Zelle is a popular payment/money transfer platform that allows you to send cash from one US account to another. Apart from fast transactions, their low fees also attract lots of users to the platform.
Does Zelle Work in Nigeria?
No, Zelle doesn’t work in Nigeria, but there is an alternative you can use which is Xoom. This payment gateway is owned by PayPal, which happens to be one of the most popular money transfer apps for some time. Xoom offers swift money transfers, so you don’t need to worry about your transfer getting delayed.
How to Create an Account on Xoom
Creating an account is easy. There are just five steps you need to take, and your Xoom will be ready for international transfers into your accounts or your friends, family, or business partners’ account.
- Sign up
Launch your web browser. Then go to www.xoom.com
- Provide personal details
You’ll need to submit some personal details so the account can be verified. Some details you’ll submit are your full name, address, bank name and account number, ID card, BVN.
- Wait for verification
You might be restricted from using Xoom while they verify the info you submitted. If they’re okay with the info then you will gain full access to their platform, and you can start sending or receiving money through Xoom.
How to Send Money With Xoom
Using Xoom to send money is very easy. The way the platform is structured isn’t complex, and the steps to take are almost self-explanatory. Nevertheless, we will still show you the steps to take for seamless transfers.
- Log in to your Xoom
Input www.xoom.com into your web browser. Log in once the Xoom webpage appears.
- Click on Send Money
When you tap on it, you’ll be prompted to choose the country you want to send the money to. Xoom works in countries that PayPal doesn’t support, so this is an added advantage. The country you choose should be where the recipient’s bank is located.
Xoom will display the amount the recipient will receive in the recipient’s currency. Now, you’ll tap on “confirm the transfer”.
Here is a list of banks that supports Xoom — Access Bank plc, Diamond Bank, Ecobank Nigeria, Enterprise Bank, Fidelity Bank, FIRSTBANK, First City Monument Bank Ltd, Guaranty Trust Bank PLC, Heritage Bank, Keystone Bank, Skye Bank Plc, Stanbic Bank, Sterling Bank, Union Bank, United Bank for Africa Plc, Unity Bank PLC, WEMA
- Choose a payment method
There are three options you can opt for with varying transaction fees — bank transfer, credit card, and debit card payment are the payment methods. Bank transfer transaction fee is usually lower.
- Input the recipient info
You’ll input the recipient’s bank account details. Make sure you cross-check the details so the funds don’t get lost.
- Choose s delivery method
There are three delivery methods available — cash pickup, bank deposit, and door-to-door. Cash pickup and bank deposit is the two mediums that are usually readily available.
- Send the money
The last page is where you’ll review the info you inputted to ascertain if there is no mistake. If you’re sure there is none, you can send the money.
How to check exchange rates on Xoom
Xoom has a fee and exchange rate calculator that you can use to figure out the total cost of your transfer, and the amount the recipient will receive. Also, it’s worth repeating that the fees for bank transfer as a payment method are much lower than those of credit and debit cards. So if you see a slight change in the total amount, you’ll know why.
Also, in some countries, the fee that is charged is low when compared to other countries. This is because of the favorable monetary policy of the country. It’s hard to specify the countries because monetary policies change from time to time.
How to Buy Airtime on Xoom
Nigeria is one of the few countries that Xoom allows to buy airtime via their platform. They offer airtime for all the four networks in Nigeria (9mobile, MTN, Airtel, Glo), and you can buy as many as you want.
- Log in
Log in to Xoom
- Click on reload
On the screen, you’ll see the “reload” tab. Click on the tab. A drop-down menu will appear.
- Choose the carrier
The available carriers will be listed. These carriers will be MTN, 9mobile, Airtel, and Glo. Choose the one you want.
- Fill the boxes
These are what you’ll fill in the boxes — Enter a phone number, Pick an amount.
- Make payment
You’ll tap on the payment button and you’ll be charged for the airtime.
Conclusion
As you can see, Xoom offers a great service just like Zelle. Its robust support for Nigerians makes it a great choice to consider. Since it’s owned by PayPal which is an efficient app, the same efficiency is expected of Zoom.