Product Tour

How does it work?

Exchanging money with CurrencyFair is simple, and is done in three easy steps:

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Please watch the video for an overview, or view the step by step guide below.

See video

Deposit the funds you want to exchange into our segregated client bank account

Some things you might like to know...

 

Why do my funds have to be sent in before I can exchange?

CurrencyFair is a person to person marketplace where you can exchange anonymously with other customers. By requiring all customers to credit their accounts before exchanging, you can be assured that CurrencyFair is already holding all the money on both sides of any exchange, so that the funds you buy are already on hand and ready to be sent out.

Is it safe to send my funds to your bank account?

Yes. We operate segregated client accounts; this means that your money is held separately to our own and can only be used for the purposes of making your exchange and transfer. These accounts are held with highly-rated, major global banks, so your money is extremely safe.

Will it cost me any money to deposit?

We don't charge anything on your deposit, but you might want to check with your bank in case they have charges to transfer money into our account. We operate local accounts in most currency zones (and we're working on the others!), so transfers into our accounts should be free or very cheap. For more information see our Process Times & Fees.

How long will it take my funds to clear?

That depends on the currency. In the case of Pounds Sterling, it is usually the same day or early the next. For other currencies, it can be the next day, and worst-case is normally not longer than two working days. If you're really in a hurry, your bank may have a priority same-day transfer option, but they'll almost certainly charge you a fee for that. For more information see our Process Times & Fees.

Can I deposit cash or cheques?

We can accept cheques in certain circumstances, although you should allow 2 weeks for the funds to clear. We cannot accept cash.

Can I fund my account using a credit card or PayPal?

No. Payment methods like credit cards and PayPal charge merchants 1-2% or more, negating the benefits of our unique marketplace.

What if I want to buy a fixed amount of foreign currency, and I don't know how much to deposit?

You can use our currency converter to give you an idea of how much you'll need to buy a certain amount of foreign currency.  We suggest you send in a little bit more than that to ensure you have enough in case the rate moves while your funds are on their way.  Anything left over after you've exchanged can be sent back to your bank account, or left in your CurrencyFair account ready for your next exchange.

 

If you are still unsure of the process, please view our FAQ's page or email theteam@currencyfair.com

 

Convert your funds into the currency you need using QuickTrade or the MarketPlace

Some things you might like to know...

 

Can I exchange any amount immediately?

Yes, by using QuickTrade.  CurrencyFair uses its own funds to make sure that you can always exchange any amount immediately at a seriously good rate, even if there are no matching customer orders on the marketplace at the time. 

Can I book an exchange before the funds I'm selling have arrived in my account?

No.  You can only exchange when your funds have arrived in our account.  This way you know that we already hold the funds of anyone that matches your order.

What commission comes off the rate I get?

Nothing, the rate you see and match at is the rate you get.  Any commissions are built into the market itself, nothing is applied afterward.  Currently our built-in commission rate is 0.15% on all markets. 

What hours of the day can I exchange funds?

At the moment, the markets open for exchange around 23:00 Irish time on Sunday evening and close at 20:00 Irish time Friday evening. Very soon we plan to extend opening hours for exchange over the weekend; we'll let you know when that happens.

How do I know I'm getting a good rate?

Our live rates are visible on our website at all times.  You don't need to have an account or be logged in to access them.  You can compare these against anyone else's rate, or the interbank rate, to see how good they really are.

Can another customer rip me off, by offering up a bad rate?

No.  CurrencyFair steps in to provide rates on the market so that a great rate is always available.  If another customer posts up a rate that is not competitive, they will never get matched. 

Why might only part of my order be matched?

Using QuickTrade, the quoted rate is chosen such that your funds will always be fully converted.  If you place an order on the MarketPlace, however, at a rate of your own choosing, your funds will only be converted to the extent that there are sufficient customers exchanging in the opposite direction at your desired rate or better.

How long will it take to exchange a large sum of money?

Regardless of the size of your order, you can always use QuickTrade to exchange immediately at a great rate.  If you choose to wait for a better rate using the MarketPlace, then the time taken to exchange will depend on how competitive your order is and how many customers are exchanging in the other direction.  You can amend any unmatched part of your order at any time.

 

If you are still unsure of the process, please view our FAQ's page or email theteam@currencyfair.com

Send the foreign currency you have purchased to a bank account worldwide

Some things you might like to know...

 

What are the fees to transfer money?

We charge 3 Euro for a standard transfer, and 8 Euro for a priority, or the equivalent in other currencies.  This compares with typical bank international transfer fees of 25 Euros or higher.  To see our transfer fees in your chosen currencies, click here.

