How to send money without a bank account or a card?

But look, those are just two extremes. There are plenty of other ways to handle this besides relying on some sketchy bus driver or paying those insane fees at Western Union. Not to mention, there are actually ways to move money fast without getting ripped off...

Using MoneyGram through USPS ends up costing about $1667 around $63 in fees (which is roughly 3.75% of the total). It doesn't seem too bad, actually, and it’s definitely one of the more reliable ways to send money if you feel like traditional banks and fintech apps aren't quite cutting it lately.

Steven Evans97 said:Hey everyone,

This community always has such great ideas, so I wanted to pick your brains on a little dilemma. Someone I know on one side of the US wants to send some cash to someone on the other side of the country, but there's a catch: the recipient doesn't have a bank account. Now, I know about things like Western Union or sending a money order through the post office, but those fees are just brutal. Since this isn't a one-time thing and will probably happen every now and then, I’m looking for a way more budget-friendly way to handle an amount like $400.

The sender is all set with their own bank account, but the receiver is totally unbanked.

I know mobile apps like Chime offer super cheap—or even free—transfers, but if the person receiving the money needs actual physical cash in hand, they usually need a bank account linked to the app to withdraw it.

Right now, the post office seems like the only real option, but it’s a massive hassle for the sender and the fees eat into the total. Does anyone have any bright ideas? Thanks a million!

The sender could simply open a smart checking account at Wells Fargo—it's free—and use their cash transfer feature. They can generate a specific code for a set amount and send it to a designated ATM or branch. Then, the recipient just heads over to a local ATM or a USPS/Bank of America location to withdraw the cash.
Everything I just mentioned is free and can be handled entirely from your couch.

Right... I forgot about one thing regarding Chase. If the sender also has an account at Chase, they can just generate an ATM withdrawal code and send it over to the recipient. That way, the person picking up the cash avoids any fees and gets exactly what was sent.

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But there's a limit on $333. Even if you could technically pull it off multiple times in a row, it’d look pretty sketchy if someone was just standing at an ATM hitting withdraw five times straight...

Let them lift it five times a day...

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Thanks, everyone. I’m still mulling over that PayPal option; I haven't had a chance to sit down and really dig into it yet. I need to see what the fees look like first. Appreciate the help!

Honestly, this forum is a total lifesaver. It’s better than Wikipedia or Google combined 👍

Just a heads up, PayPal's rates jumped like double one of these days.

So, I’ve been doing a little digging. I actually reached out to PayPal to see if I can nail down their exact commission rates. Now, I'm also looking at what Wells Fargo or Chase have to offer—you know, those "smart" accounts where you can just hit an ATM and pull cash without even needing a card. They were a bit vague about the specific fees, though, so I think I'll have to swing by a branch in person to get the real scoop. Both seem like solid paths to take. Thanks for the help!

So, basically, if Person A opens an account at a place like DraftKings or some other sportsbook, then Person B can just deposit money into it $1667 via their username, and then Person B uses their own info to withdraw the cash.

Megan Thomas5 said:So, basically, if Person A opens an account at a place like DraftKings or some other sportsbook, then Person B can just deposit money into it $1667 via their username, and then Person B uses their own info to withdraw the cash.

They can't just pull the cash out without placing a bet first.

Steven Evans97 said:So, I’ve been doing a little digging. I actually reached out to PayPal to see if I can nail down their exact commission rates. Now, I'm also looking at what Wells Fargo or Chase have to offer—you know, those "smart" accounts where you can just hit an ATM and pull cash without even needing a card. They were a bit vague about the specific fees, though, so I think I'll have to swing by a branch in person to get the real scoop. Both seem like solid paths to take. Thanks for the help!

It's 1% to send, then they hit you with 4% if you want the cash in hand.

Drew Peterson3 said:They can't just pull the cash out without placing a bet first.

I know, but you won't find some 1.10 odds to cover the tax hit.
Just slap a bet on an Estonian team at 1.10 and call it a day. If you miss that, you're just cursed, but honestly, it's the easiest way out.

That's why I just load up my Chase card or my Amex on Bet365, bet 10% of the roll on a "sure thing," and then move the funds back to my checking account. Way better than paying those transfer fees when I try to pull directly from my Mastercard.

nimblefox14 said:What's the catch if I try sending money to someone's kid, a buddy, or even just their neighbor instead of them directly?

Gotta quote myself here since nobody seems to be listening to me. Why go through all this hassle with PayPal or whatever else when it's so much simpler? If the sender is using a Bank of America account (which was mentioned in the first post, anyway), what’s the big deal about sending it to someone trusted close to the recipient? Fees? Maybe $0.67. Either way, it arrives the same day.

Maybe they just don't want to end up having to explain themselves to the IRS.

If someone wants to move funds, they could simply open a debit card at a different institution—say, if everything is currently at Chase, they could open an account at Wells Fargo instead. They could then send that card via USPS registered mail along with the PIN to the recipient. Essentially, they’d be transferring money to themselves every month, while the recipient keeps the card on hand to withdraw cash from an ATM. Is this technically illegal, or would Bank of America flag it as suspicious activity? Just a thought.

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That should be the absolute last thing on your list. Actually, scratch that—it shouldn't even be considered. You definitely don't want to go down that road.

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Walter Thomas18 said:That should be the absolute last thing on your list. Actually, scratch that—it shouldn't even be considered. You definitely don't want to go down that road.

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I suppose I agree, though isn't it true the individual listed every possible solution themselves and simply asked if anything else existed?

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I think I finally get it now. Thanks, everyone. Seriously, this forum is hands down the best community out there, not just here, but everywhere.

Since the payments are going to be spread out over several installments anyway, I don't see the point in bothering my family or dragging my friends into this mess.
It’s like trying to borrow a lawnmower from a neighbor—you don't want to be that person, right? And honestly, I wouldn't even dream of using someone else's account. Beyond the hassle, you'd end up creating a massive headache for them with the IRS thinking those transfers are taxable income. Nobody wants an unexpected audit from Uncle Sam just because they were trying to be helpful.

Actually, the smartest move seems to be just sending one card once and then hitting up an ATM whenever cash is needed. It's such a simple fix, and it totally slipped my mind earlier!

Sending love to every single one of you.
This forum is the absolute gold standard.