases, the deducted fee will reduce the final amount you receive.
What to Expect
| Characteristic | What It Means |
| Variable Amounts | Fees vary by currency, route, and participating banks—typically ranging from a few dollars to about $50 USD. |
| Deducted from Transfer | Intermediary fees are usually taken from the payment amount itself, meaning the recipient receives slightly less. |
| Unpredictable | Because the exact routing banks can change per transfer, it’s not possible to calculate intermediary fees in advance. |
| Transparent Platform Fees | LiquidTrust’s own fees are always shown to you upfront—no hidden charges or surprise deductions. |
How to Minimize the Impact of Intermediary Fees
While intermediary bank fees are common in international banking, you can often reduce or avoid them by choosing the right payout method:
Review LiquidTrust’s Fee Structure:
Always check the displayed fees before confirming a transaction.
LiquidTrust’s own fees are transparent and fixed.
Communicate with Your Business Contact:
If you’re sending money, let your Payee know the amount received may be slightly reduced due to intermediary fees.
Use Local Currency Payments:
For countries where LiquidTrust supports payouts in local currency, you can often bypass USD-based intermediary networks.
See supported countries in our Country Coverage List.
Enable the Principal Guarantee (Available July 22, 2025):
When you withdraw a payment in USD to a non-U.S. bank and select the Principal Guarantee for an additional $10 per payment, LiquidTrust will cover all bank fees for that transaction—ensuring you receive the full amount.
Why This Matters
Intermediary and correspondent fees are part of how global banking networks move money, but LiquidTrust is committed to minimizing their impact.
By offering local currency payouts and optional guarantees, we help businesses keep more of what they earn while maintaining transparency every step of the way.
Tips and Notes
- These fees apply only when USD payments travel across international banks that use correspondent networks.
- The fees are not charged by LiquidTrust and cannot be predicted or refunded.
- Whenever possible, choose local currency payouts to avoid these extra costs.
- For guaranteed full-amount payouts, select the Principal Guarantee option.