Frequently Asked Questions

Western Union’s services are for anyone who needs to send or receive money quickly. From travelers and people supporting friends or relatives abroad, to business people who need to make faster international transfers.

They are our representatives who will help you send or receive money. In Burkina Faso, they are our partner Banks.

You can easily locate a Western Union agent location online, just use our agent locator.

The first step is to locate the nearest agent location (find it in our agent locator online), then you should give your receiver’s details to the agent. Once all the information is entered, you will be asked to give the total amount including the service fees. The transfer will be completed after this and the money available in minutes to your receiver. Don’t forget to get the tracking number (MTCN) from your receipt and share it only with your receiver, he or she will need it to pick up the cash.

For money pickups at a Western Union agent location, your receiver must present one of the following types of IDs:

• For Burkina Faso residents: a government issued ID
• For non-Burkina Faso residents: a valid passport

Acceptable IDs are subject to the rules and regulations of the Central Bank of Burkina Faso.

You can check your transfer status online. All you need is your name and the tracking number (MTCN) printed on your receipt.

You can check your transfer status online. All you need is the sender’s name and the tracking number (MTCN) printed on the sender’s receipt.

Each Western Union agent location has its own hours of operation. These are usually the banking hours. Find a nearby Western Union agent location.

Yes, the Western Union “direct to bank account” service is an easy and convenient way to send funds directly to a receiver’s bank account in select countries.

Select our Direct to Bank Account country information tool to see which countries have this service available. There you’ll find all the necessary information to complete a transfer directly to a bank account; for example, you can find out how long will it takes for the money to be available into your receiver’s bank account depending on the destination country.

Just choose the Direct to Bank Account service when you send money online or at an agent location. You’ll need to provide the receiver’s bank account information. The requirements change from country to country, but usually include:

• Your receiver’s bank name and code
• The account’s name and number

Select our Direct to Bank Account country information tool to see which countries have this service available and what will you need.

A bank code is a series of numbers used to identify banks around the world. They can have between 3 and 23 digits depending on the bank and the country.

A bank code could be called:

• BSB
• SWIFT Code
• BIC (Bank Identification Code)
• CHIPS (Clearing House Inter-Bank Payment System) – US and Canada only
• NCC (National Clearing Code)
• BSC (Bank Sort Code)
• IFSC (Indian Financial System Code)

For some counties you may need an International Bank Account Number (IBAN) in addition to the bank code.

Ask your receiver for the bank code and IBAN (if applicable). You can refer to our Direct to Bank Account country information to see what details are required for each country.

A Bank Identification Code (BIC) is used to identify banks worldwide. BIC is the same as a SWIFT code, and it will be 8 or 11 digits long.

Ask your receiver if BIC is required in their country—you can check our Direct to Bank Account country information for more details.

An International Bank Account Number (IBAN) is a code used in some countries to identify a customer’s bank account. The IBAN has a letter to identify the country followed by 2 digits, and then up to 35 characters for the bank account number. Some countries require that payment sent from Australia must include the IBAN.

You can refer to our Direct to Bank Account country information to see what details are needed for each country. Ask you receiver for the IBAN if it’s required.

“Direct to Bank Account” money transfers can change from country to country and can take up to five days. For more details, please refer to our Direct to Bank Account country information.

You can pick up your money at any Western Union’s agent location. You’ll need to provide the following information:

• Your name
• The tracking number (MTCN)
• Amount expected
• Sender’s full name
• Country the money came from
• A valid ID

Some restrictions may apply.

There is no option to receive money directly to a bank account in Burkina Faso at the moment.

Money transfers will generally be paid in cash. Other restrictions may apply. Please visit or call the nearest Western Union agent location to get more information about restrictions.

All fees are paid by the sender. Receiving money is free of charge unless the receiver chooses to get the money in a different currency, directly to a device or a bank account at the moment of pickup.

Yes. To send money you need to be registered. Once you have successfully registered on westernunion.com, please go to the nearest Orabank agent location with the same ID that you registered with.

Anyone who meets the following requirements can register and start sending money online.

• Must have a government-issued ID (for residents in the following countries: Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Bissau Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger and Senegal).
• Must have a valid passport (for non-residents in following countries: Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Bissau Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger and Senegal).
• Must be of at least 18 years of old.
• Must accept our Terms and Conditions.
• Must have a valid phone number.
• Must have a bank account in Burkina Faso, a valid debit, credit or pre-paid card issued by any bank in one of the following countries (Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Bissau Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger and Senegal).

