How to Make International Payments With Mama Money in South Africa

With transparent fees and user-friendly mobile app that allows you to make international transactions to over 70 countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe,⁵ many South Africans are choosing Mama Money to send money abroad.

But what does the international transfer process with Mama Money look like? And what do you need to send money abroad with this provider? This article contains everything you need to know.

Also learn about Wise – that will show you how to make money transfers to South Africa at the mid-market exchange rate!

Learn more about Wise

Mama Money international transfer fees

International transfer fees at Mama Money vary based on the country you’re making a payment to.⁶ There is a flat fee of 5% or less for international money transfers, and some fees can be as low as 1%.⁷ For example, if you want to send R5000 to Zimbabwe using Mama Money, you’ll pay an international transfer fee of R50, which is 1% of the total amount.⁸

You can use the Mama Money app to see the international transfer fee of the country you’re sending money to.⁹ This way, there are no hidden costs of making a payment abroad.

Mama Money international transfer exchange rate

Exchange rates with Mama Money are dynamic and may vary according to the country you’re sending money to. Using the Mama Money app, you can check the Mama Money rate today for your country of choice.¹⁰ This way, you can see how much money your recipient will receive from the transfer, and the best time to send it.

At Wise, we use the mid-market exchange rate for international payments, which is considered the ‘fair market’ rate. Find out what you would pay for an international money transfer with Wise:

Which countries does Mama Money operate in?

With Mama Money, you can send international payments from South Africa to over 70 countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe.⁵ These countries are listed in the table below.¹¹

Can I send money to South Africa with Mama Money?

As well as sending payments internationally, you can receive payments into your Mama Money bank account from within South Africa.¹² With the Mama Money card, you can pay at any shop and withdraw money from an ATM, buy online from South African websites, and send cash to any PnP, Shoprite or Checkers in South Africa.¹³

Wise for International Transfers to South Africa at the mid-market exchange rate

If you’re a South African expat living abroad or someone wanting to send money to South Africa, Wise can help you save money¹ when making international money transfers back to South Africa.

Some banks and money transfer services use the mid-market rate when they trade between themselves, but they rarely pass it on to you. Instead, they often mark up the rate to make extra money.¹³

It is recommended to check the exchange rate offered by your bank against the mid-market rate, which is similar to the exchange rate shown on Google. Say no to hidden fees!

The mid-market exchange rate is the rate that banks use to transfer money between them and is considered the ‘fair rate’ in the market. Find out what you would pay for an international money transfer with Wise:

Wise customers don’t have to pay an additional markup fee but only a small transparent fee to make an international transaction¹. That’s because Wise uses the mid-market rate for overseas payments!

With Wise, South African expats can save money¹ on an international money transfer by providing low fees and also do away with the markup on the mid-market exchange rate when making international payments to South Africa.

How long does an international transfer take with Mama Money?

Knowing how long it takes for a payment to arrive in your recipient’s account is an important factor to consider when making an international transaction. Below is a table detailing how long it takes for Mama Money to send your payment to another country.¹⁴

Mama Money customer support contact

If you need help with making an international transfer or have another question about your Mama Money bank account, you can reach out to the customer support team easily either through the Mama Money app,¹⁵ or directly using the details below.¹⁶ Make sure to have your account details and relevant transaction information with you.

WhatsApp

Resolve your issue in real time by contacting Mama Money support using WhatsApp.

Mama Customer Care: (+27) 66 802 8428
Mama Money Send: (+27) 60 091 5591
USSD: *134*542#

Phone

Get help with your issue straight away by phoning the Mama Money contact number: 0212025420

Social Media

Chat with the Mama Money customer support team through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

Email

Send your question to mama@mamamoney.co.za for help within 24-48 hours.

In-Person

Speak to one of Mama Money’s nationwide agents and get face-to-face assistance.

Mama Money international transfer process

International transfers with Mama Money are done through the Mama Money app, which can be downloaded for free from the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Once you have downloaded the app, you can complete the Mama Money registration using the instructions below:¹⁷

1. Upload your identity document to the app. Accepted documents include your passport, foreign ID, South African ID, or asylum and refugee documents.
2. Take a clear photo of yourself that matches your ID.
3. Complete your registration and start sending money abroad!

Mama Money international transfer requirements

To make an international transfer with Mama Money, you will need to provide the following information about your recipient:¹⁸

• Full name
• Address
• Phone number
• Account number
• Branch code
• Sort code
• Name of wallet

Mama Money international transfer limits

With a standard Mama Money bank account, you can make an international transfer of up to R5,000 per transaction and R25,000 per month..¹⁹

If you want to send more money abroad, you can upgrade your account. With an upgraded Mama Money bank account, you can send up to R50,000 per transaction and R100,000 per month abroad.

To upgrade your account, go to the “More Money Home” option in the app. New customers can also choose to upgrade when they first register.²⁰

Is it worth using Mama Money for international payments?

Many South Africans choose Mama Money to make payments abroad, thanks to its user-friendly app, transparent transfer process and long list of countries where you can send money.

Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate for international payments. Since this is the rate banks use to transfer money between them, it’s considered the ‘fair rate’ for sending money abroad. If you’re looking for a fair and transparent payment provider for international transactions, Wise is a great alternative.

Send money to South Africa

Sources

1. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
2. Transaction speed claimed depends on funds availability, approval by Wise’s proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners’ banking system, and may not be available for all transactions.
3. Eligibility is subject to verification of customers identity. Wise may request additional documents to verify a customer's identity.
4. Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visit www.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
5. Countries you can send money to
6. Varying fees per country
7. 5% or less fee
8. Zimbabwe example
9. Transparent fees
10. Check exchange rates on app
11. Countries Mama Money operates in
12. Receiving payments within South Africa
13. Mama Money card
14. Transfer time
15. Customer support through Mama Money app
16. Mama Money customer support options
17. Registering via the Mama Money app
18. International transfer requirements
19. Sending limits
20. Upgraded Mama money account