# Sending money overseas **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 31, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/328794 "2005-10-31T21:43:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Thinktank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Thinktank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thinktank)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/328794/1 "2005-10-31T21:43:25Z")
Hi all, Undoubtedly some you folks must have close relatives overseas, so I wanted to ask what worked best for those people in regards to sending money? I have a mother & father-in law in Poland that is in great need of money for a debt they didn’t create (long story). True I can wire money, but this process costs a good bit and my mother-in-law hates all the pages she has to sign. Please throw out your easiest suggestions towards doing this, in order for me to figure-out which one works the best. I wish I could just send a personal check, but I don’t think Poland will honor this. As usual, any help would be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/328794/2 "2005-10-31T23:18:41Z")
If your in-laws in Poland have a bank account, you can have your bank transfer money to their account. All you need is their account number, the ABA Bank Number and the name of the bank in the USA that you transfer through. Your bank can supply this number. Check with your bank and them for the correct numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/328794/3 "2005-11-01T01:28:56Z")
I have often sent money to Japan, to purchase things, via International Postal Money Order, which you can get at your local post office. How the money gets from you to the post office to them via some crazy international mail thing I have _no_ idea. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/328794/4 "2005-11-01T03:49:41Z")
> [@Thinktank](#): > > Hi all, Undoubtedly some you folks must have close relatives overseas, so I wanted to ask what worked best for those people in regards to sending money? Inquire of Westerm Union. Bank transfers are a bit pricey as are other forms of person to person transactions. ---
**Author:** ![AllahFearer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce73a5/32.png) [@AllahFearer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllahFearer)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/328794/5 "2005-11-01T04:34:05Z")
i just sent my wife in the philippines my debit card ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/328794/6 "2005-11-01T05:15:01Z")
For big transfers, I’ve always done direct bank transfer. The size made the fee insignificant. However, it is easy, reliable and fast, and thats good enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/328794/7 "2005-11-01T12:37:45Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > Inquire of Westerm Union. Bank transfers are a bit pricey as are other forms of person to person transactions. Western Union is normally much more expensive than a direct bank transfer. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-money-overseas/328794/8 "2005-11-06T20:42:44Z")
Bank transfers are the best way to get money from one country to another. They are really not so expensive and are very safe and sure.