What services allow you to quickly send money to Ukraine?

Calgary, as one of Canada's largest cities with a significant Ukrainian community, offers a wide range of services for fast money transfers to Ukraine. After the start of Russian aggression in 2022, the demand for reliable and fast money transfers has grown significantly, prompting both traditional financial institutions and new fintech companies to expand their services and improve conditions for Ukrainians and their relatives in the diaspora. Modern technologies allow transfers to be made almost instantly, with the cost and speed of delivery varying significantly depending on the service chosen.

New generation digital platforms

Wise (formerly TransferWise) stands out from its competitors by using the real interbank exchange rate with no hidden fees. For transfers from Canada to Ukraine, Wise charges a commission of only 0.84% of the transfer amount, which for $1,000 CAD is $7.09. 64% of transfers via Wise are received in less than 20 seconds, and 95% in less than a day. The platform allows you to send funds directly to Ukrainian IBAN accounts, and the recipient does not need a Wise account.

It is particularly important that Wise has introduced a temporary reduction in fees for transfers to Ukraine — for example, sending 1000 EUR to UAH now costs 6.23 EUR instead of the previous 16.97 EUR. The company also provides free services to charities supporting Ukraine.

RemitBee positions itself as a service created by immigrants for immigrants, offering the best exchange rates and free transfers for amounts over $500 CAD. The platform offers various payment methods: debit card ($2.99–6.99 for amounts up to $500, $8.99+ for larger amounts), e-Transfer ($2.99 up to $500, free after $500), EFT, and Bill Payment (also $2.99 up to $500, free after). RemitBee partners with PrivatBank through the PrivatMoney system, offering the first transfer up to CAD 250 free until the end of March 2024.

Paysend offers a fixed fee of only CAD 3 per transfer regardless of the amount, delivering funds directly to Visa or Mastercard cards in Ukraine. Money usually arrives on the same day, making this service particularly attractive for urgent transfers.

Traditional money transfer operators

Western Union remains one of the most popular services thanks to its extensive network of over 10,000 pickup locations in Ukraine. The company offers several ways to send money: online, via a mobile app, or at agent locations. Western Union provides free transfers to bank accounts in Ukraine and the option to receive cash in neighboring countries (Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Moldova, Hungary) for Ukrainian refugees.

An important advantage is the ability to send money even without a bank account — just visit any Western Union office with cash. Funds are usually available for pickup within an hour, although the exact time depends on the payment method and location.

MoneyGram operates through a partnership with Nova Poshta, with over 3,500 pickup points throughout Ukraine via the NovaPay system. MoneyGram transfers can be received within minutes of sending, with payments made in hryvnia only. The limit for a single transfer is UAH 399,999, and the total limit per customer is USD 25,000 per 3 months or USD 75,000 per 12 months. Canada Post partners with MoneyGram, allowing you to send transfers through over 3,700 post offices across Canada.

RIA Money Transfer offers over 3,000 locations in Ukraine through its partnership with Nova Poshta. The RIA system allows you to receive funds within 10 minutes of sending them at any Nova Post branch with NovaPay. The advantage of RIA is that the transfer is not tied to a specific location — the recipient can go to any point in the system in Ukraine.

Specialized Ukrainian services

Meest Canada was created by the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada and offers unique solutions for transfers from Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, and Montreal. The company offers two main methods: transfers to PrivatBank in US dollars (available the next day) and cash delivery by courier to your home (takes several days). A special feature of Meest is the ability to send up to $700 via the Meest Portal online portal directly from home.

Meest's rates vary depending on the city of origin and the amount. For example, a $500 transfer from Calgary costs $15 to Aval Bank or $12 to PrivatBank, $1,000 costs $25/$23, respectively, and for amounts over $1,000, 2% of the amount is charged. For courier delivery, $15 is added for amounts up to $1,500 or 1% for larger amounts.

PrivatMoney PrivatBank's system works with various international partners, including RemitBee in Canada. The system allows you to receive funds automatically to your card (if the sender has provided the details), via Privat24, ATMs, bank branches, or the 3700 support service. The minimum transfer amount is only $10.

Banking and electronic solutions

Xoom (a PayPal service) allows you to send funds from Canada in CAD to Ukraine for delivery to bank accounts or for cash pickup. Advantages include integration with your PayPal account, allowing you to start sending money immediately. Cash transfers are usually available within minutes at banks such as Oschadbank, PrivatBank, and Ukrgasbank.

Traditional Canadian banks also offer international transfers, although usually at higher rates. TD Bank, through TD Global Transfer, allows you to send up to $999.99 per 24 hours with a delivery time of 2-4 hours for cash transfers. Scotiabank offers transfers through Western Union for $5 + 1% of the transfer amount.

Bank wire transfers via SWIFT take 1-5 business days and are significantly more expensive, ranging from $30 to $80 CAD depending on the bank and the amount. RBC charges $45 CAD, CIBC charges $30-80 CAD, BMO charges 0.2% + $10 CAD, and TD Bank charges $50 CAD for international wire transfers.

Alternative and innovative methods

Cryptocurrency solutions are becoming increasingly popular for transfers to Ukraine. Platforms such as Pursa Exchange allow you to convert Bitcoin to Ukrainian hryvnia and transfer funds via GEO Pay or PayPal without registration or KYC procedures. Transactions are processed within minutes, making this one of the fastest methods.

Calgary Bitcoin offers local cryptocurrency buying and selling services with a guarantee of the best prices among local competitors. The company has been operating for over 6 years and has over 400 five-star reviews.

Digital wallets such as Luxon Pay offer instant transfers between contacts in different currencies with no fees for transfers between friends. TransferGo also specializes in transfers to Ukraine with low rates and no hidden fees.

Comparison of speed and cost

Recommendations for users

• For urgent transfers, the best options are Wise (seconds-minutes), Paysend (same day) or MoneyGram via Nova Poshta (minutes).
• For the lowest cost, consider RemitBee for amounts over $500 or Paysend with a fixed fee of $3 CAD.
• Regular transfers are best done through Wise or RemitBee thanks to their transparent rates and convenient mobile apps. For large amounts, Wise offers reduced rates for transfers over $35,000 CAD.
• Security is a key factor when choosing a service. All of the providers mentioned are licensed and regulated in Canada. Wise, Western Union, and MoneyGram have the highest security ratings and the most experience.

Choosing the best service depends on your priorities: speed, cost, convenience, or transfer size. Combining several services may be the most effective strategy for different needs.