How to Send Money from a U.S. Bank to Your CIBC Caribbean Account in The Bahamas





If you bank in The Bahamas with CIBC Caribbean and need to move money over from the U.S., an international wire transfer is one of the most direct ways to do it. It looks more complicated than it is. Here's how to do it, plus a few things that can trip you up.


Step 1: Get your wire instructions from CIBC first


Before you touch your U.S. bank account, get the wire instructions directly from CIBC Caribbean. This step matters most. Incorrect correspondent-bank information can delay the payment or get it returned, so don't rely on details you found online or a friend's old wire.


You'll want to have on hand:


Your name and address exactly as they appear on your CIBC account

Your account number

CIBC's SWIFT/BIC code

Any intermediary or correspondent bank details CIBC provides

Step 2: Start the wire from your U.S. bank


Log into your U.S. bank's online banking (or visit a branch) and choose Wire Transfer → International Wire.


Then work through the form:


Select USD if you want to receive U.S. dollars in your account.

Enter the recipient details: name, address, and account number, exactly as CIBC gave them to you.

Enter CIBC's SWIFT/BIC code.

Add the intermediary/correspondent bank, if your U.S. bank asks for one. Enter exactly what CIBC provided, with no guessing or substitutions.

Enter the purpose of the payment (for example, family support, savings, or personal transfer).

Step 3: Review the costs before you hit send


Before submitting, check three things:


The exchange rate, if any currency conversion is involved

Your U.S. bank's wire fee

Any intermediary or recipient-bank fees that may be deducted along the way


Fees can add up, so it's worth knowing the total before you commit.


A common mistake to avoid


Don't assume your U.S. bank's normal ABA routing number will work for a Bahamian account. It won't. International wires normally use the receiving bank's SWIFT/BIC code and, where applicable, correspondent-bank instructions. The ABA routing number is for domestic U.S. transfers only.