The idea of making international money transfers might sound a bit complex, especially for those who are not well-versed in cross-border money management. But as the need for simple and accessible cross-border financial services grows, more options, specifically for money transfers between countries, emerge.
It goes without saying that banks will provide you with money transfer services and will allow you to transfer cash abroad. These are made through the SWIFT system and can only be made from one bank account to another bank account.
The problem arises when the sender is a foreigner who wants to send cash overseas. What happens if that individual does not have a bank account nor the option to open a bank account in a foreign country? This situation is quite common.
In many countries, there are strict regulations that dictate who is eligible to open a bank account. Many migrant workers do not meet these conditions and therefore cannot open a bank account. In addition, most migrant workers cannot use the banking system because their relatives live in remote villages and do not manage bank accounts at all. In such a case, how can one still transfer cash abroad?
Post it: transfer cash overseas through the post office
Yup. It still exists. The organization that was once in charge of all the communication you receive – mail from friends and relatives, bills, wedding invitations, college acceptance letters, magazines, and whatnot – the post office.
Today, all of these are delivered digitally and the post office plays a slightly different role. Among other functions, the post office will let you send money overseas. The biggest advantage here is that, usually, you are not required to have an active bank account and you can send cash.
Saved by the internet: transfer cash overseas digitally
To transfer money online, you’ll need to create an account with a reliable money transfer service. Once you create an account, you’ll see the different options available for sending money. Popular methods include sending money online to a bank account, cash pick up, or a digital wallet.
Costs can vary based on the service you’re using, where you’re sending the money to, and how it is being received. However, there are some services that offer international money transfers with a low flat fee (at Rewire, for example, there’s a €0.99 flat fee on international money transfers – regardless of the amount, regardless of the money transfer option). So when you look for a digital way to send money home, make sure you look at all the options.
In conclusion, there are several methods that enable those who do not have a bank account in a foreign country to send cash overseas. The choice of which service you opt for may depend on your location, urgency, the amount of money you want to send, and the means at your disposal (mobile phone, computer, etc.).
