Western Union Detailed Review

Rates, Fees, Limits, Safety and More

Last updated: June 13, 2024

What is Western Union? An introduction

Western Union company information

The origins of Western Union go back more than 150 years all the way to 1851, when it was founded as the New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company in Rochester, New York. The newly found company expanded rapidly with acquisitions, and following a merger in 1856, adopted its new name as the Western Union Telegraph Company.

Western Union continued to advance in both telegraph communications and money related services for a while.

As telegraph and telegram related services started to get replaced with newer electronic communication methods over time, Western Union started putting more emphasis on its money transfer business. After discontinuing communications operations in 2006, Western Union started solely focusing on international money transfers.

With such a long standing history and being one of the first companies to pioneer the international money transfer business, Western Union is a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money transfers.

From small businesses and global corporations, to families all around the world, Western Union helps people and businesses send money, with more than 290 million money transfer transactions and over USD 96 billion sent in 2020.

Western Union helps individuals, families and friends to securely and seamlessly transfer money in the ways that are most convenient for them, whether that is walking into a retail location or using the Western Union website or app to transfer money in minutes¹.

Western Union is a global leader in international money transfer services space.

Western Union is currently headquartered in Denver, Colorado, United States, and has more than 12,000 global employees. It is also a public listed company with WU as its stock ticker on the New York Stock Exchange.

Western Union innovates based on customer needs

Western Union continues to innovate, developing new ways to send money through their website, mobile, and retail channels.

With a focus centered on the needs of their customers, Western Union has invested and innovated to provide consumers and businesses with even more choices – in products, in services, and in how and where they can access Western Union when transferring money across borders.

Which countries does Western Union operate in?

When it comes to coverage of countries and currencies, Western Union has comprehensive support with almost every country and currency available on their platform.

Where can I send money from with Western Union?

Western Union allows you to send money from numerous countries. Refer to the map below to see if your country is serviced by Western Union.

In many countries, you can send money online with Western Union. However, in some countries, you may have to use a Western Union office or agent location to send money.

Where can I send money to with Western Union?

Western Union can help you send money to over 200 countries and territories around the world for payout in 130 different currencies, including the European Euro, British pound, US Dollar, Indian Rupee, Australian Dollar, Swiss Franc, Canadian Dollar, Polish Zloty, Swedish Krona, Norwegian Krone, Danish Krone, Hungarian Forint, Czech Koruna, Bulgarian Lev, Romanian Leu, New Zealand Dollar, Brazilian Real, Singapore Dollar, Japanese Yen, South African Rand, and more!

You can send money to any destination with Western Union. Almost every destination country and currency is supported by Western Union.

Western Union supports almost all countries and global currencies to send and receive money.

What are Western Union's fees and exchange rates?

Western Union tends to be generally competitive in their exchange rates and fees. Let's sample some of their rates and fees for some corridors.

For a bank to bank transfer, we found the below information for sending 1000 source currency units from the source country.

*Exchange rates and fees as on June 13, 2024
**Mid-Market Rate from XE.com
See how we calculate FX Markup

You can use Western Union's price estimator to quickly see exchange rates and fees for your country and currency pair. This gives you a quick and accurate quote on how much your money transfer with Western Union will cost.

When it comes to Western Union fees, we notice the below variations for some of the above sample corridors.

For sending USD 1000 from US to India, Western Union charges the below fees.

^^Fees as on June 13, 2024

Western Union exchange rates tend to be competitive. However, to avoid paying high fees, choose bank to bank transfers.

Are Western Union exchange rates good?

Western Union exchange rates tend to be fairly competitive with other players in the money transfer industry.

However, as we saw in our case studies above, there are variations from country to country. The FX markup charged by Western Union ranges anywhere from -1.29% to 2.19%.

Before you send money overseas, compare Western Union with others to ensure you are getting the best deal. You can use RemitFinder's real time money transfer comparison engine to compare numerous remittance companies in one place.

Is Western Union a cheap way to send money overseas?

While Western Union may not be the cheapest way to send money, it can be cost effective depending on the timing of your money transfer. Additionally, the payment and delivery methods of your money transfer will have a direct impact on how much you pay in fees for your transaction.

How do I avoid Western Union fees?

The best way to minimize or sometimes avoid Western Union fees is by choosing electronic methods for sending and receiving money. For example, bank to bank transfers with Western Union are either free or very cheap.

On the other hand, if you pay for your money transfer with Credit or Debit cards, you may incur high fees. In the case of Credit cards, your credit card company may charge additional fees for withdrawing funds for a money transfer. Be on the lookout for such hidden fees when sending money abroad.

