To send money with us, you may need to fill in certain information about yourself and your receiver, depending on which send and receive methods you choose. 

If you already have a WU profile, you may have this information stored in that profile. If not, please keep this information handy when you send money online or visit a Western Union location.  

To send or receive money with us through various methods, you may need to keep the following information ready. Please choose the method you will be using.

WU.com or the mobile app
Start online, finish in store 
Transfer to a mobile wallet
Transfer to a bank account
Pay a bill 
Make a telephone money transfer
Send money to an inmate

Note: You must be at least 18 years old with a valid, government-issued ID to send or receive money with Western Union.

In certain jurisdictions you also have an option to create a test question for your receiver to ensure the security of your transfer. Your receiver will need to present an ID and answer the test question to receive the money.

WU.com or the mobile app:
  • Your Western Union log in information
  • Your credit** or debit card information
  • Your receiver’s first and last name, as it appears on their government-issued ID
  • Your receiver’s country, and in some cases*** their full address
In specific cases, additional information about your receiver may be required. For more details, please see Transfer to a bank account, Send money to an inmate, and Pay a bill.

Start online, finish in store:
  • Your government-issued ID to be shown at the agent location.
  • Your cash or debit card to pay for the transfer amount and fees.
  • Your receiver’s first and last name, to be entered as it appears on their government-issued ID.
  • Your receiver’s country, and in some cases*** their full address.
In specific cases, additional information about your receiver may be required. For more details, please see Transfer to a bank account, Send money to an inmate, and Pay a bill.

Transfer to a mobile wallet:
  • Your mobile phone number
  • Your receiver’s first and last name, as it appears on his /her government-issued ID
  • Your receiver’s country, and in some cases*** their full address
  • Your receiver’s mobile phone number

Transfer to a bank account:
  • Your receiver’s first and last name, as it appears on their government-issued ID
  • Your receiver’s country, and in some cases*** their full address
  • Your receiver’s phone number
  • For a receiving bank located within the US, your receiver’s bank name, receiver’s bank routing number, and receiver’s account number
  • For a receiving bank located outside the US, your receiver’s international Bank Account Number (IBAN) and the receiving bank’s Bank Identifier Code (BIC or the receiving country equivalent)
Additional information may be required for some receiving countries. Before starting your transfer to a bank account, please remember to check the bank’s routing information.

Paying a bill:
  • Company name (also known as code city and state)
  • Your billing account number
  • Amount to send
  • Reference number, if applicable (provided by the company or biller)

Making a telephone money transfer:
  • Your government-issued ID*
  • Your credit** or debit card information
  • Your receiver’s first and last name, as it appears on their government-issued ID
  • Your receiver’s country, and in some cases their full address

Send money to an inmate:
  • Your government-issued ID*
  • Your receiver’s correctional facility name (also known as code city and state)
  • Inmate’s register number
  • Inmate’s first and last name
  • Reference number, if applicable (provided by the correctional facility)
For more information about sending money to an inmate, please see Can I send money to a prison inmate?

*You may be required to provide government-issued identification, depending on the service, send amount, and the destination of the money transfer. Secondary ID may also be required for some transactions (e.g., residence status document or country of birth information).
 
** Card issuer cash advance fee and associated interest charges may apply. Use a debit card to avoid these fees and charges.
 
*** When sending money from the USA directly to your receiver’s bank account, you will need to provide your receiver’s full postal address to the Agent for the following countries: United States, Argentina, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Your receiver’s full postal address will also be required for these countries when sending from WU.com or the WU app to your receiver’s bank account, where available.