How to send money to Bangladesh
Find out how you can save money and enjoy fast transfers when you send money to Bangladesh from the UK.
When you need to get money to a loved one overseas, navigating a potentially complicated and expensive process is the last thing you want to do. Transferring money from the UK to Bangladesh doesn’t have to be a budget-busting hassle. Compare the transfer fees and exchange rates of the different options to find the best deal. From bank transfers and online transactions to options that allow recipients to collect your funds within minutes, sending an international money transfer to Bangladesh can be easy.
Compare services that send money to Bangladesh from the UK
How do international money transfers work?
An international money transfer allows you to send money to a recipient overseas. Generally, a transfer involves you providing funds to a bank or an independent transfer provider, which then sends the money to your recipient in another country — in this case, Bangladesh. This can be done in person, over the phone, through a mobile app or online. You can use cash, a credit or debit card, or transfer funds from your bank account, which will then either be deposited into your recipient’s bank account or mobile wallet, or made available as cash for them to pick up at a location in their country.
Banks versus money transfer services
We use our banks to take care of all our other financial needs, so surely we should use them when we need to send an international money transfer, right? Not necessarily. While many banks in the UK offer money transfer services, they usually present less competitive exchange rates coupled with high transfer fees.
You can often save money by using the services of a dedicated money transfer company. These providers specialise in handling overseas money transfers, offering attractive exchange rates and affordable transfer fees. This translates to big savings for you.
Steps to send money to Bangladesh
- Sign up for an account with your chosen provider. Include your name, contact details and proof of valid ID.
- Provide your recipient’s name, address and contact details. Depending on the transfer method you may also have to supply their bank account information.
- Enter the amount you want to transfer and complete your transaction.
- Save a receipt of your transaction in order to monitor the progress of your transfer.
Case Study: Mohammed sends money to Bangladesh
Mohammed recently moved to the UK but he still needs to settle a £1,000 debt he owes to a business associate back in Bangladesh. In an effort to find the cheapest money transfer option available, Mohammed compares the features, benefits and fees of two money transfer providers.
| Money transfer company 1 | Money transfer company 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | 1 GBP = 103.27 BDT | 1 GBP = 104.79 BDT |
| Transfer fee | £15 | £12 |
| Transfer method | Bank account deposit | Cash pickup |
| Processing time | 2-5 business days | 15 minutes |
| Amount received in BDT for £1,000 | 103,270 BDT | 104,790 BDT |
As the above table shows, Mohammed can get a better deal if he uses the second money transfer company. Mohammed can send an extra 1,520 BDT when he uses the second money transfer company, save £3 on fees and also ensure that his money arrives within minutes.
How to compare transfer companies when sending money to Bangladesh
- Exchange rates. Exchange rates are an important factor in the cost involved when transferring money overseas, so look for a provider that offers the best rates. However, make sure to also take a provider’s fees into account when comparing its rates.
- Transfer fees. Most companies will charge you a fee for sending money overseas; however, in some cases the provider may waive their fee if you send more than a set amount.
- Transfer method. Compare the options available for making a transfer, including online, over the phone and by visiting a branch.
- Turnaround time. Some companies take up to five business days to process transfers, while others make funds available to your recipient within minutes, although typically this will attract a higher service fee.
- Pickup methods. Is the transaction managed completely online and the funds sent straight to your recipient’s bank account, or is he or she able to visit an agent location and pick up the cash in person?
- Minimum transfer amounts. Keep an eye out for the minimum transfer limit each company imposes on transactions.
- Customer service options. Are phone and email customer support available? Is there an online live chat option? Also check when these services are available to determine whether you will be able to access help whenever you need it.
Foreign exchange rates explained
The exchange rate determines how much one country’s currency is worth in another country’s currency. When a country’s currency is strong, it yields more money when exchanging it in a country with a weak currency. Bangladesh’s exchange rate is flexible, which means it can change from moment to moment. Factors that influence the exchange rate include interest rates, economic stability and inflation.
Currency exchange rate for Bangladesh
Options for sending money to Bangladesh from the UK
- Bank transfers. Send money direct from your bank account to an account in Bangladesh.
- Money transfer providers. Online providers like TransferWise and WorldRemit can help you transfer money quickly and easily.
- Money transfer company with cash pickup. Providers like MoneyGram and Western Union allow you to send funds online, over the phone or from an agent location. Those funds can then be picked up as cash from an agent in Bangladesh.
How safe is a money transfer?
When processed through a reputable provider, your funds are safely tracked until in the hands of your recipient. It’s industry standard for international money services to use 128-bit SSL encryption systems at a minimum. Many also are licensed with UK financial regulators.Tips for picking up cash in Bangladesh
Whether you’re picking up cash in Bangladesh or any other country, take a safety-first approach. Use common sense, such as keeping your cash hidden and depositing it with your bank as soon as possible. Taking a friend along with you to collect the funds is also a good idea.
Emergency cash transfers to Bangladesh
There are certain situations when you might need to send a transfer as quickly as possible. When you do need to send an emergency transfer, remember that you will usually have to pay extra in order to get your funds to your beneficiary ASAP. Make sure to check the exchange rate and fees that apply so you know exactly how much it will cost.
Back to topCash pickup locations in Bangladesh
Global Reach
WorldRemit
Currencies Direct
TransferWise
Ask an Expert
I am from Bangladesh. I am still a student. I have some student account, but no business or personal account. One friend of mine from the UK wants to send me some money. How to do this? Is it possible to transfer money from the UK to Bangladesh by bKash? I have a bKash account under mom’s name. But most importantly, my friend is a UK citizen, a native English. Please, give me some suggestion.
Hi Tanjina,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
It is possible for your friend in the UK to send money to your bKash account provided that the money transfer service company he/she uses an authorized or partner company of bKash. As of this time, we don’t have a list of specific companies that are partnered with bKash. However, you can still ask your friend to use any of the companies listed above such as TransferWise and Azimo. Simply click on the “Go to site” green button and from there, your friend will know whether these companies can send through bKash.
Of course, you also have the option to use other means of receiving the money. That way, your sender would have other options when sending you money.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
I have A Bangladeshi local Bank account And Have SWIFT code But not have IBAN number,When i go to Bank and tell them to generate this IBAN number they told me,Its not possible to generate IBAN number in Bangladesh Bank account and also tell me that, no need to received money to abroad an IBAN number,They give me My Account number And Bank name adress and Bank SWIFT code.So Is it possible to received money in my that bank account to international wire transfer.Thank you.
If you are transferring funds to a Bangladeshi bank account, you’ll need to provide the recipient’s name, account number, the bank’s name and SWIFT code. If you refer to our page on sending money to Bangladesh you can get in touch with RationalFX or Azimo, who offer wire transfers to Bangladesh, to find out if you would need to provide an IBAN number or any further information.
I don’t bank account or VISA/ MASTER/ DBBL Nexus/ AMEX Card.Can i pay by cash or mobile phone?
Yes some providers allow you to make cash transfers. We would recommend you use either Western Union or MoneyGram to transfer cash to Bangladesh. Both these providers have cash pickup locations in Dhaka and Chittagong.