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TransferWise changes name to Wise

wise.com

81–90 of 230 posts

Re: TransferWise changes name to Wise

#81

Would it be safe to use this if you're transferring a very large amount of money, for example to buy a house in a foreign country? Anyone have experiences (good or bad) with large transfers they'd like to share?

They are not covered by any kind of FDIC equivalent (and in fairness there's not really any good deposit insurance regime for international accounts). They claim to use ringfenced accounts for customer funds but AIUI that's all self-certified (and wasn't there at all when they first started, although I understand they've gotten a bit more professional in various ways). I wouldn't worry too much about making a one-off transfer under normal circumstances - the risk of them going bankrupt in the next week is pretty low - but I'd be a little wary of keeping a substantial balance with them over the long term.

Re: TransferWise changes name to Wise

#82

I love transferwise, depend on it often. I don't get the rebrand, their old name was descriptive, easy to google, and from all perspectives really good. The rebrand won't change me using it, but I really can't see the positive in this.

I found their name to have been outlived by the specs of their service offering. Transferwise is about much more than transferring money these days.

But at least "TransferWise" is unique, clearly about money, easily searchable, and defendable as a trademark.

"Wise" is very generic, and worse my guess is that they'll have a hell of a time defending that trademark.

Re: TransferWise changes name to Wise

#83
I got married abroad and that often implies needing a service like TransferWise. When I first got married, I actually thought I’d need to use hsbc (who sort of support online wire transfers) but thanks to TransferWise, I’ve never once had to send a wire transfer. TransferWise sends money more quickly to my wife than I can send between my own bank accounts in USA. Very reasonable (but sometimes random) KYC (make sure to maintain your drivers license at a permanent address where you can receive mail in your home country).

I really wish them all the best with the new brand and am excited for the new products! Even when I’m just being a tourist, the debit card and borderless card make working in different currencies a breeze.

My only wish is that the debit card issued to us citizens didn’t default to dollar payments but could intelligently mark itself as the local currency. Remember that when a foreign terminal tries to bill you in USD, the bank the card reader is connected to makes profit from marking up exchange rates.

Re: TransferWise changes name to Wise

#84

I love transferwise, depend on it often. I don't get the rebrand, their old name was descriptive, easy to google, and from all perspectives really good. The rebrand won't change me using it, but I really can't see the positive in this.

Branding matters. The company is evolving from money transfers to more banking services. The fact that so many are resistant to the change because they consider the company to only do transfers is exactly the reason and the proof for why the rebrand makes sense.

Wise might be generic but encapsulates financial services well and fits in with all the other similar brands like Stripe, Square, Simple, Chase, etc.

Re: TransferWise changes name to Wise

#85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you mean "for sure"? They claim they don't - https://transferwise.com/help/articles/2932394/how-does-tax-...

In order to operate in Australia, you must report transactions over a certain threshold. See: https://www.austrac.gov.au/business/how-comply-guidance-and-... I have it good authority [1], that quite a few local Australian banks report when the threshold is 1000 or more. For international transfers any amount must be reported: https://www.austrac.gov.au/business/how-comply-guidance-and-... [1]: My father works there.

Your linked Austrac page refers to cash transactions ("physical currency"). This one[0] however, says that any international funds transfer instruction (of any amount) needs to be reported.

[0]: https://www.austrac.gov.au/business/how-comply-guidance-and-...

Re: TransferWise changes name to Wise

#86
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One in the US is that you cannot use a borderless account for ACH transactions initiated by the counterparty (despite it presenting the details that make it look like you can).

I'm curious to know how you verified this. The help text in the app is explicit that "There's no fee to receive ACH payments, or any other kind of payment that uses your ACH routing number." I remember the app used to show two sets of US bank details, and that the routing number for receiving wire transfers was different from the one used for receiving ACH transfers. But that seems no longer to be the case.

Yes they were consolidated recently, less than 6 months ago.

Re: TransferWise changes name to Wise

#87

I love transferwise, depend on it often. I don't get the rebrand, their old name was descriptive, easy to google, and from all perspectives really good. The rebrand won't change me using it, but I really can't see the positive in this.

Completely agree. They are a fantastic service that (as others have suggested they do as well) I use about once a year and recommend to others about twice a year. I have no idea if I’ll remember the name change a year from now, and as anything related to international money transfer is already sketchy, a rebrand is likely to make me wary.

Why would a name change make you more wary?

Re: TransferWise changes name to Wise

#88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I found their name to have been outlived by the specs of their service offering. Transferwise is about much more than transferring money these days.

But at least "TransferWise" is unique, clearly about money, easily searchable, and defendable as a trademark. "Wise" is very generic, and worse my guess is that they'll have a hell of a time defending that trademark.

Does Square or Chase have trouble with their trademark? It's not a big deal.

Re: TransferWise changes name to Wise

#89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In order to operate in Australia, you must report transactions over a certain threshold. See: https://www.austrac.gov.au/business/how-comply-guidance-and-... I have it good authority [1], that quite a few local Australian banks report when the threshold is 1000 or more. For international transfers any amount must be reported: https://www.austrac.gov.au/business/how-comply-guidance-and-... [1]: My father works there.

If you get their eftpos card and never wire remaining balance to aussie then it can remain untaxed? Plus you're not doing international wire - they transfer from their local account (not 100% sure how it's accounted tho).

> If you get their eftpos card and never wire remaining balance to aussie then it can remain untaxed?

This is what I want to know

Re: TransferWise changes name to Wise

#90
post #80

I love transferwise, depend on it often. I don't get the rebrand, their old name was descriptive, easy to google, and from all perspectives really good. The rebrand won't change me using it, but I really can't see the positive in this.

Seems like a weird idea when there is already a finance company called Wise. https://www.wise.us

Yup, I mentioned something similar in my post...

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26220276

also the logo, just so bad. I wonder who is behind such an ugly design, seems amateur to the extreme.

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