Basics of Money Transfer

The Basics of Money Transfer Services
With the advent of p2p apps,  money transfer domestically can be almost free.

Peer to Peer Payment Apps

Circle Pay, Cash App, Zelle, Venmo, Popmoney, Square Cash, Google Pay (Android Pay and Google Wallet), Snapcash and Facebook Messenger and Apple Pay.

Retail Banks shouldn’t be your first choice for international money transfer services. You’ll most likely pay lower costs and get your money there faster by using one of money transfer services.

 Not all P2P Services are created equal. Whichever service you choose, watch out for delays and fees.

• Most apps charge 3 percent fee when using a credit card.
• Google Pay is one of the cheapest services on the list
• PayPal is the most expensive, if you don’t want to connect the service to your bank account.
• Venmo has grown a lot more popular over the past few years.
• Square Cash can only be used with credit and debit cards.
• If you’re an iPhone user and intend to mainly send or receive money from other iPhone users, then Apple Pay Cash is your best bet.   Compare Money Transfer Services

Money Transfer Overseas, Basics of Transfering Money.

• Payment Apps
• Personal Checks
• Cashier’s Checks
• ACH Wire Transfer
• Foreign Currency Bank Drafts
• Wire Transfers
• Credit Card
• Western Union / MoneyGram
• Online money transfer

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There are multitudes of reasons that you may want to send money back home, like to help out a family member or send a birthday gift. But what are your money transferring options? It can be confusing for even the most seasoned world traveler, with exchange rates fluctuating and electronic options right and left. Here are some of the basics of Money Transfer Overseas.

Cashier’s Checks

In most of the western countries, a cashier’s check is safer than a personal check. When someone gives you a personal check, you cannot be completely sure that their account holds the funds to pay that check. A cashier’s check is a safe check, in order to get one, you must go directly to the bank and hand them the amount of cash you want the check to be worth. The bank types up the check, writing in the receiver’s name.

So another option is to send a cashier’s check overseas, possibly by Fedex, UPS or another mail system that would allow you to trace it if the package was lost. But as with sending a personal check, a cashier’s check would be in foriegn currency, and the same problems occur.

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Foreign Currency Bank Drafts

A foreign currency bank draft is basically a cashier’s check in a foreign currency. You send a draft by requesting to do so at any bank branch. You can either pay the money up front, like with a cashier’s check, or the amount can be drafted directly out of your account. The bank will request the receiver’s name and address. Drafts are mailed, so the amount of time that this takes depends on the mail system and country of destination.

For the receiver, a draft is quite simple. It’s mailed to the receiver like any other check and can be deposited into his account. With appropriate identification, he also has the option to cash the draft at any bank. The receiver does not have to have a bank account to cash the draft, but he will need proper identification.

So if time and money is not an issue, a foreign currency bank draft is an good safe solution.

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Wire Transfers

The fastest and safest way to send money overseas is by wire transfer. You can send a transfer at any bank branch, again by drafting your account or paying cash up front. In general, the receiver needs to have a bank account in the foreign country. You’ll need to know the person’s name, account number, bank name and where the bank is located.

In some circumstances, you would be able to send a transfer to someone who does not have a bank account. Different countries and banks have varying regulations on this. For the safest bet, if the person does not have a bank account, mail a draft to them directly, or consider Western Union.

Wire transfers are fast ? depending on the country, it takes two to three days on average. Some smaller banks in countries like India, however, can hold transfer money for a few weeks, so be sure to ask about the timeframe when placing your transfer.

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Send Money by Personal Check

Personal checks are rapidly falling out of fashion, fewer and fewer people are familiar with using them. Sending money by personal check is largely old way of money transfer.

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Credit Card

Get a Visa or Master card. Get an extra card for your relative/friend overseas. They can take cash advance and you can cover the charges. The cash advance provides favorable exchange rates and Visa is probably the most recognized card worldwide. The disadvantages are that there are limitations on daily withdrawals from ATM and you don’t have control over withdrawal. Now the same services with better control are provided by

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Western Union / MoneyGram

Western Union and MoneyGram are two companies that send international money transfers. Western Union services 170 countries; MoneyGram services fewer countries. You pay up front via cash or credit card, and the transfer is sent in the local foreign currency. Your options include sending the transfer at an actual storefront or, in Western Union’s case, using their online service. As with other wire transfers, you’ll need to know the receiver’s name and location. The receiver can pick up the transfer at another Western Union or MoneyGram location with appropriate identification.

These companies are convenient because neither you nor the receiver needs to have a bank account, and Western Union’s online service is easy to use. This route can, however, be more expensive than using a bank.

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Online money transfer

Today, almost all major financial institutions offer their clients many user friendly banking facilities such as on the doorstep or online banking facilities. This has helped wide range of their clientele to carryout transaction or financial dealings locally as well as overseas by clicking a button. Online Money Transfer has become the most popular means money transfer from one country to another. Online money transfer is easy, reliable and cost effective.

So what is online money transfer? It is the means of transferring money from one country to another country using electronic or Internet banking facility. For example, if any individual intends to transfer certain amount of money from the country (that he is residing) to another country, he can make use of his bank’s online money transfer facility. Through this online money transfer facility, he can move certain amount of funds to any country provided the bank has a branch in the recipient country. Also, such online transfer may be subject to restrictions or terms and conditions of the respective countries dealing with. The online money transfer is not only quick and but also reliable. In matter of few days you will be able get a detailed update regarding your transaction. Usually, the beneficiary or the recipient will receive the money in minutes regardless of the destination. On extreme case it may take 3 days or more.

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ACH Wire Transfer

An automated clearing house (ACH) is an electronic funds transfer system run by the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA). This payment system deals with payroll, direct deposit, tax refunds, consumer bills, tax payments and many more payment services.

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Automated Clearing House – ACH

Western Union

MoneyGram

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Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other company, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. All information, including rates and fees are subject to change.