Sending Money from the United States to the Philippines

Now that you have a loved one in the Philippines you may find that you need to send money in a quick safe and secure manner. Whether you are sending money to help your fiancé out with rent food or everyday living expenses you want to insure that the money gets to them without costing more than it should.

There are multiple ways to transfer money or funds from the United States to the Philippines. There are several things that you should look for when sending. First and foremost you want to use a service that is safe and secure. The process should be convenient and fast without costing too much. Look for competitive fees as sending money internationally can be very expensive. You will also want to look for favorable exchange rates as all money transfers are subject to these rates.

The most common and popular way to transfer money to the Philippines is money remittance through banks and money transfer operators (MTOs). This method of sending money is convenient for the sender in the U.S. and the recipient in the Philippines. This service is also very fast as funds are usually transferred and available the same day if not instantly. Money can be sent in Pesos or U.S. dollars.

It would be very beneficial for the recipient to have a checking or savings account at a local bank in the Philippines. They will require a banking account in order for you to make bank-to-bank transfers and to use many of the MTOs. You can send or transfer money without a banking account but there are more options available and the fees are usually lower when using a banking account. A banking account in the Philippines also provides added safety and security.

One other means of sending money is electronic transfer through ATM bank networks using an ATM/debit card or credit card. You can request an additional ATM/debit card or credit card from your bank and send it to the person you wish to send money to. This type of service can provide money instantly and at a lower cost than most MTOs. You will be subject to bank fees and international ATM fees. You may also be charged cash advance fees on credit cards. Check with your bank and/or credit card company regarding card fees and international fees.

Use common sense when sending money. Here are a few tips and reminders:

• Only send money to people that you know and trust.
• Never send cash in the mail.
• You should not send checks or money orders in plain envelopes or through the postal service. This is not a safe or secure method to send money or funds to someone in the Philippines. And postal service can be very slow in foreign countries.
• If you feel you must send money via mail use a shipping service such as FedEx or DHL and be sure to get the tracking number.
• Do not send ATM/debit cards or credit cards in the mail. Use a secure shipping service such as FedEx or DHL and track the shipment.
• Do not send pin numbers with ATM/debit cards or credit cards.
• Send or transfer funds through a reputable money transfer operator.
• Look for a bank that operates in both the United States and the Philippines – has branches in both countries.

We recommend Remitly to send money to Philippines. For just $3.99 you can send up to $2,999. And when you sign up here, you get a free $40 Amazon gift card too.

Banks in the Philippines:

Banco de Oro (BDO)

https://www.bdo.com.ph/personal

Metrobank

http://www.metrobank.com.ph/

Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)

http://www.bpiexpressonline.com/

Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP)

https://www.landbank.com/

Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP)

http://www.dbp.ph/

Philippine National Bank (PNB)

http://www.pnb.com.ph/

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC)

http://www.rcbc.com/

Unionbank of the Philippines (UBP)

http://www.unionbankph.com/

Chinabank

http://www.chinabank.ph/personal/

Citibank

http://www.citibank.com.ph/portal/citiph_home.htm

Banks with operations or branch offices in both the United States and Philippines:

Citibank USA

http://www.citibank.com/us/index.htm

HSBC USA

http://www.hsbcusa.com/

Citibank Philippines

http://www.citibank.com.ph/portal/citiph_home.htm

HSBC Philippines

http://www.hsbc.com.ph/1/2/home

Wells Fargo – offers remittance services to Philippines

https://www.wellsfargo.com/

Remittance Prices from United States to Philippines:

The World Bank

http://remittanceprices.worldbank.org/en
Disclaimer: Information provided in this article relating to the banks money transfer operators fees and exchange rates is provided for general information only. Questions regarding services fees and charges should be directed to your bank of financial institution.