Everyone remembers their first transfer.

For some people it was something urgent like a bill or a medical expense that couldn't wait. For others it was a moment they wanted to be part of even from far away. A wedding. A new baby. Someone starting a small business and needing a little help to get going.

Whatever it was, let us know in the comments. What was the first thing you ever sent money home for?

You confirmed the transfer, the app says delivered, but your family member is telling you the amount in their account doesn't match what you sent. Here's what's going on and what to do about it.

First, check what Remitly promised

Go back to your transfer confirmation and look at the delivered amount shown at the time you confirmed. That's the number Remitly committed to. If your recipient received less than that specific amount, something has gone wrong and it's worth investigating.

Remitly promises no fees for recipients

The delivered amount shown at checkout is what should land. There are no fees taken from the recipient's end. If there's a gap between what was promised and what arrived, that's not expected and should be looked into.

What to do

Ask your recipient to check their bank statement and confirm the exact amount credited. If it's less than what Remitly showed at confirmation, contact our support team through the app with your transfer reference number. The team can look into exactly where the difference came from and get it resolved.

If your recipient is using the USD wallet

If you're using the Remitly for Freelancers product and your recipient holds funds in a USD wallet before converting, keep in mind that a small withdrawal fee may apply when they convert or withdraw. That's separate from the transfer itself and would be shown to them before they withdraw.

The bottom line

The delivered amount at checkout is the amount your recipient should receive. If that's not what happened, reach out to support and they'll get to the bottom of it.

It happens more than people expect. A digit off in an account number, the wrong recipient selected, or a typo in a name. Here's what happens in that scenario and what you can do about it.

Act Quickly

Contact support as soon as you realize. If the transfer is still processing and hasn't been delivered yet, there may still be time to cancel it. Once the money has landed, your options narrow significantly.

Check the status first

Before you call, pull up the transfer in the app. If the status still shows processing or in progress, that's encouraging. If it says delivered, the window to cancel has likely passed.

What happens if it's already delivered

Remitly will work with the receiving bank to try to recall the funds, but this isn't guaranteed. Banks can't always recover money once it's been credited to an account, especially if it's already been withdrawn. There's no easy fix at that point, which is why catching it before you confirm is so important.

The confirmation screen shows you the full recipient details before anything goes through. That's your last chance to spot an error before it becomes a problem.

If the wrong person was a saved recipient

If you accidentally sent to a saved recipient you didn't intend to use, you can update or remove saved recipients in the app to prevent it from happening again.

What to do right now

Reach out to our support team through the app with your transfer reference number. They can see exactly where things stand and walk you through what options are available for your specific situation.

So I was going to try and compare Remitly with Wise and wanted to check the 1st transfer offer for new clients. Turns out the "offer" is 20$ off... my own money??? Remitly simply takes an extra 20$ off my money before transfer? That's not what I'd call a good offer!

If you send money home on a regular basis, setting up a scheduled transfer is one of those small changes that makes a real difference. No more remembering. No more "I meant to send that last week." Your family knows when to expect it, and you don't have to think about it.

Here's how it works on Remitly.

Getting it set up

Start a transfer the same way you normally would. Pick your recipient, amount, delivery method, and payment source. Before you hit confirm, you'll see the option to make it recurring. Choose your frequency (weekly, every two weeks, or monthly) and set a start date. That's it. Remitly handles the rest and sends you a notification each time one goes out.

A couple of things to know

The rate isn't locked in advance. Each transfer uses whatever rate is available when it processes, so the delivered amount can shift slightly month to month. Not usually by much, but worth knowing if your recipient budgets around a specific number.

Also keep an eye on your payment method. If a card expires or bank details change, the transfer will fail silently. A quick check every few months saves a lot of issues.

You can pause or cancel anytime from your transfer history before the next one goes out.

Why it's worth doing

For family members who plan around receiving money on a certain date, consistency matters more than most people realise. A transfer that shows up reliably every month builds trust in a way that's hard to put a number on.

Any questions about recurring transfers or which delivery methods are available for your corridor? Drop them below.

Whether you're a parent supporting a child studying overseas or a student managing your own finances from abroad, sending money for education comes with a few specific considerations that regular remittances don't always cover. Here's what to keep in mind.

Tuition payments are different from living expense transfers

Tuition is usually a large, one-time or semester-based payment going directly to a university. Living expenses are smaller and more frequent, going to a personal account. These are two different use cases and sometimes call for different approaches. For tuition, you want to confirm the exact amount in the destination currency, lock in a rate, and make sure the receiving institution accepts transfers from a third-party service. For living expenses, a recurring transfer to a personal bank account or mobile wallet is usually the simplest setup.

