Imagine you need to send £500 to a family member in Nigeria by tomorrow. Then you find out they don't have a bank account. Suddenly, the transfer method you've always used is useless.

An international transfer of money without banks refers to any cross-border payment method that bypasses traditional banking rails, using specialist transfer services, cash pickup networks, mobile wallets, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer platforms instead. These methods often cost less, move faster, and reach recipients that banks simply cannot.

This guide compares 7 non-bank methods head-to-head on cost, speed, geographic reach, and security so you can match your situation to the right option. It's part of our broader guide to international money transfer methods, covering both bank and non-bank channels.

Unlike most guides on this topic, we don't sell transfers. We compare them.

Why People Send Money Internationally Without a Bank

Before diving into methods, it helps to understand why so many people need these alternatives in the first place. The answer isn't just preference. It's often necessity.

Over 1.4 billion adults worldwide have no bank account. Millions more have accounts but face fees that make international transfers painfully expensive. The reasons people bypass banks come down to three things.

Access. The recipient simply can't receive a bank transfer. This is common across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, where banking infrastructure doesn't reach everyone.

Cost. Banks charge an average of 6.49% on international remittances according to World Bank data from Q1 2025. Digital alternatives average 4.85%. But the real damage hides in the exchange rate. Banks routinely mark up the rate by 2 to 5% above the mid-market rate, and most senders never notice.

Here's what that looks like in practice: a worker in London sending £500 to family in Lagos could lose £30+ to bank fees and another £15 to £25 to exchange rate markup, before the recipient even pays withdrawal charges.

Speed. Bank wires take 3 to 5 business days. Non-bank methods can deliver in minutes.

Banks aren't always the wrong choice. But for most people sending moderate amounts internationally, they're the expensive, slow choice. So what are the alternatives?

7 Ways to Transfer Money Internationally Without a Bank

No single method is universally best. The right choice depends on your corridor, amount, urgency, and what the recipient can actually access. Here are all seven options:

Online money transfer services: send digitally, recipient collects via bank deposit, cash, mobile wallet, or home delivery
Cash pickup networks: sender pays online or at an agent, recipient collects physical cash at a nearby location
Mobile money and digital wallets: funds arrive directly on the recipient's phone
Cryptocurrency and stablecoins: peer-to-peer blockchain transfers with minimal fees but real complexity
Peer-to-peer payment apps: familiar apps like PayPal, with significant international limitations
Prepaid debit cards: sender loads a card remotely, recipient spends or withdraws locally
International money orders: paper-based, mailed physically, slow but functional in limited scenarios

Below, we break down how each works, what it costs, and where it falls short.

Online Money Transfer Services

Online money transfer services are digital platforms that let you send money across borders through an app or website, without visiting a bank. They're the most common non-bank method for a reason: they're flexible.

The process is straightforward. You create an account, enter the recipient's details and the amount, choose a delivery method, and pay. The recipient collects via bank deposit, cash pickup, mobile wallet, or in some cases, home delivery.

Costs break down into two parts, and this is where most people get tripped up. Fees typically range from £0 to £5 per transfer. Sounds cheap. But the real cost often sits in the exchange rate margin, anywhere from 0.3% to over 2% depending on the provider. A £1,000 transfer with a 1.5% markup silently costs you £15 on top of the stated fee. "Lowest fee" and "cheapest transfer" are not the same thing.

The major providers each have a different strength. Wise is known for mid-market exchange rates with transparent fees. Remitly focuses on speed and cash pickup in developing markets. Western Union offers unmatched global agent reach. WorldRemit covers mobile money delivery well in Africa.

We're not ranking them. The best one depends on your corridor.

Limitations are real, though. You need internet access and a device. Senders must complete identity verification (KYC), which can delay a first transfer. Some corridors have restricted delivery options, and transfer limits for new accounts often sit between £2,000 and £10,000 per transaction.

Best for: regular senders who want digital convenience, competitive rates, and flexible delivery options.

Cash Pickup Networks

Online transfer services are versatile, but they assume the recipient can access a bank account, a mobile wallet, or at minimum a smartphone. What if they can't?