No, it’s free of charge.

Anyone who meets the following requirements can register and start sending money online.

Anyone who meets the following requirements can register and start sending money online.

• Must have a valid passport (for non-Burkina Faso residents) or a government-issued ID (for Burkina Faso residents).
• Must be of at least 18 years old.
• Must accept our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Statement.
• Must have a valid mobile phone number.
• Must have a bank account issued in Burkina Faso, a valid debit, credit or pre-paid card issued by any bank in one of the following countries (Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Bissau Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger and Senegal).

Registration with a valid ID, mobile phone number and an email address is only possible once.

Yes, before making your first online transaction, you will need to verify your profile:

First, fill in the online registration form and provide the following information:

• Full name.
• Full address.
• Mobile number.
• Country and date of birth.
• ID details. If an expired ID is detected, you will be asked to provide a new one.

Once you have successfully registered on westernunion.com, please go the nearest Orabank agent location with the same ID that you registered with.

After you present a valid ID at the nearest Orabank branch, you will receive a confirmation by email. If you need to send money before your verification is completed, please visit a Western Union agent location.

You can find the nearest location to get verified in person by using our online locator.

Your User ID is your mobile number.

If you forgot your password, you can select the “Forgot password” option for a new password to be sent to your email.

If your profile is locked, please try log in again after 30 minutes or contact Western Union customer care number at +226 2530 3676 or send an email to obf.wu.support@orabank.net.

You can change your password on the Profile Overview page after you login. Please select “Edit profile” from the right-side menu and change your password.
For online registration, you can use only one email address. After you verify your email, it cannot be changed.

Please contact Western Union customer care number at +226 2530 3676 or send an email to obf.wu.support@orabank.net.

After you present a valid ID at the nearest Orabank branch, you will receive a confirmation by email and SMS. If you need to send money before your verification is completed, please visit a Western Union agent location.

You can find the nearest location to get verified in person by using our online locator.

Yes. Only use Western Union to send money to friends and family. Never send money to someone you have not met in person. Scammers sometimes encourage people to transfer money. Do not transfer money to anyone who asks you to send them money:

• For an emergency situation you haven’t confirmed.
• For an online purchase.
• For anti‐virus protection.
• For a deposit or payment on a rental property.
• To claim lottery or prize winnings.
• To pay taxes.
• For a donation to charity.
• For a mystery shopping assignment.
• For a job opportunity.
• For a credit card or loan fee.
• To resolve an immigration matter.

If you transfer money, the person you’re sending it to gets the money quickly. After the money is paid, Western Union may not be able to give you a refund, even if you are the victim of fraud, except under limited circumstances.

If you receive an email from anyone claiming to be from Western Union and you are unsure about it, do not click on any links in the mail. This may be a “phishing” attempt to acquire sensitive information from you. Instead, immediately forward the suspicious mail to obf.wu.support@orabank.net

Western Union will never send you e-mails to ask for your user ID, password, or credit card details.

In some countries, senders are asked to provide a ‘Test Question’ and its answer when they initiate the transfer. In cases where a ‘Test Question’ was provided by the sender, the receiver may be required to give the answer when picking up the funds. The ‘Test Question’ feature is designed for emergency situations where the receiver still needs to provide proper identification. It should never be used as additional security or to delay payment. In many places, we’ll pay the receiver whenever the receiver shows proper identification, even if he/she does not know the answer to the question. Test question is not available for payout in Burkina Faso

Contact your government’s Office of Consumer Affairs if you are uncertain or suspicious of a telephone, mail or email solicitation.

If you feel you have been the victim of fraud, you can contact your local police.

• Always make sure you know who you are sending money to.
• Discontinue a call if a caller coaches you to respond to questions asked by Western Union.
• Security is everyone’s responsibility. Stay informed. Keep abreast of new fraud trends.

Remember, if it seems too-good-to-be-true, it probably is.

Learn more about fraud protection.

Yes, and it’s available for iOS and Android.

Get the app for free now

App Store

Google Play

With Western Union^® app you can:

• Send money: Verified users can proceed to mobile money transfers using their online log in details. If you are a new user, you can register directly on the app or at wu.com.
• Calculate fees and rates: Get up-to-date exchange rates and compare fees³ for Western Union^® services.
• Track a transfer: Find out the status of your transfers wit Western Union^® tracking app feature
• Find an agent location: Get the locations for thousands of Western Union’s agents around the globe.

