This guide covers the different ways of sending money to Honduras, the information you need to send money to Honduras, and why money transfer services are the best channel for you. We will also present a variety of money transfer companies that are excellent choices for sending money to Honduras.
Honduras can be described as a lower-middle-income economy primarily based on agriculture, and its GDP is $23.8 billion. However, coffee is also a big part of their economy since it accounts for around a quarter of their exports.
The national currency of Honduras is the Honduran Lempira, and at the time of writing, 1 HNL is equal to 0.041 USD. Honduras has a lot of resources because of the extensive forest and marine ecosystems. However, environmental protection programs ensure that the resources are well-maintained for future generations.
In Honduras, the finance sector is not held back by legislation that makes money transfers problematic. Therefore, many top-tier money transfer companies offer their services in Honduras. Some of these include WorldRemit, Wise, XE, Currencyfair, Currencies Direct, Key Currency, Instarem and TorFX. Continue reading to learn more about these companies and the advantages they bring for sending money to Honduras.
Sending money to Honduras is simple and easy. Follow these steps to get started and find out the easiest way to send money to Honduras.
There are multiple ways to send and receive money easily in Honduras, but these will largely depend on the money transfer provider you decide to use. Below you will find everything you need to know about the best ways to send money to Honduras.
Hondurans sending money home have the option of banks or money transfer service providers. The choice of the channel to use largely depends on the recipient location, their banking status, the urgency of the funds, and the distributive network of the different players in the remittance industry.
The Honduras banking system consists of 15 private banks and a total of 7 financial groups. Five of the banks control 93 per cent of the bank remittance channel in the country. In such a tight market the benefits of competition such as low-priced transfers and technologically advanced products are minimal.
Interbank transfers are safe and convenient for sending large amounts of money, and also, a popular method for sending money abroad. When sending from the United States, you’ll have an advantage because the Honduras financial system has 50.2 per cent of its deposits in the United States banks.
The biggest problem with the banking channel for sending remittances is that a large population of Hondurans are unbanked with little or no access to mainstream financial services. Secondly, bank transfers are relatively more expensive and much slower to complete.
Most Honduran migrants in the U.S. use money transfer operators (MTOs) when sending money home. The transfers rarely exceed $3,000 per transaction making this method of sending very convenient.
While it is true that MTOs offer cheaper options to transfer money home, most Hondurans do not prioritise cost when sending money. They look at the geographical proximity of the provider in the country of destination, extended service hours, quick delivery times, reliability and non-bureaucratic operations.
There are two main ways of sending money to Honduras using money transfer service providers: bank transfers and cash pick up.
Bank Transfers– You can send money from the website or mobile app of the provider you choose straight to the bank account of your loved one. Unlike the traditional interbank transfer, this method is cheaper and takes a maximum of 3 days with providers such as WorldRemit and MoneyGram.
Cash Pick Up -Providers such as Xoom, MoneyGram, Remitly, Dolex and Western Union offer cash pickup as a sending option. This method is convenient when sending smaller amounts under $1,500.
Xoom has 530 locations from where your loved ones can collect their cash. MoneyGram has 1,500 locations spread across Honduras.
Transferring money through MTOs is a simple process. All you need is to signup for an account. You can register online through the provider’s website or use a downloadable app.
After you register for the account, pay for your transfer. There are three options you can use to pay for your transfer; bank debit, credit card, and debit card. Of the three methods, paying using a credit card is the most expensive.
With your transfer account funded, you can do the transfer to a bank or cash pick up location straight from the website or mobile app. Providers like Western Union allow you to start the sending process online and complete it at a physical store of your choice.
Sending money to your family, relatives, and friends using money orders is a safe and convenient option. You can purchase an international money order from any post office in the United States. The maximum you can send per money order is $700.
In Honduras, you can cash international money orders at the following institutions, Banco Ficohsa, Elektra–Azteca, and Banco Mercantil. BAMER S.A. Together, they have locations totalling 543.
Whether you choose to send money via WorldRemit, Western Union, MoneyGram or Xoom, there is some information you’ll have to provide. The information varies from one provider to the other. Below is a general list of what will be required irrespective of the provider you choose.
You may be asked for more information such as the purpose and source of the funds. Providers are under strict regulations hence must pass on the rules to their customers.
Hondurans receiving money from abroad have different options available. However, two methods remain outstanding: direct bank deposits and cash collection from MTO locations.
Hondurans who have bank accounts can choose to have their loved ones deposit money directly into their accounts. When receiving large amounts of money, the banking system is the most reliable and safer.
Depending on the instructions the recipient has given the bank, they may receive an SMS notification when the deposit is made.
This method of receiving money is the most popular among Hondurans. Cash pick up locations for MTOs such as Western Union, MoneyGram, WorldRemit, Tranfast, TransferWise, and Xoom are in convenient locations like grocery stores, supermarkets, and fuel stations.
You can receive amounts of up to $1,500 with this method. However, if large amounts are involved, the best way is to deposit them immediately into a bank account. Also, when picking large amounts, have a trusted friend or relative to accompany you. Safety is of paramount importance.
