How Contractors in Ecuador Can Avoid High Withdrawal Fees

For independent contractors in Ecuador, receiving payments in USD often comes with an unpleasant surprise: high bank withdrawal fees and long delays, even though the US dollar is the official currency.

This happens because Ecuador’s financial infrastructure lacks a domestic clearing house—a tool that lets other countries move local currency efficiently. This leaves freelancers to navigate international wire networks like SWIFT, notorious for hefty $25–$45 charges and sluggish processing times.

At Deel, we understand how frustrating and limiting these hidden costs can be, particularly for independent contractors dealing with frequent, smaller invoices. That’s why Deel offers payout options —like the Deel Card, Wise, and Payoneer integration—that completely sidestep Ecuador’s outdated rails, so you, or your contractors, can get paid faster, with clear upfront fees, and keep more of what they earn.

This article unpacks exactly how contractors can leverage Deel to withdraw their hard-earned money without the headaches.

Why contractors in Ecuador pay extra to receive USD payments

If you’re hiring or working as a contractor in Ecuador, you’ve probably noticed something strange: despite using the US dollar as its official currency, Ecuador still makes it expensive to receive payments in USD. A simple bank withdrawal can trigger a hefty $25 wire fee, sometimes more.

Why? Because Ecuador doesn’t have a domestic USD clearing house.

What’s a clearing house—and why doesn’t Ecuador have one?

Most countries with their own currency have a clearing system that allows money to move quickly and cheaply between banks. For example, the US has the ACH, while Europe has SEPA.

But Ecuador dollarized its economy in 2000 without building the financial infrastructure that the US has for moving USD between banks. That means when a company tries to send USD into Ecuador, local banks often rely on international wire networks like SWIFT, which pull in intermediary banks that each take a cut.

The result: slow transfers, unpredictable delays, and high flat fees, even on relatively small payments.

Independent contractors paid in USD often face:

• A $25–$45 fee just to access their money
• Delays of 2–5 days
• A lack of transparency about who’s charging what

It’s frustrating and can make global freelancing feel broken, especially for high-frequency, lower-value invoices.

How Deel helps contractors avoid these fees

Deel offers several payout options that completely bypass Ecuador’s broken clearing system, helping contractors keep more of what they earn:

Deel Card

The Deel Card is one of the best options for Ecuador-based contractors. It’s a USD prepaid Mastercard that gives contractors direct access to their funds without relying on local bank transfers. With the Deel Card, you have:

• No fee to spend in USD
• 1.5% fee on non-USD purchases
• No $25 wire fee and no waiting period

It costs just $5 to activate a virtual Deel Card, and $10 to receive a physical Deel Card.

See also: How to Create a Deel Account as an Independent Contractor

Wise

Contractors can connect a Wise account to Deel and receive funds with zero Deel withdrawal fees. Wise offers excellent currency conversion and allows local bank withdrawals at a fraction of traditional wire costs.

Payoneer

Another widely used option. Deel charges a 1% fee (minimum $12) for Payoneer withdrawals, and funds typically arrive within one business day. It’s reliable and cost-effective compared to international bank wires.

Other supported methods

Deel also integrates with Revolut, Coinbase, PayPal, and Instant Card Transfers (which have small percentage-based fees but offer same-day access). Fees and delivery times are clearly displayed before the contractor confirms the transfer.

Withdraw faster, pay fewer fees with Deel

Withdrawing USD in Ecuador often triggers high fees, not because of platforms like Deel but because of outdated local banking systems. Deel bypasses these rails entirely by offering fast, flexible, and transparent payout methods.

Contractors in Ecuador can skip the $25 SWIFT fees by using the Deel Card, or Wise and Payoneer integrations to access their money quickly and keep more of their earnings.

• Contractors: Sign up for free to create contracts, receive payments, and spend instantly with minimal fees using the Deel Card
• Hiring companies: Book a 30-minute demo to see how Deel simplifies international contractor hiring and payments