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Currencies Direct Review

Reviews 12,480
Currencies Direct
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Currencies Direct
Currencies Direct
Excellent
Reviews 12,480
Michael Graw
May. 30, 2021
3 min read
Michael Graw
Currencies Direct Summary
Currencies Direct is a London-based money transfer service that caters to individuals and businesses. The platform offers transfers in 40 different currencies and 120 countries around the world. Currencies Direct charges zero fees for most transfers, but the exchange rate you receive is typically 0.25-1.5% below the going market rate. If you want to lock in a better rate, the platform offers helpful tools like exchange rate alerts.

Pros

  • No transfer fees
  • Exchange rate alerts
  • Supports international business payments

Cons

  • Transfer minimum of $100
  • No option for cash pickup

Currencies Direct at a glance

8.8
Editorial score

Fees?

No transfer fees
10.0

Transfer time

Within 2 working days
6.0

Customer service

Help from an agent over the phone or through live chat available
8.0

Security

Regulated and encrypted secure transfers, biometric entry and multi factor authentication for account
10.0

Online and mobile experience

Excellent site and app with transparency of rates, mobile transfers and transfers from credit cards as well as bank accounts
10.0

Currencies Direct Fees & Rates

Currencies Direct doesn’t charge any transfer fees. Instead, the platform makes money by offering you a lower exchange rate than the current market rate. Currencies Direct is transparent about this, displaying both the mid-market rate and the exchange rate you’ll receive.

How much Currencies Direct charges through this difference depends on what countries you are transferring between and how much money you’re sending. For sending money from the US to the UK, the exchange rate difference is typically between 0.25% and 0.5%. However, if you’re sending money to Africa, the rate difference that Currencies Direct is charging can be as high as 1.5%. 

One thing to keep in mind is that Currencies Direct requires a minimum transfer of at least $100.

How Does It Work?

Transferring money around the world is easy with Currencies Direct. On the platform’s website, just enter what countries you want to send money to and from and how much you want to transfer. You can then get a free quote with Currencies Direct’s exchange rate by entering your name, phone number, and email. 

If you’re happy with the quote, you can send money online through the Currencies Direct app (for iOS and Android) or over the phone. All transfers must be made to a recipient’s bank account, although you can pay for your transfer directly from your bank account or with a debit card. 

How Long Does It Take?

Transfers with Currencies Direct are typically completed within the same business day, although some transfers can take up to two days. You can monitor your transfer’s progress at any time on the platform’s website or through the mobile app.

Currencies Direct Top Highlights 

Currencies Direct has a few features that help it shine for transferring money around the world:

Global Breadth

Currencies Direct supports transfers between more than 120 countries around the world. It also supports more than 40 different currencies, including most currencies used in Europe and Southeast Asia.

Limit Orders

Currencies Direct support limit orders, which allow you to make a transfer only if the exchange rate hits a predefined level. This is a good option if you don’t need to transfer money immediately and wait until you can get a better exchange rate. Currencies Direct can either initiate your transfer as soon as the desired rate is reached or send you an alert.

Multi-currency Accounts

For businesses that send and receive money in multiple currencies, Currencies Direct offers multi-currency accounts. These accounts enable you to hold money in dollars, pounds, and euros all at the same time and instantly interconvert between them at Currencies Direct’s going exchange rate at any time. 

Simultaneous Payments

Another nice feature for businesses is that Currencies Direct enables you to set up multiple simultaneous payments in various currencies. This is extremely helpful if you want to pay overseas employees at the same time. Individuals can also take advantage of this feature to send money to friends and family scattered around the world.

Customer Support

Currencies Direct offers US support from 9 am to 5 pm Eastern, Monday to Friday, by phone and email. Although these support hours are somewhat limited, Currencies Direct has more than 20 branches around the world. So if you need help outside of regular business hours, you can contact the company by contacting an international branch.

Privacy and Security

Currencies Direct is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, which is the UK equivalent of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in the US. 

The company keeps all customer funds completely segregated from its own funds, an important firewall that ensures your money is going to its intended destination. 

The company also subscribes to voluntary regulations like the Non-investment Products Code and is highly rated by the UK credit agency Dun & Bradstreet.

Bottom Line

Currencies Direct is a high-quality money transfer service that offers zero transfer fees and competitive exchange rates. The service enables you to send money as fast as the same day to over 120 countries around the world. However, you must send at least $100 and transfers have to be sent to a bank account rather than to a cash pickup location.

Initiating a transfer is simple through Currency Direct’s web interface or mobile app. You can easily enter limit orders if the current exchange rate isn’t as favorable as you’d like. Businesses can also benefit from Currency Direct, since the platform offers tools like multi-currency accounts and simultaneous payments around the globe.

Michael Graw
Written by
Michael Graw
Michael Graw is a Bellingham, Washington-based writer focusing on finance, tech, and science. His work has been featured in print magazines and high-impact websites. He writes for BestMoney and enjoys helping readers make sense of the options on the market.‎
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