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WorldFirst money transfer review
Last updated:
This provider has closed as of January 30, 2019 – read on for alternatives.
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World First has discontinued its services in the US effective January 30, 2019. The company will accept no new trades or transactions after this date, and inbound transfers received after 5 p.m. CT will be returned to the sender.
If you’re a personal or business customer who’s concerned about your account, call 737-226-5240 for assistance.
To find a suitable alternative, compare money transfer specialists compare money transfer specialists to find the best rates, fees and turnaround you’re eligible for.
Fees & rates: 4.0 / 5.0
Speed: 5.0 / 5.0
Services: 5.0 / 5.0
User experience: 4.0 / 5.0
Speed: 5.0 / 5.0
Services: 5.0 / 5.0
User experience: 4.0 / 5.0
World First offers a fast, secure way to send money overseas and award-winning customer service — but you’ll need to send at least $1,000.
$1,000
Min. Transfer Amount
No limit
Max. Transfer Amount
1 day
Transfer Speed
Details
| Product Name | WorldFirst International Money Transfers |
|---|---|
| Min. Transfer Amount | $1,000 |
| Max. Transfer Amount | No limit |
| Transfer Methods | Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account |
| Transfer Options | Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts |
| Transfer Speed Minimum transfer time | 1 day |
| Customer Service | Phone, Chat, Email |
| Available Currencies | AED, AUD, BBD, BGN, BHD, BMD, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, FJD, GBP, HKD, HRK, HUF, IDR, ILS, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KRW, LBP, LKR, MAD, MUR, MXN, MYR, NOK, NZD, OMR, PHP, PKR, PLN, QAR, RON, RUB, SAR, SEK, SGD, THB, TND, TRY, TTD, UGX, USD, ZAR |
| Online Transfer Fee | USD 0 |
|---|---|
| Exchange Rate Updates | Real time |
Pros
- Competitive exchange rates.
- Offers spot contracts, forward contracts and hedging options.
- Weekly updates on market exchange rates.
Cons
- Small numbers of currencies available.
Alternatives to WorldFirst
Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.
Our experience transferring money with WorldFirst
Here’s what we found when we sent live transfers to Mexico and France through WorldFirst:
- With WorldFirst’s transparent fee structure, we paid $0 fee.
- In addition to low fees, we received exchange rates within 2.14% of the mid-market rate on average, with rates updated multiple times a day.
- Though we had to call WorldFirst for a delivery for our transfer, our funds were deposited into our recipient’s French bank account in a speedy two days.
- WorldFirst’s easy-to-use website allowed us to sign up and initiate a transfer in about 4.5 minutes. You also have the option of initiating a transfer by phone.
How much will I pay to transfer money with WorldFirst?
You won’t pay anything for your first transfer with WorldFirst. That’s because WorldFirst is one of our trusted partners, and we want to make sure you have the chance to try out this fast, convenient service.
Simply click “Go to site” to take advantage of this exclusive offer.
What are WorldFirst’s exchange rates?
WorldFirst offers customers the opportunity to view live exchange rates and take advantage of rate graphs and economic commentary to better understand developments in the foreign exchange market.
Because WorldFirst takes a smaller margin than banks, it is typically able to offer better rates than a bank can. In fact, it backs up its exchange rates with the WorldFirst Price Promise.
WorldFirst's Price Promise
If you get a better quote from another international transfer service, WorldFirst will beat it. You just need to:
- Register with WorldFirst.
- Inform WorldFirst of how much money you’re looking to transfer and the rate you were quoted, including the time of day you received the quote.
Conditions do apply:
- You must have an active trading account with another provider.
- You must have the quote in writing or email to send to WorldFirst within three hours of receipt.
- WorldFirst cannot give you a rate better than the rate at which they buy the currency.
What types of transfers can you make with WorldFirst?
WorldFirst only offers bank-to-bank transfers — meaning, funds must be drafted from your bank account, which will then be deposited into your recipient’s bank account. You cannot use cash or a debit or credit card to make the transaction.
While you can’t schedule recurring transfers, WorldFirst offers three tools to get the most out of your transfers.
- Spot contracts. Make a one-time transfer at the time of payment.
- Forward contracts. Lock in an ideal exchange rate and schedule a transfer now for up to three years later.
- Limit orders. Use these market orders to execute a money transfer when your ideal exchange rate is met.
Pros and cons of using WorldFirst
Pros
- Transparent fee structure. Pay a $0 fee for transfers of up to $10,000.
- Strong exchange rates. Especially when compared with your local bank.
- Easy-to-use website. We signed up and initiated a transfer in about 4.5 minutes.
- Customer service. WorldFirst has a customer satisfaction rating of 98%. You can get help through email, chat, over the phone or through its app.
- Lock in your rate. If you like the exchange rates on offer now but aren’t ready to make a transfer, WorldFirst allows you to lock in an exchange rate now for use on a transaction up to three years into the future.
Cons
- Two-step process. You must first wire your money to WorldFirst, which then deposits the money into your recipient’s bank account.
- Social Security number and government-issued ID required. You’ll need to be a US citizen and provide this information.
- High minimum transfers. If you need to send less than $1,000, you will need to find another money transfer provider.
How can I register and transfer money?
The first step is to sign up for an account. You’ll need to provide:
Once you have an account, enter the details of your transaction, including how much money you’re sending, where you’re sending it and who will be receiving the funds. Provide your recipient’s bank account details and the currency you wish to send, and you will be presented with an exchange rate quote.
You can choose to send the money right away or lock in a rate for a future transaction. It’s then a matter of depositing funds with WorldFirst from your bank account, and the company will convert the money into your currency of choice and send it to your recipient.
Steps to transfer your money online
- Visit the WorldFirst website and create a personal account by entering your name and email address and creating a password.
- Specify whether you’d like to receive product news and other information from. Read the Terms and Conditions and click that you agree to them. Click Next.
- Enter your personal details, date of birth and occupation. Either enter your Social Security number or check the Call me for my SSN box. Click Next.
- Identify the country you’re transferring to and the currency you want delivered. Estimate how much you expect to transfer over the next year.
- Provide an image of your passport or fill in the expiration date and the 44-character reference number. If you don’t have your passport handy, click I’ll provide this later, then Submit.
- Click Go to my account.
- Log in with your user name and password, answer two security questions, then read and accept the WorldFirst terms and conditions.”
- To establish your recipient, click Beneficiaries in the left column, then Create a new beneficiary.
- Select the country you’re sending money to and click Continue.
- Select the currency to be delivered and the recipient. You’ll need their bank, its SWIFT code and their account number or International Bank Account Number (IBAN).
- Select your reason for sending the payment and click Continue. Select which bank you’ll be paying through, the amount you’re sending and the date you want to make the transfer. Review the currency exchange rate offered and lock it in for the transaction. WorldFirst will forward bank details that you’ll use to wire your payment to your WorldFirst account.Once your transfer is complete, you’ll receive confirmation.
Bottom line
WorldFirst offers solid exchange rates and no fees, but you must send at least $1,000 in order to use their services. Be sure to compare all of your money transfer options before making a decision.
Shopping for an alternative? Compare competing services to WorldFirst.