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International Students and Scholars

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Better Banking for All Bruins

As the Official Banking Partner of the UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars, Wescom offers numerous benefits that provide value and convenience for international students and scholars.





Open an Account Today

Here’s what you’ll need to open a Student Account:

  • IF AVAILABLE, please have your Tax Identification Number (TIN) and Foreign Taxpayer Identification Number (FTIN)
  • Bruin ID, in addition to a foreign passport or state ID
  • UCLA Letter of acceptance or UCLA I-20/DS-2019 form

Email UCLAInternationalStudent@Wescom.org to open an account today. You can also visit us at any Wescom branch to open your account or, to learn more, call us at 1-888-8WESCOM (1-888-893-7266).

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Experience the Wescom Difference

  • FREE Checking1
  • Access to your direct deposit up to two days faster2
  • Cash when you need it through the CO-OP® network of fee-free ATMs3 (more than 30,000 located
    across the U.S. and Canada) — plus seven Wescom ATMs on campus!
  • On-campus branch to help serve all your banking—plus video and telephonic appointments available so you can meet from anywhere with your mobile device
  • Online and mobile banking so you can check balances, pay bills, deposit checks with SnapDeposit4, transfer funds, and more
  • Two International Incoming Wire Transfer fee waivers5

Open Account

Membership eligibility is required. Anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Southern California is eligible to open an account at Wescom. A $1 deposit to a Regular Savings Account is required. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. Ask for further details. A valid Tax Identification Number is required for all dividend-bearing accounts and loan products.

1 No paper statement fee with eStatements, and for Platinum Signature Members, Youth Accounts, Primary Account Holders age 60 and older, Fiduciary Accounts, and for the first 90 days for new accounts. The $5.00 fee will be assessed to your Regular Savings Account for printing and mailing a paper statement (monthly and quarterly).

2 Wescom will post your direct deposit when it is received, regardless of the settlement date. Early access to your direct deposit of funds is not guaranteed and is dependent on the timing of funding by the payer. Wescom does not control when the direct deposit is received.

3 Non-CO-OP or Non-Wescom ATM operators and institutions may charge an ATM usage fee.

4 Available to most Wescom members whose accounts are in good standing. SnapDeposit is automatically available to most accounts on the day after account opening. SnapDeposit may take up to one business day to post to your account. Wescom hold policies apply. Please refer to the About Your Credit Union Accounts disclosure for information on the Wescom funds availability policy. You will be notified by email if your SnapDeposit has been accepted, rejected, or placed on hold.

5 Two waivers for UCLA International Students on an annual basis. Some restrictions may apply.

International Wire Transfer Made Easy with Wescom

Wescom offers international wire transfers to help you send and receive the funds from a financial institution outside the U.S.

Incoming International Wires

  • Sent from a financial institution outside the U.S.
  • UCLA International Students receive two incoming international wire transfer fee waivers, annually*

To get started, view:

Outgoing International Wires

  • Sent to a financial institution outside the U.S.
  • Available to UCLA Member Groups at the UCLA Campus Branch.

To learn more, visit the UCLA Campus Branch, or call us at 1-888-4WESCOM (1-888-493-7266).

*Wescom may charge a $10 fee for each incoming international wire to a recipient’s account once funds are posted to the account. Please click here to see the Schedule of Fees and Charges.

Incoming International Wires — Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is the definition of an Incoming International Wire?

Incoming International wire transfers are the electronic routing of money from a foreign (outside of the United States) financial institution; whereas as domestic wires are those originating within the United States.


My family would like to send me funds from a bank that is in the United States. How is this sent?

A wire originated at a domestic bank sent to a Wescom account must be sent as a domestic wire. If it is from a bank located in a foreign country, then it would be sent as an International Wire. The Incoming International Wire Instructions are solely for international wires, and should not be used for domestic wires.


My family would like to send a wire to my Wescom account from a foreign country. What information is needed?

Wescom partners with Corporate One / BMO Harris to receive incoming international wires for Wescom members. Please refer to the SWIFT code, ABA number, and Beneficiary Account Number for Corporate One/ BMO Harris as indicated in the incoming international wire instruction. To be successful, it is important to reference “Wescom CU” and all the Wescom member account information outlined in the Incoming International Wire Instructions in the additional beneficiary information. If something is missing, it could delay or fail the receipt of the wire. If there is not enough room on the wire instructions at the sending bank, please be sure to add the information in additional areas, such as a notes, additional information or comments section if provided.


Can my family send funds Internationally via ACH instead of wires?

No, the International Wire transfer instructions do not work for ACH. Wires are the transfer of money through electronic routing; ACH are bank-to-bank money transfers processed through the Automated Clearing House Network. If you send funds via ACH by using Wescom's Incoming International Wire procedures, it will fail, and the money will be returned to the sender.


If I am sending a wire from a foreign bank, is Wescom Credit Union considered an intermediary bank?

No, International Wires being sent to Wescom Credit Union are not sent through an intermediary bank. Should the sending bank have an area in their wire instructions for Intermediary Bank information, please leave that area blank.


Should I use Wescom’s Routing number for an international wire transfer to Wescom?

Please do not use the routing number of Wescom when sending a wire. Wescom partners with Corporate One / BMO Harris to receive incoming international wires for Wescom members. Please refer to the SWIFT code, ABA number, and Beneficiary Account Number for Corporate One/ BMO Harris as indicated in the Incoming International Wire Instructions.


Does Wescom have a Swift Code?

No, Wescom does not have its own SWIFT code. Wescom partners with Corporate One / BMO Harris to receive incoming international wires for Wescom members. BMO Harris’ SWIFT Code that we use for incoming wires is HATRUS44. Please refer to the Wescom Credit Union Incoming International Wire Instructions for the complete beneficiary information.


When sending an International Wire Transfer to Wescom, why is the beneficiary bank BMO Harris and not Wescom?

Wescom partners with Corporate One / BMO Harris to receive incoming international wires for Wescom members.


I was expecting to receive a wire from a foreign bank and have not received it. Now what?

If you are expecting a wire and have not received it within 2-3 business days, it is important to notify Wescom at the UCLA Branch 1-888-4WESCOM (1-888-493-7266) ext. or send an email to AccountingWires@wescom.org so that we can attempt to locate it. Be sure to provide the IMAD, copy of the SWIFT MT103 payment instructions from the sending bank, or Wire ID number, dollar amount, your name and account number, name of the remitting party and bank, as well as the date sent. Please include a copy of the wire confirmation. Wescom will do their best to help locate the wire.


Why was my incoming international wire not received?

There are several things that could have happened. The most common being that not all of the required information was provided and Corporate One/BMO Harris was not able to identify whom the wire belonged to. To ensure funds are credited when received, the sender needs to make sure to include the following: Wescom CU, your name, your address and your account number in the payment reference SWIFT field 70 of their wire transfer document.


Financial Education

Understanding all aspects of your financial life is key to making healthy financial decisions. Wescom offers financial education resources for all Bruins, which includes 25 free modules featuring interactive content to help prepare you for a successful financial future.

Learn More