Founded
1993, as an online currency converter — one of the older names in the space.
Money transfer referral
My XE Money Transfer Experience: How I Simplified Sending Money Abroad and Claimed a Referral Bonus
Discover how XE, a long-established international money transfer service, made sending money abroad simple — wide currency support, competitive exchange rates, and a straightforward app. XE also runs an official refer-a-friend programme: enter a promo code on your first transfer, send $/€/£5,000 or more in total (or the equivalent in CAD, AUD or NZD), and both you and the referrer receive a $/€/£50 digital gift card.
XE Promo Code
XEREF-A-1520
Reward$/€/£50 gift card
Also inC$50 / A$50 / NZ$50
Requirement$/€/£5,000 in transfers
Payout time~14 working days
Gift card issued via Runa — choose your own retailer. Based on XE's official refer-a-friend terms, current as of this writing.
Codes checked:
What is XE Money Transfer
A currency exchange name that's been around since the 1990s
XE is best known for its currency converter — the exchange-rate tool many people already use to check what their money is worth abroad. XE Money Transfer is the same company's international transfer service, letting individuals send money abroad in a range of currencies through the XE app or website, rather than through a bank branch.
The company itself dates back to 1993, when it launched as the "Universal Currency Converter" — long before most of today's transfer apps existed. In 2015, XE was acquired by Euronet Worldwide (NASDAQ: EEFT), an established electronic payments group, and now operates as part of one of the larger money transfer businesses globally, supporting transfers to 190+ countries in 130+ currencies.
Like most transfer providers, XE doesn't usually charge a separate flat fee on bank-funded transfers — the cost instead sits inside the exchange rate margin you're quoted. That makes comparing providers on "fees" alone misleading; what actually matters is the total amount that lands in the recipient's account, which is why the comparison table further down looks at the full picture rather than just the fee line.
Owned by
Euronet Worldwide (NASDAQ: EEFT) since 2015.
Coverage
190+ countries, 130+ currencies supported for transfers.
XE referral code — how it works
Four steps to your $/€/£50 gift card
This is XE's official refer-a-friend structure, not a discount-at-checkout coupon — the reward is tied to an actual referral relationship between two accounts.
-
Create your XE account
Download the XE app or visit xe.com and create a new personal account. Business accounts don't qualify for this particular promotion.
-
Enter the promo code on your first transfer
Enter XEREF-A-1520 when you make your first money transfer. This is the only window to add it — it can't be applied retroactively once your first transfer is done.
-
Send $/€/£5,000 in total transfers
Reach $/€/£5,000 or more — or the equivalent in CAD, AUD or NZD — spread across as many transfers as you like, not necessarily one lump sum.
-
Receive your gift card by email
Both accounts receive a $/€/£50 digital gift card (or C$50 / A$50 / NZ$50) by email, typically within 14 working days of the qualifying transfer.
Eligibility
Who can use the XE referral code
Per XE's official terms, the refer-a-friend programme is open to personal customers in the following countries. Business accounts are excluded from this particular promotion.
- 🇺🇸 United States
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇧🇪 Belgium
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇵🇹 Portugal
- 🇪🇸 Spain
Country list and eligibility rules based on XE's official refer-a-friend programme page — confirm your own eligibility there before signing up.
Important distinction: the list above is about where you need to be based to take part in the referral programme — not where you're allowed to send money. Once you're a customer, XE lets you send to a much wider range of destinations worldwide; the country list only limits who can earn the referral reward, not where your transfers can go.
How XE compares
XE vs Wise vs Remitly vs bank transfer
General patterns based on published reviews and provider information. Exchange rates and fees change daily, so always check the live quote before sending.
| XE | Wise | Remitly | Bank transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fees | No flat fee on most bank-funded transfers; cost sits in the exchange rate margin, roughly 0.2–1.5% | Transparent upfront fee, mid-market exchange rate with no added markup | Variable fee plus rate markup; often discounted on a first transfer | Flat fee plus a rate markup, typically 2–4% |
| Coverage | 190+ countries, 100+ currencies, cash pickup available on some routes | 140+ countries, no cash pickup | 170+ countries, strong on cash pickup and mobile wallet payouts | Varies by bank |
| Best for | Best for larger transfers where a flat percentage fee elsewhere would add up | Best for smaller transfers where fee transparency matters most | Best for fast transfers to recipients without a bank account | Best if you prioritize an existing banking relationship over cost |
Rates, fees and coverage change over time — confirm current terms directly with each provider before transferring.
Is it worth using a promo code for a $/€/£5,000 transfer
When the referral bonus actually pays off
Already sending this much
If you're already planning to send $/€/£5,000+ — a deposit, tuition, or a family transfer — the code doesn't cost you anything extra to enter.
Spreads across transfers
You don't need one large transfer. Several smaller ones toward the same recipient count toward the $/€/£5,000 threshold.
Not worth forcing
If you only need to send a small amount, don't inflate a transfer just to hit the threshold — the gift card isn't worth an unfavourable exchange rate.
One-time window
The code only works on your first transfer. Enter it before you confirm, not after — there's no way to retroactively apply it.
Other options
Other verified money transfer codes
Here are other verified codes for services I've reviewed.
ACE Money Transfer
Free first transfer + $50 per referred friend — strong in South Asia and Africa.
TapTap Send
Up to $15/€15/£15 instant discount — fast transfers to Africa, Asia & Latin America.
Sendwave
$10/€10 instant discount — mobile-first transfers to Africa & South Asia.
LemFi
$10 off your first transfer — multi-currency wallet, strong in Africa.
MoneyGram
Zero fees on your first transfer — one of the largest cash pickup networks worldwide.
Wise
A free €500 transfer plus a multi-currency debit card.
Skrill
€15 off your first transfer over €150 with Skrill Money Transfer.
Ready to send?
Enter the code before your first transfer
The promo code has to be entered on your first transfer — it can't be added afterwards. Once you've sent $/€/£5,000 in total, we both get our $/€/£50 gift card, usually within about 14 working days.
Open XE and enter code →FAQ
Common questions about the XE promo code
What is the XE promo code?
XEREF-A-1520 is a personal referral code from XE's refer-a-friend programme. Entering it on your first transfer links your account to the referrer, so you both qualify for a reward once the transfer threshold is met.
Do I need to send $/€/£5,000 in a single transfer?
No. Per XE's official terms, the qualifying amount can be reached through multiple transfers that add up to $/€/£5,000 or more (or the equivalent in CAD, AUD or NZD) — it doesn't need to be sent in one go.
How long does it take to receive the gift card?
XE states rewards are typically issued within 14 working days of the qualifying transfer. You'll get an email once you've qualified, followed by the gift card link.
Who is eligible for the XE referral bonus?
Personal customers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and select European countries (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain). Business accounts are not eligible.
Which gift card do I actually get?
The reward is issued through Runa, a digital gift card platform XE uses to fulfil the promotion. Rather than a single fixed brand, you choose your own gift card from a catalogue of participating retailers once your reward email arrives — Runa's catalogue typically includes well-known names like Amazon, Starbucks and Apple, though exact availability depends on your country. Per XE's terms, the reward can't be exchanged for cash and isn't transferable once issued.
What happens if I forget to enter the code on my first transfer?
Per XE's official terms, the code must be entered on your first transfer. If you complete it without entering the code, it can't be added retroactively and you won't qualify for the reward.
This is a personal referral offer from XE's official "refer a friend" programme, shared with my own promo code. Reward amount, currency, eligible countries and the transfer threshold are set by XE and may change — see XE's official refer-a-friend terms for the current details before signing up.
