Complete Guide to using Ria Money Transfer in New Zealand

You can send Ria Money Transfer¹ international transfers globally to 190+ countries, with options to pay from your bank, with a card or in cash. Your recipient can have money delivered to their bank or mobile money account, or they can collect the payment in cash at one of the 507,000 Ria agents globally.

This guide walks through how to use Ria Money Transfer, as well as the Ria Money Transfer fees and exchange rate you’ll want to know about. Plus, we've got a quick look at an alternative to compare - Wise, which offers low cost digital payments with fees from 0.33%, which use the mid-market exchange rate².

What is Ria Money Transfer?

Ria Money Transfer has been in business for over 35 years, and offers payments to 190+ countries. You can send money online, in the Ria app, or by visiting a Ria agent in person. You’ll also be able to pick from different payout methods including bank and mobile money deposit and cash collection.

Ria’s global network of 500,000+ agents makes it a handy option for anyone who wants to pay for a transfer in cash - or who needs the payment to be collected in cash by the recipient. This guide walks through all you need to know, including a look at Ria Money Transfer fees and the Ria Money Transfer exchange rate which is used to convert your dollars to the currency you need to send overseas.

Is Ria Money Transfer safe?

Ria Money Transfer is a safe and legit service. Ria is incorporated in New Zealand and licensed for money transfer services. As a large business operating in many countries globally, Ria is also overseen by many other regulatory authorities.

Ria offers services online, through its app and in person. All digital services are protected by security features to keep customers and their accounts safe.

Ria Money Transfer Fees in New Zealand

Ria Money transfer fees can vary depending on³:

• Payment method
• Payout method
• Send country
• Transfer destination
• Transfer amount

You can see the fee and exchange rate you’re offered online or in the Ria app, or - if you’re sending money in person - the agent can tell you the details you need. Bear in mind that the full cost of your transfer can include several different fees, including;

• A transfer fee which Ria will show clearly, and which can vary depending on the specific transfer
• An exchange rate markup - a percentage fee added to the rate used to convert your dollars to the currency needed for deposit
• Third party fees which can be deducted as the payment is being processed, and which can mean your recipient gets less than you expect in the end

If you’re paying for your transfer with a credit card it’s also worth checking with your card issuer if they will charge you a cash advance fee.

How to send money abroad with Ria Money Transfer from New Zealand

If you want to pay for your transfer in cash you can do so by visiting a Ria agent. The agent will take the details of your transfer and tell you the exchange rate and fees which apply.

If you’re paying by card or from your bank, you can also choose to send a Ria transfer digitally. Here’s how to send a Ria Money Transfer payment in New Zealand online or in the Ria app.

• Create a Ria Money Transfer account online or in the Ria app

You’ll need to register with Ria before you can send a payment. Just tap the option to Sign up, and then follow the prompts to enter the required personal and contact information.

• **Get verified **

You may be prompted to verify your identity. This can be when you create your account, or when you send a payment, and is one of the steps Ria takes to keep customers and accounts secure. If you need to be verified you can usually upload a photo of a government issued ID document, such as your passport - you’ll be guided through the process by on screen prompts.

• Enter the details of your payment

To send money you can enter the amount you want to send or the amount and currency the recipient should get in the end. You’ll then be shown the exchange rate which applies as well as any fees you need to pay.

• Select pay out method and enter the required information

Choose how you want the payment to be received - to a bank or mobile money account, or through an agent.

• Pay for your transfer

Pay using your credit or debit card, or by making a bank transfer. Using a card to pay is usually the quickest option, although there may be fees added such as a credit card cash advance fee.

Ria Money transfer has variable limits on the amount you can send, which depend on the country you’re sending to. If you run into one of these limits you’ll be notified when you arrange your transfer.

How to receive money with Ria Money Transfer in New Zealand

If your Ria Money payment is being delivered to your bank or mobile wallet you will need to give the sender your bank account number and name if you’re receiving to a bank, or your mobile number for a mobile wallet. Once the sender processes the transfer, Ria will deposit the payment to your bank or mobile wallet without you needing to do anything more.

Cash collection transfers can be collected at an agent location. You’ll need a government issued ID like a passport with you to collect your money. The person sending you the payment will also have a PIN number which you may be asked for when collecting your cash.

Ria Money Transfer Exchange Rates

One of the fees you may pay when sending a Ria Money Transfer international transfer is a percentage fee added to the exchange rate offered for converting currencies. This cost can be tricky to spot, and can often work out to be one of the highest fees you pay overall.

To calculate the exchange rate being used, Ria will take the mid-market rate and then add a variable markup. This is a fee, which can change depending on the currency and the way you’re arranging your payment - online rates may vary from in store rates, for example.

To see the costs of the exchange rate markup you’d need to compare your Ria exchange rate with the mid-market rate which is shown on Google, or which is available in currency conversion tools. Not all providers use an exchange rate markup. We’ll introduce one - Wise - which avoids markups to keep the costs of your transfer easy to calculate next.

Sending money internationally? Wise could help you save.

You can send secure digital payments with Wise, to banks in 160+ countries, often quickly or even instantly. More than 50% of Wise payments are instant, and 90% arrive in your recipient’s bank account in 24 hours⁴.

Sign up for Wise today

Set up your Wise international money transfer online or in the Wise app, and your dollars will be converted to the currency needed for deposit with the mid-market exchange rate with no markup or margin added. Instead, you just pay a low conversion fee which can be as low as 0.33%, which is shown separately so you can easily see the real cost of your transfer.

Wise doesn’t offer payments which can be collected in cash - but if you’re sending to a bank, take a look at Wise for low transfer costs and fast, safe transfers. See if you could save with Wise today.

1. Ria Money Transfer
2. Pricing/fees: Please seeTerms of Use for your region or visit WiseFees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
3. Ria Help - fees
4. Speed: The speed of transaction claim depends on funds availability, approval by Wise's proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners' banking system, and may not be available for all transactions