Compare international money transfer services in Malaysia.
15 live money transfer offers tracked across 15 Malaysian providers, with prices from Price on request. Data current as of 23 October 2026 and updated daily from the Giraffy database.
15 live offers compared from 15 providers. Updated daily.
Price on request
Merchantrade Money — Malaysia's popular remittance service for foreign workers to 40+ countries.
Price on request
Price on request
Price on request
CIMB's Preferred international wire transfer with preferred rates for Preferred customers.
Price on request
HSBC's global money transfer with preferential rates for HSBC Premier customers.
Price on request
Maybank's online international transfer with SWIFT and online banking integration.
Price on request
Public Bank's SWIFT-based overseas transfer via PBe internet banking.
Price on request
RHB's Rebit app for low-cost international money transfers to key ASEAN corridors.
Price on request
Wise uses the real mid-market exchange rate with transparent low fees — best rate globally.
Price on request
WorldRemit's digital transfer service supporting 130+ countries from Malaysia.
Price on request
Western Union's global network with online transfer and cash pickup options.
Price on request
AmBank's online international fund transfer via AmOnline banking platform.
Price on request
BigPay's cheap international transfer to SG, TH, PH, ID, and more at real rates.
Price on request
Standard Chartered's Priority Banking international transfer with waived fees for Priority.
Price on request
Money transfer covers sending funds from Malaysia to recipients abroad (or receiving remittances into Malaysia), whether to support family, pay overseas tuition or settle international bills. With millions of migrant workers in Malaysia and many Malaysians studying or working overseas, remittance is a major everyday service. Providers range from licensed money services businesses and digital apps to the international arms of local banks, each with different speeds, fees and exchange-rate margins.
Cross-border transfers are regulated as remittance under the Money Services Business Act 2011, licensed by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). The real cost of a transfer is rarely just the upfront fee; most of it hides in the margin added to the mid-market exchange rate. Dedicated fintechs typically show the true mid-market rate and charge a transparent fee, while banks bundle the cost into a less favourable rate. Popular corridors include Malaysia to Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines and India for outbound worker remittances.
Transparent pricing — Digital specialists display the mid-market rate and a clear fee, so you can see exactly what your recipient receives.
Fast delivery — Many app-based transfers arrive within minutes or hours to popular corridors, versus days for some traditional bank wires.
Cash and bank options — Money services businesses let recipients collect cash or receive funds into a bank or e-wallet.
Competitive on small amounts — Low flat fees make regular smaller remittances affordable for migrant workers.
Compare the total cost, meaning the fee plus the exchange-rate margin, and check exactly how much local currency your recipient will receive. Consider delivery speed, whether the recipient needs cash pickup or a bank deposit, and the transfer limits that apply to your account tier. Confirm the provider is BNM-licensed, and watch for promotional zero-fee first transfers that revert to standard pricing afterwards.
Merchantrade Money is Malaysia's largest licensed money services business, strong on worker-remittance corridors with cash pickup and e-wallet options. Wise is popular for transparent mid-market pricing on bank-to-bank transfers, and Western Union offers a vast global cash-collection network. Among banks, Maybank, CIMB, Public Bank, RHB and HSBC Malaysia provide international telegraphic transfers, convenient if you already bank with them and value branch support.
Costs vary widely by provider and corridor. Money services businesses often charge a low flat fee for small remittances, while banks levy telegraphic transfer charges plus correspondent and cable fees that can add up on smaller amounts. The larger cost is usually the exchange-rate margin; a bank may add a percentage or two to the mid-market rate, whereas specialist fintechs charge a fraction of that. Always compare the final receive amount rather than the advertised fee alone.
All remittance and money-changing providers must hold a licence under the Money Services Business Act 2011 and are supervised by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). Licensed operators must meet anti-money-laundering and know-your-customer standards, and consumer complaints can be raised with BNMLINK or the Ombudsman for Financial Services. Only ever use a BNM-licensed provider, as unlicensed transfer channels offer no legal recourse.
Why does the advertised fee not equal the total cost? Because most providers also add a margin to the exchange rate; the true cost is the fee plus that margin combined.
How fast will my transfer arrive? App-based transfers to popular corridors can arrive within minutes, while bank telegraphic transfers may take one to three business days.
Is there a limit on how much I can send? Yes, limits depend on your provider, verification level and BNM rules; higher tiers require fuller identity verification.
Giraffy tracks 15 prepaid FX and travel money cards across 15 providers in Malaysia. Compare by the mid-market exchange rate margin and ATM withdrawal fees to find the lowest total cost.
A prepaid travel card is loaded with a specific currency (or multiple currencies) before you travel. You lock in an exchange rate at loading time, protecting against rate movements. Unlike a regular debit card, there are no overdraft risks, and many travel cards offer better exchange rates than high-street banks.
Most prepaid travel cards allow ATM withdrawals abroad, but fee structures vary — some offer a free monthly ATM allowance, others charge per withdrawal. Check the ATM fee, daily withdrawal limit, and whether your chosen card is accepted by ATM networks at your destination.
Multi-currency cards typically support 40–50 currencies, covering all major travel destinations. Lesser-used currencies may not be available — check the provider's currency list if you're travelling to an unusual destination. Some cards auto-convert at the point of sale if the local currency isn't loaded.
Yes — a prepaid card can be frozen via an app immediately if lost or stolen, protecting your remaining balance. You're not liable for fraudulent transactions in most cases. Keeping a small amount of local cash as backup is still advisable for markets where card acceptance is limited.
Key fees to check: loading fees (some charge to add funds), ATM withdrawal fees, inactivity fees if the card isn't used for 12+ months, and a small exchange rate margin on the mid-market rate. Some premium providers (Wise, Revolut Metal) offer fee-free loading and ATM withdrawals up to monthly limits.