How to Send Money to your Fiancee/Wife in PH for FREE!

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

It's a lot easier than most people think.

Get a Checking account with State Farm Bank, they are an online only bank.

Now you have two options:

Option 1:

Easiest, ask them two issue to DEBIT cards in your name. They will and each will have a unique number. Don't activate one and mail it to her in a birthday/holiday card.

Once she receives it go ahead and activate it then give her the PIN.

Tell State Farm Bank that one of the cards is for use in the Philippines so they don't block her withdrawls.

Option 2:

Add her as a joint to your account. This will require a W-8BEN and some work on your part plus you will have to explain to them that she can't be authenticated yet as she's not in the US. It's more work but worth it to have a joint account in the US (demonstrates comingling of financials).

Now have them issue both of you DEBIT Cards, they'll mail them to your US address. Don't active her's, mail it in the card.

Once she receives it you need to make a 3 way call with her on the line to State Farm Bank (man I love MagicJack), explain that she can't be authenticated bah blah, a little work, they'll see the notes, blah blah... The rep will agree to activate the card and she can customize the pin.

Why is State Farm Better than your bank down the street? Well they refund 100% of the ATM Fees! Since they are an Internet only bank they acknowledge your only access to cash is the ATM and refund the fees.

So there you go, Free money Transfer to PH for US!

BTW, wake a note of the card number before you sen it to her, just incase it's lost stolen or "something else" happens so you can easily cancel it.

Edited April 22, 2009 by Bob 4 Anna

[Nelly228 0]

It's a lot easier than most people think.

Get a Checking account with State Farm Bank, they are an online only bank.

Now you have two options:

Option 1:

Easiest, ask them two issue to DEBIT cards in your name. They will and each will have a unique number. Don't activate one and mail it to her in a birthday/holiday card.

Once she receives it go ahead and activate it then give her the PIN.

Tell State Farm Bank that one of the cards is for use in the Philippines so they don't block her withdrawls.

Option 2:

Add her as a joint to your account. This will require a W-8BEN and some work on your part plus you will have to explain to them that she can't be authenticated yet as she's not in the US. It's more work but worth it to have a joint account in the US (demonstrates comingling of financials).

Now have them issue both of you DEBIT Cards, they'll mail them to your US address. Don't active her's, mail it in the card.

Once she receives it you need to make a 3 way call with her on the line to State Farm Bank (man I love MagicJack), explain that she can't be authenticated bah blah, a little work, they'll see the notes, blah blah... The rep will agree to activate the card and she can customize the pin.

Why is State Farm Better than your bank down the street? Well they refund 100% of the ATM Fees! Since they are an Internet only bank they acknowledge your only access to cash is the ATM and refund the fees.

So there you go, Free money Transfer to PH for US!

BTW, wake a note of the card number before you sen it to her, just incase it's lost stolen or "something else" happens so you can easily cancel it.

really? did you try it already? without charges upon withdrawal in the philippines? thanks for the info.

[sunzetgirl 0]

It's a lot easier than most people think.

Get a Checking account with State Farm Bank, they are an online only bank.

Now you have two options:

Option 1:

Easiest, ask them two issue to DEBIT cards in your name. They will and each will have a unique number. Don't activate one and mail it to her in a birthday/holiday card.

Once she receives it go ahead and activate it then give her the PIN.

Tell State Farm Bank that one of the cards is for use in the Philippines so they don't block her withdrawls.

Option 2:

Add her as a joint to your account. This will require a W-8BEN and some work on your part plus you will have to explain to them that she can't be authenticated yet as she's not in the US. It's more work but worth it to have a joint account in the US (demonstrates comingling of financials).

Now have them issue both of you DEBIT Cards, they'll mail them to your US address. Don't active her's, mail it in the card.

Once she receives it you need to make a 3 way call with her on the line to State Farm Bank (man I love MagicJack), explain that she can't be authenticated bah blah, a little work, they'll see the notes, blah blah... The rep will agree to activate the card and she can customize the pin.