How long will the money take to reach my beneficiary account?

Priority transfers generally arrive same day or first thing the next. Standard transfers generally take 1-3 business days depending on the currency.  To see more detail on transfer times for each currency, click here 

Can I send money to someone else's bank account?

Yes.  You can send money to any bank account; it does not have to be in your own name. It's important that the account is denominated in the currency that you are transferring, as otherwise the receiving bank will convert the funds when they arrive. 

Do you deliver cash?

No.We operate only via bank transfers at this stage, and cannot deliver cash.  We plan on introducing other payment options in the future. 

Can I top up a travel card?

Possibly, this depends on the card issuer.  Many travel card operators are reluctant to allow third-party payments to the card, as it means they miss out on their lucrative foreign exchange charges.  Please Contact Us for further information.

Can I send money to a brokerage account or make a payment which requires complicated instructions?

Yes.  When you create a beneficiary, you can enter additional instructions, such as internal account numbers, intermediary banks, and 'for further credit of' information.  We'll make sure the payment gets where you need it to go.

 

If you are still unsure of the process, please view our FAQ's page or email theteam@currencyfair.com

 
Tell us online how much you’re going to deposit

This tells us where your money is coming from and how much we should expect, which helps us to quickly credit your CurrencyFair account as soon as it arrives.

We'll then display our client bank account details on-screen so that you know where to send the funds.

Send the funds to our segregated client bank account

This is easy to do with your online banking, phone banking, or if you prefer by going into your branch.

Just set up CurrencyFair as a beneficiary using the details we provide you with, and instruct your bank to transfer the funds to our client account, with your CurrencyFair client number as the payment reference.

Wait for our email telling you your funds have cleared

We monitor our client bank accounts regularly, so as soon as your money arrives we'll credit it to your CurrencyFair account.

We'll also send you an email so that you know straight away that your funds are now ready for you to exchange - at a time and rate of your choosing.

Enter the buy and sell currencies and amount

You can choose whether you want to sell a fixed amount of what you have, or receive a fixed amount of the currency you want.

If you're paying a foreign bill or invoice, you might choose to buy a fixed amount. If you're sending savings home, you'll probably choose to convert whatever you have.

Click ‘Quote’ to see the current best available rate

QuickTrade will instantly calculate quote you the current, best available rate to fill your entire order at that moment. It will also display the amount you'll receive, if you chose to sell a fixed amount, or the amount it will cost you to buy a fixed amount of the currency you want.

Click Confirm to complete the trade

Your entire order is instantly processed at the quoted rate or better. On the rare occasion where the quoted rate is no longer available, you'll be asked to click quote again. On the other hand, if the rate has moved in your favour, your order will be completed at the better rate.

A confirmation will be displayed on screen confirming all the details, and your converted funds are instantly available to be transferred to wherever you need them.

Enter the buy and sell currencies and amount

You would generally use QuickTrade when you want to exchange straight away, while using the MarketPlace is a good way to exchange if you are prepared to wait for a better rate.

Just like QuickTrade, you can choose whether you want to sell a fixed amount of what you have, or receive a fixed amount of the currency you want.

Enter your desired exchange rate

With the Marketplace, YOU choose the exchange rate that you will accept. Other customers exchanging in the opposite direction can view your offered rate along with everyone else’s; so the more competitive the rate you choose, the better your chances of being matched quickly.

In order to help you choose a rate, you can view the full market. This shows you all other customer orders outstanding on the marketplace at the time, including customers exchanging both in the opposite direction, and in the same direction as you.

Click Confirm to make the order

Depending on the rate you have chosen, your funds will be fully matched, part-matched, or unmatched. You will never be matched at a rate worse than your chosen rate.

Any part of your order that can be covered by existing customers on the marketplace will be matched immediately.

Any unmatched portion of your order will remain outstanding on the marketplace until it is either matched by another customer or you cancel it.

Add the beneficiary bank details, or select from your saved beneficiaries

To create a new beneficiary, simply enter their name and account details. This can be an account in your name, or that of a third-party such as a friend or a supplier.

You only need to enter the beneficiary details once, for repeat transfers you can select them from your list of saved beneficiaries.

Choose a standard or a priority transfer

Standard transfers generally arrive in 1-3 business days, depending on the currency. Use a priority transfer when you're in a hurry; funds will arrive same day or early the next.

The transfer fee can be paid for in either the currency you're selling, or the currency you're buying, it's up to you.

Enter the amount and confirm payment

Your payment will be sent to the beneficiary bank account with your name as a reference, and you can add additional reference information if you need to.

You'll get one more chance to confirm your transfer. Check that all the details are correct, then click Confirm.