International money transfers often involve conversion between currencies, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. The same currency is often accepted in many different countries, such as the Euro in Europe and the US dollar in Panama. Learn how you can make a USD to USD international transfer and explore your options below.
Can I make a USD to USD international transfer?
Transferring currencies into another country is a common practice. You might want to make a USD-to-USD international transfer to make an investment or send some money to family overseas. Either way, it is possible to make a USD-to-USD international transfer. In fact, because no currency conversion is involved, sending dollars abroad is often cheaper than your typical international bank transfer.
When sending money abroad, there are more than a handful of countries that officially accept the USD as legal tender. When sending money to these countries, money transfer services should typically allow you to select USD as a sending option to:
Services like Wise will allow you to transfer US dollars to many other countries, not just those that accept the US dollar as legal tender.
Compare services to send a same-currency transfer
Our table lets you compare the services you can use to send money abroad. Compare services on transfer speeds and fees, then click Go to site when you're ready to send.
You can make a USD-to-USD international transfer just as you would conduct a basic international transfer. Visit your preferred money transfer service provider’s website.
Begin a transfer and select the USD option.
Input the exact amount of USD you want to send abroad.
Select the Send USD function.
Enter your recipient’s bank details, including their full name and account number. Some countries may prompt for additional information like a SWIFT code.
Complete the transfer — your money should be received in one to two business days.
How much does it cost to send USD to other countries?
Since you won’t be converting USD to a foreign currency, you won’t have to worry about exchange rates and related fees. The main fees you’ll incur are administrative charges — which depend on your money transfer provider and the type of transfer done.
Banks tend to charge higher administrative fees for international transfers than money transfer platforms like Remitly. Additionally, ACH USD bank transfers tend to have lower fees than USD SWIFT transfers. To get a more accurate gauge of exactly how much you’ll be charged for a USD to USD international transfer, get in touch with your bank or money transfer provider for a personalized quote.
What are the pros and cons of same-currency transfers?
Pros
Forget exchange rates. When you send the same currency overseas, you don’t have to worry about hunting for the best exchange rate and how much money you’ll “lose” in the currency conversion process.
Lots of choices. There are heaps of trusted and reputable money transfer providers who can send a same-currency transfer for you.
Hassle-free. While sending money overseas might sound like a complicated prospect, it’s actually a simple online process.
Cons
Fees apply. You’ll need to pay a fee in the vast majority of cases when sending money overseas, so search for a provider with a reasonable fee structure. Sometimes fees are charged as a portion of the exchange rate, so look for companies that offer 1:1 rates on transfers in the same currency.
Restricted country and currency support. Because of the popularity of various currencies, some will have stronger global support than others. For instance, you’ll be able to send US dollars to far more countries than you can easily send Mexican pesos.
How does a same-currency transfer work?
Same-currency transfers, like international transfers, rely on using a service to move money between you and your recipient. This service could be a money transfer service, an international wallet, a bank or something similar. When sending same-currency international transfers, you don’t have to worry about exchange rates, but you still need to be aware of potential fees. The best services to use will vary depending on whether you’re sending a domestic or international same-currency transfer:
Domestic same currency money transfers
There are very few times when you should be paying fees to send money domestically in the United States. If the person you’re sending to doesn’t have a bank account or would prefer to pick up cash, you’ll have to rely on a money transfer service that may charge a fee. Otherwise, you have other free options for transferring money domestically, such as:
Sending same-currency money transfers internationally is a bit trickier than sending them domestically. Because most money transfer companies make money both on fees and exchange rates, there’s little incentive for them to offer same-currency transfers between countries. Some options for sending international same-currency money transfers are:
Wise Multi-currency Account – Learn more about how to send and receive in the same currency.
WorldRemit Wallet – Use the WorldRemit Wallet to store and send a wide range of currencies.
PayPal – PayPal offers international transfers in dozens of currencies.
What other ways can I send same-currency international transfers
Although not the most convenient, there are ways to send same-currency international transfers through providers other than money transfer services.
Banks Banks may seem like the most convenient option, but there are many fees and roadblocks you have to watch out for. If you’re wiring money internationally, expect both an outgoing wire fee from your bank and an incoming wire fee from your recipient’s bank. Many banks will also force you to convert currency if the destination account doesn’t support the currency you’re transferring. To avoid these fees, consider using a bank like HSBC that supports international accounts in a wide array of currencies.
Send cash The least recommended option, sending cash, is not only risky but may be illegal depending on how much you’re sending. Instead of sending cash, consider sending a money order or check — though these are hardly your fastest or most secure options.
Is it better to convert money in the US or abroad?
If you do decide to convert your money into a foreign currency, then it’s typically better to do it abroad. You should have sufficient foreign currency on hand if you intend to travel there — but if you simply want to send money overseas for someone else’s use, it’s wiser to convert it outside the US. The general rule of thumb is that if a currency is more abundant, you typically stand to enjoy more favorable exchange rates.
Bottom line
Sending same-currency transfers can be a good way to pay friends back, get money to your family, help make an international move smoother and more. Explore your options when sending same-currency transfers, including the various money transfer companies that support such transfers. Before making any moves, learn more about money transfers and what you can do with them.
Zak Killermann was a technical publisher at Finder who specialised in currencies and investing. Zak’s expertise was in breaking down technical finance concepts into approachable, digestible nuggets of information.
How do you know if your international money transfer made it safely? Learn how to track or cancel, and find out what your rights are when it comes to sending money.
From bank transfers to specialist money transfer companies, there are several options available when you need to transfer money overseas from your bank account.
If you need to transfer money overseas using your credit card, you can do so via your bank, MoneyGram, Western Union and PayPal. This can be useful in emergency situations, but credit card transfers are usually not a cost-effective option.
If you’re looking for a secure way to send money overseas, an international bank draft could be for you — but if speed is important, consider using a money transfer service instead.
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