How to send money internationally from the US

Step by step

1. 1

   Decide how your family will get the money

   Most services pay out to a bank account, in cash at a pickup point or to a mobile wallet, and in some countries to a debit card or by home delivery. For a bank deposit you need the recipient's full name, bank and account number; in Mexico that is the CLABE. For cash pickup the recipient brings a valid ID and the transfer number you get after paying.

2. 2

   Look at the exchange rate as well as the fee

   The price has two parts: the transfer fee and the exchange rate. Banks and most transfer services make money on the rate; Wise uses the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buying and selling prices, and shows its fee separately. What counts is how much your family receives in local currency. Examples for Mexico on November 12, 2026: Remitly $1.99 to send $500 to a bank account with a debit card, Pangea $1.95 and Taptap Send $1.99 to a bank account, Félix Pago $2.99.

3. 3

   Check what your bank charges before you wire

   Chase charges $40 for an online international wire in dollars, $5 in foreign currency ($0 from $5,000) and $50 with a banker. Bank of America charges $45 for an international wire in dollars and no wire fee in foreign currency, but adds a markup to the exchange rate. Wells Fargo digital wires cost $0-30 and branch wires $40. Intermediary and receiving banks can deduct their own fees from the amount.

4. 4

   Pay from a bank account or a debit card if you can

   Since January 1, 2026, a 1% federal tax applies when you pay for a transfer abroad with cash, a money order or a cashier's check: $5 on $500. Paying from a bank account or with a card does not trigger it.

5. 5

   Have your ID ready for larger amounts

   For transfers of $3,000 or more, money transmitters must keep the sender's details whatever the payment method, so expect to show an ID and sometimes an SSN or ITIN. Limits grow with verification: at Western Union about $3,000 without extra checks and up to $50,000 after; at Xoom, a PayPal service, $2,999, $10,000 or $50,000 per 24 hours depending on the level.

6. 6

   Check the numbers and the delivery date before you confirm

   The service shows the exchange rate, the fees and the amount your family will receive before you confirm, and the receipt shows the date the money will be available; keep it until the money arrives. Speed depends on the service, the country and how you pay: at Pangea, card-funded transfers usually arrive in minutes and bank-account payments take 3-4 business days; Bank of America international wires typically arrive in 1-5 business days.

7. 7

   Act fast if something goes wrong

   If you sent money to a scammer, contact the company right away, ask it to reverse the transfer and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For an error, such as the wrong amount or money that never arrived, report it to the company first; if it does not fix it, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).