You can make a payment from your bank account to another account without needing to worry about writing a check or handling cash. A bank transfer is a simple, safe and easy way to settle a bill, move money between accounts you own, orsend a payment to a friend.

The exact steps you'll need to take to transfer money from one bank to another may vary depending on the account you hold, and the method of transfer you choose. There are various transfer methods, so doing a little research can help you select one which suits your needs. This may be in person at a bank branch, through mobile, online or phone banking with your regular bank, or via a third party provider. If you're sending a domestic transfer, using your own bank's online or mobile banking service is usually the cheapest and quickest option.

Send money to abroad easily:

• Choose a payment provider with low fees and a good exchange rate
• Arrange your transfer online or in person
• Pay and track your transfer

• Recipient's full name as shown on their bank account
• Bank details including account number or IBAN and SWIFT/BIC number
• Depending on the country you are transferring money from and to and the amount, you may be asked additional information

There are plenty of ways to send money, including your regular bank, and modern online alternatives.
Check out online options which are convenient and also often have the lowest charges:

• Use your own bank's payment service. Check out whether your bank offers wire transfers to Costa Rica by logging into your online banking service
• Choose a third party provider like Wise, WorldRemit, or TorfX to make a fast and secure payment directly from your account to your recipient's account
• Send your payment through a provider like Western Union or MoneyGram and have your recipient collect the money in cash at an agent near them

• Safety
  Choose a reputable transfer service which is regulated by the appropriate authorities. Check out customer reviews online to get a sense of the service and support levels offered, and how the company resolves issues if they arise.
• Fees
  Confirm the costs of making your transfer which may include administrative fees, currency conversion charges, cable costs and an upfront transfer fee. Take a look at the fine print to make sure there are no additional costs, such as SWIFT fees, correspondent bank charges or cash advance fees.
• Exchange rate
  Each bank or transfer service sets its own exchange rate which may include additional fees in the form of a markup. Compare the exchange rate available for your transfer against the mid-market exchange rate for your currency, which you can find using a Google search. Choosing a provider which offers the mid-market exchange rate with no markup usually means you'll get a better deal overall.
• Processing time
  International transfers can take from a few minutes to several days to arrive, depending on the processing method used, and the country you're sending money to. Some payment providers will offer an estimated arrival time for your transfer, and let both you and the recipient know by SMS or email when the money lands in the beneficiary account.
• Payment methods
  Depending on the way you set up your international transfer you may be able to pay using cash, a check, a credit or debit card, or a bank transfer. It's common for the costs of your transfer to vary according to the way you decide to pay, so compare options to get the best deal for your needs.

Before you decide on a money transfer service, compare the exchange rate offered to the mid-market exchange rate which you can find on Google.
The mid-market rate is the one the bank or transfer service will receive when they buy currency. However, it's common to add a markup – effectively an extra fee – to the rate that is used for customers. This can mean your transfer costs more than you expect.
Look for a service which uses the mid-market exchange rate to save money.