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Remitly is known to be an excellent cross-border money transfer service - until you’re the one pressing [Send] and you’ve just discovered that the function is blocked where you live. In that moment, looking for Remitly alternatives becomes a necessity rather than a contingency, especially when your family abroad already pings you with the message, "Can the transfer arrive ASAP?".
On paper, Remitly promotes coverage in 170+ countries, even to underserved areas. The hidden catch is that only users in 30-ish countries can actually send money. Ogvio is a more flexible alternative if you want to send, receive, or manage money without second-guessing geographical compatibility.
I’ve also taken a good look at a few other money transfer options on the market today. I carefully evaluated practical factors such as fees, transfer speed, payout flexibility. Here are the best alternatives to Remitly:
- Ogvio - Free P2P, Flexible Crypto-Fiat Holding, Instant Local Rails
- Wise - Mid-Market FX, Multi-Currency Account, Travel-Friendly Card
- MoneyGram - Money Order, Door-to-Door Delivery, Omnichannel Experience
- Western Union - Cash-Centric, Available Everywhere, Premium Pricing
- WorldRemit - Mobile-Focused, 50+ Sending Countries, Recurring Transfers
- Xoom - PayPal Familiarity, High-Speed P2P, Mobile Reloads
Now, which one should be your numero uno, and which one is better off as a backup? The evaluation starts now!
1. Ogvio - Free P2P, Flexible Crypto-Fiat Holding, Instant Local Rails
Ranks #1 out of 6 Money Transfer Services
- + Remittance-oriented
- + Instant transfers
- + Incremental-to-no fees
- + Crypto support
- + @Tag functionality
- + Free transfers between users
- - No card (coming soon)
Money senders worldwide are constantly looking for ways to send money at lower fees.[1] Remitly offers a cost-effective pricing model, but it doesn’t consistently rank as the cheapest option. Unless you’re a new user, this platform doesn’t allow you to remit funds abroad for free.
One could only hope for a zero-fee transfer when every part of a transaction, from compliance checks to intermediary settlement, adds incremental costs. But fee-free transfers aren’t unrealistic - they’re a central part of Ogvio’s backbone.
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Bank - free Crypto - free Card - varies |
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| Visit site Read review |
Table: Ogvio's pricing
Unlike Remitly, Ogvio doesn’t charge FX markups, so your budget stays protected from sneaky conversion fees. Its internal P2P system gives you true zero-fee transfers. Instead of corresponding funds to multi-layered banking routes, Ogvio relies on local payout networks to reduce overhead.
In practice, you get to keep more money in your pocket and participate in a payment journey that feels not only familiar but also trustworthy. Ogvio’s primary transfer methods include SEPA Instant in the Eurozone, Faster Payments in the UK, and PIX Instant in Brazil.
Ogvio-to-Ogvio transfers arrive instantly, giving you speed and certainty when emergencies break out, or bills can’t wait. As implied in the name, this type of transfer will only work between Ogvio users, requiring @Tag creations at sign-up.
These username-style handles are easier to identify than long bank account numbers, and you don’t have to memorize them. Ogvio automatically saves your contacts and displays them when you send money, allowing you to continue with just a click.
Ogvio is fully digital, but it doesn’t abandon traditional methods. Bank transfers take less than 24h to arrive and cost significantly less than the industry average.
The UN aims to reduce remittance costs to 3%. Ogvio’s fees are between 0.77% to 1.92%, while Remitly’s average sits at 2.3%. Both platforms already meet and even surpass the target.
Besides costs, currency devaluation is also a challenge in fluctuating economies. Ogvio counters this by pegging your balance to EUR/USD, with seamless conversion to local currency upon withdrawal.
Many digital workers, especially in countries like Nigeria, Turkey, and the UAE, prefer non-fiat methods when getting paid for their services. Remitly doesn’t list any crypto on its platform, but on Ogvio, you find a few tokens (more coming soon) on the Base Network.
