Send money in more than 60 currencies and avoid transaction fees.
Good for sending money in 60+ currencies through the app or online.
Not so great if you need the money transferred instantly or want to pay by credit card.
This product is not currently available via Finder. Visit the provider's website directly, or compare other options.
AUD 2,000
Min. Transfer Amount
No limit
Max. Transfer Amount
2 days
Transfer Speed
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Tim Falk is a writer for Finder, writing across a diverse range of topics. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, Tim has reported on everything from travel and personal finance to pets and TV soap operas. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors.
Currencies Direct doesn't charge any fees or commissions on most transactions, but if a fee does apply to your transfer for some reason then this amount is declared upfront.
However, even if there aren't any transaction fees, it's important to be aware that the total cost of your transaction will be determined by the exchange rate you receive. Currencies Direct adds a margin on top of the mid-market exchange rate and updates its rates every few seconds. But once you book a transfer over the phone or online, the rate you have agreed upon will be locked in, regardless of market fluctuations that may occur before your transaction is completed.
Calculate how much sending money overseas would cost with Currencies Direct by using our tool below.
Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.
Available currencies
Currencies Direct lets you send money overseas in more than 60 currencies, including:
What types of transfers can you make with Currencies Direct?
Currencies Direct offers personal and business transfers.
Personal transfers
You can send the following types of transfers online or using the Currencies Direct mobile app:
Spot contracts. Spot contracts allow you to make an immediate, one-off transfer.
Forward contracts. If you're willing to pay a small deposit, you can lock in an exchange rate now for a transaction that will take place in up to one year's time.
Recurring payments. If you need to make a regular ongoing payment, such as paying rent on an overseas property, Currencies Direct lets you automate your recurring transactions.
Limit orders. You can use a limit order to specify the exchange rate you want and Currencies Direct will automatically execute the transaction when that rate becomes available.
Business transfers
International payment solutions for businesses include:
Incoming payments. Manage your payments in a multi-currency account that accepts GBP, EUR, USD and JPY.
Outgoing payments. Business customers can make international payments in more than 120 currencies.
Risk management solutions. Currencies Direct offers a range of risk management tools to help businesses protect themselves against market volatility and lock in a better exchange rate.
Online sellers. Currencies Direct multi-currency accounts allow sellers to receive payments from and send money to international suppliers.
How long does a transfer with Currencies Direct take?
Transfer times vary depending on where you are sending money and how long it takes for your funds to arrive into Currencies Direct's account.
While transfers to Europe can often be completed on the same day, most transactions take between 24 and 48 hours.
What payment methods does Currencies Direct accept?
Currencies Direct accepts two payment methods:
Bank transfer
Debit card (GBP and EUR cards only)
Transfers typically take
2 days
Is Currencies Direct safe to use?
Security and regulation: Regulated in more than five countries
Established: 1996
Number of customers: 275,000
Reviews: TrustScore of 9.5/10* based on 3,000+ reviews on Trustpilot
Locations: More than 20 branches worldwide
According to Currencies Direct and Trustpilot on 12 June 2019
Currencies Direct is based in the UK and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Established in 1996, it claims to have helped more than 275,000 people and businesses send international money transfers.
Currencies Direct also has a level 1 credit rating with Dun & Bradstreet, and it keeps all of its customers' funds in a segregated client account.
Country
Regulated by
UK
Financial Conduct Authority
France
French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority
South Africa
Financial Services Board
USA
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
Canada
Financial Transactions and Report Centre of Canada
Spain
Bank of Spain
How does Currencies Direct make money?
Currencies Direct makes money on the spread. This is the difference between the wholesale rate at which it buys currency – which is commonly known as the mid-market or interbank rate – and the price at which it sells currency to customers.
How to register an account
You can sign up for a free account with Currencies Direct by completing the following steps:
Navigate your way to the Currencies Direct website and click the "Register" link in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
Choose the type of account you want to open – Personal, Business or Online Seller.
Enter your email address and create a password for your account.
Provide your full name, date of birth and address, and select the option to open a joint account if required.
To verify your ID, you'll need to upload details of your driver's licence, passport or Medicare card.
Review all the details of your account application before submitting.
How do I make an international money transfer with Currencies Direct?
To send money overseas, complete the following steps:
Visit the Currencies Direct website and log into your account.
Start a new transfer and enter the details of your transaction, including the transfer amount, the currency and who you're sending the money to.
Lock in an exchange rate for your transaction.
Send a bank transfer or use a GBP/EUR debit card to pay for your transaction.
Currencies Direct will send the transfer as soon as it receives your payment.
What is Currencies Direct?
Founded in London in 1996, Currencies Direct has since helped more than 275,000 personal and business customers send money overseas. Today, it has 20 offices across the UK, Spain, France, Portugal, the US, South Africa, India and China. Currencies Direct is authorised by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority as an Electronic Money Institution.
In a nutshell
Pros
Established company. Currencies Direct was established in 1996 and has branches in 20 countries.
Wide range of supported currencies.
No transaction fees. Most transfers sent with Currencies Direct do not attract any transaction fees.
Transfer app available. Android and iOS users can send transfers from their mobile devices using the Currencies Direct app.
Cons
No Australian locations. Currencies Direct is based in the UK and has branches on four continents, but it doesn't have any locations in Australia.
Can't pay by credit card. Currencies Direct doesn't accept credit card payments.
Not suitable if you want to send a fast transfer. If time is critical and you want to get funds to your recipient within minutes, you'll need to consider other transfer services.
How does Currencies Direct compare to other providers?
Want to see how Currencies Direct compares to the competition? Enter your transfer details into the calculator below and see how much your transaction will cost with a range of money transfer providers.
Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.
TorFX guarantees to match any competitor's exchange rate. Conditions apply. TorFX sends money overseas in 30+ currencies, with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.
Better exchange rates for Finder customers. WorldFirst sends 60+ currencies at competitive rates with no fees. If you find a better eligible quote, WorldFirst will beat it.
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