Why is State Farm Better than your bank down the street? Well they refund 100% of the ATM Fees! Since they are an Internet only bank they acknowledge your only access to cash is the ATM and refund the fees.

So there you go, Free money Transfer to PH for US!

BTW, wake a note of the card number before you sen it to her, just incase it's lost stolen or "something else" happens so you can easily cancel it.

This is very helpful. I am currently paying over 30$ to wire money to the Philippines.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

really? did you try it already? without charges upon withdrawal in the philippines? thanks for the info.

There will be an ATM Charge on the account for the transaction but State Farm bank will REFUND all ATM Fees within 24 hours of the transaction.

Yes, this is how we currently do it.

Also, They have a high daily limit ($1,000) whereas most DEBIT Cards are capped to $500 per day. This is good when you need to send a lot quickly.

This is very helpful. I am currently paying over 30$ to wire money to the Philippines.

See now that's almost 1,500Php you can give her each month instead of donating it to a transfer service!

[thepizzadude 26]

I did this with an account at my bank they charge $2 per transaction and 2% of withdrawal its much better than wiring money.

But they wouldn't let me add her to the account because she could not sign anything and she has no type of US ID. If it wasn't so late in our journey I would try this.

Edited April 22, 2009 by thepizzadude

[Nelly228 0]

really? did you try it already? without charges upon withdrawal in the philippines? thanks for the info.

There will be an ATM Charge on the account for the transaction but State Farm bank will REFUND all ATM Fees within 24 hours of the transaction.

Yes, this is how we currently do it.

Also, They have a high daily limit ($1,000) whereas most DEBIT Cards are capped to $500 per day. This is good when you need to send a lot quickly.

This is very helpful. I am currently paying over 30$ to wire money to the Philippines.

See now that's almost 1,500Php you can give her each month instead of donating it to a transfer service!

we are using bank of the phils. island and it charge us $40 per transaction. anyway, thanks again for the info.

[abbynorm2 0]

It's a lot easier than most people think.

Yes it is, I have been doing this since about a month after I began sending money to the Phils (over a year now). I have a second Checking account that I transfer money into when she needs money, then she withdraws it at the ATM at a rate of about $0.80 per transaction of usually PHP 5000 at BDO.

[rlogan 2,036]

Interesting.

I use a $7 flat fee service from BPI express remittance. It takes up to five days. She's here but it is how we send to her family now.

Sheesh - how do you get mail delivered? I have never successfully delivered anything but one lonely post-card. All enveloped mail has been stolen when using regular postal mail. We have to use federal express for any kind of mail, and of course that is expensive.

[abbynorm1 0]

It's a lot easier than most people think.

Yes it is, I have been doing this since about a month after I began sending money to the Phils (over a year now). I have a second Checking account that I transfer money into when she needs money, then she withdraws it at the ATM at a rate of about $0.80 per transaction of usually PHP 5000 at BDO.

Correction its not BDO, its Metrobank. I can withdraw at the BDO and BPI too but it has higher transaction rate than Metrobank.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

I did this with an account at my bank they charge $2 per transaction and 2% of withdrawal its much better than wiring money.

But they wouldn't let me add her to the account because she could not sign anything and she has no type of US ID. If it wasn't so late in our journey I would try this.

That is what the W-8BEN is for,a federal document covering foriegn nationals without SSN to be included on US Bank Accounts. They also accepted faxed documents so I e-mailed the signature card, she signed, sganed & e-mailed back. I provided copies of her PH ID documents with the signature card.

This will probably work with just about any US bank but the reason State Farm is good is the refund of ALL ATM FEES!

I've had Anna on my Baxter Credit Union Accounts since November 2008 and one my State Farm Bank Accounts since March 2009. the process was the same for both banks.