We recommend avoiding debit and credit cards to pay for your transfer as they come with high fees. Use bank transfers for low or 0 fees.

How much money can I send with Western Union?

There are limits to how much money you can send with Western Union. These sending limits vary from country to country, and may also depend on other factors like risk assessment, account history, etc.

At this time, below are some sending limits for some countries that Western Union allows you to send money from.

• United States: Maximum USD 50,000
• United Kingdom: Maximum GBP 50,000
• Canada: Maximum 5,000 CAD
• European countries: Maximum EUR 50,000
• Australia: Maximum 50,000 AUD
• Singapore: Maximum 5,000 SGD

Be sure to check the money transfer limits for your country by visiting your local Western Union website.

How long does it take for Western Union to send money overseas?

How fast will Western Union delivery your money depends on what type of service you choose when sending money with them. Below is a summary of Western Union money transfer speed.

• 2-5 business days for most bank transfers
• Generally within minutes for transfers to mobile wallets
• Within minutes for cash pickup at an agent location
• Next day at agent location for Western Union Next Day payout option
• For Bill Payments, speed depends on that of the merchant or the biller

How can I pay for my Western Union money transfer?

Western Union allows you to fund your money transfer transaction in many flexible ways that include the options below.

• Bank account transfer for online money transfers
• Paying with cash at a Western Union branch or agent location
• Credit Card payment
• Debit Card payment
• Local payment methods - Western Union has a strong support for many local payment methods that are popular in specific countries. For example, Trustly for sending money from Sweden, iDEAL for money transfers from the Netherlands, and POLi in Australia and New Zealand. We recommend you always check your local Western Union website or mobile app to see if Western Union accepts your local payment methods.

Western Union allows you to pay for your money transfer with a variety of ways, including local payment methods for some countries.

How can my recipient get paid with Western Union?

With Western Union, there are many ways you can choose to pay your recipient. These are generally called delivery or payout methods.

Western Union supports the delivery methods listed below.

• Bank account transfer to credit money straight to your recipient's bank account
• Pickup cash at a Western Union branch or agent location
• Credit to a Mobile Wallet (only in some countries)
• Direct deposit to a card (only in some countries)

You can choose several electronic delivery methods with Western Union to pay your recipient, as well as cash pickup.

Are there any Western Union coupon codes or promotions I can use?

Using promotions and deals is a great way to get more of your hard earned money. Western Union does offer promotions from time to time that you can take advantage of.

To find the latest Western Union coupon codes, offers and promotions, simply search for your source and destination countries on RemitFinder. Then, in the search results, look for the Western Union listing and you will see any active deals listed. You can click on a deal name to find out more information about it and steps on how to redeem it.

Be sure to check back on this page regularly for any future Western Union offers and discounts. You can also sign up for the RemitFinder free daily exchange rate alert, and we will keep you updated with the latest exchange rates and deals right in your mailbox.

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Is Western Union a safe way to send money abroad?

Western Union is a well trusted global brand that takes the security of your money as well as confidential information very seriously.

To move your money overseas safely, Western Union follows industry best practices like KYC (know your customer) and photo identification to ensure that you are sending your money, and not someone else with unauthorized access.

Western Union also makes consumers aware about how to avoid fraud. Additionally, Western Union also invests in educating their partners and agents about security and safety.

Can I trust Western Union?

Western Union is a licensed money transfer operator in all countries it operates in, and complies with legal and regulatory requirements of those countries. We present few examples below.

• Western Union is licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services to operate in the US
• Western Union is regulated by the Austrian Financial Market Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority we well as by the Prudential Regulation Authority in the UK
• Western Union is licensed by the Financial Markets Authority in Austria for its European operations

Make sure you check the Western Union website in your country to see local licensing and regulatory status.

Given the above, and an additional strong focus on security, you can trust Western Union with your money.

Western Union implements a variety of best practices to send money overseas in a secure manner.

How good is Western Union's service?

A great way to know the strengths and weaknesses of a product or service is to see what other customers are saying about it. Let's examine what other remitters say about Western Union's money transfer services.

What do users have to say about Western Union?

Below is a summary of Western Union's reviews and ratings^ on various platforms.

• Western Union is rated 3.4/5.0 on Trustpilot and has more than 21k reviews
• On the Google Play Store, Western Union has a 4.5/5.0 rating with more than 225k reviews
• Western Union's rating on the Apple Store is 4.8/5.0 with more than 470k reviews
• Western Union is rated 4.7/5.0 on RemitFinder

^Ratings on various platforms as on February 06, 2022

Western Union has good reviews overall, which seems to indicate that users are mostly happy with its money transfer services.

