Looking for the best way to transfer money to family, friends or businesses in the United States? Don’t head straight to your local bank, compare specialist money transfer services instead.
Online money transfer providers typically offer better exchange rates and lower fees on money transfers to the US. Some offer transfers straight to US bank accounts, while others allow the money to be picked up in person. Banks, PayPal and other options are available but come with high fees, weak rates and longer turnaround times.
Companies like Xe and OFX specialize in foreign currencies, making them some of the most cost-effective transfers. Most offer transfers directly to your recipient’s US-based bank account, often in as little as a day or two.
Services like MoneyGram allow you to transfer cash for pickup at a local branch in the US — often in 15 minutes. While it’s a fast way to send money, you’ll pay for the convenience in weak exchange rates and high fees. Compare MoneyGram to digital services like WorldRemit when possible to save money on your transfer.
US dollars are almost certainly carried by your bank, especially if you live in Europe, Canada or anywhere that trades with the United States. Although your local bank can convert your currency into US dollars, beware of high fees and wide margins on the exchange rate.
Sign up and send money with a digital money transfer specialist in four steps:
Suppose you need to send €2,000 from Germany to the US. Here’s what you might face as far as fees and exchange rates as of March 10, 2020.
| Digital money transfer service | Cash transfer | Bank transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | $0 | $3.99 | €25 + additional correspondent bank fees |
| Exchange rate | 1 EUR = 1.131 USD | 1 EUR = 1.132 USD | 1 EUR = 1.125 USD |
| Transfer speed | 1-2 day | Minutes | 2-5 days |
| Amount received | USD 2,262 | USD 2,264 | USD 2,221 |
| Verdict |
|
|
|
The bank option ends up being both the slowest and gets the smallest amount of money to your recipient. If you go with the cash transfer service, your recipient ends up with $41USD more than the bank offers and arrives within minutes.
Weigh costs and fees against convenience, and learn how to compare money transfer providers that send to the US to meet your needs:
When it’s more important to get your money to the US quickly, look for money transfer companies that support cash pickup in minutes. You can pay with a credit or debit card for fast pickup, but fees are higher than other methods.
Cash transfer services can help you if you’re unbanked or marginally banked. If you don’t have a bank account, look for a local company that supports storefronts for cash payments. These services include agent locations in other countries that allow your recipient to pick up cash without a bank account.
Sending money within the US is easier to do than sending money from abroad. There are a number of different ways to send money online between people in the US including money transfers, cash transfer apps and more.
To send money to the US from abroad, you’ll need government-issued ID and other documents, while documents needed to pick up money in the US may differ by company.
To send money from the abroad to the US, you’ll need documentation and details that include:
To pick up money in person, documentation can include:
Most money transfers to the United States may be subject to taxes, depending on their amount and place of origin. Unfortunately there are a lot of variables in play, but typically it is always better to report large money transfers to the IRS on your tax forms. More information can be found in our tax guide on large money transfers.
There are a variety of reasons you may be sending money to the US, including repatriating funds you earned abroad. Being extra vigilant about the reasons you’re sending money to the US can save you large fees and possible jail time in the future by paying the appropriate taxes now.
Sending your hard-earned money to the US shouldn’t cost a fortune. Compare transfer companies that specialize in foreign currencies for the strongest rates, lowest fees and flexible delivery. For transfers to other countries, rely on our country-specific guides the next time you need to make a transfer.
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Hello, I would like to know what do you recommend to transfer higher amounts of money with better exchange rates and fees? Also , an application that you can trust.
Thanks,
Danielle
Hi Danielle,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder! When choosing a money transfer provider – it’s important to check the exchange rate beforehand to maximize the funds to be exchanged. There are no better exchange rates and as it changes periodically. Also, read through the transfer process of the provider such as transfer fees, transfer options and transfer speed to set expectations. Take note of any reference or tracking numbers should any transaction delays come up during the transfer. It’s helpful to know that we are a product comparison website and while our pages suggest options where you can send money to the United States, we are not in the position to recommend one product for you! Hope this helps and feel free to email back if you have questions.
Best,
Nikki
I was wondering if I need a loan and a bank account to accept money from Ireland at all?
Hello Sheri,
Thank you for your comment.
It’s not necessary to have a bank account and definitely not necessary to get a loan just to receive money from Ireland. You can receive money through money transfer companies listed above and claim the cash at any pickup locations. You may show your proof of identification, reference or transaction number and other documents for you to pick up the money. Hope this helps.
Regards,
Jhezelyn