Here's how to send a quick, affordable and secure money transfer to Poland.
As the world becomes increasingly connected and Australians form stronger ties with people in countries all over the globe, the need to send international money transfers continues to grow. If you need to send money to Poland, no matter whether you’re buying a handmade dress from a Polish fashion designer or simply sending money to a relative, it’s quick, easy and affordable to do so.
Read on to find out how you can save money and time when you need to send an international money transfer to Poland by comparing the different options available for this service.
International Money Transfer Offer
TorFX International Money Transfers
- No extra fees
- Fix your exchange rate for up to 2 years
- Price-match guarantee
- Personal account manager
International Money Transfer Offer
TorFX guarantees to match any competitor's exchange rate. Conditions apply.
Send money overseas in 30+ currencies with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.
- Minimum transfer amount: $200
- Online transfer fee: $0
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Exchange rates are volatile and change often. As a result, the exchange rate listed on Finder may vary to the actual exchange rate quoted for the brand. Please confirm the actual exchange rate and mention "Finder" before you commit to a brand.
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Banks versus money transfer companies, which is your best option?
If you want to send money to Poland you might like to approach your bank. If you’ve already got an account set up, it’s quite easy to lodge an international money transfer.
However, it’s an unfortunate fact that banks charge high transfer fees and also offer exchange rates which are typically much lower than the prevailing market rates. With this in mind, you might be better off considering the services of a specialist money transfer company. These companies offer fast and affordable international money transfers, typically providing much better exchange rates and lower fees than those you can find from a bank.
Guy Sends Money to Poland
Guy needs to send $2,000 to his aunt and uncle in Poland, but he doesn’t like the sound of the low exchange rate and high fees his bank is offering. The official currency of Poland is the Polish złoty.
Desperate for a better deal, he does some research and compares his bank’s money transfer features with those offered by a specialist money transfer provider. The results of his comparison show just how much money he can save with a money transfer company.
| Bank | Money Transfer Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | 1 AUD = 2.73 PLN | 1 AUD = 3.01 PLN |
| Transfer fee | $30 | $4 |
| Transfer time | 2-5 days | 24-48 hours |
| Transfer options | Bank account transfer | Bank account transfer |
| Amount received (Polish Zloty) | 5,460 | 5,999.17 |
As the above table shows, Guy can send 530 PLN more back to Poland by using a money transfer service, while he can also enjoy a significant saving in terms of the transfer fee.
How do you compare transfer companies when transferring money to Poland?
- Exchange rates. The exchange rate is one of the most important factors to look for when lodging an international money transfer. A higher rate is always a good thing, but check to see if a company offers a slightly lower rate in return for also offering lower transfer fees.
- Fees. Most companies will charge a fee for every transfer you complete, but some will scrap their fee when you transfer more than a certain amount, for example; $5,000.
- Transfer methods. Check how you can lodge transfers with different providers: online, over the phone and/or by visiting a branch.
- Transfer options. Some money transfer companies will offer flexible features to help make it easier and more cost-effective to send money overseas. These include market orders and forward rates to help you get an attractive exchange rate, plus the ability to schedule regular payments in advance.
- Minimum transfer amounts. Check the fine print to see whether a provider has a minimum transfer amount in place. If you only want to send a small amount of money and won’t reach this limit, look elsewhere for a different provider.
- Turnaround time. While some services allow your cash to be picked up within minutes, others can take several days for your money to reach its destination.
- Pickup methods. Are the funds transferred into your recipient’s bank account, or are they able to visit a branch location or convenience store and pick up cash?
- Customer service. This is a very important area that many people overlook when comparing money transfer providers. Look for phone, email and live chat support options so that you can receive assistance with a transfer whenever you need.
How can you send money to Poland from Australia?
If you want to send money to Poland, make sure to consider the following options:
- Specialist money transfer company. These money transfer providers offer fast and affordable transfers to Poland. Examples of companies that offer this service include CurrencyFair and OFX.