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Is Western Union the best choice for me?

Based on our detailed review and analysis, we find Western Union money transfer to be stronger in the below areas as compared to its competitors.

• Comprehensive country and currency support - you can send money from almost anywhere to anywhere with Western Union
• Cost effective - Western Union fees are low (sometimes 0) if you use electronic payment and delivery methods
• Sending larger amounts - Western Union has higher sending limits so you can send more in a single transaction
• Local payment method support - With Western Union, you can pay for your money transfer with local payment methods in supported countries, many of which entail 0 or low fees in the local market

RemitFinder likes Western Union money transfer for global corridor coverage, higher sending limits, lower fees for electronic transfers and support for local payment methods in some countries.

What are the best reasons to use Western Union?

Given the aforementioned advantages that Western Union money transfer has, below are some reasons to use Western Union for sending money overseas.

• Depending on your sending/receiving country/currency pairs, it is possible that Western Union may be your best option to send money overseas. Many markets have lesser remittance providers, and Western Union's comprehensive corridor coverage gives you a potentially attractive option to send money. Western Union may have much better rates and fees compared to your bank, so check them out when you are ready to send money.
• Western Union is a great choice to send money abroad if you need to send smaller amounts regularly. This is because Western Union tends to have lower fees, especially if you choose electronic payment and delivery options. If you sustain your family back home by sending money every week or month, Western Union's lower fees can help you save a good amount of money over a longer period of time.
• If you need to send larger sums, especially in a single transfer, Western Union is a great option to do so. For example, you can send up to USD 50,000 in a single transaction from the US.
• If you happen to reside in a country where local payment methods are supported by Western Union, it may be cost effective to use Western Union. This is because a local payment method is generally cheaper than other ways to pay for your money transfer.

There are several money transfer scenarios for which Western Union is a great fit.

What type of transfers can I make with Western Union?

You can use a variety of money transfer types with Western Union. Some of these include the following.

• Send money using a multitude of payment and delivery methods mentioned earlier; for example, bank to bank transfers, bank transfers to cash pickup, credit/debit card transfer to bank account or cash pickup, etc.
• Pay your mortgage, rent, utilities and other bills easily and conveniently
• Send Money Orders
• Prepaid Mobile Phone Minutes
• Reload mobile minutes around the world
• Pay bills for family members in Mexico

What are various ways to send money with Western Union?

Western Union offers many fast and easy options for sending money around the world. You can use any of the below options to send money with Western Union.

• Send money with the WU app
• Download the WU mobile app
• Send money online at WU.com
• Send money in-person at a location
• Find a Western Union money transfer location

How to send and receive money with Western Union?

Sending and receiving money with Western Union is fairly easy. You can follow the below step by step guide to easily utilize Western Union for your money transfers.

Step by step guide to send money with Western Union

Follow these easy steps to use Western Union money transfer services.

• Step 1 - Determine if Western Union is the right choice for your money transfer. One easy way to decide this is by relying on RemitFinder's money transfer comparison platform that compares numerous remittance companies in a single view to help you decide the best one for your needs.
• Step 2 - Create your Western Union account on the website or the mobile app. You will need to provide your personal information as well as photo ID to comply with KYC requirements.
• Step 3 - Configure your payment option. We recommend using a bank transfer as Western Union charges very low (often 0) fees if you pay directly via a bank account transfer.
• Step 4 - Add recipient information including name, address and bank account information if paying to their bank account.
• Step 5 - Choose your country and currency pair, pick the amount you want to send, and start a money transfer transaction. This can be done on either the Western Union website or mobile app.
• Step 6 - Ensure your transaction gets accepted successfully. Western Union may ask you for additional documentation or proof to protect you against fraud.
• Step 7 - Once the transaction is accepted, Western Union will keep you posted about progress. You will also be notified when your recipient gets the money. Be sure to verify with your recipient that they got the funds successfully.

Both the Western Union website and mobile app have a clean and streamlined flow to help you finish your money transfers easily and quickly.

How can Western Union help me send money?

If you're sending money to family and friends, traveling, moving to a different country or if you are in business, you'll find a reliable and easy money transfer solution in Western Union.

