Best Options for Sending Money Internationally
If you’re working in the United States and sending some of your pay internationally back home to your family, it can be a challenge. Especially if you don’t have a bank account where you can receive direct deposit of your pay check and write checks or make simple transfers.
If this is the case, don’t worry. There are a few options that make it easy to send money without a bank account. Keep in mind, though, that there are some substantial fees involved as well as limits on how much you can send.
Let’s take a look at a couple of the most common and easy to use options:
Walmart/MoneyGram
Walmart allows you to send money both domestically and internationally. Within the U.S. and Puerto Rico, you can send money using their Walmart2Walmart service. And internationally, you can send money through their partnership with MoneyGram to over 350,000 locations in over 190 countries.
International transfers are subject to exchange rates and higher fees. Fees are typically under $20, but can be as high as $100. The fee of your transfer varies based on the amount you’re sending and where you’re sending it. Walmart will always tell you the fee before you finalize your transfer so you know what to expect and can cancel the transfer if need be.
You can send money in a variety of ways using Walmart, including online, through their mobile app, or in a Walmart store. Keep in mind that sending money online or through the app will require you to have a bank account, debit card, or credit card. You can also purchase a money order in the store to mail, which has a significantly lower fee.
There are also transfer limits you need to be aware of. Walmart allows you to send a maximum of $6,000 per transfer and a maximum of $6,000 per every 30 calendar days. These limits apply to sending money online or through the app. You can visit a Walmart or MoneyGram location to bypass these limits.
Western Union
Western Union is another popular option for sending money internationally. You can send money through their website or app with a debit card or send cash by visiting a Western Union location. They have more than 500,000 locations in over 200 countries. And you have two option for transfer pickup. Your funds can be transferred directly to a participating bank account or available for cash pick up at a Western Union location. You can even track your transfer directly through their app to know where your money is at all times and when it’s picked up.
The transfers are quick and money is usually available for pick up within a matter of minutes. You can also easily pay bills through Western Union. Fees average between $5 and $200 depending on how much you send and how you send it. Sending money via a bank account or at a Western Union location is significantly less expensive than sending it via a debit or credit card.
You can send a maximum of $5,000 at a time and if you send it from a Western Union location, the fee is $50 and is available to the recipient within minutes. Locations are usually very conveniently located within drugstores and grocery stores. Check their website to find locations in your area.
You can easily send money to someone in another country without a bank account or credit card. Both Walmart and Western Union offer affordable options with fast transfers.
