Ways to send money to Ethiopia
Compare the main ways licensed services deliver money in Ethiopia: bank deposit, cash pickup, and mobile money like telebirr, so you can pick what your recipient can actually use.
Licensed services deliver money in a few different ways. The best one depends on what your recipient can access where they live.
Bank deposit
The funds land directly in the recipient's account at an Ethiopian bank. This is convenient when your family already banks and wants the money in their account. Delivery can take longer than cash or mobile, depending on the banks involved.
Cash pickup
The recipient collects birr in person at a branch or agent, using an ID and a reference number you share with them. This works well when the recipient does not have a bank account, as long as a pickup point is convenient for them.
Mobile money (telebirr)
The money arrives in a mobile wallet such as telebirr, which the recipient uses from a phone. It is fast and does not require a bank account, and it is increasingly common across Ethiopia.
Licensed services with a location in the DMV
These services appear on the National Bank of Ethiopia's licensed list and have a storefront or office in the DC area. Confirm the details with the service before you send. See every service we checked, and how, on the licensed money transfer list, or browse the send money home directory.
- Dahabshiil5983 Columbia Pike Ste 100, Falls Church, VA 22041
- FastPay8701 Georgia Ave Suite 606, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- Selam Express8205 Fenton St, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- Remitly
- Ria Money Transfer
- Western Union
Frequently asked
Which delivery method is fastest?
Mobile money and cash pickup are often quicker than bank deposits, but the exact time depends on the licensed service you use.
Can my family get cash without a bank account?
Yes. Cash pickup and mobile money both work without a bank account. Choose whichever has a convenient location or is already on their phone.
More in this guide: sending money home
- How to send money to Ethiopia from the US safely (2026 guide) (the full guide)
- Is my money transfer service licensed in Ethiopia?
- How to choose the best way to send money to Ethiopia
- Sending money to a telebirr wallet in Ethiopia
Or browse every TiruList guide.
Sources
- [1]National Bank of Ethiopia (licensed financial institutions) Link
Keep reading
All articles
Diaspora Life
How to send money to Ethiopia from the US safely (2026 guide)
A plain guide to sending money to Ethiopia from the US: use a service licensed by the National Bank of Ethiopia, understand cash pickup vs bank and mobile money, know what affects the cost, and avoid unlicensed transfers.
Diaspora Life
Sending money to a telebirr wallet in Ethiopia
How mobile money like telebirr works for receiving money in Ethiopia, when it is a good choice, and how to send through a licensed service that delivers to a wallet.
Diaspora Life
Is your money transfer service licensed?
The National Bank of Ethiopia licenses every company allowed to move money into Ethiopia. Search the official list before you send, and see the licensed services people in the DMV actually use.
The TiruList directory
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