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Ria money transfer review
Send money to more than 160 countries, but a $2,999 daily limit means it’s not an option for large transfers.
Fees and rates: 2.0 / 5.0
Speed: 5.0 / 5.0
Services: 3.0 / 5.0
User experience: 2.0 / 5.0
Speed: 5.0 / 5.0
Services: 3.0 / 5.0
User experience: 2.0 / 5.0
Within minutes
Fastest Transfer Speed
$1
Minimum Transfer Amount
$2,999.99
Maximum Transfer Amount
Details
| Available Currencies | AED, ARS, AUD, BAM, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BND, BOB, BRL, BSD, BTN, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DJF, DKK, DOP, EGP, ERN, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GHS, GMD, GNF, GTQ, GYD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, LKR, MAD, MDL, MMK, MNT, MRU, MUR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SCR, SEK, SLL, THB, TOP, TRY, TZS, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XAF, XCD, XOF, ZAR, ZMW |
|---|---|
| Customer Service | Phone, Email, In person |
| Pay By | Cash, Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer |
| Receiving Options | Cash pickup location, Bank account, Home delivery |
Review by
Zak Killermann
zak.killermann@finder.comZak Killermann is a writer at Finder. He’s ghostwritten hundreds of articles on fintech, finding his love for publication at St. Cloud State University. Traveling internationally for nearly half his life — and getting burned once by an OTC money exchange — Zak's vowed not to settle for anything short of the mid-market rate again.
Expert review
What's in this guide?
By default, we are always referring to Ria online transfers unless otherwise noted. When specifically discussing Ria agent locations, we mean the physical, in-person locations found around the world. Keep in mind that Ria money transfer agent locations can set their own limits, transfer destinations and fee schedule, all of which may not align with what you see online.
Why should I consider Ria money transfer?
- Fast transfers. It can take as little as 15 minutes for the money to be ready for cash pickup. This option can get money quickly to a loved one in an emergency, but check that hours of operation for the location you’re sending to work for your recipient.
- Multiple payment options. Pay with a debit card, credit card or bank account for online transfers. Or pay with cash at a Ria money transfer agent location. Because different payment methods attract different fees, weigh the benefits of each for the best deal.
- Diverse delivery options. Send money to a bank account, for pick up at an agent location or, in some markets, for home or work delivery.
- Worldwide transfer network. With a network of more than 435,000 agent locations in over 160 countries, Ria is the third-largest provider of international money transfers worldwide.
- Bank-beating rates. Using Ria to transfer money internationally is not only often faster than your bank, but lower fees means more money for your recipient.
What to be aware of with Ria money transfer
- Maximum daily limits. Online transfers are limited to $2,999 daily or $7,999 monthly — lower than many digital competitors. Ria agent location limits may impose further limitations.
- High fees for card payments. Fees vary depending on your transaction, but credit cards typically attract the highest fees. And agent locations’ fees may differ from what you see online.
- No hedging options. Unlike some of its competitors, Ria does not offer forward contracts, limit orders or any of the other tools you’ll find to lock in strong rates on future transfers. Hedging tools can help you save money when used appropriately to lock in an exchange rate for future transfers.
- Inconsistent markups. Exchange rates with Ria vary depending on the country you’re sending to — anywhere from 0.25% to 3.5% on top of the mid-market rate.
Ria money transfer exchange rates and fees explained
Ria’s fees vary between online and agent locations. But for online transfers, fees depend on:
- Location. Fees depend on where you’re sending from and where you’re sending to.
- Amount. Different fees are charged based on how much you’re sending.
- Payment. Paying by bank is typically the cheapest option, while paying by credit card tends to come with the highest fees.
- Delivery. To send cash, fees are generally higher, while receiving money to a bank account can be less expensive.
Unlike many competitors, Ria offers the same exchange rate no matter how much you send.
Sending $500 from the USA to India
On average, the cheapest option to send money to India is typically a bank-to-bank transfer, while the most expensive option is paying with a credit card for delivery as a cash pickup.
| Bank | Credit | Debit | Cash | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $3 | $20 | $7 | $6 |
| Bank | $1 | $15 | $4 | $4 |
Fees accurate as of September 30, 2020. When we checked, Ria’s margin markup for USD to INR was 0.5%.
Sending $500 from the USA to Mexico
In general, the cheapest option through Ria money transfer for sending money to Mexico is initiating your transfer online and then paying in cash at a Ria agent location. You won’t pay any fees to send cash to a bank account with this method. The most expensive option on average is paying with a credit card for cash pickup.
| Bank | Credit | Debit | Cash | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $3 | $14 | $4 | $5 |
| Bank | $2 | $13 | $2 | $0 |
Fees accurate as of September 30, 2020. When we checked, the Ria money transfer margin markup for USD to MXN was 1.6%.
Sending $500 from the USA to the Philippines
Home delivery is available for transfers to the Philippines, though it typically costs more than other transfer options. Usually the cheapest option is sending from a bank account for either cash pickup or bank-to-bank delivery. The most expensive option tends to be paying with a credit card for home delivery.
| Bank | Credit | Debit | Cash | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $0 | $12 | $4 | $3 |
| Bank | $0 | $12 | $3 | $5 |
| Home delivery | $3 | $12 | $5 | $5 |
Fees accurate as of September 30, 2020. When we checked, the Ria money transfer margin markup for USD to PHP was 2.4%.
