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Money transfer companies allow you to send funds from one country and have your recipient pick it up in cash in another. It may be that you want to find your nearest money transfer location in order to pay in cash, ask an agent questions or send money for cash pickup. However, not all providers will offer a fair exchange rate, and you may find that visiting a location in person will cost you more in fees. Let’s take a look at how to find money transfer locations near you, and why it may be a better option to use an online provider.
How to find a money transfer location near you
You can search online to find a provider with agent locations in your neighborhood.
Look for a link to the Find a location page, typically located on the homepage.
Enter your ZIP code or address to confirm the hours of operation for the location nearest you.
Visit the agent location in person, making sure to bring identification and enough money to cover fees.
Who offers in-person money transfers?
There are many national chain retailers and grocery stores which have exclusive areas dedicated to providing money transfers using MoneyGram or Western Union. Lots of popular money transfer services also have brick-and-mortar locations.
There is also the option of your local bank. But while an international bank transfer is a reliable option, you will most likely end up paying more in fees, and receive a weaker exchange rate than if you were to use a money transfer service.
Location guides for popular brands
For your convenience, we’ve compiled location guides for the top money transfer services and their brick-and-mortar locations worldwide.
It may be that you need to make an urgent money transfer. If this is the case, then some of the larger money transfer networks like MoneyGram and Western Union offer 24-hour agent locations in most major (and even some smaller) cities.
Make sure to check online or call ahead to confirm opening hours before visiting, especially if you are going in the middle of the night.
What do I need to send money in-person?
What you will need to send money will depend on how you’re transferring money. However, in general you will need to take the following with you:
Photo ID. A driver’s license, a passport or another other official government-issued ID should work. If you are unsure about your type of ID, call ahead to ask whether or not it will suffice.
Recipient information. The name and contact information of the person receiving the money. The name provided must exactly match their ID.
Amount. Work out the amount you want to send ahead of time, keeping in mind that fees will be added on top of your sending amount.
Payment method. Most agent locations will accept credit and debit cards, but may also allow you to use cash, checks or bank transfers.
To send money to a bank account, you’ll also need:
Recipients bank information. You will need to provide the receiving bank’s name, address and SWIFT code, in addition to your recipient’s account and routing numbers. Learn more about SWIFT and IBAN bank codes if you’re having trouble locating this information.
How do I keep my cash safe?
When you find a money transfer service near you, it’s important to keep in mind some safety tips when picking up your money:
Call ahead. Call to confirm an agent’s location and opening hours.
Be aware. Avoid agents in high-crime or unsafe areas.
Bring a friend. Ask a friend to come along for the pickup.
Hide it. Keep your cash hidden and avoid carrying it around for longer than necessary.
Secure it. Deposit your funds into an account as soon as possible.
Compare money transfer services with agent locations
Use our table to compare services which have in-person locations, and click Go to site to find a money transfer location near you.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Can you save money by sending your transfer online?
Usually you can save yourself money by using an online money transfer service, compared to visiting a physical location.
Fewer fees. Agent locations typically add on extra fees, which helps them to keep their doors open. Online providers offer the same services without the additional cost.
Zero transit costs. When you transfer money from your mobile or desktop, you avoid having to spend anything on gas, bus fares or subway tokens to travel to the agent location.
Wider range of providers. Visiting in person means you are limited to the rates and fees of agent locations. But shopping around often leads you to a better deal on your transfer.
Easier comparison. You can compare any of the services in our comparison table to find the best deal for your transfer.
Compare services which offer alternatives to sending cash
If you decide not to send cash, our table lets you compare the alternative services you can use to send money abroad. Take a look at a provider’s transfer speeds and fees, then click Go to site when you’re ready to send.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Lots of popular money transfer services have brick-and-mortar locations. You will also find nationwide chain retailers and grocery stores have an exclusive area dedicated to providing money transfers using MoneyGram or Western Union.
However, you don't need to visit a brick-and-mortar location to make a money transfer. There are plenty of online providers that allow you to make your transfer from the comfort of your own home.
Compare providers using our comparison table. Once you have selected your money transfer service, visit their site to search their agent locations.
What you will need may vary depending on your provider, but in general you will require photo ID, the recipient's information, the amount you wish to send and a payment method to make the transfer.
