How to Send Money to Someone

The different options for transferring money

When sending money, it is important to know the options available, and how they differ in terms of speed, cost, safety, and other factors. Here’s a quick summary of the different ways you can make person-to-person payments.

Banks

Banks are largely perceived to be the safest and most established methods to transfer money both locally and overseas. Banks such as Barclays and Lloyds Bank have histories that date back to the 17th and 18th century, respectively. Customers can make transfers in-branch, through telephone banking, use online transfer portals or mobile apps. To receive and send money to bank account, both parties must have bank accounts, with only a few exceptions existing where users can transfer funds straight to the beneficiary’s mobile wallets.

When transferring money through the banking system, you need to watch out for transfer fees which can go as high as $40 per transaction. Also, banks generally offer poor exchange rates with margins as high as 5% above mid-market rates. Speeds can also be slow with transfers taking up to 5 days, especially when sending money internationally.

Money transfer companies

Money transfer companies such as TransferWise, XE, TransferGo, InstaReM, OFX among others have sprung up to offer efficient money movement and payment services. This has reduced the over-reliance on banks for money transfer services, and provided competition in the money transfer space which has driven prices down.

Most of these companies offer international cross border money transfers directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, cash pickup points, cards, and mobile wallets. Others such as MoneyGram and Western Union also offer intra-country cash transfers between consumers.

Users can pay for their transfers using credit and debit cards or bank transfers. Some money transfer companies such as Ria, Western Union, Xpress Money, UAE Exchange, and MoneyGram, accept cash deposits at their agent locations. Transactions can be performed on the web, using mobile apps, or in-branch – depending on the money transfer service you use. 

The advantage of money transfer companies is that they are fast, affordable, and safe. They also have a variety of transfer payment and payout options compared to banks, and typically have low fees and charge exchange rate margins in the region of 1%.

Cash

Sending money in cash is usually considered old fashioned, but it can be practical in some circumstances. Money transfer services such as Western Union, Ria, and MoneyGram allow users to walk to any of their branches or agent locations, deposit money in cash, and have it sent to their recipients.

The money sent is generally available for collection at cash pickup points within minutes. Western Union and MoneyGram also support home deliveries of cash in countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines. This works well for unbanked and underbanked recipients, and also for older family members who might struggle to get to pick up location.

Using mail is another answer to how to send cash. However, this is often a riskier method as the money can get lost in transit. And when using reputable cash transfer services like those discussed above, there can be some drawbacks such as poor exchange rates and steep fees.

International money orders 

International money orders allow users to prepay a certain amount after which they are issued with a printed-out money order. They then mail this to the recipient who upon getting it can cash it out at designated banks and post office locations in supported countries.

In the United States, customers can purchase money orders at any post office locations. The maximum that can be sent per international money order is $700. There is an issuing fee currently at $10.25 and a processing fee based on the country you are sending. Customers can also send money using domestic money orders up to a value of $1,000 per single money order. 

Money orders are guaranteed funds and the recipient doesn’t need a bank account to cash them out. However, poor exchange rates and fees make them less attractive. They may also get lost on the way necessitating cancellations and replacements which can be costly and time-consuming.

How to send money domestically

Aside from using banks, you can use services such as PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle to send money to a beneficiary domestically. This process will incur lower fees than international transfers, and domestic transfers are typically instant – making electronic transfers a very convenient method of sending money to friends and family in your own country.

What to consider when sending money within the same country

When both you and the recipient are in the same country, transfers are generally fast and less complicated. Here are some important aspects to consider when transacting.

• Fees: Always compare the fees providers charge to get the best deal. For instance, Venmo charges a standard 3% fee on all transactions unless funded from a bank account, debit cards or Venmo balance. PayPal charges a 0.3% fixed fee and a further 2.9% variable fee depending on the amount sent.
• Speed: How long does it take for the recipient to get the funds? Most local money transfer services deliver funds the same day. Venmo has a 1-3 day bank deposit option which comes at no cost.
• Safety: The safety of your funds is important. Look for providers with security features such as SSL authentication, multifactor verifications, and bank-grade security features.
• Customer service: Check the support provisions available. Support platforms such as live chat and telephone make it easy and fast to get help. Email support often takes longer.
• Supported payment and payout methods: Knowing the transfer payment and payout options available is important when moving money. Ideally, look for a service that supports bank transfers and card payments. 

