Send Money To Someone Without A Bank Account

Q: How much can I send to someone without a bank account?

The exact amount you can send to someone without using a bank account will vary depending on the receiving method and/or destination country involved in your transfer. Generally, the limit for a cash pickup or mobile wallet transfer is lower than that of a bank transfer. For exact limits for your transaction, it is best to visit our send money page and select your exact requirements.

Q: How long does it take to send money without a bank account?

How long it takes to send money without a bank account depends on the sending and receiving methods, and the destination country for your money transfer. While the sending limit may be lower without a bank account, the timings are generally quicker. When bank transfers are involved, the transfer can take several days 2 , whereas when sending and receiving methods involve cash, card and/or mobile wallet, the money can often be delivered within minutes 1 .

The days of sending money through the post – apart from the occasional grandparent on your birthday – have largely been replaced by online banking and online money transfer services.

Many people assume that at least one of the sender and the recipient require a bank account for this to take place, especially for an overseas transfer. But in fact, there are various ways to send money without a bank account and to receive money without a bank account.

Here’s how to send money to someone without a bank account, or send money without a bank account yourself.

How to send money without a bank account

Not sure how to send money abroad without a bank account? With Western Union, there are two main ways to transfer money without a bank account.

Card

The first way to send money without a bank account is to use a card that is not linked to a bank account. This can be a prepaid debit card or a credit² card that is not linked directly to an account. You can use a card to transfer money to a loved one for cash pickup, or depending on the destination country, to a mobile wallet².

Cash

The other way to send money without a bank account is to do so in person at one of thousands of agent locations in the UK. You can even begin a transfer on our website or app and lock in an agreed transfer rate before completing the transaction in person using cash. Here’s how:

Start on our website, or download the Western Union^® app to register for a free online profile or log in.

Next, you lock in your agreed exchange rate and fee by setting up the transfer.

Pay at a participating Western Union^® location within 24 hours of locking in your agreed rate.

Make sure to bring your photo ID and cash to complete the transfer. No paper forms mean a faster checkout.

How to send money to someone without a bank account

What if the receiver doesn’t have a bank account? With Western Union, there are two main ways to send money to someone without a bank account. Availability depends on their country of residence.

Cash pickup

Need to know how to send cash to someone without a bank account? In the vast majority of countries, your loved one can receive money by cash pickup at one of hundreds of thousands of agent locations worldwide, with no need for a bank account. To collect their money transfer, they’ll need to provide:

Their full name
The sender’s full name and country
The amount expected
An accepted ID document
Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN)

The MTCN is a 10-digit code that you as the sender will receive once the money transfer is approved for sending. You can share this – securely – with your loved one, so you can both follow the transfer’s progress. For more details on this, check out our guide on tracking a money transfer.

Mobile wallet

Western Union allows you to send money to a loved one’s mobile phone via a mobile wallet². When you send a mobile transfer, the money goes into the mobile wallet account² linked to your loved one’s phone number, with no need for a bank account.

If your loved one lives in one of the countries where we offer this service, you can send an international money transfer directly to their mobile phone. To be sure your money is transferred to the intended receiver, make sure to enter the correct mobile phone number. Also, make sure your loved one has activated a mobile wallet² with one of our partner mobile phone operators in their country of residence.

Once your money transfer proceeds, a confirmation with the tracking number (MTCN) will be sent to you. Both you and your recipient can use this tracking number to track the transfer. We’ll also confirm the successful delivery of the mobile money transfer.

Send money without a bank account to loved ones at all the special moments

No matter what your loved ones are celebrating, whether it’s a birthday, wedding, new business opportunity, or they just need a little support, we can get your money there. We’re here to help you send money without a bank account quickly and reliably.

Register today to start sending money

Quick and easy registration

It’s easy to register and start using our money transfer service to send money without a bank account.

Pay the way you like

Send money without a bank account in the way that suits you: credit card², debit card or cash.

Track your money transfer

Easily track your transfer to a loved one by using our website or app and your MTCN.

Committed to security

Our encryption and fraud prevention efforts help protect your Western Union^® money transfers.

Frequently asked questions on sending money without a bank account

How much can I send to someone without a bank account?

How long does it take to send money without a bank account?

¹ Transfer speed and fund availability may be affected by factors such as service choice, amount, destination, currency, regulations, ID requirements, and system availability of our banking partners. Not available for all transactions. See Terms for details.

² Additional third-party charges may apply.