No matter the situation - whether you need to transfer funds to a friend or family member for an emergency or if you transfer funds to Mexico on a regular basis to support your family, there are multiple different ways you can do this.

Debit/Cash Cards - There are several outlets that offer debit cards. each company will send the receiver a debit card, while the sender will have the capability to load funds on the card either online or via the telephone. The receiver can claim the funds at most ATM machines. It is important to reiterate that this card is renewable and monies can be added however often as needed.

To begin this process, the sender would register for the service either online or via telephone. First, the sender would load the card with the appropriate amount of money via credit card or bank account. Then, the sender is provided with a security PIN number before the recipient is actually sent the ATM card via rapid mail transfer service. The sender then provides the recipient with the PIN number and when the card arrives, they can withdraw the funds at an ATM location. As another reminder: It is imperative before choosing a firm, that you study the details disclosing the associated rates, as they vary with each card company.

If you decide to transfer funds through a money transfer service, it usually can be accessed in a matter of minutes. Service fees are determined either from a flat rate standpoint or a percentage basis. In addition to sender service rates, the recipient is also charged a fee (at the receiving end) of upwards of 10 percent. International Banks have reputable relationships with Mexican banks and transfer billions of dollars to Mexico yearly.

If wanting to send monies to arrive via a bank, it is imperative that you know what wire transfer services exist and the cost of their services. There are many wire transfer/bank businesses to wire money to those in Mexico. As a result of competition, several of these firms are reducing their charges, which vary considerably, so it is vital to do some comparison shopping. Depending on the type of service wanted, the money is usually available anywhere from within 15 minutes to 24 hours.

In the event of an emergency situation only, monies may be sent through the consulate. The most protected way to do this is by establishing a State Department trust fund. This service is available US citizens and on an emergency basis only. Depositors must first create a trust account in a recipients name. Upon receipt of the monies, the State Department then authorizes payout to the recipient from the appropriate US consulate. This course takes approximately one business day to complete and monies are always disbursed in local currency.

Whether you need to send money to a person in an emergency situation or on an ongoing basis, there are several ways you can go do this. Utilizing debit/cash cards, money transfer services, bank transfers or consulate services, are feasible options.

There are numerous companies that offer cash cards and/or debit cards. This type of card is reusable and you can be added to, monetarily, whenever needed and as often as necessary.

To facilitate this option, the sender would first need to sign up for the service by either going online or via telephone, as previously discussed. After registration is granted, the sender can then load the account with the desired amount of money via credit card or bank account.

The sender is then provided with a secured PIN number. The company then, via rapid mail service, sends the debit card directly to the recipient.

Once the recipient receives the debit card, the sender can provide them with the access PIN, so they can begin to access funds at any number of ATM machine locations. It is important though to remember, that before choosing a specific ATM location, the recipient needs to read the fine print disclosing any additional fees.

If you choose to send money through a money transfer service, it can be retrieved within a matter of minutes, once setup is completed. Sender service rates can range typically anywhere between $10 and $30, depending on the particular company being used, while recipient fees usually hold about a 10% processing fee.

There are so many wire transfer companies and/or bank services available to send money to people in Mexico and it is quite important that you know which wire transfer companies are out there as well as the cost of their services. Since so many institutions are reducing their costs, it is best to do your research before choosing a company.

In an emergency situation only, and given that you are also US citizen, money can be sent through the Mexican consulate. The most efficient way to do this is by establishing a State Department trust fund.

With this option, depositors must first establish a trust account in a receiver’s name and then upon the receipt of these funds, is authorized payout. The Overseas Citizens Services Trust (OCS), the bureau that overseas these transaction types, takes approximately one working day to process and can incur a $20 processing fee from the State Department, before funds are given out in local currency.

There are various ways to transfer money to Mexico, each with its own set of guidelines that govern how the money is sent. Safety and security, as well as service cost and time frame can vary from company to company.

At certain instances, time though becomes the utmost important issue. When an emergency situation arises, knowing what options are available to you is very important.

The most essential thing to remember in a rushed situation of this kind is that there is no need for alarm or panic. There are many methods available to you that will get the job done quickly and easily.

If you are in an opposite situation, where time is not an issue, preparing before the need arises, is always a good idea. For instance, if you have a son or daughter that will be spending summer vacation in Mexico, it would be a good idea to have framework in place so that a money transfer can be made with very short notice, if at all necessary.

The ATM/debit card is a wonderful option for this kind of situation and for this kind of traveler. For some, you may trust the recipient enough to have a non-denominational card issued to their name, which is linked to your savings or checking account.

As long as the recipient has both the ATM/debit card and the matching PIN number, they can access money via any number of ATM locations, as often as necessary. If you decided to go with this option, keep in mind that the recipient cardholder has unrestricted access to your funds and may not wait until authorized to access more money.

In reality, no matter how much we trust our loved ones, we do not want anyone else having total access to our money. Because this is so often the case, prepaid debit cards are the best option.

A prepaid debit card is similar to an ATM card, apart from the fact that the prepaid card is just what the name suggests: preloaded with a set amount of money. Once all the money has been taken out, the cardholder cannot access anymore money until the card is reloaded with more funds.

With whichever method you decide to use, using a bank system that has branches in both Mexico and the United States will help to make a money transfer of this kind easy.