Complete Guide to Deposit Cash into Someone Else’s Account

In this article we will cover 3 main options in getting money to someone else:

• From your bank account to another bank account (domestically or internationally)
• Using a service that allows your recipient to withdraw money into their bank account
• A manual process where the recipient (or possibly you) can deposit your money into their bank account

Option 1: From your Bank Account to Another Bank Account

To deposit cash into someone else’s account when they are not so tech-savvy, you may need some of these options that don’t require them to buy a smartphone and download some apps.

• Use a service like TransferWise to send money straight from your bank account to another account, inside or outside the US
• Make a domestic wire (pricey, but fast) from your bank
• Use your bank’s billpay option (this works for a select list of banks)

1. TransferWise (Domestic or International)

Use a service like TransferWise to send money straight from your bank account to another account, inside or outside the US

PROS:

• Once you’re set up and holding a balance, you can send money online with a click on your phone or computer.
• Money normally arrives the morning of the next business day.
• Your recipient doesn’t have to do anything to get the money.
• You can pay with your debit card if the amount isn’t too high.
• You can send money both internationally and domestically.

CONS:

• The first time around you’ll have to go through a verification process with TransferWise, which may take a few business days.
• Paying by debit/credit card is a little more expensive than paying by directly debiting your bank account.

• Make a domestic wire (pricey, but fast) from your bank
• Use your bank’s billpay option (this works for a select list of banks)

2. Wire (Domestic or International)

If you’ve ever heard someone in a movie say they’ll “wire” money to someone, this option might sound daunting. But it’s actually easier than you’d think.

It can be especially useful if you don’t have access to the recipient’s bank. For instance, maybe your bank with a national bank but your friend banks with a local institution across the country.

You can send wire transfers within the US or internationally, and international transfer fees are more expensive. You should expect to spend $10 to $50 on a wire transfer.

PROS:

• (Domestic) Money for transfers inside the US can arrive there within the hour if your bank processes your order immediately.
• Your recipient doesn’t have to do anything to get the money.

CONS:

• You’ll likely have to make the wire in person.
• The wires aren’t cheap.
• (International) It can take up to 5 business days for your money to arrive depending on the recipient country.

3. Billpay (US Domestic Only)

Many banks have listened to the pain of their customers and set up low-cost ways people can send money online. This option is often called something to the tune of “BillPay” or “Online payments/transfers”.

What this means is that you may be able to login to your online bank account and choose an option to send money to your recipient’s bank account (by filling in only their name, the amount, their ACH routing number, and account number) without ever visiting a bank branch.

PROS:

• You should be able to set everything up online within your online banking portal.
• Generally free or low cost.

CONS:

• You’ll need your recipient’s bank details ahead of time.
• It’s only for transfers inside of the US.
• Your recipient may actually receive a check and have to deposit it.
• It could be slow, sometimes up to 7 business days.

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Option 2: Use a service that your recipient may need to sign up for to get the money into their bank account

If your recipient is tech-savvy and doesn’t mind signing up for another service (if they haven’t already), you’ll have a few more options to get money into someone else’s bank account.

This kind of service happens in 2 main ways:

• Your recipient will get an email or notification and will then need to enter their banking details
• Your recipient will need to sign up for the service, and then from there can enter their banking details

1. Recipient Fills in Their Details

With some services, all you’ll need is the email address or phone number of the person you’re sending money to.

Once you’ve paid for the transfer, your recipient will get some sort of email or notification from the service that you’ve sent them money. From there, your recipient will need to input their own bank account details.

PROS:

• You should be able to set everything up online.
• Generally free or low cost.
• Once a bank account is associated with a phone number or email, in most cases the money will automatically be deposited there.

CONS:

• You’ll need to sign up for the service and may have limitations if you don’t have an account with that bank.
• Your recipient will need to sign up and enter their details to get the money.
• It’s only for transfers inside of the US.
• It’s possible your recipient may never get the money because they don’t input their details.
• Once a bank account is associated with a phone number or email, in most cases the money will automatically be deposited there. (This can be a con, too.)
• It could be slow.

2. Money will be deposited into the service and then the recipient may withdraw the money to their own account

In this scenario, your recipient will already need to be registered with the service. From inside the service, you can send them money.

Once your recipient knows you’ve sent them money and it’s waiting in a balance for them, they’ll need to go through steps in order to withdraw or pay out the money to their own bank account.

PROS:

• You may already be using the service.
• You should be able to set everything up online.
• Generally, free or low cost unless you send to a business or internationally.

CONS:

• Your recipient will need to sign up and enter their details to get the money.
• It’s only for transfers inside of the US — except for PayPal.
• It’s possible your recipient may never get the money because they don’t input their details or can’t figure out how to withdraw the money to their bank account once it’s in the service.
• It could be slow.

Option 3: Recipient deposits the money you sent them into their account

If you and your recipient are willing to do a little extra work, you can always revert to the old school, tried and true methods to sending someone else money in America.

Cash

One of the easiest ways to deposit cash into someone else’s account is to do it in cash. You can withdraw cash from your own bank account either at a bank branch or by using an ATM.

You can then deliver the cash to the owner of the recipient’s bank account in person, allowing them to deposit it themselves, or you can go to a branch of their bank and ask to deposit money into their bank account.

You’ll need some of their personal details in order to deposit it, including their full name and account number. However, some banks don’t allow depositing cash into another person’s account, so you might call ahead and check before you go.

Check

You may have already guessed that another common way to transfer money is simply by check, which can you can deliver in person or send in the mail.

Simply fill out a check, paid to the order of the other person or “cash.” Either you or your intended recipient will then need to deposit the check into their bank account.

Money Order

If you’re going to deposit cash into someone else’s account via mail, a money order is a more secure alternative to cash or a check, since it can be traced and canceled if it gets lost or stolen.

Plus, because you pay in advance for a money order it means there’s no need to keep sufficient funds in your account while you wait for it to be cashed.

You can buy a money order at places like:

• the Post Office
• a Western Union
• a Walmart

You pay for the money order, filling it out similarly to how you’d fill out a check, sign it, and then deliver it — either in person or by mail. Make sure you keep your receipt in case you need to trace or cancel your money order.

With so many options, you can see why it’s so important to do your research ahead of time to make sure you’re choosing the best option for transferring money.

Whatever your priorities — cost, transfer time, transparency — there’s an option that will work for you. It just takes a little time to find it.

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