Your recipient has no bank account, no smartphone, and lives in a town without reliable internet. Cash pickup may be the only viable option. And it works.

The sender initiates the transfer online or at an agent location and receives a tracking number (sometimes called an MTCN). The recipient walks into an agent location with government-issued ID and that tracking number, and collects physical cash. That's it.

The reach is massive. Western Union alone operates over 500,000 agent locations across 200+ countries. MoneyGram covers 350,000+. Ria, Remitly's partners, and others fill in additional gaps.

What about the recipient's experience? They'll need a valid government-issued ID with a name that matches the transfer exactly. Even small discrepancies (a missing middle name, a nickname instead of a legal name) can cause delays. Wait times at busy urban agents can stretch to 30 minutes or more, though rural locations are often quicker.

Costs run higher than digital-to-account transfers. Expect fees between £3 and £12 per transfer, plus exchange rate margins that tend to be wider than what you'd pay for a purely digital transfer. That's the premium for physical cash delivery and global agent infrastructure.

Limitations worth knowing: agent density drops sharply in rural areas. Some countries cap how much a person can collect in a single transaction. And recipients must visit during business hours.

One security note: never share the tracking number publicly or with anyone other than the intended recipient. Anyone with that number and a matching ID could potentially collect the funds.

Best for: sending to recipients in areas with limited digital infrastructure, or when the recipient needs physical cash immediately.

Mobile Money and Digital Wallets

Cash pickup solves the access problem, but it still requires a physical trip to an agent. In many parts of the world, there's a faster alternative that lives right in the recipient's pocket.

Mobile money accounts exceeded 1.75 billion globally in 2023. In Sub-Saharan Africa, more adults now have mobile money accounts than traditional bank accounts. This isn't a workaround. It's the primary financial infrastructure.

An important distinction first. Mobile money services like M-Pesa, GCash, and bKash operate through telecom networks and require only a SIM card. No bank account needed. Digital wallets like PayPal or Skrill typically require a linked bank account or card, which makes them far less useful for truly unbanked recipients.

The regional landscape breaks down like this:

M-Pesa dominates East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, DRC, Mozambique, Ghana) with over 50 million users
GCash leads in the Philippines with 90+ million registered users
bKash covers Bangladesh with 60+ million users
Wave is growing fast across West Africa
MTN Mobile Money operates across multiple African markets

From the recipient's perspective, money arrives as a balance on their phone. They can spend it at participating merchants, transfer it to others, or cash out at a local agent. It's as simple as checking a text message.

Costs tend to be lower than cash pickup, typically 1 to 3% total including any cash-out fees the recipient pays at an agent. That makes it one of the more affordable options for corridors where it's available.

The catch: your transfer service must support mobile money delivery to the recipient's specific network. Not all corridors support all wallets. Cash-out agents may charge separately. And while basic mobile money works on any phone, some wallet features require a smartphone.

Best for: sending to Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, or Southeast Asia where mobile money adoption is high and bank access is low.

Cryptocurrency and Stablecoins

The methods above all rely on third-party services to move your money. Cryptocurrency takes a fundamentally different approach: cutting out the middleman entirely.

Cryptocurrency can slash international transfer costs to near-zero. But it comes with risks that most crypto evangelists downplay.

Two categories matter here. Volatile cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum can swing 10%+ in value during the time it takes to complete a transfer. Stablecoins like USDT and USDC are pegged to the US dollar, which largely eliminates that volatility problem.

The process: the sender buys crypto on an exchange, sends it to the recipient's wallet address, and the recipient converts it to local currency or spends it directly. Network fees can be remarkably low, as little as $0.01 on chains like Stellar or Tron, compared to $15 to $45 for a bank wire.

That cost advantage is genuine. But so are the limitations, and there are several.

Both parties need crypto literacy and wallet setup. That alone disqualifies most recipients who struggle with traditional banking. Converting back to local currency typically involves exchange fees and may require a local exchange account. Regulatory status varies wildly: some countries welcome crypto, others ban or restrict it. If you send funds to the wrong wallet address, there is no customer support line to call. The money is gone. And in many jurisdictions, crypto transactions trigger tax reporting obligations.

