Western Union is the largest and most well known money transfer provider worldwide. With Western Union, you can send money that can be picked up as cash within minutes internationally or you can choose a cheaper alternative and transfer to bank accounts abroad. Since they have the biggest agent network in the world, you’ll be able to send money close to your wanted location.
Continue reading below to learn more about Western Union’s features and how to send money!
Western Union Give $20, Get $20 Referral Offer

Give $20, Get $20 Referral Offer
Right now you can refer up to 25 friends to Western Union and get rewarded a $20 Amazon.com e-gift code for every friend you refer. In addition, each friend you refer will get a $20 Amazon.com e-gift code for themselves.
Simply, follow these 3 steps to start earning your rewards:
- Go to the Refer a Friend page, Log in or sign up, and then invite up to 25 friends by sharing your personal referral link.
- Ask your friends to register using the link you shared. Once they send $100 or more within 30 days of creating the profile using WU.com or the Western Union® app, you will both be rewarded with a $20 Amazon.com e-gift code.
- Enjoy a reward for you and each of the friends you refer. Remember, referring 25 friends means you can earn $500 total-just from referrals.
(Scroll to the bottom to see the offer)
Western Union Summary
Transfer Limits | Depends on the receiving country |
Sending Channels | Western Union website
Western Union mobile app Western Union Agent location |
Payment Options | Bank account
Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards Cash at agent locations only |
Delivery Options | Bank & mobile wallet deposit
Cash pickup at an agent location Other options available in certain countries |
Transfer Speed | Minutes – seven days |
Western Union Fees & Rates
Just like other international money transfer service, there are two things to not of the transfer fees and exchange rates.
Transfer Fees
The transfer fees vary, it depends on the amount sent, the send and receive countries, and the paying and receiving methods. The most expensive combination is paying with a credit or debit card and receiving the money in cash. But the fees at an agent location may cost more than sending online.
Exchange Rates
Western Union makes part of its profit by charging exchange rate that is slightly higher than mid-market rate. But the larger the transfer amount, the better the exchange rate, so if you can bundle a few transfers into a single one, you’ll get a better deal.
Western Union Transfer Speed
Your transfer can be delivered anywhere and it can take a several minutes or a few business days to get there. The speed of the transfer depends on the transfer and the receiving methods!
Like cash pickups paid for by a credit or debit card only take minutes, BUT the downside is that it’s a more expensive combination. Compared to transfers from bank account to back account, the cheapest method, takes around one to two business days to process, sometimes up to five days.
Sending Method | Receiving Method | Average Speed |
Cash in person | Cash pickup | Minutes |
Credit or debit card online | Cash pickup | Minutes |
Bank account online | Cash pickup | 1 – 2 days |
Credit or debit card online | Bank account deposit | 1 – 2 days |
Bank account online | Bank account deposit | 1 – 2 days |
Cash in person | Bank account deposit | 1 – 2 days |
Any method, online or in person | Mobile wallet deposit | Minutes |
Step-By-Step Guide to Western Union
There are several ways to send money with Western Union. To start off, you’ll need the following:
- A Western Union account. It’s easy to set up, and it’s free.
- A valid payment method. That includes cash, bank account, and credit or debit card.
- Your recipient’s name and contact information.
- Your contact and payment information.
And once you’re sign up with Western Union, you can start a transfer by phone, face-to-face with an agent or online.
Phone Transfer
Call the Western Union toll free number, 1 (800) 325-6000, then provide the details of your transaction as well as your payment information.
In-Person Transfer
Pay a visit at one of Western Union’s 70,000 locations in North American to transfer funds using cash or a debit card. See locator here.
Online Transfer
You can go online to the Western Union website and click on “Send Money.” Then select the country you’re planning to send to, fill the amount you’re sending, and indicate how your recipient will collect their funds, then click “Continue.”
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Bottom Line
Western Union is one of the most popular methods to send or transfer money overseas! Available in over 200 countries including a wide range of payment and delivery options, no wonder why it is a choice among other money transfer services!
If this is not the one for you, see other money transfer services like Xoom, Remitly, and Transferwise! While you’re here on HMB, check out our list of the Best Cashback Apps and Cashback Shopping Portals. Also learn more ways to earn Credit Card Bonuses!
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