Discover an easy way to send money with a credit card
Sending money with a credit card is just a few clicks or taps away on the Western Union website or mobile app. Plus, you can easily choose how your recipient gets the funds — cash pickup, bank deposit, or even a mobile wallet top-up.
Prefer to send money in person or over the phone? You can pop into a nearby Western Union location to speak with an agent or call our customer service phone line to make credit card money transfers.
Learn how to send money online with a credit card using our website or mobile app, as well as the fees and turnaround times you can expect when sending money.
How to send money with a credit card using the Western Union website
Need to send cash in a flash? Skip the line and grab your credit card. Western Union enables you to send money from your credit card to friends and family across the globe in minutes. No paperwork, no sweat — just pure sending satisfaction.
- Select ‘Send money’: Find and select from the main navigation menu.
- Choose a destination: Select the country you’re sending money to.
- Enter the amount: Enter how much money you want to send, considering any potential minimum and maximum limits for credit card transfers.
- Pick a delivery method: Choose how your recipient wants the funds. You’ll need their address and account details if you send money to your recipient’s bank account or mobile wallet.
- Select ‘Credit card’ as your payment method: Choose ‘Pay online’ and select “Credit card’ as your payment method.
- Create a profile or log in
- Enter credit card details: Input your credit card information securely, including the card number, expiration date, CVV code, and billing address.
- Review and confirm: Carefully review all the transfer details before confirming the transaction.
- Pay and track: Once confirmed, proceed with your payment. You’ll receive a Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) to track and share the transfer’s progress with your recipient.
How to send money with a credit card using the Western Union app
Looking for an app to send money with a credit card? With the Western Union app in your pocket, sending money using a credit card is simple. Access real-time exchange rates and fees, choose your preferred delivery method for your recipient, and track transfers directly in the app.
- Download the app: Download the latest version of the Western Union app on your smartphone or tablet from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Sign up or log in: Create a free Western Union account. Existing users can simply log in with their credentials.
- Start a transfer: Tap the ‘Send money’ button on the app’s homepage.
- Choose a destination: Select the country you’re sending money to.
- Pick a delivery method: Choose how your recipient wants the funds. You’ll need their address and account details if you send money to your recipient’s bank account or mobile wallet.
- Enter the amount: Enter how much money you want to send, considering any potential minimum and maximum limits for credit card transfers.
- Select ‘Credit card’ as your payment method: Choose ‘Pay online’ and select “Credit card” as your payment method.
- Add recipient details: Enter your recipient’s name, email address, location, and phone number. Be sure the name you enter matches the name on their government-issued ID.
- Enter credit card details: Input your credit card information securely, including the card number, expiration date, CVV code, and billing address.
- Review and confirm: Carefully review all the transfer details before confirming the transaction.
- Pay and track: Once confirmed, proceed with your payment. You’ll receive a Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) to track and share the transfer’s progress with your recipient.
How much does it cost to send money with a credit card?
The cost of sending money with a credit card depends on things like the amount you send and how you send it. Here are the three main costs you should know.
1. Exchange rate costs
Money transfers involving currency conversion come with an additional cost. Fees, exchange rates, and taxes can vary based on the countries you’re sending the money to and from. At Western Union, we calculate our exchange rates based on interbank rates available in the market, plus a margin.
The best way to estimate the exchange rates and associated fees for your money transfer is to use our currency converter. It breaks down current exchange rates and fees. Note that these rates and fees are only estimates and are subject to change.
2. Transfer fee
Western Union charges a transfer fee, which is a flat fee for all money transfers. You’ll see it listed as the “transfer fee” any time you request to send money with Western Union.
How does Western Union calculate transfer fees?
We calculate transfer fees based on a few factors, including:
• How you send the money: Online, in the mobile app, in-store, or over the phone
• How the recipient wants to receive the money: Cash pickup, bank account, or mobile wallet
• The transfer amount: Larger amounts come with higher fees
For example, here’s a look at transfer fee estimates on a $5,000 domestic money transfer paid with a credit card.
| Cash Pickup | Bank Deposit | |
| Transferred online or through the mobile app | $242.99 | $306.99 |
| Transferred over the phone | $191 | NA |
Credit card transactions come with higher transfer fees than those funded using cash, a debit card, or a bank account. However, they make it possible to finance a money transfer when you don’t have funds readily available. You can get a transfer fee estimate by requesting it or through our price estimator.
3. Credit card issuer costs
Your credit card issuer might include an additional fee for the money transfer. For example, some issuers process the transaction as a cash advance, which comes with a fee and a higher interest rate. Cash advance fees typically range from 3% to 5% of the advance amount. Contact your credit card company to find out what to expect before making a transfer.
How long will a money transfer with a credit card take?
Money transfers funded with credit cards can arrive within minutes or take a few business days. Delivery time will depend on factors such as the transfer’s destination and how the recipient is receiving the money.
Transfers generally arrive within minutes if you send funds to a Western Union cash pickup location or mobile wallet. On the other hand, they can take up to five business days if you send them to a bank account or debit card.
FAQs
How much money can I send with a credit card?
Sending limits vary by how your recipient wants to receive the money and their location. Check the limits that apply to a particular transfer on our website or app, or by using our price estimator. Note that your credit card provider might also limit the amount you can send. You also won’t be able to exceed your overall credit card limit.
What do I need to send money online with a credit card?
If you want to send money online with a credit card through Western Union, you’ll need:
• The recipient’s name and location
• The recipient’s address, bank account number, and bank routing number (if you want to send the money to a bank account)
• A valid Visa, Mastercard, or Discover credit card
• The billing address on your credit card
• Enough available credit to cover the cost of the money transfer and fees
Does sending money with a credit card happen faster or slower than sending from a bank account?
If you need to send money fast, either can be a good option. Western Union usually completes transfers funded by credit cards within minutes, though some can take a few business days to process. It depends on the countries involved and how the recipient picks up the money. Bank account transfers in the US typically process by the next banking day, but that timeline changes if you send money internationally.
Are there fees associated with sending money with a credit card?
Yes, you’ll pay a transfer fee when you use Western Union to send money with a credit card. Use our price estimator to estimate of the fees you’ll pay for your Western Union money transfer. If your transaction involves a currency conversion, you’ll also incur costs from the conversion. Your credit card provider may also charge a fee for money transfers.
*Any and all information by or on this site is provided for promotional or informational purposes only, is not to be relied upon as a professional opinion whatsoever, and is not guaranteed to be accurate, complete, reliable, current or error-free.
