Remittance is everything, especially if you are working overseas. You need to be able to send money from abroad because your family depends on it.
Unfortunately, not all OFW families have bank accounts, which means they rely solely on remittance centers to get the money. Remittance centers are also the go-to guys because aside from getting money sent from abroad, these facilities offer other financial services like bills payment, pawning, quick cash loan, and foreign exchange with less hassle compared to what is required by big banks.
That being said, what are the best remittance centers in the country? Here’s what:
Western Union Overseas Money Transfer
Did you know that Western Union is one, if not the biggest remittance centers in the Philippines? Believe it or not, it has over 8,400 branches nationwide. That’s not all. Western Union, also the largest remittance service provider in the world, has 500,000 agent locations in more than 200 countries worldwide, thereby making remittance claims easier and convenient.
What makes Western Union a favorite is the Track a Transfer feature wherein you can check the status of remittance online. You can also send money to PayMaya mobile wallet and every remittance sent allows you to earn reward points, which you can use to score discounted fees on remittance rates.
- Dometic Remittance Rate – P5 to P595
- Overseas Remittance Rate – P500 to P1,100
Cebuana Lhuillier Pera Padala
Another major remittance centers in the country is Cebuana Lhuillier, with 2,300 branches and more than 4,000 Pera Padala agents in the Philippines. Cebuana also has more than 80 international remittance partners, thereby making money transfer easy and convenient for you.
Cebuana sends money in real-time and allows you to earn points for every amount you sent. This can be exchanged for discounts on remittance rates, exclusive privileges, and special offers. More than that, you can make an appointment online before you visit any branch. This way, you skip long lines and filling out forms since that was done ahead of time.
- Domestic Remittance Rate – P1 to P1,200
- Overseas Remittance Rate – P500 to P1,200
Palawan Express Pera Padala
Similar to the first two remittance centers, Palawan Express also has more than 2,000 branches and Pera Padala agents nationwide, with rate ranging between P2 and P345. It also has Loyalty Rewards Program, which gives you five percent discount and two percent reward points on every remittance fee. Rebate is also included in this program every time you claim money.
When sending money, your family back home can get a text notification, informing them that money is sent and ready for pickup. In case they received the money already, you will receive a text confirmation regarding this as well.
MoneyGram
A direct competitor of Western Union, MoneyGram is the second biggest money transfer company in the world. It has approximately 350,000 locations in more than 200 countries.
Remittance rate is similar to Western Union, with the rate depending on the amount sent. Maximum transaction is USD 2,999 and you can check the status of the remittance online.
In case you’re wondering where your family can pick up the money, simply look for remittance centers that partnered with MoneyGram. This is most convenient since your family can immediately get the money within minutes from sending it. You can also transmit money through almost 7,000 ATMs nationwide using LBC card.
What makes you decide on the best remittance center? Consider these things: safety, reliability, convenience, and remittance rate. This will help you decide the best one for you.