Sending money from Canada to the US is categorized as an international money transfer, so it may not be as straightforward as you think. Still, there are several ways to send money; you could use your bank or select money transfer alternatives.
Find out more about each method of sending money to the US as you read on.
Bank Transfers
You can do this personally by visiting the bank to open an account. And if you already have one, you must register for the global money service or do a wire transfer.
If your bank allows international money transfers, you can transfer money directly from your debit card to US bank accounts
Transferring money to the US with a Canadian bank may require the recipient to have a US bank account. This may be an issue if you don’t know the recipient’s bank account.
Besides, using a bank account or a bank transfer method may take more time and more transfer fees than using online money transfers.
So, if you are not so keen on bank transfers, there are other alternatives mentioned below.
Western Union
Another popular way to transfer funds from Canada to the US is to use Western Union. The money is deposited directly to the receiver’s bank account or mobile wallet.
Western Union service is available in every major bank, and you only need to walk to the counter, fill out a form and deposit the money. To do this, you will need the official information of the applicant and ID. An MTCN will be generated, and you need to send it to the recipient for them to collect the money.
Another way to send money from Canada to the US with Western Union is online banking. Go to the western union website, set up an account, and follow the prompt.
Finally, sending money internationally with Western Union can be quicker than using a bank. The recipient can locate the nearest western union agent location and do a cash pick-up. They will need to go with a government-issued ID.
International Money Transfer Providers
Popular service providers for international transfers are Wise, PayPal, Skrill, Payoneer, Xe money transfer, World remit, Panda, etc. Making international money transfers with these services seamless and faster than regular banks. Most of them also offer bank or wire transfer
Besides, you don’t have to leave your house to initiate payment or sort issues. Everything you need to do to transfer money can be done from your phone or computer. This is the same for the recipient too; they don’t have to leave the house to receive money.
When using money transfer services, you can see the US dollar equivalent of the Canadian dollars you send. You can determine the exact amount the recipient gets – although some providers request transfer fees, you can also decide who pays them.
All you have to do is open an account, fund it with your credit or debit card, and you are ready to send money online.
Although money transfer services are easy to navigate and offer more advantages, you also need to understand the requirements of opening an account. Besides, not all of them offer large transfers, and you may need to use a bank for such transactions.
You should also take note of the terms of using these services and only use the ones with an exchange rate guarantee and no hidden fees.
What to Look for When Choosing a Money Transfer Service
The easiest way to transfer money from Canada to the US is through money transfer service providers. However, you should know what to look for when choosing a platform to conduct your transaction.
A Canadian Bank Account
You must fund your online banking account to send money. So, you need a funding source like a Canadian bank account. You can also use a credit or debit card to fund the account, even if it doesn’t belong to a Canadian bank.
Identification
These money transfer services are regulated like banks, so you need a government-issued ID when opening an account. You may have to upload this document and take a selfie for verification.
Minimum Transfer and Exchange Rates
Some of these money transfer services have a minimum transfer amount of CAD$100. You may not be able to send anything less. In addition, you should compare the exchange rate of the service you choose to use with others.
Transfer Fees
Check out the transfer fees for several platforms before picking one. Some platforms offer a straightforward transfer but are expensive. For instance, PayPal may be the most convenient way to send money to the US from Canada, but it is also one of the most expensive due to transfer fees and conversion rates.
Some platforms, like Wise and Payoneer, have better rates. Additionally, platforms like World remit and Panda do not require transfer fees, although the exchange may take one or two days.
Conclusion
There are several ways to send money from Canada to the US. You can use your regular bank, Western Union, or money transfer providers like PayPal and Payoneer.
All the above methods are great, allowing you to send money from your bank account to the recipient. However, bank transfers take more time, have higher exchange rates, and charge more transfer fees than others.
The most reliable and seamless way to send money from Canada to the US is through a money transfer service. These services are faster and offer local transfers, international transfers, and competitive exchange rates.
Paul Martinez is the founder of EcomSidekick.com. He is an expert in the areas of finance, real estate, eCommerce, traffic and conversion.
Join him on EcomSidekick.com to learn how to improve your financial life and excel in these areas. Before starting this media site, Paul built from scratch and managed two multi-million dollar companies. One in the real estate sector and one in the eCommerce sector.