📚 Read More: Best Way to Send Money to Turkey
USDC serves as the bridging currency, maintaining a 1:1 peg to the US Dollar. Users can keep a combined crypto-fiat portfolio in one place or swap tokens with BTC or ETH. It’s even possible to cash out your digital assets to a bank account - I’ve tried this first-hand without experiencing compatibility issues.
That said, Ogvio is online-only for now. So if you prefer collecting money in person, you may need to depend on Remitly's cash pickup or home delivery. It ultimately goes back to individual preferences and the factors you prioritize most.
Availability | 160+ countries |
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Transaction Fees | Bank: free top-ups, low-cost transfer fees |
Funding Methods | Bank transfer, card/debit card, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc), PayPal, and 7,000+ others |
Crypto | Available (Base network-focus) |
Table: Ogvio’s features
Ogvio is the best Remitly alternative for personal use, and it is also a strong contender for business transactions. Remitly may put a strong focus on international business payments, but Ogvio covers that and can even accommodate your customization needs - you just have to make a request.
Move money faster and cheaper to 160+ countries in 40+ currencies. Make your transfer today!
2. Wise - Mid-Market FX, Multi-Currency Account, Travel-Friendly Card
Ranks #2 out of 6 Money Transfer Services
- + Transparent fees
- + Fair exchange rates
- + A smooth user experience
- + Multi-currency accounts
- - Service coverage is broad, but not entirely worldwide
- - Cash pickups aren’t available
- - Added compliance checks for large transfers
Is Wise, well, the wise option if you’re scanning the market for Remitly alternatives? If what you imagine is a superapp that merges international transfers, multi-currency accounts, and a spending card in one ecosystem, then the answer is yes.
Wise is especially great if you live in Europe, the UK, the US, or Australia, where you likely can access the platform’s full set of features. But once you switch outside of those regions, your options thin out quickly.
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US
Canada
Germany+160 more |
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EN DE FR +15 more |
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USD
CAD
EUR+40 more |
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Fiat-only |
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| Visit site Read review |
Table: Wise's coverage
Sure, you can create an account or even send an international transfer to your cousin Gregg for his birthday (just a scenario), but that’s about it. I suggest checking what you can do on Wise based on your region, because outside of its core markets, the platform typically leans toward a send-and-receive remittance experience.
📚 Read More: Is Wise Available in the Philippines?
That’s why Wise makes a strong alternative to Remitly when you actually need the features the latter doesn’t provide. Having a Wise account means you can hold multiple currencies at once and exchange them at mid-market rates (the real-time numbers you see on Google). And if you sign up for the Wise card, you can start spending locally or abroad with low fees.
From the aforementioned use cases, you can probably guess that this platform is popular among travelers, though it’s also gaining traction among freelancers, contractors, and remote workers. That’s because clients or employers overseas often rely on Wise to settle invoices.
As global payments become less ad hoc, Wise for Business becomes the realistic next step. It brings personal account-level features into an enterprise-ready setup, adding tools for clearer cash flow oversight, such as accounting software integrations and spending controls.
Compared to same-category platforms like PayPal, Wise generally charges zero-to-incremental fees, so you can receive payments via your account details with less value lost to charges. Plus, you can activate the earning feature if you don’t want your hard-earned money to sit idly, though there’s always capital risk entailed.
If you’re a digital creator or a gig worker who’d rather get paid in stablecoins, note that Wise has a strict ‘zero crypto’ policy.
So, should you pick Wise or Remitly? The first layer of evaluation should be your country of residence, since it largely determines the features you can access. Next, ask yourself whether you just want to send money or need all the extra tools too.
Availability | 160+ countries |
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Transaction Fees | Depends on the transfer method, but internal transfers are free |
Funding Methods | Local bank transfers, debit/credit card, Wire/SWIFT, etc |
Crypto | Fiat only |
Table: Wise's features
But if you focus solely on global remittances, Wise is a good Remitly alternative for its stronger FX rates. Nonetheless, for cash-based receiving options, you’ll want to use Remitly instead.
