How Long Does An International Transfer With Western Union Take
Send your transfer a few different ways, which will determine how quickly your transfer is sent and how much it will cost.
If you pay for your transfer with a credit or debit card and have it sent for cash pickup youll typically pay a higher fee but your money can arrive in as little as 10 minutes. However, your credit card may charge a cash advance fee, further increasing the cost of your total transfer.
The cheaper, but slower option, would be to make a bank transfer. This can take up to five business days. Depending on verification needs, you may have to wait longer while Western Union confirms you own the registered bank account.
Transfers typically take
1 day
Frequently Asked Questions About Sending Money To A Bank Account
1. To transfer money to another bank, start by logging in or signing up and verify your free profile. Click âSend nowâ to start your money transfer.2. Enter the destination and amount youâd like to send. Transfer times vary per destination, but youâll be able to see these as you make your selections.3. Select âBank accountâ as the receive method. You can select a past receiver or enter their bank account details. The recipient information youâll need varies by location, but the bank name is mandatory in most countries. You can search for the country you want to send money to for more details on the banking information you need here.4. Pay with your credit1/debit card or bank account.5. We will send you a confirmation email with a tracking number . You can share this number with your receiver to track the funds.
The Western Union® app lets you transfer money to another bank account in just a few taps.
Protect Yourself From Fraud
Only use Western Union to send money to friends and family. Never send money to someone you have not met in person. Scammers sometimes encourage people to transfer money. Do not transfer money to anyone who asks you to send them money:
- For an emergency situation you havent confirmed.
- For an online purchase.
- For a credit card or loan fee.
- To claim lottery or prize winnings.
- For anti-virus protection.
- For a deposit or payment on a rental property.
- For a mystery shopping assignment
- For a job opportunity.
- To pay taxes or
- To resolve an immigration matter
If you transfer money, the person youre sending it to gets the money quickly. After the money is paid, Western Union may not be able to give you a refund, even if you are the victim of fraud, except under limited circumstances. If you believe that you are the victim of fraud, call the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 1800 448-1492 or visit
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How To Make A Bank Transfer
Register your account for free
Whether youâre online or on our app, simply log in to your profile. If you donât have a profile, register now for free.
Enter the money transfer details
Enter your receiverâs country and the amount youâd like to send. Bank transfer service availability varies by destination, but you can check this in the send money form.
Enter your receiverâs bank details
Choose delivery âto a bank accountâ and select a past receiver or enter a new receiverâs bank account details. You may also need to enter the bankâs BIC code and IBAN .
Pay and send
Complete your money transfer. Weâll email you the confirmation with a tracking number , which you can share with your receiver.
-
Register your account for free
Whether youâre online or on our app, simply log in to your profile. If you donât have a profile, register now for free.
-
Enter the money transfer details
Enter your receiverâs country and the amount youâd like to send. Bank transfer service availability varies by destination, but you can check this in the send money form.
-
Enter your receiverâs bank details
Choose delivery âto a bank accountâ and select a past receiver or enter a new receiverâs bank account details. You may also need to enter the bankâs BIC code and IBAN .
-
Pay and send
Complete your money transfer. Weâll email you the confirmation with a tracking number , which you can share with your receiver.
How Much Are Western Unions Transfer Fees
Western Union has different fees for nearly every country it sends to, and weve seen fees range from as low as $3.50 up to $100 or more. These fees depend on how you are paying for the transfer and how the transfer will be collected. Agent location fees arent typically posted online, but Western Unions online fees are based on:
- Location. The fees you pay will be different when sending to different countries around the world.
- Payment. Paying with a credit card versus a debit card or a bank account will have different fees. Keep in mind that if you choose to pay with a credit card, you may be charged fees by your credit card provider too.
- Receiving method. Picking up cash is typically more expensive than having money sent straight to a bank account.
When sending money to China from the US for cash pickup, here are the fees we encountered using Western Unions price estimator tool on January 31, 2022:
| Sending $1,000 to |
|---|
Fees for money transfers within the US
The cost to send money within the US via Western Union depends on the amount you are sending, your payment method and how your recipient would like to receive their cash. To send $100 from your bank account to their bank account still carries a significant fee of $14.00.
