Western Union international money transfer: rates, fees and review

Published

on

17th May 2024

If you’re looking to send money overseas, the many options available can get a bit overwhelming. While OrbitRemit is Australia and New Zealand’s most trusted online money transfer platform, they’re not the only option.

One alternative in the digital money transfer market is Western Union. Western Union became a publicly traded company in 2006, and has been focused on helping people and businesses spend and transfer money around the world ever since.

In this article, we’ll go through the key features of Western Union and how they can help you to send money overseas.

What currencies does Western Union support?

Western Union supports many global currencies in nearly 200 countries and territories around the world. You can find a full list here of all the countries Western Union can make transfers to. Note that some currencies are only available with certain payment types.

What does Western Union charge for an international money transfer?

The fee to make an online money transfer with Western Union depends on both where you send to, how much money you’re sending and which payment method you choose. For a better estimation of what your transfer will cost, customers can use the price estimator on their website or app.

What is Western Union exchange rate?

Like most online money transfer services, Western Union uses a marked-up exchange rate.

Again, you can check the exchange rate online or in-app using their price estimator. Bear in mind the exchange rate is constantly changing, and will also vary depending on the send and receive currency, country and method of payment.

How to sign up with Western Union

You can sign up to Western Union by clicking Register on their website or mobile app. To create a profile you’ll need to provide certain information including your full name, phone number, email address, country of residence and proof of ID such as a driver’s license for verification purposes. Once your account is set up, you can lodge transfers online or in person at a Western Union branch.

How long does a money transfer with Western Union take?

A transfer with Western Union can take anywhere between 1-5 business days. This depends on the timing of the transfer, the send and receive countries, payment method and whether or not all the correct information has been provided. Certain payment methods are faster than others, with cash pick up from a Western Union agent typically ready same or next day, while bank deposits can take anywhere between 2-5 days.

How to contact Western Union?

Western Union has customer support services available in a range of languages online, in-app or through one of their many agent locations. The fastest way to get in touch is through their chat function. Otherwise you can call 1800 173 833 to contact a customer care representative. For retail related enquiries, you can find a Western Union agent location near you.

Can I trust Western Union with my money?

Yes. Western Union is a very well established business that has been facilitating international money transfer for decades. They use security conscious procedures like photo identification and tracking number verification to ensure your money reaches its destination, and are licensed and regulated in all the countries they operate in.

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If you found this page while comparing options for online money transfer, you’re in the right place! As we already mentioned, OrbitRemit is Australia and New Zealand’s most trusted international money transfer platform, with an excellent 4.9/5 star rating on Trustpilot from over 30,000 reviews. Don’t believe us? Check out what our happy customers have to say about our services here and if you’d like to experience OrbitRemit’s speed, value and security for yourself, sign up here!

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