Check if there are any Ria promo codes available
How long does a Ria money transfer take?
Turnaround depends on how quickly you need your money delivered and how much you want to pay.
Fastest option — as little as 15 minutes
Pay for your transfer with a credit or debit card. When using a credit or debit card, you’ll typically pay more in fees, but your money arrives in as little as 15 minutes. Your credit card might charge you an additional cash advance fee, further increasing the cost of your total transfer.
Cheapest option — up to 4 business days
Using a bank account to pay for your transfer is typically the cheapest way to send money, but it’s almost always the slowest. For your first transfer through Ria, you may have to verify your account, which can take four or more business days. After verification, your delivery can take an additional four business days.
Where can I send a Ria money transfer?
Ria is available in more than 160 countries through over 435,000 agent locations. See our complete list of available currencies above.
Ria offices are available in:
- Australia
- Belgium
- Canada
- Chile
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- India
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Puerto Rico
- Senegal
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
Online transfers are available to residents sending from:
- Australia
- Canada
- Spain
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
Ria money transfer reviews
Most online complaints we saw target the customer service and wait times on the phone. Other complaints discussed the fees charged at Ria agent locations that differ from prices quoted online. Ria lists this possibility on its website, but you can easily miss this note while getting a price quote. You can find answers to other questions in Ria’s extensive FAQ section, or contact the company by email, phone or social media.
| Trustpilot | 4.4 out of 5 — based on 5,202 customer reviews |
| CompareRemit | 2.7 out of 5 — based on 679 customer reviews |
| BBB rating | A+ — based on BBB’s internal rating system |
| Monito | 5.8 out of 10 — based on staff reviews |
| NerdWallet | 4 out of 5 — based on staff reviews |
| Finder.com | 3 out of 5 — based on staff reviews |
A subsidiary of Euronet Worldwide, Ria is the third-largest money transfer service in the world. Ria is headquartered in Buena Park, California, and sends money throughout North and Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe. In 2014, the company paired with Walmart to launch Walmart-2-Walmart for domestic in-person transfers.
How does Ria money transfer keep my money safe?
Ria Money Transfer has been in operation since 1987 and is a global company that serves millions of customers. It partners with large brands like Walmart, and it uses many security features to keep your data and money safe:
- Identity verification. Suspicious activity such as logging in from various IP addresses and sending money to many diverse locations may trigger flags to help protect your account.
- 24/7 Security Experts. A security team works around the clock to monitor transactions for suspicious activity.
- Only storing the necessary data. Ria doesn’t store credit or debit card information on its servers, which means your card information can’t be stolen if Ria is hacked.
How do I send money through Ria?
Six steps to sending money online:
- Specify how much you’d like to send and where you’d like to transfer your funds to.
- Select whether you’ll pay for your transfer by debit card, credit card or bank account.
- Confirm the transaction summary that details the exchange rate and fees that apply to your transfer.
- Enter your recipient’s full name, email address and phone number.
- Select how you’d like your money delivered: bank deposit, cash pickup or courier delivery, if available in your recipient’s country.
- Transfer your funds around the world.
Can I pay with cash after starting my transfer online?
Yes. You’ll need to visit a PayNearMe location, which can be found in many 7-Eleven stores. Be sure to bring the barcode provided to you online, as well as cash to cover the cost of the transaction. PayNearMe transactions tend to impose lower transfer limits than online transfers.
How to find a Ria location to send money in-person
What’s needed to transfer cash online through Ria
To transfer cash online through Ria, you need:
- A Ria account. Create a free account as you’re setting up your transaction for an online transfer.
- Valid payment. Ria accepts payment by bank account, debit card and credit card.
- Valid ID. A government-issued ID may be required while creating your account or sending a transfer at a Ria agent location.
- Recipient’s name and contact information. The name on the transfer must match their government-issued ID.
- Recipient’s bank account information. If you’re transferring money to their bank account, you’ll need both their account and routing numbers.
- Your contact and banking information. That includes the account or card number and security information for the account you’re transferring from.
How to track a Ria money transfer
Go to the Ria tracking page to confirm the progress of your transfer. Here you’ll enter your order number, PIN or reference number. You’ll also enter the sender’s date of birth and the recipient’s country. You can track online and at Ria agent location money transfers this way.
Ria’s tracking number is 12 digits and is called the Order Pin.
Does Ria have a mobile app?
Ria Money Transfers has an app on both Google Play and the App Store. The app makes it possible to:
- Send again. Repeat a previous transfer by selecting it from your activity list in the app.
- Log in using biometrics. Both face and fingerprint recognition can be used to log in.
- Share order details. Sending key order information like the tracking PIN number to your recipient can be done with just a few taps.
- Find an agent location. Use the in-app map to find agent locations based on your GPS or around the world.
| Reviews accurate as of September 30, 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Google Play Store | 4.1 out of 5 — based on 2,624 customer reviews |
| Apple App Store | 3.5 out of 5 — based on 742 customer reviews |
Bottom line
Ria is a straightforward option to send money all over the world. It offers clear fees, decently low markups on the mid-market rate and secure transfers to its customers. Digital competitors like XE and OFX often offer lower fees and stronger rates, but those specialists may not offer cash pickup at more than 435,000 locations.
How does Ria compare to other services?
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.
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