In total we have 3 joint accounts already:

Baxter Credit Union

State Farm Bank

Banco De Oro (PH)

Think we'll have trouble proving co-mingling of finances?

Edited April 23, 2009 by Bob 4 Anna

[-------- 0]

It's a lot easier than most people think.

Get a Checking account with State Farm Bank, they are an online only bank.

Now you have two options:

Option 1:

Easiest, ask them two issue to DEBIT cards in your name. They will and each will have a unique number. Don't activate one and mail it to her in a birthday/holiday card.

Once she receives it go ahead and activate it then give her the PIN.

Tell State Farm Bank that one of the cards is for use in the Philippines so they don't block her withdrawls.

Option 2:

Add her as a joint to your account. This will require a W-8BEN and some work on your part plus you will have to explain to them that she can't be authenticated yet as she's not in the US. It's more work but worth it to have a joint account in the US (demonstrates comingling of financials).

Now have them issue both of you DEBIT Cards, they'll mail them to your US address. Don't active her's, mail it in the card.

Once she receives it you need to make a 3 way call with her on the line to State Farm Bank (man I love MagicJack), explain that she can't be authenticated bah blah, a little work, they'll see the notes, blah blah... The rep will agree to activate the card and she can customize the pin.

Why is State Farm Better than your bank down the street? Well they refund 100% of the ATM Fees! Since they are an Internet only bank they acknowledge your only access to cash is the ATM and refund the fees.

So there you go, Free money Transfer to PH for US!

BTW, wake a note of the card number before you sen it to her, just incase it's lost stolen or "something else" happens so you can easily cancel it.

Thanks, this is great. Ok, so in theory this would work with any country as long as you're banking on-line and they can access an ATM. I have never dealt with State Farm Bank do you know of any country restrictions with this account type, I would love to try it. I knew about sharing the Debit card account which saves but still the intn'l transaction fees really do add up.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Thanks, this is great. Ok, so in theory this would work with any country as long as you're banking on-line and they can access an ATM. I have never dealt with State Farm Bank do you know of any country restrictions with this account type, I would love to try it. I knew about sharing the Debit card account which saves but still the intn'l transaction fees really do add up.

I think most countries major banks can accept US Based ATM cards. I'm not aware of any restrictions that State Farm Bank imposes just be sure to call them and explain that the card will be used in PH so they don't flag the transactions. The first time I used my card in PH their security department called me so I had to call them back and explain that I'm in PH so they'd allow additional transactions.

[ailanthus777 0]

Thanks, this is great. Ok, so in theory this would work with any country as long as you're banking on-line and they can access an ATM. I have never dealt with State Farm Bank do you know of any country restrictions with this account type, I would love to try it. I knew about sharing the Debit card account which saves but still the intn'l transaction fees really do add up.

I think most countries major banks can accept US Based ATM cards. I'm not aware of any restrictions that State Farm Bank imposes just be sure to call them and explain that the card will be used in PH so they don't flag the transactions. The first time I used my card in PH their security department called me so I had to call them back and explain that I'm in PH so they'd allow additional transactions.

It all sounds great! However, if you have the money to spare and your Filipina fiancee lives in a metro area, check out xoom.com . I just sent my fiancee $1300 for her plane ticket and i was only charged $7.99. You will be charged less if you send a lesser amount. Good luck to all!

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

It all sounds great! However, if you have the money to spare and your Filipina fiancee lives in a metro area, check out xoom.com . I just sent my fiancee $1300 for her plane ticket and i was only charged $7.99. You will be charged less if you send a lesser amount. Good luck to all!

I sent my wife $5,500 back in March and it only cost $8.00 using Atlas Padala Express (was in our joint account in less than 24hrs) but that's beside the point. I could express her the money and spend $5.00 per month, over 12 months that's only $60 which isn't a lot to me but in PH that's almost 3,000Php which is a substantial amount so she appreciates that I'm not wasting that money on fees.

Honestly I'd rather Wifie have the money than a bank...