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New-Zealand-based OrbitRemit is one of the world’s leading online money transfer services, supporting over 500,000 customers globally. Since launching in 2009, OrbitRemit has handled transactions over NZ$3.5 billion in bank transfers and cash pickups to more than 39 destinations for both corporations and individual customers.
In this review, we shall look at the exchange rates and fees charged by OrbitRemit, the type of payment methods supported, transfer speeds, sending limits, and anything else you could need to know.
OrbitRemit Exchange Rates and Fees
OrbitRemit adds a margin above the mid-market exchange rate and charges nominal fees on transfers processed through the platform. Here is a breakdown of the margins and fees to expect.
Exchange rate
The exchange rate margins customers are charged on OrbitRemit vary slightly depending on the currency pair, but on average expect an exchange rate mark-up of around 1.5% above mid-market rates.
Fees
Here’s a quick breakdown of the fees charged by OrbitRemit for each of the the provider supports payments from:
Transferring from Australia: Unless you are sending to India, which is free of charge, all other destinations are charged AU$4.
Sending from New Zealand: All destinations are charged NZ$4 except when sending to the Philippines where the cost is NZ$6.
Transferring from the UK: Customers pay a £2 flat fee for transfers to all destinations.
Sending amounts above 10,000 New Zealand dollars, pounds, Australian dollars attracts zero fees with OrbitRemit.
Additional Costs
Depending on your bank, you may be charged an extra fee to facilitate your bank transfer or POLi payment to OrbitRemit. Hence, it is important to check with your bank before you make the transfer.
OrbitRemit Pros and Cons
OrbitRemit provides its customers with an inexpensive and fast way to send money to their families, friends, and business partners across the world. Here are some pros and cons worth looking at before making your transfer with OrbitRemit.
- Low fees – Customers get to enjoy fees as low as £2, irrespective of the amount being transferred, when sending from the UK. Amounts above 10,000 in the supported currencies (NZD, AUD and GBP) are free.
- Competitive rates – Exchange rate margins can be as low as 0.5% above mid-market rates with OrbitRemit. This leaves customers with more money to send their beneficiaries, especially when compared to high street banks which commonly charge margins of between 4% and 5%..
- Fast transfers – Most transfers are completed within a day with only a few taking 2-3 days to be completed.
- Transparent pricing – Customers can use the widget on the website to calculate upfront the cost of their transfers and how much their recipient will get.
- Mobile app – Customers can download the OrbitRemit money transfer app and send money, check exchange rates, and manage their transfers on the go.
- Small number of countries – The service supports sending money only to 39 countries mostly in Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Oceania region.
- Restricted account opening – Customers can only register for an account in New Zealand, the UK, and Australia.
- Transfer payment methods – Users can only pay for their transfers using bank transfers and POLi. OrbitRemit does not accept credit and debit card payments.
What Kind of Payments Can I Make With OrbitRemit?
Through OrbitRemit’s platform, customers can pay for their transfers in a variety of ways. Here are the payments and withdrawal options available.
Payment Methods Available
Customers can pay for their transfers using bank transfers from any accepted country. Those in Australia can also use POLi Payments to safely and quickly pay into the designated OrbitRemit bank account.
Withdrawal Options Available
OrbitRemit transfers funds into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, and also offers the option of cash pickup in some countries. For instance, beneficiaries in the Philippines can access their money from over 5,000 cash pickup locations within an hour after the transfer.
How to Send and Receive Money With OrbitRemit
Sending and receiving money using OrbitRemit is fast, secure and simple. Here is a quick summary of what each process involves.
How to Send Money With OrbitRemit
Create an Account
Start Your Transfer
Enter Recipient Details
Verify Your Information
Review Your Transfer
Pay for Your Transfer
Monitor Your Transfer
How to Receive Money With OrbitRemit
OrbitRemit deposits the funds directly into your beneficiary’s bank account once you have arranged and funded the transfer.
In addition to bank transfers, recipients in the Philippines, Nepal, and Vietnam can also access their funds from cash pickup locations. They only need their government-issued ID cards and the reference number of the transfer to collect the money.
Does OrbitRemit Have a Mobile App?
Yes, OrbitRemit has a mobile money transfer app available as a free download on both android and iOS platforms. Using the app, customers can:
Make transfers to bank accounts and cash pickup locations.
Manage their recipients by adding, deleting or modifying their details.
Check exchange rates and transfer fees.
Access 24-hour customer support.
On Play Store, the app has 3,421 reviews and an overall rating of 4.6/5. On the App Store, it has a 4.7/5 rating and a total of 10,797 reviews.
How Fast Are OrbitRemit’s Transfer Speeds?
OrbitRemit delivers cash pickups the same day. Most bank transfers are delivered within 24 hours with a few taking 1-3 working days.