Sending the same amount from your credit card as a cash pickup will cost you $20.50. The maximum you can send in one day is $5,000, and the highest fee weve seen is $243.
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Documents And Information Needed
If you want to arrange a payment online, you will need to create an account and verify your identity. Acceptable ID includes your passport, Australian drivers license or a Proof of Age card. If youre setting up a payment in a Western Union agent location, youll need to take along a similar government issued proof of identity to your nearest Western Union to get started.
Once youve registered, its time to give the details of your recipient to set up the transfer. If youre paying direct to a bank account, you will need to provide the full bank details, including account number, sort code, bank name and address, and IBAN if relevant.
For payments which will be collected in person, you will have to give the full name of the recipient, as shown on their official government ID. Youll then be given a Money Transfer Control Number which you must pass on to the recipient. When they are ready to get their cash, theyll take along the MTCN and their ID document, to the Western Union location you have agreed on, and collect the payment in the local currency.
Remitly Vs Western Union
While both Western Union and Remitly have established trust in the business, Remitly is the better choice for sending money to Colombia. While Western Union has been around for years, Remitly offers a better exchange rate and transparent fees. Western Union also offers more services than Remitly, including cash pick-up. Western Union is also the most reliable money transfer company in the world.
Remitlys economy service is free for small amounts and has no minimum. If you plan on sending a larger amount, you can use the Express option for faster delivery. Both services have their share of hidden fees and exchange rates, so be sure to research each company before choosing one. The main benefits of Remitly include no minimum transaction fee, low fees, and easy payment options.
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How To Transfer Money With Western Union
This article was co-authored by Michael R. Lewis. Michael R. Lewis is a retired corporate executive, entrepreneur, and investment advisor in Texas. He has over 40 years of experience in business and finance, including as a Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. He has a BBA in Industrial Management from the University of Texas at Austin.There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 14 testimonials and 87% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,014,645 times.
Western Union is a wire transfer service that allows you to quickly transfer money all over the globe. While its not without risks, it is a reliable way to get money to friends and family almost anywhere in the world. Follow this guide to make sure your money gets to where it needs to go.
Check All The Details Of Your Transfer
Once youre sure that the person youre sending money to is genuine, you have to collect and verify some details to make sure the process goes smoothly.
We covered the answer to the question: what does Western Union need to send money, earlier so scroll up for the lowdown on whats required according to the payment type.
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Western Union Exchange Rates
If youre sending money overseas there will likely be a currency exchange required. A good exchange rate will make a big difference to the costs of the transfer – and a bad rate can mean you spend more than you have to.
The exchange rate offered by Western Union will vary based on where youre sending money to, and which payment route you choose. Its important to note that the rate offered online may be different to that available in store. Different agent locations may even have different rates based on the competition in the area.
Exchange rates available may include a markup or margin. This means that Western Union take the rate they receive when buying foreign currency, and add a margin to calculate the rate they pass to their customers. Heres what the Western Union terms and conditions say about this:
The exchange rate applied may be less favourable than some publicly reported commercial exchange rates used in transactions between banks and other financial institutions. Any difference between the currency exchange rate offered to customers and the currency exchange rate received by Western Union will be kept by Western Union in addition to the transfer fees.
Why Do Bank Transfers Take 3 Days
Because the receiving banks adhere to what is known as the three-day good funds model, which, in essence, means that they will keep the funds for three days to ensure that it was not a fraudulent transaction, it typically takes anywhere from two to four days for the banks to release the funds to the customers.
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How Much Money Can I Send With Western Union
Your limits will vary based on a number of factors including your transfer history, location, transfer destination and what service you choose.
See the maximum amount you can send when inputting your transfer details in the Send Money section on Western Unions homepage.
If you are looking to make a large money transfer, then Western Union allows you to transfer up to $50,000 from the US when sending from your bank account directly to the receivers bank account. But keep in mind that this limit may not be available for all receiver countries and is subject to restrictions based on the factors mentioned above.