3. MoneyGram - Money Order, Door-to-Door Delivery, Omnichannel Experience
Ranks #3 out of 6 Money Transfer Services
- + Widespread agent locations
- + Online and offline transfer integration
- + Local and global payout support
- + Additional features like bill payments
- - Can be expensive
- - Inconsistent customer support quality
MoneyGram and Remitly are similar in many ways, though if we’re talking specifically about history, the former has a longer track record and a stronger brand recognition overall.
But that doesn’t mean MoneyGram is better, and the two aren’t exactly the same. If broader physical presence matters to you, MoneyGram is a solid Remitly money transfer alternative that serves 200+ countries and has 400,000+ agent locations worldwide. It’s relatively easy to find the nearest pickup point since MoneyGram partners with major retailers, such as Walmart and Carrefour.
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UK
Germany
US +200 more |
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EN ES FR +6 more |
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EUR
USD
GBP+90 more |
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USDC
BTC
ETH
LTC |
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| See TOP10 Brands Read review |
Table: MoneyGram's coverage
In fact, where MoneyGram really shines is its in-person transfer method. With cash delivery, funds arrive right in front of your loved one’s doorstep, which can be helpful if you’re supporting older family members or when the nearest agent branch is far away.
Now, if you’re not comfortable directly sending cash due to security concerns, a safer alternative would be MoneyGram’s money order. It works like a check, without the need for a bank account, and people commonly use it to pay bills or receive money in a more controlled way.
📚 Read More: How to Send Money to Someone Without a Bank Account
But your money transfer flow doesn’t have to be restricted to offline transactions. Sure, MoneyGram is great in that aspect, but it also has a strong digital footprint. Better yet, you can combine both approaches for a hybrid flow: fill an online form, and have your funds delivered via cash pickup. Your family member simply has to show up and present their valid ID.
Just like Remitly, your ability to send or receive money using MoneyGram depends on your region.
MoneyGram and Remitly also have one more aspect in common - fees, and to put it lightly, they can be confusing. To avoid surprises, you can estimate how much to pay using MoneyGram’s calculator. Mind that paying with your credit card incurs extra charges, and overall, the fees aren’t always the most favorable.
Setting similarities aside, does MoneyGram offer features that you can’t find on Remitly? Yes. In certain corridors, you can convert crypto (only a few are supported) to fiat and even top up mobile airtime. Taken together, MoneyGram is not just a Remitly alternative for international remittance, as it covers functionality that goes beyond that.
Availability | 200+ countries & regions |
|---|---|
Transaction Fees | Depends on your location, the transfer amount, and the delivery method |
Funding Methods | Bank transfer, digital wallets, debit/credit cards, cash, etc |
Crypto | Available |
Table: MoneyGram's features
MoneyGram is the more practical choice if you need physical cash access, but many users also appreciate Remitly for its ease of use.
Did you know?
All Money Transfer Services may look similar to you, but they're NOT all the same!
4. Western Union - Cash-Centric, Available Everywhere, Premium Pricing
Ranks #4 out of 6 Money Transfer Services
- + An established money transfer service
- + Available in most countries
- + Multiple delivery types, including cash pickup
- + Various ways to fund a transfer
- - High fees and exchange rate markup
- - Outdated app interface
- - Doesn't allow long-term fund storage
Searching for a Remitly alternative? Internationally, there are only a few names that can match Western Union in terms of brand recognition. It has been around since the 1850s, and its splashy yellow logo has become a trademark anywhere.
Naturally, Western Union is the top-of-mind choice for many users. Familiarity plays a big role in that decision, even though its fees tend to sit on the higher end of the spectrum. There’s a modest incentive, though: your first online transfer is free.
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Table: Western Union's pricing
Digital transfers account for 20% of Western Union’s inflows and outflows, which means more customers are still choosing to walk into an agent location. It has one of the most massive global transfer networks, with over 500,000 physical outlets across more than 200 countries and territories.