Learn more about sending money to the following countries across the globe:

• Send Money to India with Western Union
• Send Money to Mexico with Western Union
• Send Money to Philippines with Western Union
• Send Money to Nigeria with Western Union
• Send Money to Cuba with Western Union
• Send Money to China with Western Union
• Send Money to Jamaica with Western Union
• Send Money to Pakistan with Western Union
• Send Money to Canada with Western Union
• Send Money to Europe with Western Union
• Send Money to Africa with Western Union
• Send Money to Latin America with Western Union
• Send Money to United States with Western Union

Do I need a Western Union account to receive money?

You do not need a Western Union account to receive money. When you send money via Western Union, your recipient can receive the funds directly into their account, or pick up cash at an agent location.

Additionally, your recipient can also receive money into a mobile wallet, or get a mobile airtime top up.

There is no need for the recipient to have a Western Union account to be able to receive money you send via Western Union.

Does Western Union have a mobile app?

Yes, Western Union has a mobile app both for Android as well as iOS users. You can send money on the go with the Western Union^® mobile app.

• Send money quickly from your mobile phone
• Check exchange rates*** instantly
• Track your transfer
• Download the Western Union app

How do I track my Western Union transfer?

You can easily track your Western Union transfer via either the website or mobile app. Simply go to your transaction history to see the latest status on your transactions.

Western Union also sends you notifications to keep you posted of progress as your money transfer transaction proceeds to next steps.

Can I use Western Union for international bank transfers?

Yes, you can use Western Union for making international bank transfers. To do this, simply choose both your payment and delivery methods as direct bank transfer.

This way, your money transfer will be funded via your bank account in sending currency. Similarly, your recipient will also get money straight into their bank account.

Is Western Union online better than sending money in-person in stores?

Online money transfers via Western Union are convenient and you can use them from the comfort of your home or office. You can do online transfers via the Western Union website or mobile app.

That said, you may want to go into a Western Union agent location if you are sending cash, or if your recipient is picking up cash. Cash transfers are available within minutes, so if sending money quickly is important, you may want to choose this option.

Use Western Union online for convenience and ease of use. If you need to send cash quickly, send money in-person at an agent location.

Does Western Union have a rewards program?

Western Union does have a rewards program that rewards you for sending money with them. You can sign up for a My WU^® membership to earn rewards².

You'll earn points³ when you send qualifying transfers and bill payments. You can redeem these points for benefits like fee reductions⁴.

What customer support options are available with Western Union?

There are many ways to contact Western Union customer support team. These include:-

• Chat with a support agent
• Email Western Union customer support team
• Contact Western Union support via phone

Can I cancel my Western Union transfer?

You may be able to cancel your Western Union transaction if the funds have not been deposited into your recipient's account, or not picked up at an agent location yet.

You can use any of the following methods to cancel your Western Union transfer.

• Use Western Union website or mobile app to cancel online transfers
• Visit the agent location to cancel in person transfers
• Within the US, call customer service to cancel phone transfers

How do I delete my Western Union account?

If you need to delete your Western Union account, you will need to contact their customer service team to do so.

Note that account deletion will mean losing any points you may have accumulated with Western Union. Additionally, your transaction history will also be completely lost.

Additional Information

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

• Western Union is licensed in the US as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services.
• In the UK, Western Union is regulated by the Austrian Financial Market Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority we well as by the Prudential Regulation Authority.
• In the EU zone, Western Union is licensed by the Financial Markets Authority in Austria.

Regulatory information is available for each country that Western Union operates in; you can generally find this info in the footer of the Western Union website for that country.

Helpful Links

• RemitFinder's blog on how to send money to a bank account with Western Union
• RemitFinder's detailed Western Union vs MoneyGram comparison

*** Western Union also makes money from currency exchange. When choosing a money transmitter, carefully compare both transfer fees and exchange rates. Fees, foreign exchange rates and taxes may vary by brand, channel, and location based on a number of factors. Fees and rates subject to change without notice.

¹ Service and funds availability depends on certain factors including the service selected, the selection of delayed delivery options, special terms applicable to each service, amount sent, destination country, currency availability, regulatory issues, consumer protection issues, identification requirements, delivery restrictions, agent location hours, and differences in time zones.

² My WU enrollment requires a valid e-mail address.

³ Earn 1 point for every $1 in qualifying transfer fees spent on a single transaction.

⁴ Fee reductions apply only to the Western Union transfer fee for a single Western Union Money Transfer or retail Quick Collect/ Quick Pay transaction. Excludes all other services, including without limitation, online bill payments, and money transfers via social/chat applications. Points used will not be reversible and if amount of transfer fee is less than redeemed discount, no cash, credit or refund will be provided. Western Union reserves the right to offer promotional discounts that cannot be combined with My WU fee reductions.