HiFX
Founded: 1998
Headquarters: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK
Offices: United Kingdom, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada
Regulated by: FCA, ASIC, FMA
Trading channels: website, telephone
Website: www.Hifx.co.uk
HiFX, along with Ria and XE, is one of the subsidiaries of the money Transfer services Euronet Worldwide Group (NASDAQ: EEFT), which is the third largest money transfer business in the world. So, if size is one of the measures you use to predict reliability, HiFX would be a company to seriously consider. They have been in operation since 1998 in the UK. Today, HiFX trades a total of 46 currencies for recipients in over 170 countries. This strength and breadth makes it useful throughout much of the world. You can pay via local bank transfer, debit card, or credit card. However, there will be an extra cost if funding via your credit card.
HiFX offers friendly telephone support, and is happy to help with any type of transaction, including the assistance of a Personal Account Manager if you’re transferring large amounts. Although HiFX claims that it offers bank-beating exchange rates, it is not so easy to compare. Unlike some of its competitors like currencyfair, its exchange rate is only available after you became a registered customer. With HiFX, you can expect the recipient to receive the money within a period of 1 to 4 days. Trusted by hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers and rated 5 stars on trustpilot, HiFX won’t let you down.
Overview
>No transfer fees on all transfers.
>Low minimum transfer amount, and decent maximum transfer amount
>Multiple payment options including debit and credit card
>Wide coverage to support recipients over 170 countries
Payment options: Local and international bank transfers, debit card, credit card
Delivery options: Bank deposit
Minimum transfer amount: £50
Maximum transfer amount: £300,000
Currencies available:
Sending options: 18
AED, AUD, BGN, CAD, CHF, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HUF, ILS, JPY, KWD, NOK, NZD, SEK, SGD, USD
Receiving options: 46
AED, AUD, BGN, BHD, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, FJD, GBP, CHS, HKD, HUF, ILS, INR, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KWD, LSL, MUR, MXN, NGN, NOK, NZD, OMR, PGK, PHP, PLN, RON, SAR, SBD, SEK, SGD, THB, TND, TOP, TRY, UGS, USD, VUV, WST, XPF, ZAR
Transfer Fees
HiFX charges no transfer fees on all transfers.
However, you still have to be aware of some other fees which HiFX is not liable for when sending money to them. HiFX encourages you to pay by bank transfer or debit card. Before you start to fund HiFX, you need to check with your sending bank and the receiving bank, as they may charge some fees. Credit card transactions will cost you an additional fee of 1.6% of the total amount.
Exchange Rate
HiFX offers bank-beating exchange rate which is very competitive. This rate varies by type of currency. Therefore, the markup from NZD to USD, for instance, is 1% above the mid-market rate. The average markup on exchange rate tends to be 1.5%.
Delivery Speed
HiFX advises you to wait 1-4 working days for the money to be delivered to your recipient’s account. The method you use to pay HiFX will affect the total processing time. Funding via credit or debit card results in your money reaching HiFX immediately. Bank transfer usually takes up to 3 days for them to receive your money.
User Experience
HiFX’s customer service is friendly, and you can get support either by phone or email. Customers can complete their transfers on its website or over the phone. However, the lack of a mobile app leaves HiFX far behind most of its competitors.
It is also inconvenient for clients when it comes to comparing transfer costs. You are allowed to check exchange rates only after you have logged in to its website. This means that you have to sign up for a free account first, before you can compare and transfer. From our experience, it only takes a couple of minutes to register. You’ll need to upload the following documents to be approved,
1 x Proof of Identity: passport, national ID card, or driver license.
1 x Proof of Address: recent utility bill or bank statement.
Pros and Cons
Zero transfer fees on all transfers
46 currencies for recipients in 170+ countries
Small minimum transfer amount £50
Friendly UK based telephone support
Website only, without a mobile app
Only registered clients can check exchange rates
Bank account only (for recipients), no cash pick-up