Ria money transfer review (2025): How it works in Australia, fees, & is it safe?

When sending money abroad, it’s best to partner with a company that offers secure, cost-effective transfers. Ria is a money transfer service that’s been helping customers send money around the world since the 1980s, including to and from Australia.

In this review, we’ll take a look at how Ria works, what the fees are, and how it compares to Wise, an alternative that strives to make sending money across borders cheaper and easier.

Table of contents
What is Ria money transfer? How does Ria money transfer work? Sending money Receiving money Fees and limits Ria vs Wise: Transfer comparison Transfer money with Wise at the mid-market rate to make your AUD go further

What is Ria money transfer?

Ria has its origins in a small money transfer store in New York City that opened in 1987. Over the years, they expanded to more locations before being acquired by Euronet Worldwide in the 90s. Today, Ria has a worldwide network of partners, with 507,000 locations in 160+ countries. They offer various financial services, including prepaid debit cards, money orders, and international money transfers¹.

Is Ria money transfer safe?

Ria is a reputable company that uses a few different strategies to help ensure customers' personal information and money are kept safe. This includes²:

• Extended validation SSL certified
• Identity verification
• 24/7 security team to monitor transfers
• Customer payment details are not stored on company servers

In Australia, Ria operates through a locally incorporated company called Ria Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd. It’s licensed to provide money transfer services and trades, meaning the company has to comply with any relevant Australian regulations³.

How does Ria money transfer work?

Ria doesn’t share exactly how many currencies they currently support, but using their system, you can send money to over 165 countries⁴. The funds can be sent to a digital wallet, bank account, or even for cash pick-up, making it a flexible solution for consumers.

How to send money with Ria?

How you go about sending money with Ria depends on whether you’re organising the transfer online, through the app, or in person.

These are the steps to set up a Ria transfer online:

1. Create an account or log in.
2. Click “Send Money.”
3. Choose the destination country.
4. Input the amount being sent.
5. Select the payment and shipping method.
6. Enter the recipient's details.
7. Confirm the details and transfer.

This is what you need to do to create a Ria transfer in the app:

1. Open the Ria app and log in or create an account.
2. Press “Send Money.”
3. Select the destination country.
4. Enter the amount being sent.
5. Choose the payment and shipping method.
6. Input the recipient's details.
7. Confirm the details and transfer.

Here’s how you can organise to send money with Ria in person:

1. Find the closest Ria branch.
2. Visit the store in person with a valid ID.
3. Provide the store staff with the information about your transfer, including the recipient's details.

Once your transfer has been confirmed, you can track it using Ria’s tracking transfer tool.

How long does a transfer with Ria take?

The speed of a Ria transfer depends on factors like how and when you make the payment, the countries involved, and any security checks that might be needed. This is what you can typically expect:

Payment Method	Transfer Time
Card payment	15 minutes to 6 hours
Cash deposit	Within 1 business day
Bank account transfer	Within 4 business days

How to receive money from Ria?

Australians can receive money from Ria via their bank account, a digital wallet, or cash pick-up⁵.

Ria bank transfer

To receive money via a bank transfer, you don’t need to do anything other than provide the sender with your full legal name, address, phone number, bank name, and account details.

Ria mobile wallet transfer

If the money is being sent to a mobile wallet, you also don’t need to take any action other than providing the sender with the name of the mobile wallet company and your account details.

Ria cash pick-up

For cash pick-ups, the sender needs to choose a location that’s somewhere convenient for the recipient. For the recipient to collect, they need to know the order number and PIN for the transfer, and have to have a government photo ID that matches the name on the money transfer.

Ria money transfer fees and limits

Ria states that customers will be charged a small fee for making transfers, which varies depending on factors like the amount sent, payment method, and country of origin. To know what you’ll be charged, you need to check the online calculator or Fee Checker in the app⁶.

The standard sending limit for Australian Ria customers is 20,000 AUD per day. It’s not possible to increase this limit online, but you may be able to send more in person by providing additional documentation.

💵 Moving big money? Send over 20,000 GBP or equivalent within a month with Wise, and you'll get even lower fees - as low as 0.1% - for all your transfers that month. Whether it's one large transfer or multiple smaller ones in any of the global currencies we support, you can save more with Wise.

👉🏻 Learn more about large amount transfers with Wise

Ria money transfer exchange rate

Unfortunately, Ria doesn’t share where their exchange rate comes from. As a result, it’s a good idea to compare it to the mid-market rate to see if there’s any mark-up.

The mid-market rate is the midway point between the buy and sell price on the currency market, with no hidden fees. It’s used by Wise for all currency conversions, ensuring customers get a fair and transparent rate.

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Ria vs Wise - money transfer comparison

To decide whether Ria provides the best value, you can check it against other money transfer providers. To get you started, here’s how Ria compares to Wise when sending 1,000 AUD to a bank in the UK, using various payment methods.

Payment method	Ria	Wise
Credit card	1 AUD = 0.4754 GBP Fee of 2.89 AUD Recipient gets 475.40 GBP	1 AUD = 0.4860 GBP Fee of 4.75 AUD Recipient gets 486.01 GBP
Debit card	1 AUD = 0.4754 GBP Fee of 2.89 AUD Recipient gets 475.40 GBP	1 AUD = 0.4860 GBP Fee of 7.66 AUD Recipient gets 486.01 GBP
Bank transfer	1 AUD = 0.4754 GBP Fee of 2.89 AUD Recipient gets 475.40 GBP	1 AUD = 0.4860 GBP Fee of 16.60 AUD Recipient gets 486.01 GBP

Summary

Ria is a good choice for Australians who want flexible delivery options or prefer sending money in person. However, since Ria doesn’t offer the mid-market exchange rate and appears to apply a margin to their conversions, it may not always be the cheapest option. If you’re looking for more transparency and better exchange rates, Wise can often deliver better value for international transfers.

Transfer money with Wise at the mid-market rate to make your AUD go further

Wise is an easy way to save up to 3x when sending money overseas. You can make extra secure transfers to 140+ countries, which are easy to set up with no physical paperwork and completed usually in seconds.

With low, transparent pricing and the mid-market exchange rate for all your currency conversions for your foreign transfers, you'll usually get the best value for your money. Wise lets you see exactly what you're paying for a transfer, and what the recipient will get, with no hidden fees.

For managing foreign currencies even easier, create a free Wise account, and you'll be able to manage and convert your money in AUD and 40+ other currencies. Plus, you'll get local account details in 8+ currencies, making it easy to receive money from abroad whenever you need. You'll be able to track your transfers all in one place.

When it comes to international transfers, Wise makes things easier and cheaper.

📤 Send money with Wise

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This general advice does not take into account your objectives, financial circumstances or needs and you should consider if it is appropriate for you. Savings claim based on our rates vs. selected Australian banks and other similar providers in Jan 2025. Savings claim based on our rates vs. selected Australian banks and other similar providers in Jan 2025. To learn more please visit https://income-climb.live/au/compare%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Please see Terms of Use and product availability for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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FAQ

How to contact Ria’s customer service?

To contact Ria, you can use their online chat function or call customer service using the up-to-date phone numbers on the website.

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Sources:

1. Ria - About
2. Ria - Security
3. Ria - Terms and Conditions (Australia)
4. Ria - International Money Transfers
5. Ria - How to Receive Money
6. Ria - What are the transfer limits?
7. Ria - Money Transfers