How to send money internationally with Western Union

Western Union is a safe, popular and convenient option for sending money overseas. You can send online, in the Western Union app, or in any of the 2,500+ agent locations in Malaysia, and have your money deposited to a bank or mobile money account, or collected in cash at one of 525,000 agents worldwide.

However, Western Union may not be the cheapest - or the fastest - way to send money, particularly for bank deposit. Western Union fees vary based on transfer type and destination, but they’ll usually include an exchange rate markup which pushes up the overall price. This guide covers all you need to know - including a look at some alternatives like Wise and WorldRemit for comparison.

Key points: Western Union money transfers

• Send in person, online or in an app - and have the money collected or deposited to a bank account or mobile wallet

• 2,500+ agents in Malaysia, and a global network of 525,000 locations - making it one of the largest money transfer services in the world

• Western union processes around 25 transfers a second, and sends payments to 200+ countries and territories

• Service options, fees and exchange rates can vary by send and receive options, and destination country

• Western Union makes money from currency exchange - this can mean that exchange rates include a markup

How to send money with Western Union: Step by step

One of the biggest advantages with Western Union is that you’ve got lots of options for arranging your transfer - and a selection of ways to have your money delivered, too. The different send options all have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the fees and exchange rates can vary based on which you pick. It’s worth weighing up your different send and receive methods to see which is most cost effective - and comparing Western Union with other providers too. More on that, later.

Let’s walk through how to send money with Western Union, step by step.

How to send money online with Western Union

To send money online with Western Union you’ll first need to register your account and get verified. This means that you have to visit an agent location in person and show your ID document. Once you have a verified account you can send payments online whenever you want to.

Here’s how to send money online with Western Union:

1. Log into your Western Union account online

2. Select Send Money

3. Follow the prompts to enter the amount you want to send, currency, pay in and pay out method

4. Enter the recipient details - this may be bank account information or their full name as shown on a government ID, depending on the pay out option selected

5. Pay for your transfer using FPX

6. You’ll get a tracking number, called an MTCN. If your recipient will collect the money in cash, you need to pass this number to them

How to send money with Western Union app

Before you can send money in the Western Union app, you’ll need to register your account and get verified. Enter your personal details to register an account in the app, and then visit an agent location in person and show your ID document. Once you have a verified account you can start to send payments in the Western Union app.

Here’s how to send money with Western Union app:

1. Open the Western Union app

2. Select Send Money

3. Follow the prompts to enter the amount you want to send, currency, pay in and pay out method

4. Enter the recipient details - this may be bank account information or their full name as shown on a government ID, depending on the pay out option selected

5. Pay for your transfer using FPX

6. You’ll get a tracking number, called an MTCN. If your recipient will collect the money in cash, you need to pass this number to them

How to send money from a Western Union location in person

Sending a payment in person means you’ll get the help of an agent to complete all the required details. However, fees may be higher for this service.

Here’s how to send a payment in person from a Western Union agent:

1. Locate a convenient Western Union store with the branch locator tool

2. Head to the agent and complete a send money form - you’ll need to show your government issued ID, and you’ll need to have all the recipient’s details to hand

3. Pay for your transfer with cash - some agents also allow card payments

4. You’ll get an email with your tracking number (MTCN) which you can pass to the recipient if they’re collecting their payment in cash

How to start your transfer online, and pay in Western Union store

You can also start your payment online or in the Western Union app, and then complete it by paying in a Western Union branch. This is handy if you want to pay in cash, or if it’s your first payment and you need to visit an agent to get verified before you can fully arrange transfers online.

Here’s how to start your transfer online and pay in a Western Union location:

1. Log into your Western Union account online

2. Select Send Money

3. Follow the prompts to enter the amount you want to send, currency, pay in and pay out method

4. Enter the recipient details - this may be bank account information or their full name as shown on a government ID, depending on the pay out option selected

5. Head to a Western Union agent near you, and pay for your transfer with cash - some agents also allow card payments

6. You’ll get an email with your tracking number (MTCN) which you can pass to the recipient if they’re collecting their payment in cash

Alternatives to Western Union money transfer

Western Union allows you to send money to more or less any country in the world, but they’re not necessarily the cheapest option. It’s worth comparing a few alternatives to see which is the best value for your specific transfer.

