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How to Send Money to a Debit Card in 5 Easy Steps

Send Money to a Debit Card

You’re likely familiar with how to use a debit card, as they’re now one of the most common payment methods for many transactions. But did you know you could also send money to a debit card?

At Remitly, for example, we offer debit card deposits to many countries.

Our app makes it easy to send money to an individual’s debit card in many countries and continents, such as Asia, Africa, and South America.

Keep reading to learn more about how and why to send money to a debit card. Keep in mind that delivery options vary depending on the recipient’s location.

5 steps for sending money to a debit card

Download the app from the app store, create an account, and then follow these steps.

1. Enter the amount to send.

Enter how much money you want to send, checking to see the exact amount your recipient will receive after any fees or exchange rate markups.

2. Choose a delivery method.

This means you must select the option for sending funds to a debit card. With Remitly, the transfer option will say “debit card deposit.”

3. Enter your recipient information.

Anytime you send money online, you’ll need your recipient’s details, such as their first name, last name, and phone number. You’ll also need to enter their debit card number.

4. Choose a funding source.

When you sign up for Remitly or another payment service, you’ll enter your bank account or debit card details. With any transfer, you’ll choose how you want to pay for it—based on the payment options in your profile.

5. Review and send.

Those 16-digit debit card numbers can be tricky, so make sure you’ve entered them correctly before you hit “send.”

Transferring money to a debit card with Remitly

Remitly makes it easy to send money to people around the world, and we offer the ability to transfer money directly to debit cards.

To get started, sign up for an account with Remitly if you don’t yet have one. Then follow the instructions listed above. Easy.

Which debit card types are supported by Remitly?

Your recipient must have a Visa debit card issued by a bank that allows debit card deposits.

Send Money to a Debit Card

The benefits of sending money to a debit card

Here are some of the biggest benefits of sending money directly to someone’s debit card.

Convenience

As soon as the funds are available, your loved one can use that debit card to make payments, top up a wireless phone, and for any other transaction for which they’d typically use a debit card. They can also withdraw cash from the linked bank account from an ATM or bank branch.

When you send money to a debit card, your recipient also won’t have to worry about leaving the house to make a cash pickup.

Speed

Gone are the days of waiting many business days for funds to arrive. When you fund a money transfer to a debit card, your recipient can gain access to funds fast. With a mobile app, instant transfers are possible—and if not instant, less than one business day is usually common with a money transfer app.

FAQs and Considerations

When sending to a debit card abroad, follow the same precautions as you would for using any mobile wallet or payment app like Google Pay or Apple Pay.

Here are some further tips on making international money transfers to debit cards.

Check sending amount limits

There may be limits on how much money you can send internationally at one time. Check the app or website for more details.

Research exchange rates

An exchange rate tells you how two types of currency relate to one another. For example, if you live in the U.S. and want to send money abroad to someone in Mexico, the exchange rate might be 1 USD = 17.08 pesos. If you sent $100, your recipient would get around 1708 pesos minus fees.

Exchange rates can vary from hour to hour, and money transfer providers may offer different rates.

Understand fees

Sometimes called a transfer fee, a transaction fee is what you pay to a service that transfers money for you. With certain providers, these fees may be waived or reduced if your transfer is above a minimum amount.

Transfer fees may be a flat rate or a percentage of the amount transferred. If you choose a provider that charges a percentage, look to see if there is a maximum fee amount on large transfers.

With Remitly, you can easily find out what the fee is for your transfer. We charge a flat rate based on the destination country and speed. We also offer zero fees for some countries.

Can I send to a prepaid card?

You may be able to send money to prepaid debit cards if they’re obtained through a bank.

Most anonymous and prepaid cards bought at stores, however, do not allow this.

Is it possible to send with a credit card?

Yes, in many cases. But you may be subject to a cash advance fee if you transfer money using your credit card. Contact your card issuer to learn more about cash advance fee costs.

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Safety tips

Sending money to a debit card is secure, especially if you follow these steps.

1. Check the information before you send.

Before you start the transfer, triple-check all the information. If you have the recipient’s debit card number wrong by just one number, your transfer may be delayed or may go to the wrong place.

2. Keep your information secure.

Choose a unique password for your money transfer service. Ideally, make it different from your other financial institution passwords. Combinations of letters, numbers, and special characters are the most secure, usually.

Keep your password private. Only save your password to your computer or mobile device if you’re certain that the information will be secure.

3. Notify your recipient before you transfer funds.

And that’s it!