Limits at Agent Locations
Theres usually no restriction on the amount you may send at an agent location. However, some countries set limits on how much can be received. If you have questions about a specific amount youre sending or a specific country, you can call Customer Care to inquire.
Sending A Western Union Money Transfer Online
Follow these steps to sign up for online Western Union money transfers:
Sending a transfer in person
You can also send a Western Union money transfer in person at over 2,500 locations across Canada. All you need to do is find a location near you and go in with the following information:
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Recipient Collects The Payment Once Processed
Processing time can vary from a few minutes to several days, depending on the payment method and whether the recipient is collecting in person or not.
The estimated processing time is shown at the point you place your transfer, and you can then track the progress of your transfer using your reference number if you need to.
Once the transfer is processed your recipient can collect it in a Western Union office, or draw it directly from their bank account if you opted for a bank transfer instead.
My Wu: Western Unions Reward Program
You can sign up for Western Unions My WU loyalty membership program for free. The program lets you earn points for making and receiving transfers. You can also earn cashback for making purchases in the WU online shop.
- Earn points. Earn 30 points for sending Western Union money transfers and 10 points for receiving transfers. Redeem your points for discounts on transfer fees.
- Earn cashback. Use the WU shop to earn cashback on purchases with Western Union partners or pay an annual fee to earn more with a VIP membership. Pick up cash at a WU store location once you have $30 or more.
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Is Western Union Safe
Western Union is a safe service if you use it to send money to a trusted source. It becomes much less safe if youre sending money to an unknown person or entity.
| Safe to use | Not safe to use |
|---|---|
| Western Union is safe to use if youre sending money to a person you know. Just make sure you properly input your recipients banking and contact information before you send money to make sure it gets deposited to the right place. | Western Union isnt safe to use if you send money to a person or organization that you dont personally know. This is because Western Union requests very little information from its recipients, which makes it very difficult to track fraudulent transactions. |
Western Union and dealing with fraud
Learn more about some of the resources and activities Western Union has put in place to help counter fraud in its operations.
Western Union compliance interviews
Western Union has started to conduct compliance interviews with frequent customers. These interviews are designed to gather information about the purpose and source of transfers as well as the relationship between senders and recipients.
Western Union fraud-awareness measures
Western Union is making it more difficult for people to send money through its services without providing additional information. It also operates a consumer information program to help users identify and watch out for potentially fraudulent activities.
Western Union communications
Reporting fraud with Western Union
Sending From Western Union Whats The Big Deal
Western Union started out in the US, back in the 1850s, and was originally involved in communications, linking the world with telegrams. Over time, their business evolved, and these days, Western Union is best known for its international payment services.
Western Union now works through a network of local agents throughout the world, as well as offering digital payment services via their app and website. You can register to make payments online, or visit an agent local to you. Youll then have the choice of having the payment sent directly to your recipients bank account, or to have them visit an agent in their home country to collect the money as local cash.
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Wu Payment Methods And Limits
You can choose to make a payment in cash, by visiting a branch in person or using a credit or debit card, or bank transfer.
The fees applied vary depending on the payment method, with credit or debit card payments usually costing more than a bank transfer, for example.
You can check WU limits below:
| Payment type |
|---|
Frequently Asked Questions About Bank Transfers
Western Unionâs Direct to Bank Account money transfer service offers senders an easy and convenient way to send funds directly to a receiverâs bank account.
Western Union allows you to conveniently send money from Spain to bank accounts around the world, whether domestically, to Latin American countries and beyond.
The process for sending money to a bank account varies depending on how you are sending the funds, where your receiver is located and how quickly you want the funds to get there.
You can visit the send money form to learn more about the specific details you will need to send money to bank accounts. Read our FAQs below for specific instructions.
You can send funds to qualifying bank accounts using your credit2 or debit card or pay by bank transfer. Hereâs how:
The Western Union® app lets you send money to a bank account from almost anywhere. Hereâs how:
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