How to Receive Money Via Western Union to Kenya

Western Union is one of the most-trusted legacy platforms, facilitating international money transfers for decades. It can be a convenient way to receive funds from family, friends, and employers abroad.

With Western Union, you can receive money in your bank account, mobile wallet, or even in cash. In this article, we’ll look at the different ways you can receive money via Western Union in Kenya, going into detail for each method.

How to Receive Money in Your Bank Account

You can have the sender transfer the amount directly into your bank account via online banking. These are the simple steps you should follow:

1. Give the Sender Your Details

The sender needs your details, like your bank's name, account number, and routing number, to initiate the transfer. You should only give these details to people you trust or a legitimate and trustworthy company.

If you don’t know your account and routing number, you can call your bank or log into your online bank account or bank’s website.

Ensure you confirm the details with your sender, especially regarding your full name, as it appears on your bank account. For example, if the name on your bank account is William Juma and the sender writes Will Juma on the transfer form, there might be a problem receiving the money.

2. Fill in Your Transfer Details

Once the transfer has been initiated, you should log into your online bank account and enter the tracking number (MTCN), the transfer amount, the sender’s name, and the purpose of the transfer.

3. Receive the Money

After keying in the details and the transfer initiated, you will receive the money within 5 working days or by the date specified on the sender’s receipt.

Your sender is given a Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) on their receipt, and you can use this number to track the transfer using the Western Union app or official website.

If you check your account and the amount hasn’t reflected, you can call your bank or visit the branch in person to ensure the transfer has been completed.

How to Receive Money via Cash Pickup

One of the benefits of using Western Union for money transfers is the various options you get for sending and receiving money. You can also receive money via Western Union cash pickup by taking the following simple steps:

1. Track the Money

Use the MTCN to track the money to ensure it is ready for pickup before visiting the agent.

2. Visit an Agent Location

You can use the Western Union Agent Locator on the website to find a nearby location. Western Union has over 500,000 agent locations in 200 countries and regions. Finding a Western Union agent near you should not be a problem.

3. Provide Your Information to the Agent Clerk

When you visit the agent location, the clerk will ask you several questions to verify your identity before issuing the money. You’ll need to provide the following information:

• The correct MTCN, as given to you by the sender
• The sender’s full name
• Where the money was sent from
• The expected amount, as specified by the sender
• A valid, government-issued ID
• The test question and answer (where applicable)

4. Receive the Money

The Agent Clerk checks your ID for verification. You will then be required to sign the receipt and collect the money.

Benefits of Using Western Union to Transfer Money 

Western Union has been available as a money transfer solution for decades now, and there’s a reason it’s still popular. Here are some of the benefits of using the platform for money transfers:

Fast Transfers

As the recipient, you can receive the money within minutes, depending on the method of transfer. Cash and money transfers funded by debit card will arrive in minutes, which is great for emergency cash. You can pick up the cash at any of their physical locations.

Reliability

Western Union is an established money transfer platform with millions of global users, so it is a reliable service provider. You can send and receive money without worrying about scams or problems with the delivery.

Availability

Western Union operates in 200 countries and locations across the globe, so you can transfer money to various locations worldwide. The platform is available in almost every country, so you can make your transactions conveniently from wherever you are, and the recipient will get the money on time.

While there are some benefits to using Western Union, there are a few downsides to using the platform, the most notable being the fees. Western Union charges high fees for their convenience and fast remittance.

There are many other money transfer platforms with more competitive exchange rates and lower fees. Western Union alternatives like Wise, Remitly, and WorldRemit have gained popularity over the past couple of years. You can use Monito to compare your options to find a better deal.