International Money Services

• Log in to Great Southern Bank Online Banking.
• Under Payments, select Pay Overseas.
• Choose the destination country and currency.
• Review and confirm the exchange rate, then continue.
• Enter the recipient's details, including full name and complete address.
• Add the payment purpose and an optional message to the beneficiary.
• Review all details and confirm the payment.

• Full name (as per their bank records)
• Full residential or business address
• Bank name and branch address (if applicable)
• Account number (and IBAN where required)
• SWIFT/BIC for the recipient bank (some countries also require local routing details)

• No fee when you send via online banking.
• If you ask us to process the transfer on your behalf, a fee of up to $50 may apply.
• For transfers not sent online (e.g., above online banking limits), you can use the Request for International Telegraphic Transfer form.
• A fee applies when processed by Great Southern Bank staff — see the Schedule of Fees.

In some cases, overseas or intermediary banks may deduct handling fees before the money reaches the recipient. These charges are outside the control of Great Southern Bank (and our payment partner) and will reduce the amount the recipient receives.

You’ll see the live exchange rate in online banking before you confirm. Rates can change until you submit the payment.

Time frames vary by country, currency, and the receiving bank’s processing times. Many transfers arrive within two to five business days, but delays can occur due to time zones, public holidays, cut-off times, and compliance checks.

Yes. Standard online banking payment limits apply. For larger amounts, use the Request for International Telegraphic Transfer form or contact us for options and limits.

No, in most cases you can't. International transfers are difficult to amend or recall once submitted. We can attempt a recall at your request, but fees may apply even if it's not successful. We strongly recommend that you check all details before confirming.

A wide range of currencies is supported (subject to change). See the currency list in the Pay Overseas function within online banking.

Scammers are highly convincing and often pressure people to send funds urgently. Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person or cannot independently verify. If you’re unsure, stop and contact Great Southern Bank or visit scamwatch.gov.au. If you think you’re involved in a scam or are about to be contact us immediately.

Please reach out to Great Southern Bank for assistance with sending money overseas, limits, fees, and recall requests.

If the form is completed correctly and the sender uses the exact reference and account details, funds usually arrive in two to four business days. Timing can vary by country, currency, bank cut-off times, public holidays, and any compliance checks.

Great Southern Bank does not charge an inbound fee to receive an international payment (but please note, the exchange rate applied varies). However, overseas or intermediary banks may deduct their own handling fees, which is outside our control.

In many cases, Convera enables the sender’s bank to process the transfer as a local (domestic) payment in their country, which can be cheaper than SWIFT. Actual fees depend on the sender’s bank and country. Please note also that the exchange rate applied can vary.

No. Great Southern Bank no longer accepts incoming funds via SWIFT, and Australia does not use IBANs. All inbound international payments are processed via Convera using the instructions emailed to you after you complete the form.

Please share the payment instructions you received by email with the sender. They must:

• Send in the specified local currency shown in the payment instructions (not AUD).
• Use the exact recipient/account details shown in the email.
• Include your unique reference (starts with “CAU 01911-FI”) exactly as provided.

It’s a secure way to receive money from overseas directly to your account, can involve lower sender costs than SWIFT and is straightforward to set up via the online form. Payments are handled by foreign exchange specialists.

Incorrect or missing details (e.g., using your customer number instead of your account number, or omitting the unique reference) can cause delays or returns. Ask the sender to contact their bank. You can also contact us for assistance instead.

Supported currencies and any limits are shown on the Convera form and may change. If the currency you need isn’t listed, consider sending in a listed major currency.

Some organisations don’t allow payments through an intermediary. If you regularly receive payments from the same sender, please contact us. In limited circumstances, we may be able to provide alternative details.

Be cautious about unexpected payments or requests to pass on funds. If something doesn’t feel right, stop and contact us. Never share your banking details with unknown parties.

If you require assistance, please give us a call on 133 282.

