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Find the best way to send money to Russia
Learn how to send money to Russia from the US in our step-by-step guide.
Looking for the best way to send money from the United States to family, friends or businesses in Russia (or even to your own overseas bank account)?
Unfortunately, Finder doesn't have any providers that can help you send money to Russia from the United States. Transferring money to countries like Russia is challenging but potentially services such as Western Union and WorldRemit are worth exploring.
Best ways to send money to Russia from the US
The best way to send money to Russia depends on your payment method, how you want your money to be received and how fast you need it to arrive.- Online money transfer provider. When buying US dollars or Russian rubles money transfer specialists typically offer better rates and cheaper fees than a local bank.
- Bank transfer. Bank transfers are an easy way to send money to Russia but they charge extra for the convenience and are often slower than other methods. US banks generally add a 3% to 6% markup onto exchange rates.
- Cash pickup. If you need your money to arrive fast, cash pickup gives your recipient instant access to the money you've sent when they collect it from their agent location in Russia.
- Mobile wallet. Essentially an electronic wallet service, mobile wallets allow users to store, send and receive eligible currencies using their phone, often with fees attached.
- Home delivery. If your recipient may struggle to get to a cash pickup location, you may be able to opt for door-to-door cash delivery.
Cheapest way to send money to Russia
Bank transfers are typically the cheapest way to get your money to Russia. Remitly and have some of the lowest bank transfer fees of the brands we've compared.
When you're hunting down the cheapest ways to send money to Russia, it's more important to look at the overall cost of your transfer. This has a couple of elements:
- Transfer fees. While still cheaper than your American bank, some money transfer services charge either a fixed or percentage-based fee for making your transfer.
- Exchange rates. Another way money transfer providers make money is to add a margin to the mid-market USD/RUB exchange rate.
Some providers may charge the mid-market rate but add fees on top. Others may have very low fees but apply a markup on the exchange rate. This means it is important to compare exactly how many Russian rubles your recipient will end up with.
Safest way to send money to Russia
The safest way to get your money to Russia is to use a provider registered with the United States's industry regulator, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. All of the companies we've compared in our table are overseen by a local regulator and comply with the relevant laws and regulations in both the United States and Russia.
A great way to dive deeper is by reading our extended reviews of each transfer service and researching first-hand customer feedback on Trustpilot and similar platforms.
Large money transfers to Russia
If you need to make a sizable money transfer to Russia, consider using a provider such as Xe to benefit from its expertise in handling larger transfer amounts.
Using a large transfer specialist can have the following advantages:- Tax guidance. Large transfers to Russia may have tax implications for you or your recipient. A transfer specialist can help get you up to speed on IRS's latest advice.
- Foreign exchange (forex) tools. Advanced tools such as forward contracts, limit orders and stop-loss orders can help you lock in the RUB exchange rate you want.
- Account manager. Some money transfer providers assign a personal account manager who can help and advise you on your transfer needs.
- Phone service. If you want to talk your transfer through with someone, providers such as Remitly and Xe Money Transfer for Business can give you support over the phone.
How to send money to Russia from the US
To send money to Russia, you'll need the necessary documentation, your recipient's details and a way to pay.
- Compare your options.
Use our table to find a money transfer provider that sends funds to Russia. One may be better for cash pickups while another may suit a bank transfer. Once you've found the best one for your requirements, click "Go to site". - Create an account.
You'll need to give your name, address, contact details, proof of ID and method of payment. - Provide your recipient's details.
Enter your recipient's name and contact information. If you're sending straight to their Russian bank account, you'll need the account number, SWIFT or IBAN plus their bank branch's address. - Enter your transfer amount.
Check you're happy with the fees, exchange rates and transfer speed, then enter the amount you wish to send. Double-check the total Russian rubles your recipient gets. - Complete your transfer.
Send your money transfer to Russia. Keep your transaction reference number safe so you can track your transfer. Your recipient may need it too.
