Western Union money transfer: process and arrival time

What is Western Union?

Western Union is a global financial services and communications company that provides money transfer and payment services. It was founded in 1851 and has been a pioneer in the business of transferring money across long distances. Western Union's services allow individuals and businesses to send and receive money globally.

The company operates through a network of agents and physical locations, making it convenient for people to send and receive funds. Additionally, Western Union has expanded its services to include online money transfers and mobile transactions.

Customers can use Western Union to send money to friends or family, pay bills, or make other financial transactions. The recipient can then pick up the funds in cash at a Western Union location or have the money deposited into their bank account, depending on the service chosen.

How to send money through Western Union: step by step

Step 1: Be wary of fraudsters and scams

Before we begin, it’s important to know that there are many scams which ask people to send money via Western Union. Make sure you’re confident that you’re sending money to the right person, and for a genuine reason.

For example, if a third party contacts you to say that a friend or family member has had an emergency and needs cash quickly, you should always verify the details directly with the person involved.

Similarly, Western Union isn’t intended for online shopping like a service such as PayPal, and so it doesn’t have the same levels of buyer or seller protection as a service specialized in this area.

This means it’s not usually a good choice for online shopping or buying products through a service like Craigslist.

Step 2: Check all the details of your transfer

Once you’re sure that the person you’re sending money to is genuine, you have to collect and verify some details to make sure the process goes smoothly.

We covered the answer to the question: what does Western Union need to send money, earlier — so scroll up for the lowdown on what’s required according to the payment type.

Step 3: Set up the transfer

Process the transfer in a Western Union branch

Now you need to decide how to process the transfer — in a branch, online, or on the phone.

If you’d rather deal with someone face to face, you can send money via a Western Union office, using cash or sometimes a debit card, depending on the location.²

Process the transfer online or with the Western Union app

If you want to process your transfer online you’ll need to first create a profile to do so.

Once you have a profile, either on the website or app, you just select Send Money and follow the steps set out.

You can pay with cash by later visiting a Western Union office, or online by using a credit or debit card, or a bank transfer.

Process the transfer on the phone

Some transfers can be carried out on the phone using a credit or debit card.

However, this option won’t be available for all transfers, so check the availability in your particular circumstances.

Whichever route you choose, you must complete a form — either online, on the phone, or in hard copy — giving the details of both the payment and recipient.

Step 4: Choose how you want to pay

You’ll be asked how you wish to pay for the transfer, and in most cases, you can choose between cash if you’re in a branch, while online you can use credit or debit card, or a bank transfer.

The charges and fees for these different payment methods vary widely. We’ll cover these in more detail below.

Step 5: Pass the details of the transfer to the recipient

When you place the transfer, you’ll get a MTCN reference number. This is used by the recipient to collect the cash.

You’ll need to give the MTCN number to the recipient if they’re planning on visiting a local Western Union outlet to collect their cash.

Optional step: Trace the transfer

The MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number) is a tracking number given when you place your transfer and can be used if you need to trace the payment.

You can do this online, or by visiting a branch for help.

Step 6: Recipient collects the payment once processed

Processing time can vary from a few minutes to several days, depending on the payment method and whether the recipient is collecting in person or not.

The estimated processing time is shown at the point you place your transfer, and you can then track the progress of your transfer using your reference number if you need to.

Once the transfer is processed your recipient can collect it in a Western Union office, or draw it directly from their bank account if you opted for a bank transfer instead.

How does Western Union work to receive money?

If you’re receiving a Western Union payment to your bank account you won’t need to take any action at all.

The funds will simply be deposited into your account once the payment has been processed.

However, if you’ve agreed on a payment for cash collection, you’ll need to head to a Western Union agent near you with your government issued ID and the MTCN that the sender has given you.

Show your ID and confirm the MTCN to receive your payment in cash from the agent.

How long does it take for Western Union money transfer to arrive?

Money transfers are electronic transfers of money between banks that make it easy for a business or individual to send or receive funds. These transfers are done by using an interbank network that moves funds from one bank to another.

Domestic money transfers are typically completed in 24 hours while international money transfers are completed in one to five business days. Of course, these numbers aren’t universal and how long a money transfer takes ultimately depends on several factors.