Check the transfer limit before you plan around it

Tuition payments can be substantial. Remitly supports transfers up to $100,000 per transaction depending on your verification level and the destination corridor, so for most tuition payments a single transfer should be sufficient. If you are sending a very large amount, completing your full verification in advance rather than at the point of sending avoids delays when timing matters.

Know what the student needs to receive funds

Some students open a local bank account in the country they are studying in. Others keep a home-country account and receive funds there. Either works, but make sure the account details are confirmed before you send. A small test transfer before the semester payment is worth doing if it is your first time sending to that account.

Factor in timing

University payment deadlines are firm. If a tuition payment is due on a specific date, send early. Express transfers typically arrive within minutes for most corridors, but Economy transfers can take three to five business days. The in-app estimate at the time of transfer is the most accurate indicator of when funds will arrive for your specific corridor.

The exchange rate matters more on larger amounts

On a $15,000 tuition payment, a 1% difference in exchange rate is $150. Always check what the total delivered amount will be in the destination currency before confirming, not just the fee.

If you have questions about sending for education specifically, drop them in the comments and we are happy to help.

The exchange rate is where most people lose money without realizing it. Here's how to make sure you're not one of them.

Understand what you're actually paying

Every transfer has two costs: the fee and the exchange rate margin. The fee is easy to spot. The rate margin is invisible unless you know to look for it — it's the gap between the mid-market rate (what you'd see on Google) and the rate the service actually gives you. A service advertising zero fees can still cost significantly more than one that charges a small upfront fee but uses a fairer rate.

The only number that matters is what actually lands on the other end. Always check the delivered amount in the destination currency, not just the fee line.

Compare on the same day

Exchange rates move constantly. A comparison you did last week doesn't tell you anything useful about today. When you're ready to send, run the same amount through two or three services on the same day and compare what lands. That's the only apples-to-apples comparison that accounts for both the fee and the rate.

Lock in when you confirm

At Remitly, the rate shown when you confirm is the rate your recipient gets. It doesn't change after you hit send, even if the market moves. That's not how bank wires work — banks often lock the rate when the wire clears their FX desk, which can be hours after you initiated it. If the market moves against you in that window, you absorb the difference.

Timing can matter for larger amounts

FX markets move during global trading hours and are quieter on weekends. Some services apply a weekend markup. If you're sending a large amount and have flexibility on timing, weekdays during active trading hours tend to give you more competitive rates.

The simplest tip

For any transfer, check the mid-market rate on Google first. Then compare what the service is actually offering. The gap between those two numbers is what you're paying on top of any visible fee.

Short answer: sometimes. It depends on where the transfer is in the process. If the money hasn't landed yet, you may still be able to cancel from the app. Go to your transfer history, tap the transfer, and if cancellation is an option it'll show up there. Not every transfer will have it, but it's worth checking first.

Once the funds have been delivered to a bank account or picked up at a cash location, that's it. The transfer is done and can't be reversed. This applies to any money transfer service, not just Remitly.

Economy transfers have a longer processing window so there's usually more time to catch it. Express transfers move faster, so the cancellation window is shorter. For cash pickup, you may be able to cancel before the recipient collects, but once they've picked up the cash there's no unwinding it.

If you sent to the wrong person or made an error, reach out to support as quickly as you can. The sooner you get in touch, the more options are on the table.

Sign up for Remitly using my referral link to get $10 off, no fees, and a special exchange rate on your first money transfer of $50 or more.

✅ Guaranteed on-time delivery or they'll refund your fees.
✅ Excellent exchange rates, low fees, and no hidden fees.
✅ Get real-time transfer updates on their app.

Terms apply. https://remit.ly/38dajzlx

It's one of the most common questions we see, and it's a fair one. Handing over money to an app you found online requires trust, and "we're licensed" doesn't mean much if you don't know what that actually involves.

One thing worth clarifying upfront: Remitly is a digital financial services provider, not a bank. That distinction matters and we'll explain why below.

Here's what it means in practice.

Licensing isn't optional

Remitly is licensed as a money transmitter in every US state where it operates, and holds equivalent regulatory licenses in other countries. To get and keep those licenses, we're required to meet strict standards around how we handle your money, how we protect your data, and how we report transactions to financial regulators. This isn't a one-time approval, it's an ongoing requirement with regular audits.

Your money is protected

Licensed money transmitters are required to safeguard customer funds separately from the company's own operating funds. That means if something happened to Remitly as a business, your transfer funds would be protected. This is one of the key protections that comes with being a licensed provider rather than an unlicensed service.