One of the best ways to receive money in Honduras is using money transfer companies. They offer numerous benefits such as low fees, better FX rates, and faster processing times. There are enough specialist transfer services to provide something that matches all needs. Compare the pros and cons of each service to find one that makes sense for your purposes.
If you do not have time to research money transfer companies, consider using top-tier options like Wise and WorldRemit. You can sign up in just a few minutes, and they have an excellent reputation among money transfer customers in Honduras.
Receiving money via a mobile app is possible with top-tier money transfer companies. You can check the quality of their app by visiting the profile pages on Google Play and the App Store. Furthermore, you can review the app features list to see if an international money transfer is available. Look out for other features you might want to use, such as getting help from customer service, investing in stocks, and getting a loan.
You can receive money to a designated address, which is ideal if you do not have a bank account. The time taken for the money delivery to arrive depends on local availability and location. There is a fee for the service, and you can receive cash in multiple currencies. Furthermore, you will need to provide your name and photo ID when the delivery person arrives for identification. Most money transfer services have a notification system that informs you when the delivery person will likely arrive, letting you know when to be home and ready to receive the package.
After the transfer is complete and the money gets to Honduras, the next step is to pick it up. For direct bank deposits, there are no documents you have to provide because the money is already in your account. When collecting your cash from agents, the following information will be required.
In some circumstances such as in large or frequent transactions, the recipient may be asked to state the source and usage of the funds. These extra measures are ways to combat fraud and funding of criminal cells.
More than 20 percent of households in Honduras receive remittances. Over half of these households are in urban areas while slightly over 40 percent are in rural areas. There are different reasons why Hondurans in the diaspora send money home and below are some of the top ones.
This category takes the lion’s share of remittances. Over 70 percent of money sent is used to finance basic consumption, covering expenses such as food, household items, and clothes. One in five Hondurans lives in extreme poverty, and remittances form an essential part of household income.
The Ministry of Health in Honduras provides medical care to over 90 percent of the population. However, most of this care is available in urban areas and developed cities. Rural populations find it challenging to access quality care or any care. Many rely on remittances to travel to cities for medical treatment or pay for private healthcare.
The level of educational attainment in Honduras among recipients of remittances is much higher for primary education at 56 percent compared to 52 percent for the general population. In Honduras, public education is free, but most Hondurans prefer the high quality, albeit a little pricey private education system.
Hondurans abroad send money to their families to help purchase land for housing construction. Those who cannot buy houses in cash usually go for mortgages and then pay up the loans.
Apart from family-related expenditures, Hondurans may send money home for social contributions. For instance, some of their contributions help finance weddings, funerals, festivities, community development, etc.
As noted above, money transfer services have gained traction, and Hondurans are increasingly embracing MTOs. There are top reasons why money transfer service providers are gaining popularity in rural and urban remittance markets.
When sending money to Honduras, you need to think through and consider certain factors. Below is a list of a few of the considerations to make.
Therefore, the next time you are sending money to Honduras, check across the various providers, their fees, exchange rates and speed of transfer. Such a cross-comparison ensures that you make the right decision on the MTO to use when sending money home.
There are a lot of money transfer companies that facilitate international payments to Honduras. It can take a long time to narrow the available options to just the top ones. Therefore, we have reduced the choices to 3 top companies that you can register with today.
Wise, formerly known as TransferWise, is an FCA-approved money transfer company used by customers worldwide. They offer competitive fees and FX rates that match the mid-market rate. Therefore, you can save money compared to banks when sending funds to Honduras.
Wise does a great job of being transparent, which means there are no hidden costs. You will know what you are paying in fees for each transfer method at every step. Also, their customer service department is responsive and takes the time to solve your issue.
WorldRemit was founded in 2010 in London and since then has amassed a large following of loyal customers. They offer transfers to over 150 countries worldwide, and Honduras is one of them. The agent locations allow the recipient to pick up physical cash, which is a good choice when they do not have a bank account.
The flexible payment and cash-out options of WorldRemit allow customers in Honduras to access money in a way that suits their needs. Registering for a new account on WorldRemit takes just 5 minutes, and you can transfer funds within 3 minutes. This is great for new customers that need to start sending money to Honduras quickly.
Azimo offers worldwide coverage of over 200 countries, perfect for users who need a far-reaching international network. Furthermore, the variable fee structure of Azimo ensures that you are charged a fair amount for all transfer sizes. Also, their FX rates are competitive compared to most banks in Honduras.
The mobile app provided by Azimo allows customers to send money from the convenience of their smartphone. Also, the multi-lingual support of the customer service team is perfect for customers where English is not their native language.
Sending money anywhere else in the world is as easy as sending money to Honduras. If you’re looking to send money to another country, here is the list of the most popular destinations.
Jonathan is the founder and editor of MoneyTransfers.com. Jonathan is highly experienced in the currency transfer market, having previously worked in the FX trading industry, alongside being an avid traveller. Using his knowledge he identified a need for transparency and further education to help people save money on their money transfers, leading to the creation of MoneyTransfers.com