Remittance Handbook

Remittance Handbook

What a transfer really costs

Fees, exchange-rate markups and payout methods decide how much actually lands in your recipient's account.

A kitchen table with a printed transfer receipt, a calculator and a passport beside a phone showing a currency conversion, morning light from a window

What a transfer really costs

The fee shown at checkout is only one line of the bill; the exchange rate is the other.

Two paper receipts and a calculator on a wooden desk beside a phone showing a currency conversion

Read the total cost, not the fee

A low up-front fee can sit on a marked-up rate. Compare the amount your recipient actually receives against the mid-market rate for the same day.

Transfer costs and exchange rates
Bank counter with a wire transfer form, a debit card and a cash pickup slip arranged side by side

Know which method fits the amount

Bank wires, card-funded apps and cash pickup agents differ in speed, cutoff times and how much detail the recipient must supply. The right choice depends on the amount and the destination.

Compare transfer methods
Passport, proof-of-address letter and a pen on a clean desk next to a laptop

Check the rules before you send

Licensing, identity checks and reporting thresholds vary by country and by provider. A few minutes of preparation prevents a transfer being held after you have paid.

Latest from the Blog