In one of Western Union’s busiest remittance corridors, the Philippines, you can find around 12,000 pickup points. They’re not just concentrated in urban hubs like Manila and Cebu, but are also spread across provincial towns and rural communities.
The company’s physical presence extends to nearly every country it supports. Use “Find a location” to search for the nearest branch, and it’s often a grocery store, post office, local bank, or any establishment that Western Union partners with. Here’s a friendly tip: check Google reviews to get a sense of the agent location’s service quality.
But you can’t just walk in empty-handed. The good news is you don’t need a bank account to initiate a transfer, but bring a valid photo ID and some cash with you. Once the transfer is all set up, you’ll be given a tracking number (MCTN) that you can share with your recipient. Online or offline, most transfers arrive in minutes.
Also, bear in mind the following notice if you end up using Western Union’s services:
Western Union makes money from currency exchange. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. Additional third-party charges may apply.
Furthermore, if you send funds to a mobile wallet, the receiving end has to pay third-party charges, including SMS and account over-limit charges.
Availability | 200+ countries & regions |
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Transaction Fees | FX markup + transfer fees + potential third-party charges |
Funding Methods | Cash, bank account, debit/credit card, mobile wallets, etc |
Crypto | Fiat-only |
Table: Western Union's features
Western Union could be one of the best alternatives to Remitly if you compare their in-person accessibility. However, its pricing remains less competitive compared to newer banking and fintech platforms.
5. WorldRemit - Mobile-Focused, 50+ Sending Countries, Recurring Transfers
Ranks #5 out of 6 Money Transfer Services
- + Fast money transfers
- + Wide international coverage
- + Multiple payout methods
- + Licensed in multiple countries
- - Limited overseas bank support
- - Fluctuating transfer costs
From the name alone, WorldRemit already sounds like a Remitly alternative for personal use. One could even argue that it’s the UK-based counterpart, so let’s unpack that claim.
WorldRemit supports fewer destination countries, which is around 130, short of Remitly’s 170. However, it makes up for that with broader sending coverage in 50 countries. Remitly may have a stronger command in the US and Europe, but WorldRemit opens its doors for senders in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
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Ghana
Kenya
Vietnam+127 more |
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EN DE ES +4 more |
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GBP
BGN
HUF+78 more |
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Fiat-only |
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| Visit site Read review |
Table: WorldRemit's coverage
After confirming geographical compatibility, what likely comes next are fees, where WorldRemit and Remitly come close. Remitly adds delivery speed as a factor, and its Economy option often gives a better deal when you compare quotes from both platforms side-by-side.
On WorldRemit, you can predict the fees once you’ve picked a payment method. Depending on what you select, though, the platform only displays the total cost once you move the process to the mobile app, where the interface appears more optimized compared to its website.
Even from the homepage, WorldRemit’s visual layout can feel heavy on the eyes. Large blocks of text over photographic backdrops can pull attention away from important details like pricing.
Nevertheless, WorldRemit has one feature that changes the game when it comes to convenience. It’s called “Quick Resend”, allowing you to select your previous recipient to send a recurring transfer without entering lengthy details from scratch.
Now comes the part where you initiate your transfer. WorldRemit has bank transfer and cash pickup in check, and there’s a stronger emphasis on mobile-friendly options. Especially if you’re in Africa, you’d be glad to hear that you can top up your prepaid mobile phone number with no extra costs.
Uniquely, WorldRemit lets you transfer funds to your recipient’s registered mobile money account number in certain regions, serving as a non-bank alternative route.
On external review sites, many users share a smooth-sailing transfer experience with WorldRemit. But if you stumble upon errors, its chat support is open 24/7, and the team can help you in 6 languages, including English, Español, Français, Deutsch, and Italiano.
