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WorldFirst money transfer review

Adrienne Fuller

Last updated: Jun 28, 2019

This provider has closed as of January 30, 2019 – read on for alternatives.

Must read

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.

finder.com’s rating: 4.5 / 5.0

★★★★★

How’d we get our score?

Fees & rates: 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.

USD 1,000

Min. Transfer Amount

No limit

Max. Transfer Amount

1 day

Transfer Speed

Details

Product Name	WorldFirst International Money Transfers
Min. Transfer Amount	USD 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.

Adrienne Fuller

Adrienne Fuller is the head of publishing at Finder US. With a decade of experience creating guides in finance and education, she aims to deliver the accurate and transparent information she wishes she had when she made some of life's important financial decisions. For the past 3 years she has been the publisher of money transfers, helping readers save when they send money all over the globe. She has a BA from Colorado College and loves to hike with her two Catahoula dogs around her home in San Diego.

Alternatives to WorldFirst

I want to send

Min. Transfer Amount	Transfer Speed	Online Transfer Fee	Rate	Amount Received	Description	CTA	Details
USD 1,000	1 day	USD 0.00	0.844	EUR 4,220	No-maximum limit transfers with competitive exchange rates for 100+ currencies.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 1,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AUD, AZN, BGN, BND, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, FJD, GBP, HKD, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KRW, KWD, LKR, MAD, MGA, MXN, MYR, NOK, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, RUB, SAR, SBD, SCR, SEK, SGD, THB, TOP, TRY, TWD, TZS, USD, VEF, VND, VUV, WST, XOF, XPF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
GBP 1,000	1 - 2 days	USD 0.00	0.844	EUR 4,220	Exclusive: Minimum transfer of $1,000 for Finder readers (normally $5,000). For larger transfers, get no transaction fees and no maximum send limits.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount GBP 1,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Chat Available currencies AED, AFN, ALL, AMD, ARS, AUD, AZN, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BMD, BOB, BRL, BWP, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DJF, DKK, DOP, DZD, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GNF, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KRW, KWD, KZT, LBP, LKR, LSL, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MUR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SEK, SGD, SLL, THB, TND, TRY, TTD, TWD, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VND, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, XPF, ZAR, ZMW Go to site Read the full review
USD 1	Same day	USD 0.00	0.849	EUR 4,243	Offering no maximum and no minimum limit transfers with $0 fees.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AMD, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BND, BRL, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DKK, DOP, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HUF, IDR, ILS, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KRW, KWD, KZT, LKR, LSL, MAD, MKD, MUR, MWK, MXN, MYR, NAD, NOK, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SBD, SCR, SEK, SGD, SZL, THB, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TWD, TZS, UGX, USD, VUV, WST, XCD, XPF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
USD 2,000	1 day	USD 0.00	0.844	EUR 4,220	$0 transfer fees with rates at never more than a 2% markup.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 2,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email, Branch Available currencies AED, AUD, CAD, CHF, DKK, EGP, EUR, GBP, HKD, ILS, JPY, NOK, NZD, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, USD, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
USD 0	1 - 2 days	USD 1.99	0.835	EUR 4,175	Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers. Quick, affordable transfers around the world with both express and economy options.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 0.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options N/A Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies ARS, BDT, BGN, BOB, BRL, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, GHS, GTQ, GYD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, INR, JMD, KES, KMF, KRW, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NGN, NIO, NPR, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RWF, THB, TND, TRY, TZS, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XAF, XOF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
USD 1	1 - 2 days	USD 40.00	0.852	EUR 4,228	Enjoy high maximum transfers into more than 20 currencies while saving up to 90% over local banks.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 1.00 Transfer methods Online Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AED, ARS, AUD, BDT, BGN, BRL, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, GBP, GEL, GHS, HKD, HRK, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KES, KRW, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NGN, NOK, NPR, NZD, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, RON, RUB, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XOF, ZAR, ZMW Go to site Read the full review
USD 1	Within an hour	USD 3.99	0.849	EUR 4,241	Use promo code 3FREE to send your first 3 transfers with no fee. Send to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposit, cash pickup or mobile top-up.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, ALL, AMD, AOA, ARS, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BOB, BRL, BWP, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DKK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GMD, GNF, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, LRD, LSL, MAD, MDL, MGA, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PAB, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RUB, RWF, SCR, SEK, SGD, SLL, SOS, SRD, THB, TJS, TND, TOP, TRY, TZS, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, ZAR, ZMW, BYN Go to site Read the full review
USD 50	1 - 2 days	USD 0.00	0.847	EUR 4,237	InstaReM offers quick and simple international money transfers with the ability to earn loyalty points.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 50.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AUD, BDT, CAD, CNY, EUR, GBP, HKD, IDR, INR, KRW, LKR, MXN, MYR, NPR, PHP, PKR, SGD, THB, USD, VND Go to site Read the full review

Compare up to 4 providers

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:

Your full name and contact information, including an email address.
Your country of residence.
Date of birth and Social Security number.
Proof of government-issued ID, like your driver’s license or passport.
Details about your money transfer needs.

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

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 (immediately or in the future).
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.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Our team analyzes money transfer providers offering services in the US — from big names to digital upstarts. We rank rates and fees, speed, services and user experience for:

TransferWise
WorldFirst
XE
OFX
WorldRemit

Currencies Direct
Western Union
RIA Money Transfer
MoneyGram
Remitly

Payoneer
Remit2India
Xoom
PayPal

Learn the details of our methodology and scoring.

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4 Comments

Ahmad
September 3, 2017

Dear sir, i want to ask (faq)regarding about my uncle in belgium have cash around 10m euro to transfer to me setup a business and buying property in dubai..can i collect cash at dubai ..if ok i will ask my uncle to send money to (wf)using your money service platform for me to collect cash on dubai..pls advise us how to go about and what is the charges from your company to us?

Reply
- finder Customer Care
  
  Adrienne
  September 4, 2017
  
  Hi Ahmad,
  
  Unfortunately there is no money transfer service that will allow you to pick up $10M EUR in cash. However, you can deposit this amount into a bank account in Dubai, which can be done within 2-5 business days if you send through World First. Click “Go to site” from this page to initiate your transfer with no fees.
  
  Best regards,
  
  Adrienne
  
  Reply
Potierg
May 1, 2017

First time user, how can I be sure that the service is legit. and that my personal info is secure?
Thanks

Reply
- finder Customer Care
  
  Harold
  July 4, 2017
  
  Hi Potierg,
  
  Thank you for your inquiry.
  
  Yes it is safe, actually, World First broke the record for fastest international transfer by completing a transaction in 6 minutes and 49 seconds. An established leader in the money transfer business, it takes the duty of protecting your money seriously.
  – Licensed. World First is a licensed money transmitter business that adheres to the rules of the US Office of Foreign Assets Control and Financial Crimes Enforcement Center (FinCen).
  – High credit rating. World First has a 3A2 rating from Dun & Bradstreet, further ensuring that your funds are covered.
  – Segregated client accounts. Your money is kept separate from World First’s money. This makes it easy to identify and protect should anything happen to the company.
  – Award-winning. World First has won several awards for its service, including the 2016 Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
  – Years of experience. Founded in 2004, World First has grown from its headquarters in London to include offices in Austin, DC, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Netherlands, and Sydney.
  
  I hope this information has helped.
  
  Cheers,
  Harold
  
  Reply

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WorldFirst money transfer review