Are there maximum and minimum transfer amounts?
Transfers to destinations such as Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, South Africa, Poland, the United States, and Norway have no limits. However, other destinations have limits on either bank transfers or cash pickups. Here is a summary for some of them:
Bangladesh: The limit for a single transaction is 1.5 million Bangladeshi Taka (BDT).
India: The maximum transaction limit is 15 million Indian rupees (INR). When sending to business accounts, the maximum is 1.5 million INR.
Indonesia: The maximum transfer amount is 100 million Indonesian rupiahs (IDR).
Malaysia: The transaction limit is 150,000 Malaysian ringgit (MYR)
Nepal: The daily transaction limit is 999,999 Nepalese rupees (NPR) when transferring to a bank account and 100,000 NPR for cash pickups.
Singapore: Customers can transfer up to a maximum of 9,999 Singapore dollar (SGD) per day.
Sri Lanka: The transaction limit is 2 million Sri Lankan rupee (LKR) to personal accounts, and 5 million LKR to business accounts.
Thailand: Customers can send up to 500,000 Thai baht (TBH).
When sending over 500,000 Philippine pesos to the Philippines, customers will also be required to provide the following additional documentation:
Filled in and signed remittance information form
Passport or driving license if the ID on file has expired
Recipient ID
Proof of payment
A document showing source of funds
Customers sending more than 300 million Vietnamese dongs will similarly be required to fill in and sign a remittance information form.
Can I trust OrbitRemit?
When choosing a money transfer provider, trust is one of the top aspects to consider. Here are some of the factors that make OrbitRemit a reliable name in the money transfer industry.
History
The company was founded in New Zealand in 2008 by Robbie Sampson, Tommy Heptinstall, David Platt, and Paul Robinson. It is currently headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand.
Over the years, OrbitRemit has seen its operations grow. Currently, the provider supports 39 destinations and has offices in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. In January 2018, the provider processed over 75,000 transactions.
Regulatory compliance
OrbitRemit Limited is registered in New Zealand (company number 2174112), Australia (company number 69601986038) and the UK (company number 06731488). Here is a summary of how the company is regulated in the three countries:
United Kingdom: The company is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide money remittance and payment services. It is also registered by the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) company number 12480317.
Australia: OrbitRemit is licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) as a money remitter.
New Zealand: The company is registered and regulated by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and operates as a Financial Services Provider-FSP7721. It is also supervised by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).
Encryption and customer data
OrbitRemit prioritises customer security and information safety. All its transactions are SSL-encrypted and covered by layers of bank-grade security. Transfers to bank accounts are processed through trusted channels.
Investors and awards
On January 9, 2009, each of the 4 founders or OrbitRemit put in a total of NZ$1 million as seed money. There are no other known investors in the company.
On April 21 2020, the company was featured among the Financial Times 500 high-growth companies in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. It came at position 294.
Customer satisfaction
The provider has had lots of verified positive reviews. On Trustpilot, it has 20,560 reviews 95% of which are rated 4 and 5 stars. Customers had this to say about the service:
- Easy to use: OrbitRemit’s platform is straightforward and user friendly.
- Low fees: The fees charged make international transfers inexpensive for customers.
- Fast and reliable: Transfers are delivered fast and as promised.
- Poor customer service: In some instances, customers complained of unresponsive or slow customer support.
Can I cancel my transfer?
Yes, you can get in touch with customer support to have your transfer cancelled if it is ‘Awaiting Payment’ or ‘Awaiting Update’. Completed transfers cannot be cancelled.
Top destinations for using OrbitRemit
Among the top countries in terms of transfer volume and frequency on the platform include:
Customer support
You can reach OrbitRemit’s customer helpdesk using any of the following ways.
Email: Send your queries to [email protected].
Summary
With a disbursing network of 39 destinations, a customer base of more than 500,000, and over NZ$3.5 billion worth of transfers processed to date, OrbitRemit is one of the biggest online money transfer services around.
Customers can conveniently fund their transfers using bank transfers and POLi Payments for those in Australia. The funds are sent into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts, with recipients in the Philippines, Nepal and Vietnam, also being able to receive money at various cash pickup locations.
The drawback with OrbitRemit is that their services can only be used to send money from the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Customers outside these territories will have to use other providers. It is also worth noting that while the platform charges low fees and margins, it is very inflexible in terms of payment methods and doesn’t allow transfers to be funded with card or cash payments.
OrbitRemit is certainly a great option for making international transfers. However, it is a good practice to conduct a cross-comparison to see what other providers are offering. You can use our money transfer comparison tool to do a quick check to ensure that OrbitRemit is indeed the company that offers you the best deal on your transfer.