Here are some alternatives to Western Union in Malaysia, that you might want to consider:

• Wise money transfer: Send to 160+ countries with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.43%, payments are deposited to bank accounts and can arrive quickly or even instantly

• WorldRemit transfer: Send to 130+ countries, with options to have money collected in cash, deposited to a bank or mobile money account, or used as airtime top up
• MoneyGram transfer: Send to 200+ countries and territories, with options to pay online or in person, and to have payments delivered to bank and mobile money accounts and for cash collection
• BigPay money transfer: Send to 45 countries, with fixed fees and competitive rates. Money is deposited into your recipient’s bank account

Here’s a quick head to head of these Western Union alternatives so you can see if any may suit you:

In summary:

Wise vs Western Union: Wise can be faster than Western Union, uses the mid-market exchange rate, and the fees are transparent - however, there’s no option to pay in person, or to have your money collected in cash

WorldRemit vs Western Union: WorldRemit offers overlapping delivery services with Western Union, but you can also have money sent as airtime top up - there’s no option to pay for your transfer in person with WorldRemit, though

MoneyGram vs Western Union: MoneyGram and Western Union have quite similar services, including options to pay in and collect in cash. MoneyGram has a smaller global agent network, which may be a disadvantage

BigPay vs Western Union: BigPay is primarily a payment card and ewallet, but also offers fixed fee transfers locally and overseas - transfers within Malaysia are convenient, cheap and quick, but there’s no cash pay in or delivery option

Pros and cons of Western Union money transfer

Western Union is one of the longest established international money transfer services in the world and has a huge global reach. It’s safe, reliable and offers a great range of choices in how you pay in and pay out. However, the costs aren’t always the most competitive, and before you can transact digitally you’ll need to visit an agent in person, which isn’t always convenient.

Whether Western Union or an alternative is right for you will depend on the specific service you need. If you want to send money for deposit to a bank, check out Wise as a smart digital provider which uses the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees. If having your money collected in cash is important, take a look at MoneyGram compared to Western Union, as the services are quite similar. And if you’ve already got a BigPay wallet and card, they’re also worth considering, for fixed price transfers to a selection of global and regional destinations.

What information do you need to send money through Western Union?

When you send money with Western Union you’ll need to give the recipient’s full name as shown on their ID document if you’re having it collected in cash.

If you’re sending to a bank account you’ll need the following information to send money with Western Union:

• The recipient’s full name

• The recipient’s bank account number or IBAN

• The recipient’s bank name and address

• The recipient bank SWIFT code, and any other local bank identifier code (which can vary based on destination country)

If you’re collecting a payment from Western Union in cash, you’ll need to have the following details:

• The full name of the sender

• The country where the money was sent from

• The approximate amount that was sent

• The tracking number (MTCN – Money Transfer Control Number)

• A government issued ID document

Western Union transfer fees

The Western Union fees you pay will depend on a few things:

• Where you’re sending money to

• How much you want to send

• How you want to pay

• How the money will be received

You can model your payment in the Western Union app or on their desktop site, to see the options. Bear in mind the exchange rate may also change depending on your selections, which can also change the overall cost.

How can I avoid Western Union transfer fees?

You may not be able to completely avoid Western Union transfer fees, but there are often ways to cut the costs of your overseas payment.

Here are some tips to avoid Western Union tips:

• Model your payment online or in the app to check the costs of all transfer options

• Remember to look at the exchange rates as well as the fees - extra charges can be rolled into the rates used

• See if there are any new customer promotions available, which can reduce the costs for one or two payments

• Compare your options with Western Union against some alternatives to see which is best for your particular payment

Western Union exchange rates

Western Union makes money from currency exchange. What that means is that when Western Union converts your ringgit for the currency needed for collection or delivery, you may get a worse exchange rate than they get when they buy and sell currencies on the open market. To see this in action you’ll need to know the mid-market rate for your currency pair.