• Complete the Foreign Cheque Deposit form.
• The recipient (the name the cheque is made out to) must sign/endorse the back of the cheque.
• Lodge at a Great Southern Bank branch or post the cheque and form to: GPO Box 100, Brisbane QLD 4001.
• Please allow for a 65 to 120-day processing period. Please also be aware that we reserve the right to decline any cheque. In this event, we will advise you as soon as possible.

Yes. Great Southern Bank may refuse any foreign cheque at its discretion. Common reasons include:

• Cheque is too old
• Short validity
• Altered/unclear details
• Mismatch between cheque currency and issuing country
• Other processing/verification concerns

We generally accept cheques up to 100 days from the date of issue.

• Many cheques become stale after six months. Given processing times (min. 65 days), please ensure the cheque won’t become stale while processing.
• Some cheques show a printed expiry date. We will usually honour that date if it allows at least 65 days for processing, but acceptance is at our (and our processing partner’s) discretion.
• Certain government cheques (e.g., US Treasury) may be valid for 12 months; these are assessed case-by-case.
• We reserve the right to reject cheques older than 100 days and/or with short validity.

Foreign cheque processing is slow and varies by country and bank. We typically hold funds for 65–120 days to allow time for dishonour notifications.

• We’re generally only notified if a cheque dishonours; there is no positive “cleared” confirmation.
• Depending on the processing method, funds may be on “hold” in your account or credited to your account after the clearance/processing period.
• Even after the clearance/processing period, a cheque can still dishonour, in which case you must repay the funds.
• Please confirm with the cheque drawer that funds are authorised by them before spending.

We currently accept the following currencies:

• US Dollar (USD)
• Canadian Dollar (CAD)
• British Pound (GBP)

The cheque currency must match the issuing country (e.g., a USD cheque must be drawn on a bank in the USA).

Please note, Great Southern Bank stopped accepting Euro (EUR) currency cheques from 1 April 2026.

The list of accepted currencies is subject to change without notice.

• Most cheques incur a $15 fee.
• In some cases, a $65 fee applies — commonly for high-value cheques (AUD $50,000+) or Canadian Dollar (CAD) cheques over CAD $5,000.
• Fees are deducted from the proceeds before we credit your account.

The amount must convert to at least AUD $20. For low-value cheques, consider asking the drawer to wire/transfer funds instead.

Our payments partner Convera sets the FX rate when the cheque is converted to AUD.

• The conversion rate can differ from your deposit date and depends on external factors.
• You won’t receive advance notice of the exact rate.
• Rates may differ from widely-published wholesale rates (e.g., XE, card scheme rates, or rates shown on Convera’s public site).

Cheques made payable to joint names must be deposited into a joint account in the same names. The payee name(s) must match the account holder records with Great Southern Bank.

• Cheques endorsed to another person/business cannot be accepted for processing.

Deposit the cheque into an account in your maiden name and ensure you have 100 points of ID matching the cheque. We recommend asking the drawer to re-issue the cheque in your current legal name, or request an international transfer instead.

The only way to be sure if a foreign cheque has cleared is by getting confirmation from the payer.

Due to the complex nature of processing foreign cheques, we will either put the funds on hold for 65 to 120 days, or simply wait the same time period before crediting your account.

Either way, the possibility remains that the cheque might be dishonoured. Should this occur, you will be required to repay the funds.

Generally, no. Foreign cheques are complex, slow, and costly, and they carry dishonour risk even after funds appear in your account. Whenever possible, ask the drawer to send funds via an international transfer (see the 'Receive money from overseas' section for more details).

Scammers often use high-value foreign cheques (e.g., romance or inheritance scams) to defraud Australians.

• Never agree to deposit a cheque from someone you haven’t met or can’t independently verify.
• If something feels off, stop and contact Great Southern Bank. See scamwatch.gov.au for guidance.
• If you think you may be involved in a scam, contact us immediately.