Best way to send money to Ukraine

[Pianist27 31]

Bank transfer? Western Union? Meest money transfer?

I tried getting an ATM card for my fiance from my bank, but they will only issue if she applies in person.

[UK_Fan 192]

Moneygram all the way. I use it to send money to mom in Russia and to my sister in Germany. I've sent $700 for just 15 bucks

[redleg627 15]

I use PayPal to send money to my lady in Russia. However she will need a Paypal account as well... It cost me like .50 cents to send like $100.

[spectec 12]

I have used Western Union a few times. I believe it's around $11 for up to $500. You can check the rates on the site. Something to note is I recently sent a couple hundred dollars to my mother in law and the Ukraine government will only allow her to withdraw $100 per month now. It appears they aren't letting citizens take more than that at one time anymore.

[vbtwo 54]

I used Western Union a couple of times. She withdrew it from PrivatBank. A note is that they would give money out only in hryvnia, not dollars, but you could open an account with them where they will keep it in dollars and then you can withdraw from ATM whenever you needed money and it would convert at that time, thus this is a better option due to declining value of the hryvnia.

[VFittipaldi 30]

MEEST is probably the cheapest and best for sure. Only send to Ukraine though. That is how we always send money.

[Pianist27 31]

Meest does seem the best option, even though for me it means about a bit of a drive to their closest office. The advantage is that the recipient can ask the bank to provide the money in USD, and although they may have to wait a few days, they do get USD.

[cyclingguy 1]

Bank transfer? Western Union? Meest money transfer?

I tried getting an ATM card for my fiance from my bank, but they will only issue if she applies in person.

I would advise against Moneygram - although they eventually refunded my money they refused to perform the transfer because they suspected fraud. I went through all kinds of questions to send the money. Western Union worked fine. I think I tried paypal, but it's blocked in Ukraine.

[vbtwo 54]

I would advise against Moneygram - although they eventually refunded my money they refused to perform the transfer because they suspected fraud. I went through all kinds of questions to send the money. Western Union worked fine. I think I tried paypal, but it's blocked in Ukraine.

PayPal only allows paying in Ukraine, not receiving, so it's not an option.

[Tnic 5]

Bank transfer? Western Union? Meest money transfer?

I tried getting an ATM card for my fiance from my bank, but they will only issue if she applies in person.

I opened a separate checking acct and got a debit card in my name. Next trip to UA I gave it to my wife and I transfer money into it as needed for her expenses.

Just don't tell the bank who is actually using the card and ensure they have authorized the card for use in UA or any other country she might be traveling to.

Works like a charm. Privat, Raifaisen and a few others do not charge any fees for ATM (Bankomat) withdrawals. My bank (TD) does charge $3 per ATM, but $0 for POS use.

I used Moneygram before that with no probs, but now there's no need to schlep off to Wally World and induce writer's cramp from filling out the forms.

Edited December 29, 2014 by Tnic

[vbtwo 54]

I opened a separate checking acct and got a debit card in my name. Next trip to UA I gave it to my wife and I transfer money into it as needed for her expenses.

Just don't tell the bank who is actually using the card and ensure they have authorized the card for use in UA or any other country she might be traveling to.

Works like a charm. Privat, Raifaisen and a few others do not charge any fees for ATM (Bankomat) withdrawals. My bank (TD) does charge $3 per ATM, but $0 for POS use.

That's a possible way to go. My bank (Ally Bank, online only bank) doesn't charge any fees to use ATMs and even refunds ATM fees that other banks might charge, though I've only ever been charged an ATM fee at the Kiev airport in Ukraine (and that was refunded by the bank). None of the other ATMs I've ever used there charged any fees. You also usually get a slightly better conversion rate by going this way than what Western Union or money changers give you.

It's possible that the bank might suspect something after a while if the card is only used in Ukraine and never in the US though.

[easyukraine 1]

Money gram at walmart is ok but I use my paypal and just gave the debit card to my stepson. fees are low and the exchange is normally decent.