Best way to send Money to USA from Australia

Australia is a popular destination for people around the world, including those originating from the USA. With a US expat population of over 100,000 and many more US citizens visiting Australia for a working holiday, to study, or simply for a long-term vacation backpacking through the country, there are a number of reasons one might be looking to send money to the US from Australia.

Whether you’re living in Australia and looking to transfer money to an account back home, or you’re sending a payment to someone in the US as a gift or payment, there are a number of options available to help you get your money to its destination safely, quickly, and cheaply.

AUD to USD Currency Transfers

Whether you are sending AUD to the United States for personal or business reasons, millions of international remittances are sent to the United States every year. With an estimated population of 331 million people and the world’s highest GDP, it is safe to say the United States is a global superpower. As the number of money transfer specialists providing services from Australia to United States continues to rise, it has never been easier to send money to the US safely and securely.

Best Providers for Sending Money to United States from Australia

When considering how to send money United States from Australia there are some key aspects of the transfer that will impact the best provider for your needs. 

There are plenty of international money transfer providers for Australia to United States. The fastest provider is WorldRemit. The cheapest transfer provider we found is Wise at 0.9% Above Mid-Market Rate.

If you’re looking for the best combination of price, speed, and reliability we recommend using XE when sending AUD – USD.

This means that by using XE for online money transfers to United States from Australia, you are likely to save on transfer fees and benefit from fast speeds – so your recipient will get more money and have it delivered in less time.

Alternatively, if you are unable to access XE for any reason, our comparison engine has found Wise and WorldRemit also to be very good options when sending AUD to USD.

If you are looking to make an international transfer, in some cases you might need to know the SWIFT/BIC code of your recipient in United States. If you’re unsure what it is, check out our SWIFT calculator to figure out the correct SWIFT code in United States.

Top providers for sending money to the USA from Australia:

#	Provider	Description	Compare
1	XE Money Transfer	XE is a large and reputable company with no transfer fees	Compare XE
2	CurrencyFair	CurrencyFair offers your first 10 transfers for free and has same-day transfer options	Compare CurrencyFair
3	WorldRemit	WorldRemit is a fantastic company to use for sending remittances to friends and family	Compare WorldRemit

How to send money to the United States from Australia

Sending money to the United States from Australia is a relatively seamless process, and typically follows the same basic steps:

1. Choose a provider: Use our comparison engine to find the best service for sending your money to the United States, whether that’s based on cost, speed, security, or a mix of everything.
2. Register your details: Next, you’ll need to register for a free account with the company of your choosing, verify your identity, and get your account set up with your payment details.
3. Enter your transfer details: Enter how much you want to convert from AUD to USD and if you’re happy with the fees and exchange rate you’re given, you can start your transfer. Make sure you have your recipient’s details (name, bank details, address etc) to hand to avoid delays.

What do you need to transfer money to the United States?

Whether you’re sending money from Australia or anywhere else in the world, you’ll need a few details to hand for a hassle-free money transfer. This will typically include:

• Your own account details, including your bank details or card details depending on how you’ll be paying for the transfer
• The sum you are converting into USD
• A valid photo ID (such as a passport or driving license) to verify your identity
• Your recipient’s details, including their name, address, bank details/other details needed

Transfer USD to AUD

The USD to AUD exchange rate regularly fluctuates, especially over the last decade, with notable spikes in 2016 and 2020. Like most currency pairings, geopolitical and financial factors have an almost immediate knock-on effect. We would always recommend using an international money transfer provider when transferring money from USD to AUD, as these companies offer exchange rates which are competitive and contain high profit margins. This guide will provide you with the knowledge you need to make a well-informed decision when converting your hard-earned USD into AUD. 

The US Dollar and Australian Dollar have very different origins, despite both sharing the Dollar title. The USD/AUD rate refers to the amount of US Dollars needed to buy one Australian dollar. For example, at the time of writing, $1.00 USD/$1.22 AUD.

A brief history of the US Dollar 

The United States Dollar is the most commonly used currency by tourists, even though it is officially only legal tender is 8 countries: America, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, East Timor and Zimbabwe. Dollar notes were created in the late 1700s, but the first banknotes were not issued until 1862. There are 7 banknote denominations: the 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar bill.

A brief history of the Australian Dollar

After discovering gold deposits in New South Wales in 1851, gold coins began to be used as currency across Australia. It was seen as the most trusted form of legal tender for many years and even when banknotes were introduced, the majority of Australians opted for coins over notes. It wasn’t until 1910, after The Australian Notes Act was passed, when the Australian Pound was formerly introduced as the official currency.

It was 1966 when Australia transitioned over to using Dollars, rolling out the 1, 2, 10 and 20 dollar bills first. By 1984, all denominations of AUD were available, including the 50 and 100 dollar bill. Globally speaking, the Australian dollar is a relatively young currency – less than a century old – especially compared to the US Dollar and the Pound Sterling, which is the oldest currency still in use.

Forecasting the USD to AUD rate

A common question posed by those looking for the optimum foreign exchange rate is: “What if this rate improves?” This age-old query is the reason why many people are reluctant to commit to what appears to be a good quote when they find one.

At the time of writing, the USD/AUD exchange rate was at a 0.40% high. As history tells it, the highest USD/AUD recorded rate was 1.488 USD/AUD in August 1974; and the lowest recorded rate was 0.489 USD/AUD in March 2001.

The economic health of any country can be measured by their foreign exchange rates, and a number of factors impact this including:

• Inflation and interest rates rates
• Travel and tourism
• Geopolitical stability
• The value of imports and exports

Because of the unpredictable factors listed above, it is ultimately impossible to predict the direction of currency pairings, and as a particularly volatile rate, we instead recommend reviewing the historic USD/AUD rate and how it has changed over different periods of time.

Finding the best USD to AUD rate

Once you know what impacts the USD/AUD rate, you will know what to look out for when searching for the best version of this currency pairing.

Anyone who goes directly to their bank for a USD/AUD quote is likely to be disappointed with what they receive. Typically, your bank will not offer the mid-market rate which is found online (we recommend using XE to view the live mid-market rate) and they often add excessive markups to currency conversion requests.

This is where we come in. We have created a comparison tool which is designed to find you the best available exchange rate for your currency pairing. In this case, we recommend monitoring the difference between the live rate displayed on XE, and the quote which is provided to you, as any hidden fees can be found here.

How to secure the best USD to AUD rate

A reliable and sure-fire way to secure the best USD to AUD rate is to avoid excessive costs and fees included in international bank transfers. These can include service charges, transfer fees, profit margins and exchange rate markups. However they are referred to, they are bad news for your wallet. In the interest of getting the most for your money, we recommend international money transfer specialists and our website is the best place to find the provider which suits your individual requirements.

USD/AUD with Azimo: 

Azimo has offices in the United States, and understands the volatility of the USD/AUD rate. The company offers low transfer fees and competitive exchange rates, making it a popular choice for customers arranging this particular international money transfer. Payments method with credit or debit cards can be processed instantly, with cash pick-ups available the same day.