Every day, we speak with dozens of customers asking every imaginable question about buying and selling currency.
After 21 years in business, we’ve heard it all. And we get it: for first-time buyers or sellers, placing a currency transaction can feel unintuitive compared to a standard online order.
Not to worry. In our mission to be the safest place to exchange travel currencies online, we’re breaking down 12 essential questions to make you feel clear and confident in placing your order. Let’s dive in.
1. Why do I have to send a picture of my ID when placing an order?
In short, as a money service business (MSB), we’re highly regulated by both state and federal authorities.
Think of us like a bank: because we are in the business of currency, and not software or cereal, we need records to keep compliant with anti-money laundering laws. It’s all about verifying who we’re doing business with so that money doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
It’s important to note that the information we collect is not shared externally — it simply needs to be on record in the event of an audit.
2. Why do I have to send a copy of a voided check if I’m paying with an ACH/wire transfer?
Similar to the first question, it’s because we’re an MSB. State and federal laws require MSBs to verify that the person receiving the money is the same person who exchanged the money. In other words, the name on your SafeDinar.com account and your bank account need to match, and a voided check confirms that.
3. When will my currency arrive?
We rarely talk to a customer who isn’t in a hurry to get their hands on their currency. Thankfully, we offer one of the fastest turnaround times in the business: if you’re making a purchase, you can choose between next-business-day and 2-business-day delivery options.
4. When will I get paid for the currency I traded in?
Short answer: between one and two business days after we receive your currency.
Longer answer: When trading in a currency, which we call a redemption order, we issue the payment on the day the currency is received.
Exactly when you receive the payment depends on your transaction: when placing your redemption order, customers choose between payment by check via FedEx (with next business day or 2 business day options) or direct deposit (the next business day).
If you choose payment by check, you will receive an email with the FedEx tracking number.
5. Can I buy and sell currency in one transaction?
Short answer: No, we process buy and sell transactions separately.
Longer answer: Remember, you are exchanging one currency for another, not placing a conventional online order for multiple currencies. Therefore, we operate with single transactions when either buying or selling. However, you’re welcome to place one transaction and then immediately follow it up with another.
6. Why don’t you give advice on buying and selling currency?
Simply put, because we’re a currency exchange, not a financial advisor. Our mission is to be the best place to buy and sell currency online — period. That’s been our policy since our founding in 2004, and it will remain that way.
That said, we recognize that certain topics, like currency revaluations, come up all the time. You can read our thoughts on that question here. We also occasionally provide our perspective on how major global events (like COVID-19 or tariffs) are affecting currency exchange in general, but never as investment advice.
7. How can I be sure you’re a trustworthy source for my transaction?
The simplest way to confirm that we’re a legitimate currency exchange is by heading over to our Better Business Bureau profile. At the time of this writing, we have an “A” rating (20 years’ running), proof of accreditation going back all the way to 2005, and hundreds of unbiased reviews we can’t alter in any way.
We also ask each and every customer to write a review, which we post unedited here. You’re welcome to browse as many of our 8,000+ reviews as you like for peace of mind.
If you’re worried about the security of your currency once it’s in our hands, we understand: that’s why we have a longstanding partnership with an armored carrier service to handle, count, and grade each order (more on that below).
Still worried about placing an order? Take a look at the 9 questions to answer before choosing a currency exchange, as well as our article about avoiding currency scams. Do your due diligence — we want you to feel completely confident in placing your order!
8. Why do you use an armored service company to store your product?
Being the safest place to transact currency online means holding our handling process to the highest standards. That’s why we’ve worked with a specialized armored carrier for well over a decade.
Beyond their ability to safely store our product, our partners have the equipment and experience to detect counterfeit notes. They also employ security systems (including 24/7 video surveillance) to ensure the safety of each transaction. Finally, they are bonded professionals with decades of experience handling foreign currency. We believe this third-party validation enables customers to have the highest possible confidence in the integrity of their transactions.
9. Can I pick up my purchased currency in person?
We are a fully internet-based business and don’t offer an in-person location for pickup. However, if you prefer not to schedule delivery to your home or office, you can always request to pick up your package at a FedEx location of your choosing.
10. How can I keep track of currency exchange rates?
We offer email-based exchange rate alerts for every currency we buy and sell. Want to be alerted when a particular currency goes up or down to a certain rate, or changes by a certain percentage? You can set that up in about two minutes. Keep an eye out for text message alerts, coming soon!
11. I tried to place an order with ACH payment, but didn’t see a place to put my banking information.
After your order has been placed and we have verified your identity, you will receive ACH payment instructions by email. Basically, it’s a simple document giving you the key banking information (reference number, routing number, etc.) to initiate an ACH payment from your bank account. That’s how ACH works: the customer (you) must initiate a payment, not the business receiving the payment (us).
Each bank has its own method for ACH payments, but many allow you to initiate this transaction online, keeping the payment process relatively simple.
12. If I’m selling back currency I bought from you, do I need the paperwork from the original order?
No paperwork is necessary to sell back your currency: currency is a liquid asset, and therefore anyone in possession of it can exchange it. Leave the rest to our armored carrier partners, who review each note individually for authenticity.
Have a question you don’t see here? Head over to our FAQ, or submit it here.
