Need to send money from the United States to Poland? Here’s how you can do it safely, conveniently and cheaply.
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Compare international money transfer services to Poland
How do international money transfers work?
International money transfers allow you to send money to a recipient in a different country, generally by providing funds to a bank or independent money transfer company. You have plenty of delivery methods, too. Bank-to-bank transfers, cash pickup and deposits are all possible. All you need to do is find the right company with a good exchange rate and low fees and complete a few simple forms. Then your recipient should get their cash within a few days.
Banks versus money transfer companies/services
While banks can easily send international wire transfers, they’ll charge high fees and offer unattractive exchange rates. Money transfer companies, on the other hand, focus solely on moving money internationally. This allows them to offer better exchange rates and lower fees than you would get from a bank, making it a more affordable way to send money to Poland.
Pavel Sends Money to Poland
Pavel is spending a few years living the American Dream in California and building a big savings balance. To help his parents pay off their debt back home in Poland, Pavel wants to send them $1,000. Rather than use his bank, which offers a paltry exchange rate and a hefty transfer fee, he decides to investigate the services of a couple of money transfer providers.
| Money transfer company 1 | Money transfer company 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | $1 USD = $3.69 PLN | $1 USD = $3.60 PLN |
| Transfer fee | $5 | $5 |
| Transfer method | Bank account deposit | Bank account deposit |
| Processing time | 3 business days | 4 business days |
| Amount received (in PLN) | $3,690 PLN | $3,600 PLN |
As you can see, a small difference in the exchange rate leads to Pavel’s parents receiving an extra 90 Polish zloty if Pavel uses the first money transfer company.
Options for sending money to Poland from the US
- Money transfer companies with cash pickup options. Providers like Western Union allow your recipient to pick up the funds you send at agent locations across Poland.
- Bank transfers. Most major banks will allow you to send an international wire transfer to Poland.
- Online money transfer providers. Send money to any Polish bank account from the convenience of your own home.
- PayPal. PayPal may be better known for allowing you to pay for online shopping purchases but it’s also able to send international money transfers.
- Checks. Sending an international guaranteed check is a slow but effective transfer method.
How to send money to Poland
If you’ve decided to go with a money transfer company, follow these steps to make the process quick and painless.
- Compare your money transfer options in the table above.
- Click Go to site and register with the provider.
- Start a transaction, enter your recipient’s information and how much you want to send.
- Pay for your transfer and save your receipt or tracking number.
You can use your tracking number to keep an eye on the progress of your transfer and report any problems if they come up.
Foreign exchange rates explained
Both money transfer companies and banks use exchange rate to determine how much one country’s currency is worth when converted to the currency of another currency. And because the US dollar is strong when compared to the Polish zloty, you’ll be able to send more zloty per dollar you spend. As of September 2018, this amount was about zł3.63 per $1. Keep in mind that this amount changes daily, so you’ll want to stay on top of trends if you plan on frequently sending money to Poland.Emergency cash transfers in Poland
If you need to send money to Poland in a hurry, be wary of the fees and exchange rate that apply to your transaction. You’ll usually be charged a premium for sending an urgent transfer. Closely check the full cost of your transaction, and don’t be afraid to take a little extra time to compare your options. It could save your money and get more zloty in your recipient’s pocket when they need it most.
Tips for picking up cash in Poland
Whenever you pick up the funds from a cash transfer, make sure that you follow a few simple safety precautions to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of theft.
- Avoid any high-crime areas.
- Take a friend along for assistance and security.
- Stay aware of your personal security at all times.
- Deposit large sums into your bank account instead of carrying them around.
