Sending money with Worldremit in Malaysia

WorldRemit is available in Malaysia, following the company’s successful Malaysia launch in August 2021. But how does WorldRemit work? What are the fees? Are there any physical worldremit locations in Malaysia? And are the exchange rates available any good?

This guide covers all you need to know about WorldRemit Malaysia¹, and also introduces an alternative - low cost international payments from Wise to help you decide if WorldRemit is right for you.

Overview of using WorldRemit in Malaysia

From Malaysia customers can use WorldRemit to send payments online or in the WorldRemit app². Depending on where the recipient lives, you may be able to arrange for your payment to be deposited in their bank account, collected as cash, sent to a mobile wallet, or even used for airtime top up. Here are some of the pros and cons of WorldRemit Malaysia.

WorldRemit fees and exchange rates

WorldRemit’s fees vary depending on where you’re sending money to. You’ll find that there are 2 key costs in every transfer - and an extra charge to watch out for if you’re sending money direct to a bank account:

• Transfer fees apply to all transactions
• An exchange rate markup is applied on all payments
• Payments to bank accounts may also run into third party fees including SWIFT charges and recipient bank fees

Transfer fees

You’ll see WorldRemit’s transfer fees whenever you start to set up your payment. You might find that there are a few different payout options for your destination country which may all come with different transfer fees. Transfer fees are usually relatively low, although paying by credit card can push up costs and may incur a cash advance fee from your card provider.

Exchange rate markups

When you set up your payment you’ll be shown the available exchange rate for your transaction. It’s important to note that this may not be the same rate you’ll find on Google. Instead, an exchange rate markup - an extra fee - is added to the rate offered. This is a percentage charge which is tricky to see, and which can quickly mount up if you’re sending a higher value payment.

Exchange rate markups are common but not all providers use them. If you want to avoid this extra cost, here's a comparison with Wise - a provider only using the mid-market exchange rate. The calculator below displays the exact amount your recipient will receive using Wise, compare the total amount with Worldremit's transfer calculator here.

Third party fees

Third party fees may creep in if you’re sending money to someone’s bank account directly. These tend to result from payments being processed by the SWIFT network, and can be hard to predict in advance.

How to send money with WorldRemit in Malaysia

You can set up a WorldRemit Malaysia account if:

• You’re 18 or over
• You have a government issued photo ID for verification
• You have a Malaysian bank account, credit or debit card

Create a WorldRemit account easily online or in the WorldRemit app. All you need to get started is your country of residence and email. You’ll then be prompted to complete your personal details and a verification step.

To get verified you’ll need one of the following:

• Malaysian National Identity Card
• Passport
• MyTentera
• MyPR (for Malaysian Permanent Residents)

Once you have a WorldRemit account you can send money easily online or in the app³:

1. Log into your WorldRemit account
2. Enter the destination country to see the payout options available
3. Select the payout option you prefer and follow prompts to add the details you need - like your recipient’s bank account number and SWIFT code for a bank transfer
4. Check over all the details, confirm, and pay with either a bank transfer or your card

Delivery methods

The delivery and payout methods available depend on the country you’re sending money to. You can choose from a selection including:

• Bank transfer
• Cash collection
• Airtime Top up,
• Mobile Money.

How to track your transfer on WorldRemit

Once you have arranged your WorldRemit transfer you’ll be able to track it in the WorldRemit app or by logging in on the desktop site. On the Website, just look for the Transfers in Progress button on the main page once you’ve logged in, and on the app, look for it in the Activity section.

WorldRemit payments for cash collection or airtime top up are usually almost instant. Bank transfers might take 2 working days or more depending on the country you’re sending to.

Comparison - WorldRemit vs Wise (formerly Transferwise)

WorldRemit offers a great range of payout options and covers some 70 currencies. However, the services available do vary quite widely by country, and the fees and delivery times might not be the best available, particularly for direct bank deposits.

To help you decide if WorldRemit is right for you, here's a comparison of features and fees between Worldremit and a popular alternative Wise:

Summary

WorldRemit offers some great services - particularly if you want to get cash to someone in a hurry. In this case you’ll love WorldRemit’s broad global reach and fast cash collection delivery times. However, if you’re sending money direct to a bank account, you might find you can get a faster and cheaper service using a specialist service like Wise.

While WorldRemit uses an exchange rate markup, Wise uses the real mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees. This can mean Wise transfers are cheaper than WorldRemit - and they’ll often be faster too.

Send money with the "real" exchange rate 🚀