The mid-market rate is a good benchmark as it’s the one providers like Western Union get when they buy and sell currency themselves. However, this rate isn’t often passed on to customers. Instead, a markup is added - a fee that's hard to spot.

Here’s how the Western Union alternatives we covered earlier manage exchange rates:

• Wise money transfer: Mid-market rate 
• WorldRemit transfer: Exchange rates include a markup
• MoneyGram transfer: Exchange rates include a markup
• BigPay transfer: Exchange rates are competitive, but may still include a markup

How long does it take Western Union to send money?

Western Union payments sent for cash collection or to mobile wallets usually arrive quickly or even instantly. Money sent with Western Union to a bank account can take up to 5 days to arrive, depending on the destination.

Is it cheaper to send money with a bank or Western Union?

The cheapest provider for your payment depends on the details of the transfer and how you want to have the money collected. Exchange rate markups can make a payment pretty costly even if a service says there’s no transfer fee. Here’s how an example payment works out , sending 1,000 MYR to the US:

As you can see, the recipient gets the same amount in this example with both Western Union and Wise. However, you’ll pay more with Western Union because the fee is added to the send amount. That means that to send 1,000 MYR you’ll actually have to pay 1,005 MYR with Western Union.

Learn more here: Wise money transfer review & WorldRemit review

Is Western Union safe to send money?

Western Union is licensed in Malaysia by Bank Negara Malaysia, and also by similar bodies around the world. It is safe to use as long as you stick with Western Union’s guidelines.

Bear in mind that criminals use Western Union to try to fraudulently get money from victims. You should only send money to people you know and trust.

Learn more: Is Western Union safe?

How to receive money from Western Union

You can receive money with Western Union conveniently in Malaysia, either in cash or to a bank account. Here’s what you’ll need to know.

How to receive money from Western Union with a bank account

To get money from someone on Western Union and have it deposited to your bank account you’ll just need to give the person sending you money your full name, as shown on your bank account, as well as your account number and bank name. You’ll also need your bank’s SWIFT code and any other local banking information, such as a sort code if you’re sending money to the UK.

Once the money is on the way you can sit back and just wait for it to be delivered. It’ll be available in your bank account in anything up to 5 days depending on where the sender is located.

How to receive cash from Western Union

To receive cash through Western Union you’ll need to visit a Western Union agent location in Malaysia. Remember to get the MTCN tracking number from the sender.

Make sure you have the following documents and information before you visit the agent, for a smooth experience you need these information to receive money sent with Western Union:

• The full name of the sender

• The country where the money was sent from

• The approximate amount that was sent

• The tracking number (MTCN – Money Transfer Control Number)

• A government issued ID document

How to receive money from Western Union without a bank account

To receive money with Western Union without a bank account, all you’ll need to do is to ask the sender to request that the payment is sent to you for cash collection. Then you can get your money in cash at an agent close to you - often instantly.

How to track Western Union money transfers

You can easily track a Western Union transfer using a MTCN - the tracking number that’s given to the sender when the payment is processed. Online, or in the Western Union app, you can tap the Track a transfer option, and then enter your MTCN to see where your money is. Payments sent for cash collection can often be collected almost instantly, while bank deposits may take up to 5 days to arrive.

Western Union transfer limits

The Western Union transfer limits you’ll need to know do depend on how you set up your payment:

Conclusion: Western Union money transfer

Western Union is convenient and easy to use - plus you can send money in person, online and in-app, to more or less any country in the world. However, the costs aren’t always the very best out there, and there are some quite low transfer limits you’ll need to know about. Western Union exchange rates also include a markup which may push up the overall costs, and can make it harder to figure out exactly what you’re paying for your transfer in full.

Compare your options with Western Union against some alternatives to see which best suits you. Check out Wise for transfers to a bank account which use the mid-market rate with low, transparent fees - or consider an alternative like WorldRemit if you want your money to be collected in cash by your recipient.