There’s no fee to download the app or to access the app from your mobile phone. But mobile phone data access and calling charges will apply. Please contact your mobile phone network provider for details.

You can download Western Union^® mobile app from the App Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.

Get the app for free now

App Store

Google Play

Customers that have been already verified can use their existing log in details to send money with the Western Union^® mobile app.

If you are a new customer, you can register directly on the app in just a few minutes. You will need to verify your phone number and you will need to present one of the following types of IDs at an Orabank location:

• Valid passport (for non-Burkina Faso residents)
• Government-issued ID (for Burkina Faso residents)

Learn more about sending money online.

Simply use your existing online log in. New customers can register directly on the app or register for free online on wu.com.

Get the app for free now

App Store

Google Play

Find out more about the Western Union^® app, or if you have questions that are not answered here, please contact us or read our FAQ.

To protect our customers, we review every money transfer to make sure it’s safe. For a variety of reasons, we may ask you to provide us with more information before we can allow you to continue using our services.

We need additional information to understand why you use Western Union and the relationship between you and the person or entities you’re transacting with. The more information you provide, the quicker we’ll be able to complete your request.

To have access to our services again, follow the steps below:

1. Gather the required documents. Please note that these will vary depending on your reason for using Western Union and your relationship to the person or entities you’re transacting with. At minimum you must be prepared with your government-issued photo ID, documents that relate to your purpose for using Western Union, proof of the source of the funds, and any additional documents that may provide support for the answers provided on the questionnaire. For more information, go to Help section at westernunion.com.
2. Go to westernunion.com/gcr and start the customer questionnaire.
3. Complete the customer questionnaire:

• Personal information:
  – Provide your first, middle (optional) and last names as they appear on your ID.
  – Share your current email, physical address and mobile number. Please make sure you provide an active email address for communication purposes.
  – Specify your country of birth.
  – Select your occupation and provide additional clarification if needed.
  – Enter a recent tracking number (MTCN) if available.
  – Upload a copy of your valid government-issued photo ID.
• Relationships:
  – List people or entities you’ve transacted with using Western Union.
  – For each person or entity, enter the full name, relationship, purpose of transaction and upload supporting documents.
• Source of funds:
  – Choose the source of funds from the drop-down list and upload supporting documents.
• Third party details (if you are transacting on behalf of someone else) (if applicable):
  – Explain the purpose of transaction(s) and your relationship to the third party.
  – Provide the details related to the third party.
• Fraud (if applicable):
  – Indicate if you’ve been a victim of fraud or scam.
  – If yes, share a brief description of what happened.

4. Review the accuracy of the information you provided.
5. Select Submit questionnaire to complete the process.

a. Valid government-issued photo ID is needed to verify your identity.

• Examples: passport, driver’s license, national ID.

b. Source of funds is needed to make sure that the money transfers are not related to illegal acts and correspond to the nature of your activity.

• Examples: at least the latest 3 months of bank statements, at least the latest 3 months of pay slips, employment contract with salary, loan papers, sale agreement, winning receipt, tax return statement, etc.

c. Purpose of money transfer or intended use of money is needed to understand the basis for making the payment and the type of relations between the sender and the payee.

• Examples:
  • Personal remittance/family support – the following documents are suitable to prove relationship: pictures with persons you transacted with, marriage certificate, counterparty’s birth certificate, counterparty’s government issued ID, etc.
  • Business remittance/payment for goods/services – bills, receipts, sale or purchase agreements, etc.
  • Education – evidence of tuition fees, etc.
  • Medical expenses – hospital bills, pharmacy receipts, health insurance premiums, etc.
  • Charity support – written acknowledgment from the charity, etc.
  • Purchase home – purchase agreement, mortgage documents, etc.
  • Gift – receipts, etc.
  • Travel expenses – travel tickets, hotel bookings, etc.

d. Third party activity (sending or receiving money on behalf of individual or business) information is needed to understand the purpose and nature of your relationship with Western Union.

• Examples: business registration documents, letter of authorization by the company or notary, bank statement showing access to third party funds, etc.

After we’ve received your completed questionnaire and required documentation, we’ll email you a response within 3 business days.

In case we have additional questions, we may contact you via the email address provided in the questionnaire.

We’re committed to the security of your personal information. We use organizational, technical and administrative safeguards that comply with applicable government laws and regulations to secure your personal information. We also restrict access to the personal information that we process to only our employees, agents and representatives that have a business need to know it. For more information, read our Terms and Conditions and Online Privacy Statement.