*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure.
How to send a MoneyGram.

Updated: April 12, 2020

If you need to send money to loved ones in 2020, MoneyGram can get the job done fast! But there are two questions you’re probably asking yourself. “Is MoneyGram safe?” and “How to send a MoneyGram transfer?”

First, you can rest assured that MoneyGram is safe! It’s the second-largest money transfer company in the world, operates in over 200 countries, and has 350,000 MoneyGram agent locations around the globe. So, it’s definitely legit!

Personally, I’ve used it on a monthly basis for around 4 years without any issues. Just make sure you know who you’re sending money to!

Second, how does MoneyGram work? It’s incredibly easy to send money and there are two ways to do it:


In-person at a MoneyGram location
To send money in-person you’ll have to find a location. Make sure you bring your ID, the money you want to transfer and the receiver’s information.
Online This is by far the quickest and easiest way to send money to someone. You can either transfer money through their website or through their app on your smartphone.

 

To send cash in-person, you’ll need to find a MoneyGram agent location near you. Agents can be any retailer, like Walmart, CVS, even small mom and pop shops or convenience stores.

When you’re ready to go and make the transfer, make sure you bring:

Your ID
The recipient’s full name (make sure you use the name that matches their ID)
The recipient’s location
The cash you want to transfer (don’t forget to consider fees and the currency exchange rate).
Recipient’s bank account, mobile wallet or Visa debit card info (depending on how you want them to receive the money). If you want them to pick up cash in-person, you won’t need their bank or mobile wallet info.

 

 

During your agent visit:

Complete a MoneyGram Send Form. Give the cashier the completed form and payment amount.
Once the transaction is complete, you’ll receive an 8-digit tracking number.

 

 

After leaving the location:

Keep your receipt and give the 8-digit tracking number to the recipient (you can text or e-mail it). They won’t be able to pick up the cash without this number. Funds sent to their account will be deposited directly.

 

And there you have it. See?

Easy-peasy.

Transferring Cash Online

As easy as sending money in-person is, sending it online is a whole lot easier. Here’s a quick rundown of the steps involved:

  • visit their site (or opening the app) and enter the transfer amount
  • double-check your info
  • enter the receiver’s personal details
  • enter your payment info
  • give the 8-digit reference number to the recipient

1. Visit their website

The first thing you’ll see when you go to MoneyGram.com is a fee estimator. With this tool you can see just how much it’ll cost you to send the money before doing anything else.

Enter the amount you want to transfer and select country you want to transfer it to. After entering the amount and recipient’s country, click “Estimate Fees” to see the exchange rates plus fees that will apply.

You can see in the screenshot below that the fee estimator shows you the different ways you can send money. It also shows the different ways the recipient can receive the cash.

If everything looks good and you want to continue with the transfer, click “Get Started” and you’ll be prompted to login or create an account if you don’t have one already. Go ahead and enter your login details or sign up for a new account (it’s free).

 2. Double-check your info

After you create your account, the amount that you entered in the fee estimator should still be there now that you’re logged in. If you didn’t use the estimator and went straight to create an account, you’ll have to enter how much you want to transfer now.

You most likely want the recipient to receive a flat amount (i.e. $50 instead of $53.46). If so, you can enter the amount you want them to get in the receive box.

If you want to send a flat amount instead, enter that amount in the send box. Whenever you type into one box, the other will automatically be updated with the appropriate amount.

3. Enter the receiver’s details

Next, you’ll need to enter your receiver’s name and select how they’re going to get the money.

Remember, it’s a requirement that the name you enter for the receiver exactly matches the name that’s on their ID. If there’s any discrepancy they may not be able to pick-up the money.

If they’re going to pick-up the cash, you shouldn’t need any other info. But if they’re getting the money a different way Money Gram will ask you for more info.

For example, if you deposit money into their bank account, you’ll need their bank’s info. Or if you’re depositing it into a mobile wallet, you’ll need their phone number and mobile wallet info.

4. Enter your payment information

Next you’ll be asked to enter your billing information.

The information they’ll ask you for depends on how you decided to make the payment.

Payment method Info Needed
Pay by bank Bank account information (account number and routing number) and billing address
Pay by debit/credit card Credit card number, expiration, billing address
Pay in-store Address, form of ID

5. Send the reference number to the receiver

After sending your transfer, you’ll receive an 8 digit reference number. Make sure you give this reference number to the receiver because it’s one of the requirements for receiving the money!

There you have it! You’re all done!

MoneyGram FAQ

Can a transfer expire?

Yes! If the recipient doesn’t pick up the funds within 90 days, the transfer will be considered an Expired Transfer. If you become aware of an Expired Transfer, contact MoneyGram for a refund.

Is MoneyGram open on Sundays?

You can transfer cash online any day, any time. You can also transfer cash in-person on Sundays as well, but it will depend on the agent you’re going to visit. The various agents have different business hours, and some may not be open on Sunday.

 

What’s my transfer limit with?

Requirements vary by country. But in the United States and most other countries, you can transfer up to $10,000 per online transfer, with a max transfer rate of $10,000 per month. (In the United Kingdom, the limit is 7,600 pounds.) If you need to, you can also transfer additional money with an agent.

Which countries are not available for money transfers?

I couldn’t find a comprehensive list of countries that are excluded. But during my search on their site, I noticed that these countries weren’t available to transfer funds to using MoneyGram: Burma, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria.

Wrap-up

With MoneyGram, you can transfer cash to loved ones anywhere in the world with confidence and peace of mind. And whether you send regular remittances or the occasional gift, nobody makes it easier and gives you more options.

So, if you need to send money in a hurry, I’d definitely recommend MoneyGram!

 

Cheers!

0 0 votes
Article Rating
The following two tabs change content below.

Oliver

Hi! I'm Oliver Holmes, a CPA, financial expert, and co-founder of The Wealthy Alchemist. My goal is to help individuals and families, make money, save money, and improve their overall financial position. I believe that improving your finances is 5% strategy and 95% discipline and self improvement. In short, we believe that in order to grow your wealth you must first grow yourself.
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x