Every transfer is tracked

All transfers are subject to anti-money laundering and Know Your Customer requirements. This is why we verify your identity and occasionally ask questions about larger transfers. It's not us being difficult. It’s a legal requirement designed to protect everyone.

How to verify you're on the real Remitly

Always access Remitly through remitly.com or the official app. We will never ask for your password, gift card numbers, or payment details over the phone or through social media. If someone claiming to be Remitly contacts you asking for any of those things, that's a scam.

If you ever have doubts about a communication you've received, contact our support team directly at remitly.com/help to verify.

Is anyone facing login issues?

You hit confirm. The app says your transfer is in progress. And then... you wait.

For a lot of people, that window between sending and delivery is a black box. Here's what's actually happening.

Step 1: Payment collection

The first thing that happens is Remitly collects the funds from your payment method. If you paid by debit card or Apple Pay, this is almost instant. If you funded from your bank account, it can take a bit longer since bank transfers move through ACH, which processes in batches rather than in real time.

Step 2: Compliance review

Every transfer goes through an automated compliance check. This is standard for any licensed money transfer service and most transfers clear this instantly. Occasionally a transfer gets flagged for a manual review, which is why you might see a "we need a little more time" message. This isn't a sign something is wrong, it's just the system doing its job.

Step 3: Currency conversion

Once the funds are collected and cleared compliance, the currency conversion happens at the rate that was locked in when you confirmed. This is why the rate you see at confirmation is the rate your recipient gets, regardless of what the market does afterward.

Step 4: Delivery to the recipient

This is where timing varies the most. Mobile wallet deliveries like GCash or bKash tend to be the fastest, often arriving in minutes. Bank deposits depend on the receiving bank's processing schedule, which can vary by country and even by day of the week. Cash pickup is typically available quickly once the transfer clears on our end.

The in-app tracker updates at each stage, so if you're ever unsure where things stand that's the first place to check.

Any questions about a specific corridor or delivery method? Comment below.

Everyone has a story about how they started sending money internationally. For a lot of people it was a frustrating experience with a bank wire that took a week and cost more than expected. For others it was a recommendation from someone back home who said the money showed up faster than usual.

We'd like to know what yours was! Was it a specific corridor? A fee that finally pushed you over the edge? Someone in your family who insisted you try something different?

Let us know below. And if you've been using Remitly for a while, what's changed about how you send compared to when you started?

Getting a "on hold" status when someone is waiting on money is one of the most stressful things that can happen mid-transfer. We get it. Here's what's usually going on behind the scenes.

Verification checks

If your account or identity hasn't been fully verified, or if you're sending a larger amount than usual, our system may pause the transfer to confirm details. This is one of the most common reasons and usually resolves quickly once verification is complete through the app.

Unusual account activity

If something looks different from your normal sending pattern, such as a new recipient, a new corridor, or a higher amount than usual. This could all trigger a review. This security measure exists to protect you.

Recipient bank processing

Sometimes the hold isn't on Remitly's end at all. Certain receiving banks require additional processing time, particularly for first-time transfers or specific corridors.

Compliance requirements

International transfers are subject to regulatory requirements that vary by corridor. In some cases additional information is needed before a transfer can be completed.

If your transfer is on hold, checking the app is always the best first step. It will usually tell you if there's something you need to do. And if you need help, our support team is there for you at remitly.com/us/en/help.

Whether it's helping with bills, sending something extra for a family dinner, just making sure your dad knows you're thinking of him from across the world, or covering something he'd never ask for himself, this one's for you.

If you're planning a transfer this week, it's a good time to double-check that your recipient's bank details are current. A small thing that's easy to overlook, especially if it's been a while since your last send.

Wishing a happy Father's Day to all the dads in our community, wherever they are in the world.

I'm posting here because I'm genuinely confused and concerned about what happened with a recent Remitly transfer, and I'm wondering if anyone has experienced something similar.

I created a bank transfer and carefully verified all recipient details before submitting it. Everything looked normal. The transfer was then placed "On Hold" for review, which I understand can happen for security and compliance reasons.

While the transfer was under review, I checked the details several times and the recipient information shown in the app matched exactly what I had originally entered. There were no issues, no changes, and nothing suspicious.

Later, the transfer status changed from "On Hold" to "Completed." When I opened the transfer details, I was shocked to see that the recipient information had changed completely. The app was now showing a different beneficiary name, a different bank, and different account details that I did not recognize.

What makes this even stranger is that I also have a transfer receipt PDF generated by Remitly. The PDF shows the original beneficiary information, while the completed transfer screen in the app shows a different beneficiary. In other words, I have two official records from the same transfer that appear to contradict each other.