The process

Having considered the above factors, you now need to get the process of sending money right. The procedure varies from one provider to another, but expect the following steps:

• Account registration: Sign up for an account and have it verified by submitting the necessary documents such as your national ID, proof of address and any other requirements.
• Enter your beneficiaries: If you have specific recipients you want to send money to, consider adding their details in advance. Always confirm that the details are accurate.
• Link your payment method: If you are paying using a bank account, credit card, or debit card, ensure you link them well beforehand. Some providers take time to verify payments methods and you would not want an 11th-hour inconvenience.
• Make your transfer: Enter the amount you want to transfer, choose your beneficiary, or enter a new one if they don’t exist in the system. Choose your payment and payout methods, and you’re ready to go.
• Pay for your transfer: Once you have confirmed that all the transfer details are captured correctly, pay using the selected method and track your transfer all the way to its delivery with your recipient.

How to send money internationally

Sending money across borders is not any much different from sending domestically. That said, the process is a little complicated and can sometimes be expensive because of the exchange of currencies involved. Therefore, it is important to see how all that plays out before deciding on how to transfer money internationally.

What to consider when sending money to another country

In addition to the considerations for domestic transfers, users sending money across borders need to look at the following aspects.

• Exchange rate: Transferring funds to another country often means converting to another currency. Providers such as TransferWise convert funds at mid-market rates while WorldRemit, XE, and OFX charge a margin above mid-market. Examine and compare the margins to ensure you get a rate as close as possible to the current exchange rate. In general, money transfer companies will charge exchange rate margins of around 1%, whereas banks can charge as much as 5%.
• Supported countries: There is no universality in the countries supported by the different providers. You need to check whether your preferred destinations are supported by the service provider you want to use.
• Payout methods: The variety of payout methods for international money transfers includes direct bank deposits, cash pickups, mobile wallet transfers, card deposits, and door to door cash deliveries. Look at the method that is convenient to your beneficiary and see if it is supported by your service.
• How much money you’re sending: Different payment platforms specialise in different things. Some providers are optimised to help with smaller, regular remittance payments to family and friends abroad, whereas others are focused on facilitating larger transactions. By choosing the platform suited to your needs, you’ll likely save yourself time and money.
• Transfer platforms: Is the service available on a mobile app or its only accessible on the web platform? Many services are now available on both platforms. Still, others may allow you to conduct telephone transfers.
• Other services: Money transfer services often come with additional features. For instance, Smart Currency Exchange offers forward contracts to help users hedge against currency fluctuation risks.

The process

The process of sending money abroad is similar to that of domestic transfers, so by and large you simply need to follow the bullet pointed list given above. The only difference is that you need to check the exchange rate you are given when you key in the amount. 

Some providers support multi-currency transfers to the same destinations. For instance, you may be able to send a transfer in Euro or USD to France or Spain.

Check out the fastest way to send money abroad.

Is there a limit to the amount of money I can send to one person?

Yes. There are limits which vary based on the service you use. Customers with verified PayPal accounts can send up to $60,000 in a single transaction. Venmo allows unverified accounts to transact up to $299.99 while verified accounts have limits of up to $4,999.99.

Other services like Global Reach have a minimum limit of £1,000 with no transfer maximum. Each platform will have different limits, so it’s important to check these before signing up if you’re planning on sending large amounts of money abroad.

Check out the cheapest way to send money.

Is it safe to send money online?

Generally, sending money online is safe. The platforms, both on the web and the mobile app are secured with technologies such as 128 and 256-bit SSL encryptions and firewalls. Services that accept cards are often layered with security measures such as Verified by Visa and Mastercard SecureCode technologies. 

Also, adherence by the providers to PCI Security Standards ensure that your card information is secured while transacting online. As long as you keep your wits about you and ensure you’re not being scammed, transferring online is a very safe process.

Can I cancel a transfer?

Providers usually have leeway allowing their users to cancel transfers, but not all of them provide for this. For example, transfers on Venmo cannot be cancelled. Also, instant transfers to cash pickup locations and mobile wallets may be difficult if not impossible to cancel because they are instant.

Where there are possibilities of cancellations, you need to watch out for any charges that may accrue to you because of reversals in foreign exchange positions.

Summary

Person-to-person transfers, whether domestic or cross border, are on the rise, and many providers have risen to prominence facilitating these transfers both domestically and across the world. Initially, money transfer spaces were solely dominated by banks and postal offices. However, the tide is turning fast, and money transfer companies have sprung up to cash in on the burgeoning demand for fast, inexpensive, and diverse platforms. 

When deciding on how to send money to someone, you need to consider aspects such as the speed of transfer, fees, safety, payout methods, and customer support. For international transfers, the countries supported, exchange rates, and other services such as forward contracts are crucial.

Always compare across the spectrum of providers available on your transfer route for the best money transfer deal. The best way of doing this is to take a couple of minutes to fill in our money transfer comparison form, we will then show you the best companies to use for your money transfer in seconds.

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