Here's how to send a quick, affordable and secure money transfer to the USA.
For a cost-effective way to send money to the United States, it’s best to keep an eye out for services offering the following:
- Zero transfer fees. You can’t get lower than that.
- The best rates. Investigate brands that guarantee to beat any competitor’s exchange rate.
We’ve assembled a list of these services so you can compare the cheapest method to transfer money from Australia to the USA.
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
Compare your options to transfer funds to the USA
The "Rate" and "Amount Received" displayed are indicative rates that have been supplied by each brand or gathered by Finder.
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.
Watch our video to learn how money transfers work
How to transfer money to the USA from Australia
There are generally three different transfer methods:
- Money transfer services. These offer some of the most cost-effective transfers as they only trade in foreign currencies.
- Australian banks. The US dollar is one of the most popular currencies, so it’s safe to assume that any major bank will offer it. Certain products, such as the Citibank Plus Account and the HSBC Multi-Currency Account, have more competitive terms.
- Cash transfers. Services such as Western Union allow you to send cash transfers for immediate pickup by the recipient. While it’s a fast way to send money, it generally won’t match the rates or fees of dedicated money transfer services.
How do I compare transfer companies when transferring money to the US?
Comparing transfer companies and banks could save you money, when you consider the following:
- Competitive exchange rates. Small differences in the exchange rate can have a big impact when transferring large amounts of money.
- Minimal fees. Fees may vary depending on the institution and the currency involved.
- A range of transfer methods. Both banks and transfer companies offer online transfers using a bank account or credit card. However, some may advise you to visit an agent and start the transfer in person.
- Convenient pickup methods. Whether it’s a personal or business transfer, it’s important to consider the circumstance of your primary recipient.
- Reliable customer service. The accessibility of a customer service representative is also worth considering in the event that something goes wrong.
Banks vs money transfer services
Michael travels to Australia for work purposes while his family remains in the USA. He needs to send money to his wife but discovers bank transfer fees are high and the exchange rates aren’t competitive. The following table compares rates from one of Australia’s big banks with a real money transfer service as of June 2017.| Bank | Money transfer service | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | US$0.714 = AUD$1 | US$0.753 = AUD$1 |
| Transfer fee | AUD$22 to the sender. There is also AUD$11 charged to the receiver | AUD$0 |
| Transfer speed | 2-4 business days | 2 business days |
| Transfer options | Bank to bank | Bank to bank |
| US dollars received for AUD$5000 | US$3539 | US$3763 |
| Difference in funds received | +US$224 |
What's the difference?
By using a money transfer service, Michael has saved US$224. Note, this example is fictional.
Need an emergency cash transfer in the USA?
If you misplace your wallet or cash while travelling in the USA, there are several ways to receive more money and finish your vacation:
- Transfer service company. A friend or relative in Australia can send you emergency money through a transfer company, but you must provide photo identification.
- Bank transfers. Your Australian bank may be able to do an internal transfer to a US bank account, but fees will apply for this emergency service.
- Credit card. Some credit card companies offer complimentary travel insurance as a card feature. Contact your provider if your insurance policy has been activated and use that insurance to replace your lost cash.
- Travel Insurance. Depending on the extent of your coverage, the lost or stolen money could be replaced.
Tips for picking up cash in the US
When travelling to the US from Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) advises that you maintain normal safety precautions. You should always be on alert when picking up funds at an agency and travel to the location with someone you trust.
What documentation do I need?
A bank-to-bank transfer is ideal if you’re regularly sending money to the US to cover bills and investments. However, if you need to send money quickly, it’s worth considering a cash transfer agency and making note of the following:
- The recipient's full name. The beneficiary of a cash transfer will need to show photo identification, so make sure the name on the order is the same as the name on the ID.
- Your full name. As an additional security measure, the agent may ask for the full name of the sender. Be sure that the recipient knows your complete name.
- Your recipient's contact information and bank details. Both the sender and the recipient must have each other's address and contact details.
- The tracking number. Keep the tracking number given to you upon sending the transfer as the recipient must provide this to the agent before the cash can be released.
Save all paperwork in case there’s a problem with the transfer. This serves as proof that the money was sent and will make it easier to recover. While Australia and the US are on opposite sides of the globe, they still maintain strong ties in their expat community and trade relations. When preparing your move, research the best ways to transfer money for both convenience and a competitive price.
What’s the cheapest and fastest way that my family can send money from Melbourne to California? Please give me the most trusted site.
Hello Marie,
Thank you for your comment.
If you’re looking for a fast money transfer to the U.S.A, you may want to check this page with a guide about same-day money transfer. You can see two popular money transfer companies that will let you transfer money to the U.S. within the day. I hope this helps.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
I have actual US dollars(hard currency) that I want to send to someone in the USA. Thus, I don’t need to change Australian dollars into US dollars. Does any company allow this, noting that they usually probably make their profit from the exchange rate.
Hi Darrel,
Thank you for your inquiry.
While there are services on this page that allow USD to USD transfers, they implement an exchange rate which you can compare or the amount received on the table.
Another factor to consider is the transfer fee which can reduce the value of the amount transferred.
You may opt to reach out to the services directly if you have any further concerns.
I hope this helps.
Best,
Maria
I compared options a few weeks ago and Sable came up as the best option.
Now it is not coming up at all – why is this?
Hi Naomi,
Thank you for contacting finder. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.
If you wish to know more about Sable, you may refer to this page.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Danielle
If I send money to China by using citibank plus account, how much total cost would expect?Citibank doesn’t charge but receiving bank or intermediary bank charge for the service. Say, Today I send money US$1000 to Bank of China. How much I have to send AU$ to receiver side to get US1000?
Hi Wolfgang,
Thank you for reaching out.
Please visit our send money to China page to find information regarding sending funds from AU to China including fees and exchange rates for multiple exchange services.
Regards
Jodie