Before you send money home to relatives in Jamaica, you should think about the best method for you and your family members. In most cases, using a prepaid debit card is both cheap and convenient, but you should first make sure that it can be used easily in your recipient’s country. Transfer money to Jamaica through this route only after you have made sure that there are plenty of ATMs available.
Although ATMs are not quite as widespread in this country as some others, there are still many in the major cities. If one is not readily available on its own, there should be plenty attached to banks. Scotiabank is one that is widely known for having ATMs at all branches, and for accepting debit cards from North America. Of course, other banks, such as Jamaica National, Victoria Mutual, and Bank of Jamaica, all usually have ATMs, as well. Be sure that your relative knows that they will get Jamaican dollars when they take out money, not US dollars, even though you will send US dollars on your end.
There is the issue of safety when it comes to using ATMs in Jamaica. There have been many muggings reported, which is why it is best to use cash machines during the day, especially during business hours. However, your relatives might find that many ATMs are located in secure booths to improve safety during all hours. Montego Bay and Kingston are examples of this, as they use secure booths to allow customers to use the cash machines at any hour.
Prepaid debit cards are also good for purchasing necessities from retailers, especially fuel, groceries, and medications. Additionally, many companies allow customers to pay their bills online, which is why a debit card can be convenient even for those who do not live near many ATMs. In this case, you can still transfer money to Jamaica through a card, as long as your relative is aware that they might need to travel to find an ATM to get cash out. Otherwise, they can use it daily on either bills or items they need to purchase.
Your relative will probably be grateful to have your financial help, no matter how you transfer money to Jamaica. In most cases, the most convenient method is the debit card, since it allows the flexibility of using either cash or plastic, which is especially useful for Internet purchases. You simply need to first make sure that your relative lives in an area that is set up for the daily use of a debit card.
Source by Jason Karp