Example: Anastasia sends money to Russia
Anastasia is working in the United States as a film producer and she stays in regular contact with her elderly parents back home in Russia. Her parents need some funds to help pay off a mortgage, so Anastasia plans to send them $2,000 from the United States.
She decides to compare a bank and a money transfer specialist to see which one can save the most money on her transaction.
| Bank | Money transfer company | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | 1 USD = 88.56 RUB | 1 USD = 89.73 RUB |
| Transfer fee | $10 | $2.50 |
| Transfer method | Bank account deposit | Bank account deposit |
| Processing time | 2 - 5 working days | Next day |
| Amount received | 176,233.81 RUB | 179,239.84 RUB |
The money transfer company enables Anastasia to send an extra ₽3,006.02, which is transferred straight to her parents' Sberbank account.
How to choose the best money transfer companies to send money to Russia
When choosing a money transfer provider to send money from the United States to Russia, it's important to consider the cost, how you want your recipient to receive the funds and the turnaround time. Here are other features to review:
- Exchange rates. Banks and transfer services use the mid-market rate to trade with one another. It is the best rate you can get. However, not all money transfer providers offer you this mid-market rate so compare the RUB you're offered to the mid-market rate and look for the smallest difference.
- Transfer fees. Are you being charged a flat fee or a percentage of your transfer amount? For example, a provider offering to transfer your money to Russia for a flat or low fee might work out better if you plan to send a large amount.
- Transfer type. Does your recipient have a Russian bank account or is cash or cell phone top-up a better option? Each transfer type will have different fees. For example, instant cash pickups tend to be more expensive than bank transfers.
- Transfer speed. If you need your transfer to arrive quickly, you can pay for an express delivery. Companies such as Remitly offer instant cash pickups but may charge more. If you're not in a rush, online money transfer services offer the best value and get your money to Russia faster and cheaper than banks.
- Transfer limits. Find out how much you can send with each service.
- Discounts. Some providers may offer you a free transfer simply for signing up. Others may offer a discount if you transfer more than a specific amount of Russian rubles.
Frequently asked questions
Whether products shown are available to you is subject to individual provider sole approval and discretion in accordance with the eligibility criteria and T&Cs on the provider website.
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Ask an Expert
If I send U.S. dollars to Russia can the receiver get it in dollars or does it have to be a exchanged to rubles. Through Western Union
Hi Efrain,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Your USD will automatically convert into the local currency which is RUB or Russian Ruble. In some instances, you can indicate that your USD won’t be converted, but this will also depend on whether USD is available in the receiving money transfer provider.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Bella
How can l send money from USA to Russia?
Hi Olga,
Thanks for leaving a question. You are on the correct page on how to send money from US to Russia. You can choose from the money transfer providers from the page then follow the section that says “Steps to send money to Russia” When choosing money transfer providers, ensure that you have read the terms and conditions as well as the Product disclosures when choosing your options.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Joyce
I want to send money from India to Russia. Please help me
Hi there,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
In the table above where it says “I want to send” please enter the amount in INR and choose India from the dropdown. In the box next to “TO” choose RUB and click on calculate. It will show you a comparison of money transfer services who can help you send money to Russia. Once you are done with the comparison, click on the green “GO to site” button to be redirected to their page and start the transaction.
Cheers,
Joel
I am trying to find a way to transfer funds (under $1,000) to a business in Moscow. They have given me all their banking information, but I am finding it difficult to find either a US bank or transfer service that will do this. The transfer services all seem set up to transfer to individuals, not companies (this is an international school). Any ideas?
Thank you
Hi Barbara,
Thank you for your inquiry.
As per checking you already opened the correct page. What you can do next is to compare and review the offer and the availability of the service from money transfer companies listed on section “Compare money transfer services to Russia”. Once you have thoroughly reviewed the offers you can now select the money transfer company that will best fit your personal requirements.
I hope this information has helped.
Cheers,
Harold