Wondering How Best To Send US Cash to Lebanon? Try Sendwave.

Updated: March 26, 2023

For the Lebanese, remittances have always been a hard fact of life. With a vast diaspora often quoted to be upward of five times the population inside Lebanon, it is not uncommon for Lebanese expats to send money to family members living in the motherland.

But now more than ever, that fact has become a deepening necessity. As the country battles a multi-faceted crisis promising no clear resolution, the Lebanese find themselves struggling to make ends meet, and their reliance on remittances from abroad grows unabashedly.

The real question, however, is how to channel funds safely, cost-effectively and directly into the intended recipient’s hands. I finally found a surefire answer, and I could not recommend it more heartily.


Now more than ever, the Lebanese are relying on cash remittances from abroad to survive (Getty images).


What is Sendwave?

Sendwave is an app born in 2014 out of a desire to slash the high fees and minimize the inconvenience of sending money to people in Africa and Asia. App founder Drew Durbin had been heading an NGO in Africa and understood first-hand the effects of exorbitant remittance fees universally encountered and deplored by donors. In a nutshell, hard-working folks in the diaspora suffered whenever they sent home money to their loved ones. Acting on that need, Durbin developed the Boston-based company Sendwave, which has since expanded its services for diasporas in the United States, Canada and Europe remitting to Asia and Latin America.

Sendwave boasts nearly a million active users and a 4.6/5.0 rating on consumer review site TrustPilot, a score that is considerably higher than that achieved by its competitors.

 

How Does It Work?

Simply download the app, link your debit card, verify your identity and quickly transfer money to friends and family. 19 countries are served by Sendwave, and Lebanon is the latest to join the list!

Here are the technical details:


(1) The cash, in USD, can be picked up at any Whish location in Lebanon, and there are more than 500 stations!


(2) There is absolutely no charge to recipients. You read that right: zero fees! Competing brands charge a 2% fee to beneficiaries in Lebanon.


(3) Senders are charged 2.6% of the amount transferred, with a maximum capped fee of $20. For example, if you send $500 to a recipient in Lebanon, you pay $500 x 2.6% = $13. If you send $770, you pay $770 x 2.6% = $20. If you send $1,000, you still pay $20.


(4) In terms of verification required, senders must typically provide a photo of their ID and the last four digits of their social security number (SSN). Recipients must furnish photo ID, the sender’s full name, and the approximate amount of money transferred.


Sendwave has set sending limits for new users at $999 per day and up to $2,999 per month. However, users can increase their limits to $2,999 per day and $11,999 per month after a mere two months of usage. If you do the math (and I encourage you to!), that translates to a $20 sending fee times four transfers, which equals $80 in fees for a maximum monthly send of $12,000 (that's a rock-bottom 0.67% fee rate)! Best part, there are no lines out the door at Whish locations as you would experience at agencies like MoneyGram or Western Union. And that convenience is everything!

 


 

 

Use Promo Code “ISSA15” for $15 Free Credit

I’m confident in Sendwave’s ability to disrupt the remittance scene in Lebanon. So I’ve teamed up with them to give you a taste of just how effortless the process is! For first-time users, input promo code “ISSA15” (that’s my last name!) to receive $15 in free credit to send to your recipient in Lebanon. Update: this offer is valid indefinitely!

 



If you do the math (and you should always do the math!), send any amount below $577 and that free $15 credit offsets the 2.6% fee. Now there’s an offer you’d be remiss to miss out on. And be sure to share promo code “ISSA15” with friends and family who also funnel funds to Lebanon. Act fast, as this offer ends 1/1/2023! This offer is valid indefinitely!

Go ahead. Send and make waves in the lives of those you love and support. Giving shouldn’t have to come with unreasonable costs. Sendwave makes that possible.

 

Sendwave support is available 24/7 at +1 (888) 966-8603, or on help@sendwave.com.



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