Platforms like Strike (using Bitcoin's Lightning Network) and Bitso (focused on Latin America) are working to simplify the experience. But "simplified" and "simple" are still different things.

Best for: tech-savvy senders and recipients comfortable with crypto wallets, especially in corridors with high traditional remittance fees or currency restrictions. Not suitable for recipients who need guidance or guaranteed consumer protection.

Peer-to-Peer Payment Apps

If crypto feels too complex, you might wonder whether the payment apps already on your phone can do the job. The short answer is: probably not.

Many people assume their favourite payment app works for international transfers. Most don't.

Venmo is US-only. Cash App is US-only. Zelle is domestic US bank-to-bank only. None of these support cross-border payments.

PayPal is the exception, operating in 200+ countries. But convenience comes at a price: 3 to 5% in combined fees and exchange rate markup on international transfers. That makes it significantly more expensive than specialist transfer services for the same corridor.

The real value of P2P apps is domestic transfers, or the rare scenario where both sender and recipient already have PayPal and prioritize convenience over cost. Currency conversion markups, potential account holds, and limited dispute support for international payments add friction.

Best for: small, infrequent international transfers where both parties already have PayPal. For regular international sending, specialist services almost always cost less.

Prepaid Debit Cards

P2P apps fall short for ongoing international support. But there's another option designed specifically for people who send to the same recipient repeatedly.

If you send money to the same person regularly, a parent, a child studying abroad, a dependent, reloading a prepaid debit card can be simpler than repeated cash pickups or mobile transfers.

The setup: the recipient gets a prepaid Visa or Mastercard (from providers like Payoneer, Neteller, or similar). The sender loads it remotely through a transfer service or card-to-card payment. The recipient uses it for purchases or ATM withdrawals wherever cards are accepted locally.

No bank account required. No credit check. The card is reusable and gives the recipient purchasing power beyond just cash.

But fee stacking is the hidden trap. ATM withdrawal fees often run £1.50 to £3.50 per transaction. Some cards charge monthly maintenance fees. Currency conversion at the card level can add another 1 to 3%. When you add up the reload fee, the ATM fee, and the FX markup, the total cost may surprise you. Calculate the full cost of ownership, not just the transfer fee.

Availability also varies. Not all prepaid card products work internationally, and not all transfer services can load them.

Best for: recurring support to a specific person who can use a card locally, especially in countries with widespread card acceptance.

International Money Orders

Every method so far requires some form of digital access on at least one end. For situations where neither sender nor recipient has that, there's one remaining option. It's old-school, and it's slow, but it exists.

Money orders still work for international transfers. But they are the slowest option on this list by a wide margin.

The process: buy a money order at a post office or retailer, fill in the recipient's details, and mail it physically. The recipient cashes it at a local post office or bank. Cost is £3 to £12 for the money order itself, plus £6 to £10+ for international tracked postage.

Speed? One to four weeks, depending on postal reliability.

There is a valid use case: when both sender and recipient lack digital access, or for countries where electronic methods are restricted. But maximum amounts are often capped at £500 to £700 for international orders, and acceptance is declining in many countries. Postal loss and theft are real risks.

Best for: low-urgency transfers where digital options aren't available. For anything time-sensitive, choose another method.

What Non-Bank International Transfers Really Cost

Now that you know how each method works, the natural next question is: what will this actually cost me? The answer is more complicated than any single provider wants you to think.

The advertised fee is never the full cost. Every international transfer has at least two cost layers: the stated fee and the exchange rate markup. Some methods add a third, which is the charges the recipient pays to actually access their money.

