There are many reasons why you might need to send money to your loved ones. Often, it’s for paying important bills such as those for utilities or maybe even for school tuition. Sometimes, it’s for online shopping for necessities or even gifts (in some instances, the cash is the gift).
Thanks to technology, you’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty of quick and easy ways to send money to anyone in the Philippines. Some of them make use of the internet, some are completely offline, while some combine certain functions, Below are just a few of the best options you can use:
Through E-Wallets
Over the last few years, e-wallets like Maya have enjoyed a surge in popularity. This is largely due to their multiple features and functions, including bills payment and discounted mobile prepaid load packages. Of course, e-wallets are also one of the fastest and most convenient ways to send money. You can even transfer money at literally any time of the day.
What’s great about e-wallets is that you can send money in different ways. The most popular options are account to account and account to bank. The former is the direct transfer of money from one e-wallet number to another. The latter, on the other hand, is the transfer of money from the e-wallet to a bank account.
Depending on the e-wallet, the bank, and the amount you’re sending, sending money to a bank account may incur some fees. In addition, there are also transaction amount limits per day. However, if you have an upgraded account, the transaction amount limit will be considerably higher.
Through Bank Transfers
Online banking is another quick and easy way to send money to your loved ones. Most of the time, you don’t even need to have an app to facilitate the transfer. All you have to do is to log-in to your online banking account and click the correct service. Of course, having a mobile app makes things convenient if you don’t have access to a computer.
Bank transfers are ideal if the recipient also has an account with the same bank. Interbank transfers usually have convenience fees or similar charges, which can add up if you frequently transfer money. Take note of certain rules as well. Some banks, for example, don’t allow transfers if the receiving account isn’t pre-enrolled.
Through Remittance Centers
Remittance centers are popular among those who have loved ones working abroad. However, these establishments aren’t just for international transactions. They also offer local money transfers (sometimes even currency exchange).
To send money through remittance centers, simply bring the cash and fill out the correct forms to facilitate the transaction. Make sure to take note of the transaction number. Do note that there are corresponding charges based on the amount you’re sending. For example, if you’re sending Php 500, you will be charged a Php 1 service fee.
If your recipients are a little wary of carrying a large amount of cash in public, some e-wallets (like Maya) lets you claim remittances through the app. In the case of Maya, if you send the money through Western Union, the recipient simply needs to input the transaction number. The amount will then be credited to their account.
Meanwhile, if you send the remittance through Moneygram.com, it can be transferred directly to the Maya account of the recipient. This is if they have a Maya VISA virtual or physical card.
Through Pawnshops or Convenience Stores
Aside from being add money partners of e-wallets, some pawnshops and convenience stores also offer money transfer or remittance services. For pawnshops, the traditional method of bringing the money in cash applies. In addition, like remittance companies, there are additional fees depending on the amount of money you’re going to send.
For convenience stores, you can make use of self-service kiosks or approach the counter for sending remittances. Do note that convenience stores usually only have sending services and don’t allow for claiming. To get the money, your loved one needs to still go to a remittance partner.
Through Maya Center
For those sending money to locations where there’s no stable internet connection, you can also send money through Maya Center centers via Maya. This works just like a normal Maya Center transaction. Simply input the Smart Money number of the Padala center where your loved ones will claim the money as the recipient in your Maya app. Take note of the transaction number and other important details so that the claiming process will be smoother.
What’s great about these methods is that it gives you a variety of options that suit both you and the recipient’s circumstances. Nowadays, internet access is a little more widespread. This means that you can expect more cashless transactions in the future. This is especially beneficial for those who regularly send money to their loved ones and in cases of emergencies. Meanwhile, you can still rely on “old school” methods in case the situation calls for it.
