Send Money to the USA from Australia

International trade between Australia and the USA is worth billions of dollars a year, so it’s no wonder there are so many different ways available you can send money to the USA.  Some of the options you have available include:

• use an international money transfer company: this will be the cheapest and most efficient way to transfer money to the United States.  You’ll enjoy a highly competitive exchange rate, low fees and a fast money transfer to your destination in the States, which can be completed as soon as a matter of seconds after you send it (and usually within two days otherwise).  Savvy has partnered with a range of international money transfer companies to bring you a variety of trusted options to choose from to arrange your transfer quickly and easily, so you can compare your options right here and get your funds on the way before you know it.
• use your bank to complete a transfer: you could choose a bank transfer via direct debit from your transaction or savings account, but you may have to wait three to five business days for your funds to arrive and pay fees of up to $30 or more to make the transfer. As such, they’re rarely the best option available to you.
• complete an instant cash transfer: if you need to get money to the USA urgently, a cash transfer can get it there almost instantly.  You’ll have to pay extra to use a service like Western Union to make a cash transfer, but it can be collected in person almost immediately from a transfer service office in the US, of which there are thousands all over the country.  However, be aware that you won’t get the most advantageous exchange rate if you use a cash transfer option, and the fees charged can make this an expensive way of sending money to the United States.  It likely won’t be the best way of sending money overseas if your transfer isn’t urgent and can wait even a few hours.
• set up an international transfer account: some services, such as Wise, let you set up an international account on your phone where you can store more than 50 currencies. You can use this account to send money to another account overseas instantly or to transfer funds to your recipient’s bank account. You’ll get a highly competitive exchange rate and be charged low fees. This option is also effective if you want to take advantage of a high rate, convert your funds into USD and store them until you need them.
• send a pre-paid phone recharge or top-up: this is another option if your recipient doesn’t have a bank account, as you can send a phone recharge amount directly to a mobile phone through a phone service provider. However, you’ll pay higher fees and the exchange rate you’ll get won’t be comparable to a money transfer company. In addition, the funds are added to your recipient’s pre-paid phone SIM card rather than being available in cash.
• send a cheque or international money order in the post: sending a cheque or international money order in the post is slow and inefficient. Your recipient could end up waiting a long time (more than three weeks) for their money to arrive and there’s always the danger of the cheque getting lost in the post and not arriving at all. In contrast, you’ll often be able to track the (faster) progress of your transfer with a specialist provider through a mobile app or online platform. An international money transfer company is the most reliable way to transfer money overseas.