About Pangea
Derived from the Greek term, “pangaia” which means “all the Earth,” the name of this money transfer company is very fitting as it continues to work towards becoming a globally accessible remittance operator.
Since its founding in 2012 in Chicago, in the United States, Pangea Money Transfer has been on a mission to reduce the steep prices commonly associated with international remittances, to make it easier for customers to move money around the world, albeit when sending funds to friends and family abroad, or arranging mass international payments for business reasons.
Pangea is an American company that currently focuses on enabling US-based customers to quickly and conveniently send and receive money in seconds, using their Pangea account. Further to this objective, the company also offers a Visa debit card which can be used worldwide at any location where Visa debit is accepted.
In this review we will carefully evaluate all major aspects of this money transfer service so our readers can decide whether to trust this company with their next global transaction.
Pangea exchange rates, fees and costs
We want to know what kind of profit margins, if any, may be applied to foreign currency transfers arranged with Pangea. Further to this, we will be prying into the fee structure that is applied when sending and receiving money through this provider.
Exchange rates
Pangea only supports 13 different Latin American and Asian currencies, and all money transfers must be sent using USD. To gain a full understanding of the scope of Pangea’s exchange rates, we conducted a case study that tested the foreign exchange rate of each of the supported currencies. It would appear that Pangea offers to match the mid-market rate for each available currency, which is a huge advantage, as most banks apply profit margins ranging from 4 – 6% to FX transactions.
Transfer fees
From our research, we found Pangea transfer fees range from $3.95 to $20.95 USD, depending on where you are sending the money, the currency you are using, and the payment method. This fee increases in conjunction with the transfer amount, meaning the larger the transfer, the higher the fees.
This means small transfers of $100 or less will still incur a minimum fee of $3.95 USD which is fairly competitive given the fact Pangea relies on these fees to make a profit.
Additional costs
The company issues a one-off charge for ordering the Pangea debit card, but other than the aforementioned costs, there are no further charges for their remittance services.
Top destinations for sending money with Pangea
Pangea is based in the United States but the company operates in multiple Latin American and Asian markets. The list of supported sending destinations is far more limited than competitors like Xe and InstaRem, who help customers arrange money transfers to over 150 countries, respectively. The most popular sending countries supported by Pangea are:
Pros & cons of using Pangea
We strive to clearly and concisely communicate the leading strengths and weaknesses of each money transfer company we review. In this section, our readers will be able to weigh up the pros and cons of Pangea’s international transfers.
What type of transfers can you make with Pangea?
The following options are available with Pangea Money Transfers:
- Bank transfers
- Debit card transfers
- Cash transfers
- Scheduled automatic transfers
How long will it take to receive money using Pangea?
International transfers between Pangea users will be instant; all other beneficiaries will receive funds within 2 – 5 working days.
What payment methods can I use when sending money with Pangea?
Pangea exclusively accepts payment using your linked bank account or via debit card: (Feb 2022)
What are the best reasons to use Pangea?
First and foremost, this service is designed to cater to customers based in the US, Latin America and Asia, and we would recommend Pangea Money Transfer for anyone living in these regions.
Another good reason to use Pangea is the company’s ongoing incentives program. There are often multiple seasonal incentives running simultaneously; from free money transfers to refer-a-friend discount schemes, customers are frequently rewarded for their loyalty.
Furthermore, Pangea appears to offer true-to-market value exchange rates for the 13 supported currencies available. This is an excellent example of how money transfer companies go above and beyond to beat high cost bank charges.
Can I trust Pangea?
Being a US company, Pangea operations are overseen by regulators in each of the 26 states the company services across the country. Further to this, the company is fully licensed and regulated by FINCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network).
The head offices can be found at 640 North Lasalle Street, Suite 638, Chicago, IL, 60654, with nearly 90,000 agent locations dotted around the US, Latin America and Asia.
Since launching in 2012, the company has received over $20 million in funding from various investors in the United States, as well as winning multiple awards for “Best User Experience” and “Fastest Transfer” by peers in the financial services sector.
What do users have to say about Pangea?
A reliable way of understanding more about any company is to look at user reviews and feedback posted online. In this case, Pangea has been rated as “Excellent” on Trustpilot, with an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5. Much of the positive feedback cites the speedy service and turnaround times, as well as an honest and personalised approach to customer support. Negative comments reference problems redeeming promotional discount codes and unexpected delays when transferring to the Philippines. Overall the user feedback appears to be largely positive.
How to get started with Pangea to send and receive money
To help our users understand how this operator conducts money transfers we will now run through how to send and receive funds using a Pangea account.
Sending money
- Open the Pangea mobile app or log into your account via the desktop platform
- Enter the amount you wish to transfer and the currencies you want to use; review the exchange rate offered by Pangea before you decide to proceed with this provider
- Next, you will need to enter the details of your recipient; less recipient information is required when sending money to another Pangea user
- After you have entered details of your transfer and all recipient information, Pangea will present an estimated delivery date and time; if you are happy with this timeframe then submit the transfer request
- Once submitted, the transfer will be processed by Pangea; funds will be instantly deposited into your recipient’s bank account if they are a Pangea user, or in 2 – 5 working days if they are not
Receiving money
Pangea money transfers can be received in one of three ways:
- Deposited directly into a bank account
- Deposited onto any major debit card
- Delivered as cash for collection at a local Pangea location
Does Pangea have a mobile app?
Yes, the Pangea Money Transfer mobile app is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, and available to download for free from the Google Play Store and App Store. The app can be used to create a Pangea account, as well as execute international transfers, settle international bills and schedule recurring overseas payments.
On the App Store, Pangea’s mobile services have been given an impressive 4.8 out of 5, and on the Google Play Store, it has been rated an equally impressive 4.7. As a digital money transfer service, it is no surprise that this application comes highly recommended.
Frequently asked questions about Pangea
Can you cancel a Pangea money transfer once sent?
Unfortunately customers are not able to cancel a Pangea money transfer once it has been deposited into the recipient’s account, or collected at a local pick up location. However, if a customer has reason to believe the payment was erroneous, they should call customer support on +1-844-611-8798.
Is this a good provider of business money transfers?
Pangea is not a specialised provider of business money transfer services but there are many other excellent alternatives for corporate clients who need to arrange an overseas transaction. Read our guide to International Business Transfers to learn more.