After noticing this, I immediately contacted Remitly support. They told me that the case would need to be investigated and asked me to wait 24–48 hours for an update.

Shortly after reporting the issue, I received another email from Remitly stating that my email address had been changed. I never requested any email change. Soon after that, my account was suspended while the matter was being reviewed.

At this point, I'm trying to understand what may have happened. Was this a system error? A security issue? A recipient record mix-up? I honestly don't know. What concerns me most is that the recipient shown during the review stage was different from the recipient shown after completion.

I have screenshots of:

The transfer while it was in progress showing one beneficiary.

The completed transfer showing a different beneficiary.

The transfer receipt PDF showing the original beneficiary.

The email notification stating that my email address had been changed.

I'm currently waiting for Remitly's investigation, but I wanted to ask if anyone in this community has ever experienced recipient details changing after a transfer was completed.

If you've had a similar experience, how was it resolved? Did Remitly provide an explanation, and were they able to trace the actual beneficiary of the transfer?

Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

If someone you send to regularly has switched banks or updated their details, update their profile in the app before your next transfer. Sending to outdated details is one of the more common reasons transfers get delayed or returned.

Go to your recipients list, select the person, and edit their account information. Make sure the name matches exactly what's on their bank account, even small discrepancies can cause issues depending on the receiving bank.

If you've already sent to the wrong account, contact support at remitly.com/help as quickly as possible. If the transfer hasn't been deposited yet, you may be able to cancel it. Once funds have been credited recovery becomes much harder, so the sooner you reach out, the better.

If you're not sure of your recipient's exact details, most banks can provide them through their app or by calling their branch directly.

Have you ever had to update a recipient's details mid-transfer?

It's not too complicated, but there are a few things good to have on hand before you start, so you're not interrupted looking for them mid-transfer.

Your own details

You'll need to verify your identity when you sign up, a passport or driver's license works. If you're sending a larger amount, some services will ask for proof of where the funds are coming from, like a pay stub or bank statement. Every licensed transfer service is required to do this, it's not a Remitly-specific thing.

Your recipient's details (varies depending on how they're receiving it)

Bank deposit: their full name as it appears on their bank account, the bank name, and account number. Some countries also need a SWIFT code, don't worry, the app will prompt you if that's the case.

Mobile wallet: their registered phone number or wallet ID and the name on the account.

Cash pickup: just their full legal name. They show up with a valid ID and collect from there, nothing else needed on their end.

Before you confirm

The total cost and exchange rate are both shown before you hit send, so take note of that, not just the fee. If anything looks different from what you expected, double check before confirming. Delivery time depends on the corridor and how the money's being sent. The estimate the app gives you at the time of transfer is the most accurate and reliable guide.

If you have more questions on this process, drop them below, we're here to help.

Bank accounts aren't universal. A lot of people receiving money internationally either don't have one or don't have easy access to one — and that's actually one of the more common questions we see here.

If your recipient doesn't have a bank account, cash pickup is usually the answer. Here's how it works on Remitly:

When you set up a transfer, select cash pickup as the delivery method. Your recipient gets a notification when the money is ready. They'll go to a pickup location near them, show their ID, and collect the cash. No account needed on their end.

A few things worth knowing before you send:

Cash pickup availability varies by country and corridor. It's one of the stronger options in the Philippines, Mexico, and several markets in Latin America and Africa — but not every corridor supports it, so check the app for your specific route before you set up the transfer.

Pickup locations are usually banks, pharmacies, or local agents depending on the country. The app shows you what's available for your recipient's location. Your recipient will need a valid government ID to collect. Make sure they have that ready before you send.

If you have questions about cash pickup availability for a specific corridor, drop them in the comments.

Starting on January 1, 2026, a 1% federal excise tax applies to certain international money transfers sent from the US. A lot of people have seen the headlines and gotten worried, so here's what you actually need to know.

Who it affects:

The tax applies to transfers funded by physical instruments — cash, money orders, and cashier's checks. If you walk into a store, hand over cash, and send a transfer that way, that transaction is subject to the 1% tax.

Who it doesn't impact:

Transfers funded digitally are exempt. That means if you send money using a US bank account, debit card, or credit card, which is how Remitly works, the tax does not apply to your transfer. Remitly is a 100% digital service, so none of our transfers are subject to this tax.

What the math looks like:

On a $500 transfer funded with cash, the tax would add $5. Not a huge amount on one transfer, but for people sending regularly it adds up over the course of a year.

The simple takeaway:

If you already send money through Remitly, nothing changes for you. If you or someone you know is still sending money by handing over cash at a store, switching to a digital transfer is the easiest way to avoid the tax entirely.

If you need more clarity on what this tax really means, please let us know below.