Here's how the methods compare on a typical £500 transfer:

Method	Typical Fee	Exchange Rate Margin	Recipient-Side Cost	Estimated Total Cost	Speed
Online money transfer services	£0–5	0.3–2%	£0 (bank deposit)	£2–15	Minutes to 2 days
Cash pickup	£3–12	1–3%	£0	£8–27	Minutes to same day
Mobile money	£0–3	1–3%	£0.50–2 (cash-out fee)	£6–20	Minutes to hours
Cryptocurrency/stablecoins	£0.01–5	0–1% (network)	Exchange conversion fees	£1–15+	Minutes
P2P apps (PayPal intl.)	£0–3	2.5–4%	£0–2 (withdrawal)	£13–25	Minutes to days
Prepaid debit cards	£0–5 (reload)	1–3%	£1.50–3.50 (ATM fee)	£7–22	1–3 days
Money orders	£3–12	Varies at cashing	£0–5 (cashing fee)	£10–30+	1–4 weeks
Bank wire (benchmark)	£15–45	2–5%	£0–15 (intermediary)	£25–70	3–5 business days

Where the Real Cost Hides

Exchange rate markup is the biggest silent cost. If a provider offers you a rate that's 1.5% worse than the mid-market rate on a £1,000 transfer, that's £15 you'll never see on any receipt. Many senders chase the lowest stated fee while ignoring this margin, which typically costs 2 to 10 times more.

Intermediary bank fees hit wire transfers especially hard. A correspondent bank somewhere in the chain deducts £10 to £20, and neither sender nor recipient sees it coming until the money arrives short.

Cash-out fees on mobile money and ATM withdrawal fees on prepaid cards are easy to overlook because the recipient pays them, not the sender. But they're still part of the true cost.

A worked example: £500 from UK to Nigeria. Via bank wire, the total lands around £40 to £55. Via Wise, roughly £5 to £12. Via Western Union cash pickup, approximately £8 to £18. Via mobile money, around £6 to £14.

The cheapest method depends on your corridor, amount, and how urgently the money is needed. There is no universally cheapest option.

Knowing the costs is half the picture. The other half is matching the right method to your specific situation.

How to Choose the Right Method for Your Transfer

You've read about seven methods. Now the question is: which one fits your transfer?

Five factors will narrow your decision fast.

How much are you sending? Under £200 favours cash pickup or mobile money since the fees are low and the speed is high. Between £200 and £2,000, online money transfer services usually offer the best balance of cost and convenience. Above £5,000, it's worth comparing specialist services against a bank wire, because the cost gap narrows and you gain stronger regulatory protection.

How fast does it need to arrive? If the answer is "today," your options are cash pickup and mobile money. Same day is achievable with most online transfer services. If you can wait 1 to 4 weeks, money orders technically work.

Where are you sending it? Corridor matters enormously. M-Pesa dominates East Africa. GCash owns the Philippines. Cash pickup is available almost everywhere but costs more than digital delivery. Some corridors simply don't support certain methods.

What can the recipient access? A smartphone opens up mobile money. A government ID is enough for cash pickup. Card infrastructure supports prepaid cards. Crypto wallets require tech comfort that most recipients don't have.

How often will you send? One-off transfers suit cash pickup fine. Recurring transfers reward setting up an account with a money transfer service or loading a prepaid card, since the upfront effort pays off over time.

Three quick scenarios to ground this:

If you send £300/month to family in Kenya, set up a Wise or Remitly account sending to M-Pesa. Low cost, fast delivery, minimal effort after the first transfer.

If you need to send £100 urgently to rural Philippines, cash pickup via Western Union or Remitly gets it there in minutes.

If you're sending a one-time £5,000 gift to India, compare specialist transfer services against a bank wire. At this amount, the bank may be competitive, and the regulatory protection has real value.

The best method is the one your recipient can actually use.

Once you've narrowed down your method, there's one more thing to get right before you hit send: making sure your money is protected.

Security Risks and How to Protect Your Money

Non-bank transfers are generally safe when you use regulated providers. The risks increase sharply when you don't.

Sender fraud is the most common threat. Phishing emails impersonating legitimate transfer services, fake customer support numbers, and advance-fee scams targeting people unfamiliar with how transfers work. One rule cuts through all of it: no legitimate service will ever ask you to send a "test transfer."

