Need to Send a Cheque in US Dollars - Help Needed!

Coconut_Man

Hi everybody,

I need to send a cheque for $500 to a university in the USA. The instructions are that the cheque must be "drawn on a U.S. bank (or a bank with a U.S. branch indicated on the front of the check)".

How do I go about this? Do I ask my bank to do this for me?

I've looked on the websites of HSBC and Nationwide but couldn't find anything about this, or whether they charge any fees.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

GiraffeMan

Coconut_Man wrote: »

Hi everybody,

I need to send a cheque for $500 to a university in the USA. The instructions are that the cheque must be "drawn on a U.S. bank (or a bank with a U.S. branch indicated on the front of the check)".

How do I go about this? Do I ask my bank to do this for me?

I've looked on the websites of HSBC and Nationwide but couldn't find anything about this, or whether they charge any fees.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I'd try contacting the university and obtain there bank details and arrange for your bank to send them an internaional payment in dollars. this would be safer and quicker and yes, there is a cost attached but its worth it for piece of mind.
Some banks will send international money orders, but if it goes missing they can be a pain to trace and reissue. So go for the international payment if you can.

Coconut_Man

Unfortunately they specifically state that they can't accept bank transfer/credit card for this $500 payment

GiraffeMan

Well ask the bank to do an international money order for you then.

BruceyBonus

YOu mention Nationwide, so I assume you have a FlexAccount with them? On internet banking, go to your FlexAccount then Other Services. Click Foreign Draft Request. Print the form and post to the address. There is a £12.00 fee and they use the Travelex Commercial Rate.
If you don't have a FlexAccount, you can ask for the draft at a branch.

97trophy

Any UK bank can get you a US$ cheque.

or

You could open an account with someone like XE trade who offer such a service.

Ballymackeonan

I'm very surprised that they can't accept either an international bank transfer or a credit card payment! If you get a foreign draft and post it, the money is out of your account already, and if lost in the post I don't think you have any comeback.

Coconut_Man

Thanks for all the help so far.

The USD cheque from a UK bank is fine, but the problem is the condition:

The cheque must be "drawn on a U.S. bank (or a bank with a U.S. branch indicated on the front of the check)".

ray123

The cheque must be "drawn on a U.S. bank (or a bank with a U.S. branch indicated on the front of the check)".

Check with your bank about that. It might be the case that your bank use a bank located in the US to clear the cheque.

97trophy

Coconut_Man wrote: »

The USD cheque from a UK bank is fine, but the problem is the condition: The cheque must be "drawn on a U.S. bank (or a bank with a U.S. branch indicated on the front of the check)".

Yes. Any UK clearing bank can do that for you.

It really is a simple transaction - but not cheap for you.

Coconut_Man

Thanks for all your help everyone