Can I Receive Western Union Online? (Cash Pickup – Best Tips)

Have you ever asked yourself or your friend if you can receive Western Union Online? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.

Western Union has been around for 170 years and they’ve managed to survive that long because they didn’t stick to the old ways when it comes to transferring money.

Needless to say, they’ve been in the business for a long time and they know how to get your money to you in a hurry.

So, can I receive Western Union online? Yes, you can receive money through Western Union online and there is more than one way to get it done. Whether you decide to have it deposited directly into your bank account, via your debit card, or through the Western Union app, it’s entirely up to you. 

Western Union facilitates the transfer of money all over the world, in 200 countries not including the United States.

They have their own blog, international purchasing options through Amazon, and their own prepaid debit card.

Like PayPal, there are a lot of different ways to take advantage of Western Union services according to your needs.

How To Transfer And Receive Money Online Through Western Union

There are several ways to do this. If you’re sending money to a bank account, it’s all taken care of online and the recipient doesn’t have to do anything other than check their bank account online or at the branch when the money arrives. 

If done through Western Union’s Netspend Prepaid Mastercard, the same rule applies as the transferring party takes care of it online while the recipient waits for the money to be deposited into their Netspend card.

There is also a separate Netspend app available as a debit card stand-in with more features.

Lastly, it can all be taken care of via the Western Union app, which is available on both iOS and Android platforms. 

Receiving Money Through A Bank Account

Receiving money is actually pretty simple, as you just wait for it to arrive. Of course, you’ll have to give your bank information to the sender, so they know the right place to send it to. 

• Provide the sender with your banking information
• Use your MTCN number to track the money
• The money is deposited in your account, usually within a few minutes

The MTCN stands for Money Transfer Control Number. It works similar to a standard tracking number when you’re awaiting a letter or package in the mail.

You can jump onto Western Union’s website, type in your MTCN number, and find out what stage of the process it’s in. 

It usually doesn’t take that long, however, except for an instance where you may have provided the sender with inaccurate information. The typical wait time is similar to PayPal in that it only takes minutes. 

Read also: Is It Bad To Take Money Out Of Your Savings Account?

Receiving Money Through Western Union’s Netspend Mastercard

This is very similar to carrying a debit card for your checking and/or savings account at a traditional bank.

It’s more like the PayPal card in that it’s not like a traditional bank, even though it has some similar features, such as the debit card and direct deposit.

The most important thing to know is that you will have a routing number and account number, just like a traditional bank account.

So, if someone is sending you money, you would provide them with your account information.

It essentially works just the same as if you were having the money transferred into a standard bank account and it will typically arrive in just a few minutes.

As far as the Netspend Mastercard works, it’s the same as any other bank account.

How Does The Western Union Netspend App Work?

Netspend works in conjunction with Western Union, rather than existing as a Western Union program.

Netspend has been around since 1999, founded as an alternative to traditional banking in a society that is shifting more and more towards cashless transactions.

Netspend partnered with Western Union so that all of your Western Union or Netspend transactions can take place on a Western Union Netspend Mastercard.

If you download the Western Union Netspend Mastercard app—available on both iOS and Android—you can do all of the things that you normally can with a bank or through Western Union, just quicker.

Transferring and receiving money works just like it does on PayPal.

You simply provide your contact information to the sender, they send the money using your information, and it’s in your account, often in just a few seconds.

There are also several different uses for a Western Union Netspend app:

• Send and receive money
• Load checks through photo capture
• View your account balance
• Track spending
• Find Western Union locations or reloading locations

You can do all of these things without ever taking your Netspend Mastercard out of your pocket. There are minimal fees associated with money transfers.

These aren’t traditional banking institutions, after all, and they don’t do not collect interest as in traditional banking. 

You can chalk it up to the cost of doing business and the fees as a payment for the service of fast access to cash on the go. 

Read also: How To Get Money Out Of A Custodial Account

How To Receive Funds Through The Western Union App

Receiving funds through the Western Union app doesn’t mean you actually receive it within the app, it will go to a mobile wallet, such as Apple Pay or PayPal, or directly into your bank account.

Most of the process takes place on the sender’s end. 

• Download the app and create an account
• Enter the recipient’s credentials
• Send the money through the app or complete it at a local Western Union
• The recipient receives the money into the mobile wallet or bank account

It’s not nearly as quick and easy as the Netspend app but it works just fine as an app-to-app transfer of money.

Also, the Western Union app negates any need to get online traditionally and track the progress of transferred money with an MTCN, as you would normally do. 

The Western Union app has several features worth using on top of receiving or sending cash transfers.

• Pay cash to complete transfers
• Send money orders
• Reload prepaid phone minutes
• Pick up cash

While it might not have all of the glitz and glamour of the Western Union Netspend MasterCard app, it’s still useful in many ways.

How To Make A Western Union Account Online

Creating an account on Western Union online or through the mobile app is essentially the same as most other online account creation methods.

You will need to create a username by choosing an email address and creating a password. You’ll have to confirm your email to proceed.

Once you’ve created a standard profile and signed in, you’ll need to add a bank account if you want to send or receive funds. Select the Payment Preferences section at the top.

Now you can choose to Add New Debit or Credit Card or Bank Accounts.

On the next screen, you will simply fill out your bank account or debit and/or credit card information and save it. 

Final Word

Western Union has endeavored to keep up with the times and make it very easy to send and receive money online or through the app—which is essentially the same thing. 

Despite the PayPal and Apple Pays of the world stealing all of the thunder, Western Union, Western Union online, and Western Union Netspend accounts are more than viable ways to send and receive money online, so you can get what you need anywhere and anyplace.

References

https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/receive-money.html