- Cash pick up money transfer provider. Companies like Western Union and MoneyGram allow you to send funds from Australia which can then be picked up in cash in Poland within minutes.
- Bank transfer. Most banks will allow you to send money from Australia to Poland, but you will typically be able to find lower fees and better exchange rates elsewhere.
- PayPal. Once you and your recipient have opened PayPal accounts, you can use this reliable online payment system to send money overseas.
- International money order. This old-fashioned method is being slowly phased out around the world, but it allows you to get an international guaranteed cheque from your bank or post office.
Emergencies happen, how can you get cash quickly in Poland?
When things go wrong and you find yourself in an emergency, you may find yourself needing to send funds from Australia to Poland as quickly as possible. When this happens, it can be quite easy not to pay full attention to the particulars of your international money transfer.
However, it’s vital that you keep your wits about you and take the time to read the fine print before committing to any transaction. High fees and terrible exchange rates can end up costing you much more than a pretty penny, so double check all the details of any transaction before you sign on the dotted line.
Back to topWhere can you pick up cash at Western Union and MoneyGram outlets in Poland?
Western Union and MoneyGram both allow you to transfer money to Poland so it can be picked up in cash from an agent location. If you use one of these convenient services, remember that your recipient will need details of the transaction and photo ID in order to pick up the money. If you’ve transferred a large amount, they may need to phone ahead to ensure the agent has enough cash on hand for them to pick up.
Western Union
Warsaw
1 Minute
Zwirki I Wigury 1 Lotnisko Okecie Ter 2
34601
Warszawa, Mazowieckie 00 906
+48-22-5723200
Open 5:30am to 11:30pm 7 days
Hubiz
Niepodleglosci Naruszewicza
Metro Wierzbno
Warszawa, Mazowieckie
+48-22-5723200
Open 6am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, open 8am to 8pm Sunday
Krakow
Inmedio
Kamienskiego11lok C 1 C H Bonarka Krakow
71105
Krakow, Malopolskie 30 644
+48-22-5723200
Open 8am to 9pm Monday to Saturday, open 9am to 10pm Sunday
Interchange Polska
Pijarska 23
Krakow, Malopolskie 31-042
+48-12-4228315
Open 8am to 10:45pm 7 days
MoneyGram
Warsaw
Up Warszawa 81 - #1724
Nowogrodzka 45
Warszawa, 00-694
523499499
Open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, open 8am to 4pm Sunday
Bank BGZ
Wawozowa 18
Warszawa, 02-796
8597018
Open 8am to 4:15pm Monday and Tuesday, open 10am to 6:15pm Wednesday to Friday
Krakow
Bank BGZ
Pawia 5
Krakow, 31-154
48566593400
Open 8am to 9:15pm Monday to Friday
Bank BGZ
Sw. Gertrudy . 24
Krakow, 31-048
4312760
Open 9am to 5:15pm Monday to Friday
Tips and things to be aware of when picking up cash in Poland
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Poland is quite a safe country to travel to, with visitors recommended to ‘exercise normal safety precautions’. However, just because Poland is considered safe to visit doesn’t mean you should forget to be careful when picking up cash.
Take a friend with you when you pick up the funds to take advantage of the extra security not being on your own offers. Don’t wave your cash around in front of any strangers and make sure to avoid any nasty areas of town, and it's always best to head straight to your bank to deposit the cash.
If you want to find out more about travelling to Poland, hit up travel blogs and forums for handy tips from other travellers.
Back to topTransfer money from Australia to Poland quickly and easily
The list above shows that there are several options to choose from when you want to send money to Poland. While the transfer method does vary slightly depending on the option you choose, you’ll generally have to open an account with a provider before they allow you to transfer funds. This means you’ll need to provide your name, address, date of birth and proof of identification.
After lodging your transfer, hold on to any receipt or tracking number you are given so that you can stay abreast of the progress of your funds.
Sending money to Poland is quick, easy and entirely affordable - just make sure to compare your options and find a provider that offers the best combination of convenience and cost-effectiveness.
