With Western Union you can transfer and receive money even without a bank account. Send your loved ones money from Austria to their home country within minutes1.
We encrypt your transfers
We encrypt your transfers
We are committed to keeping your data secure
We are committed to keeping your data secure
We’ve sent money around the world for over 150 years
We’ve sent money around the world for over 150 years
The days when money was sent by post are over. Today, most rely on online banking and online money transfer services.
Many people assume that at least one of the persons involved, the sender or the recipient, needs a bank account, especially when transferring money abroad. In fact, there are several ways to transfer or receive money without a bank account.
In this guide you will find all the important information on transferring and receiving money without a bank account.
With Western Union, there are essentially two ways to transfer money without a bank account.
The first option is to use a card that is not linked to a bank account, such as a prepaid debit card or an equivalent credit card2. With such a card, you can transfer money to your loved ones for cash pick-up or, depending on the destination country, send it to a Mobile Wallet2.
The other option for a money transfer without a bank account is to visit one of our numerous Western Union branches in Austria. Start a money transfer on our website or in the app and secure fixed transfer fees3 for your transaction. Then pay for this transaction in cash in person at a branch to complete the transfer. This is how it works:
Go to our website or download the Western Union® app to register or sign up for a free online account.
Start a transfer order and secure an agreed exchange rate3 and fixed fees3.
Pay within 24 hours of booking your agreed fare at a participating Western Union® outlet in Austria.
Be sure to bring your photo ID and cash to complete the money transfer. Paperless transfer means faster money transfer.
With Western Union, your loved ones have two main options for receiving money without a bank account. However, availability depends on the country of residence.
In most countries, the recipient can collect money from a Western Union branch without the need for a bank account. The following is needed for this:
– Full name of the recipient
– Full name and country of residence of the sender
– Anticipated amount
– Official identification document
– Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN)
The MTCN is a 10-digit transaction number that you as the sender receive as soon as the transfer has been released. Securely share this transaction number with the recipient to track the money transfer in real time.
With Western Union you can send money from Austria to a Mobile Wallet2 on the recipient’s mobile phone. The amount is transferred to the mobile wallet2 account, which is linked to the recipient’s phone number – without a bank account.
If the recipient lives in a country where we offer this service, you can transfer money directly to their mobile phone. To ensure the money reaches the right person, make sure you enter the correct mobile phone number. The recipient must also have activated a mobile wallet2 with one of our partner mobile operators in their country of residence.
As soon as your transfer is completed, you will receive a confirmation with the transaction number (MTCN). Both you and the recipient can use this number to track the status of the money transfer in real time. We will also confirm the successful delivery of the mobile money transfer.
Registering and using our money transfer service for transfers without an account is simple and effortless.
Send money even without a bank account and pay in your preferred way by credit card2, debit card, instant bank transfer or cash.
Track the transfer to the recipient’s mobile phone via our website or app and using your transaction number (MTCN).
Our encryption and fraud prevention measures help protect your money transfers with Western Union®.
Whether your loved ones are celebrating a birthday or wedding, need to pay a bill or just need a little support, we can help you send money to an unbanked recipient quickly and reliably.
The exact amount you can send to a recipient without a bank account depends on the receiving method or the destination country of your transfer.
Generally, the limit for a cash pick-up or a transfer to a Mobile Wallet2 is lower than for a transfer to a bank account. You can find the exact transaction limits on our “Send money” page after you have selected your options.
The duration of the money transfer without a bank account depends on the selected sending and receiving method and the respective destination country.
Although the limit for money transfers without a bank account is lower than for other options, the recipient generally receives the amount more quickly.
A bank transfer can take several days1. With send and receive methods using cash, card and/or Mobile Wallet2, the recipient can often receive the amount within minutes1.
1 Transfer speed and fund availability may be affected by factors such as service choice, amount, destination, currency, regulations, ID requirements, and system availability of our banking partners. Not available for all transactions. See Terms for details.
2 Additional third-party charges may apply.
3 Western Union makes money from currency exchange. Fees and rates subject to change without notice.