Availability | 130+ countries |
|---|---|
Transaction Fees | Depends on the receiving country, the transfer amount, and the delivery method |
Funding Methods | Bank deposit, credit/debit card, etc |
Crypto | Fiat-only |
Table: WorldRemit's features
Though WorldRemit does the job for personal transfers, it isn't a Remitly business alternative, as it doesn’t offer an enterprise-ready solution.
6. Xoom - PayPal Familiarity, High-Speed P2P, Mobile Reloads
Ranks #6 out of 6 Money Transfer Services
- + Usually delivers in minutes
- + PayPal integration
- + Multiple payouts options
- + Extras: bill pay and mobile airtime
- - High fees and markups
- - No live chat
Xoom is PayPal’s sister company. So, if you’re already on PayPal, your onboarding process will be straightforward since you can use the same account.
Most people’s questions around Xoom aren’t so much about it being a Remitly alternative. Rather, when would you need to use Xoom as a stand-in when PayPal is already capable of handling global remittance?
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Table: Xoom's asset movement
PayPal requires your recipient to have an account, a bank number, or any valid payout identifier - but Xoom removes this. The destination is more important: to a bank, a debit card, a mobile wallet, or a nearby cash pickup outlet.
Transfers on PayPal can get stuck in transit for 2-3 days, but on Xoom, funds get credited to your recipient’s balance within minutes. It’s a friendly setup for peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers, but less flexible when you want to withdraw to your personal account. That action may even go against Xoom’s internal policy.
Xoom and Remitly have clear differences in the services they offer. Remitly’s main pitch is to get the money to the recipient. Xoom offers a more direct use case, routing the funds toward certain expenses like outstanding bills.
And although Xoom lets you transfer remittance to more than 70 countries, its sending currencies are only USD, AUD, EUR, GBP, and CAD for now. Since there are no rate locks, FX markups apply to every transfer, and they can be significant.
Thankfully, bank deposits and local transfers are free most of the time, especially if you pay with PYUSD or your PayPal balance. Cash pickup tends to be more expensive due to added operational costs.
If you’re budget-conscious, it’s best to avoid credit cards altogether. Debit cards still incur charges, but they’re generally easier on your bank balance.
If the goal isn’t cash at all, Xoom also supports mobile reloads, but not in all regions. The service connects you to many local carriers, and top-ups typically land within minutes.
Availability | 70+ countries |
|---|---|
Transaction Fees | FX markup + transfer fees |
Funding Methods | Bank account, debit/credit card, PYUSD, local rails, PayPal balance, etc |
Crypto | Fiat-only |
Table: Xoom's features
Unfortunately, Xoom doesn’t support business transactions as of writing, and you can’t use your PayPal business account to proceed.
How to Choose a Remitly Alternative Based on Different Use Cases
I've spent a fair share of time researching, testing, and comparing the Remitly alternatives above, and I fully stand behind how each platform performs in real use.
But at the end of the day, they only serve as a benchmark. What qualifies as "the best" will differ for every person.
For instance, the best Remitly business alternative won't necessarily be the right option for personal transfers. The gap lies in priorities. Instead of evaluating each service in isolation, let's review the main factors to consider through the lens of your specific use case.
Personal Use
As a rule of thumb, don't get too far ahead before confirming the platform actually has the features you need. The homepage may say "Broad country coverage", but once you move past signup, you're left with a few options.
Your ideal platform is one that best represents your usage habits. Do you mainly send funds to family overseas, split bills with friends, or have a different type of recipient in mind? Some people don't only make transfers to others - they often make personal withdrawals to different external accounts. Make sure your chosen money transfer service can handle your specific scenario(s).
Then, it's time to narrow down, and for most people, delivery speed and cost of transfers[2] are non-negotiable. Time is money - lose one, and you effectively lose both.
However, fees are layered. FX markups, transfer rails, and payment methods all factor into your final quote. Are you comfortable paying in a non-local currency, or would you rather have your balance pegged to stable currencies, or even have them diversified with crypto?
