Send Money Overnight

If you need to send money somewhere fast, you have several options to choose from.  These include:

Online money transfer service

Using an online money transfer service is an effective way of ensuring your money transfer arrives at its destination almost instantly (or as soon as possible).  Some companies offer an express transfer service that can guarantee same-day delivery, as long as the money is deposited before a certain cut-off time (such as 10:30am), or even complete transfers within seconds in some cases.  This is often one of the cheapest ways to send money overseas, but you may have to pay premium fees for this service with some providers.

Money app to money app

If you and your recipient have a money transfer app with the same provider, you can often send money to them instantly.  However, make sure you fund your transfer with a pre-paid debit card or credit card so there isn’t any delay waiting for a bank to clear the payment. Be aware that transfers funded with a credit card may attract additional fees from your card provider. All you’ll typically need to send money this way is your recipient’s name and mobile number or email address.

Cash pickup or delivery

Many international transfer companies offer an instant cash pickup (and delivery) service.  Pickups can happen within minutes of you booking the transfer, while deliveries can often be arranged within 12 hours, so your money could be available overnight if required.  You can pay for the transfer either in cash, by EFTPOS or using a debit or credit card. You’ll need to provide the exact details of who will be collecting the money, including their full name as it appears on their government-issued ID (for example, their passport or driver’s licence). 

In the case of a cash delivery, you’ll need to provide details of exactly where it should be delivered and who it should be handed to at that location. In some cases, independent courier services are used for cash deliveries, so there could be additional charges for this service. 

Sending a phone top-up

Another way to get money to someone overnight is to send a phone top-up (also known as a phone recharge) to a mobile phone number.  Many international transfer companies can arrange this and the top-up will be almost instant.  If your recipient has a digital wallet the money can be received instantly into a virtual wallet and used to pay bills, or even be withdrawn as cash through an ATM in some circumstances.

Standard bank transfers won’t get your money there overnight

The standard time it takes for a bank transfer is between three and five business days, so there’s no way you can use the SWIFT banking system to send money overnight if you need it to arrive quickly. Bank transfers will often be your slowest option.