Excited states in the neutron-rich nucleus 68 Fe were populated using a 9 Be( 68 Co, 68 Fe + γ )X charge-exchange reaction at 95 MeV/u. The new γ -ray transitions reported here for the first time complement data from β-decay studies and nucleon knockout reactions. In comparison to shell-model calculations with the LNPS effective interaction, two candidate states for the 6 + 1 level emerge. The distinct population pattern of excited states and the magnitude of the cross section, σ inc = 0.51( 6) mb, make this reaction a promising one for future in-beam γ -ray spectroscopy. Reaction calculations with nuclear structure input from a new, locally optimized Hamiltonian, f 7 j4a, together with general considerations for heavy-ion-induced charge-exchange reactions appear consistent with most of the observations, although challenges remain.