Platform risk comes from using unregulated or unlicensed services. A provider regulated by the FCA (UK), FinCEN (US), or an equivalent authority must protect customer funds and follow anti-money-laundering rules. An unregulated one doesn't have to do any of that. Before sending, check your provider's registration with the relevant financial authority. It takes two minutes.

Recipient-side risk is underappreciated. Sharing a cash pickup tracking number in a group chat or on social media is an invitation for someone else to collect the funds. Agent location scams, while uncommon, do exist in some regions.

Irreversibility varies by method. Crypto transfers are completely irreversible. Cash pickups can't be recalled once collected. Regulated money transfer services generally offer some dispute resolution, which is one reason the slightly higher cost may be worth it.

Five ways to protect yourself:

Use only regulated, licensed providers
Double-check recipient details before confirming
Never share tracking numbers with anyone except the recipient
Enable two-factor authentication on every account
Keep transfer receipts and confirmation emails

Here's what can go wrong: a sender uses an unregulated informal network to save on fees. The intermediary disappears with the funds, and there's no legal recourse. No regulator to complain to. No insurance. Nothing.

Saving 2% on fees means nothing if the transfer never arrives.

With all of that said, there are times when the traditional route is the right one. It would be dishonest not to say so.

When a Bank Transfer Might Actually Be Better

This page is about transferring money without banks. But honesty matters more than staying on-brand.

There are situations where a bank wire is the right call.

Large amounts. For transfers above £5,000, bank wire fees become proportionally small, and the exchange rate gap often narrows. A £10,000 transfer via bank wire might cost £30 in fees plus a 1% FX margin (£130 total). The same via a money transfer service might cost £5 in fees plus a 0.5% margin (£55 total). The bank is more expensive, but the gap is smaller than it is on a £200 transfer, and you gain full regulatory protection under schemes like FSCS or FDIC.

Legal documentation needs. Property purchases, inheritance transfers, and business payments often require a documented banking audit trail. Non-bank methods may not satisfy legal or compliance requirements in these cases.

Both parties have accounts. If both sender and recipient have functioning bank accounts and the amount is substantial, a bank wire may be the simplest path with the fewest moving parts.

For amounts under £2,000, non-bank methods almost always win on cost and speed. Above £5,000, it's worth comparing.

That covers the full picture. Below are quick answers to the questions readers ask most often.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to send money internationally without a bank?

Online money transfer services like Wise and Remitly are typically the cheapest, with total costs of 0.3 to 2% compared to 5 to 7% for banks. The actual cheapest option depends on your corridor and delivery method. Cash pickup costs more than account-to-account delivery. For very small amounts, mobile money can edge ahead. Always compare the total cost, not just the stated fee.

Is it safe to send money abroad without using a bank?

Yes, provided you use a regulated provider. Services registered with the FCA (UK), FinCEN (US), or equivalent authorities must safeguard customer funds and comply with anti-money-laundering regulations. Risks increase significantly with unregulated services, informal channels, or crypto transfers that carry no consumer protection. Check your provider's regulatory registration before sending.

Can I send a large amount of money internationally without a bank?

Yes, but limits and costs vary by method. Most money transfer services allow £5,000 to £50,000+ per transfer after full identity verification. Cash pickup and mobile money have lower per-transaction limits, often £500 to £2,500. For transfers above £10,000, compare specialist services against bank wires. The cost gap narrows, and the regulatory protection becomes more valuable at that scale.

How long does an international transfer without a bank take?

From minutes to several weeks, depending on the method. Cash pickup and mobile money deliver in minutes to hours. Online money transfer services take minutes to 2 business days. Prepaid card loading runs 1 to 3 business days. International money orders take 1 to 4 weeks. Faster methods generally cost slightly more.

Conclusion

Transferring money internationally without a bank is not a workaround. For most people and most amounts, it's the smarter choice.

No single method wins on cost, speed, and security simultaneously. The right choice depends on your amount, your corridor, and what your recipient can access. If safety concerns you, stick with regulated providers and verify every recipient detail before hitting send.

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