Avoid overpaying. You can reduce your total costs by prioritizing local payout networks over ACH transfers, international wires, SWIFT payments, correspondent banks, or intermediary-heavy routes, especially for cross-border transfers. Here's the cheat sheet: fewer moving parts, lower fees.
Reduced operational strain leads to faster transfers, and you shouldn't pay more for that. Platforms that package their services by speed often rely on legacy banking rails that introduce friction and delays.
Efficient solutions should have real-time settlement baked into their infrastructure. That's the case with Ogvio. There's no reliance on correspondent banking chains, so you get clear pricing with no premiums.
You've probably noticed the platforms I evaluated are typically sorted into two categories: remittance-only and end-to-end financial management platforms. The former works best if you solely want to send money quickly. However, added flexibility often becomes a must-have once you need to manage balances, multiple currencies, recurring payments, etc.
Business Use
Business transfers are inherently more complex, but that doesn't mean you should lose the lens you use when evaluating your personal choice. Combine what you value, such as speed, clarity, and low fees, with the tools needed to run a business.
Remitly is often better than its alternatives for businesses that make frequent, large transfers. The limit is set at 100,000 USD, and you can even pay your multinational teams, vendors, and contractors across roughly 100 currencies. This feature is available in key markets such as the US, Canada, and Australia.
Wise is the go-to solution for entrepreneurs, global finance teams, and SMEs in the EEA, Singapore, and Japan. Businesses can stay lean by reducing cross-border transfer costs, improving spending management, and accelerating reporting through accounting tool integrations. Of course, you still get the basics: multi-currency accounts, yield on balances, and a flexible card.
Ogvio is the best Remitly business alternative when customizability is a core requirement. You're not blocked by geographical restrictions - you can send anywhere, which also makes it the most flexible option. Enterprise-grade connections, from API access to data exports, are paired with market-leading FX rates and crypto-to-cash conversion.
Seeing what options these platforms lay out highlights the importance of a proper needs assessment. Collecting input from users who interact with the tool regularly helps identify a solution that aligns with day-to-day operational demands.
How to Send Money With Ogvio, the Top Pick for a Remitly Alternative
At this point, you have a fuller picture of what each Remitly alternative brings to the table. The real test, however, is how those features hold up in an actual use case.
I'll walk you through a real transfer scenario using Ogvio, so you'll see how the platform performs first-hand.
![Remitly alternative: the [Add money] menu inside Ogvio's dashboard.](https://assets.bitdegree.org/images/remitly-alternative-add-money.jpg "Remitly alternative: the [Add money] menu inside Ogvio's dashboard.")
![Remitly alternative: the [Send Money] menu inside Ogvio's dashboard.](https://assets.bitdegree.org/images/remitly-alternative-send-ogvio.jpg "Remitly alternative: the [Send Money] menu inside Ogvio's dashboard.")
![Remitly alternative: the [+ Send to new recipient] button on Ogvio.](https://assets.bitdegree.org/images/remitly-alternative-send-new-ogvio.jpg "Remitly alternative: the [+ Send to new recipient] button on Ogvio.")
![Remitly alternative: [To Ogvio User] sending option.](https://assets.bitdegree.org/images/remitly-alternative-to-ogvio-user.jpg "Remitly alternative: [To Ogvio User] sending option.")
Conclusions
Searching for a Remitly alternative is reasonable if you can't send from your region, need more than simple remittances, or want to cut down fees overall.
If you're more comfortable with in-person transfers, direct alternatives like MoneyGram, WorldR
emit, and Western Union can work in your favor. Wise also offers a separate solution for businesses. These alternatives, however, won't work if you haven't set your mind on where and how you want to send or receive money.
Scientific References
1. Ahmed J., Mughal M., Zarzoso-Martinez I.: 'Sending Money Home: Transaction Cost and Remittances to Developing Countries';
2. Martina M., Tim R. Jennifer P. W.: 'Migrant Remittances: Alternative Money Transfer Channels'.
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