To send a bank transfer to Guatemala with MAJORITY, open the app, choose bank transfer, pick a supported Guatemalan bank, and enter your recipient's details.
Quick answer
Bank transfer is one of three ways the app supports sending money to Guatemala, alongside cash pickup and the Tigo Money mobile wallet. You start the transfer in the app, choose bank transfer as the delivery method, and pick the Guatemalan bank where your recipient holds an account. After you enter the recipient's account details and the USD amount, the funds land in their account in Guatemalan quetzales (GTQ). Most Guatemala transfers are instant, and Banrural is usually the most practical option for recipients in rural areas because it has the widest branch network.
What you need to know
- Bank transfers land in your recipient's account at a supported Guatemalan bank, including Banco Industrial, Banrural, G&T Continental, Bantrab, Banco Agromercantil (BAM), and several other institutions.
- The receive-side currency for Guatemala is the Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ); the USD amount is converted at the exchange rate shown in the app before you confirm.
- Bank-transfer delivery time is 30 minutes to 5 business days depending on the receiving bank, and most Guatemala transfers are instant once confirmed.
- To set up the transfer you need your recipient's full legal name (matching the bank account), the receiving bank, and the recipient's Guatemalan account number.
- At the member tier, no per-transfer fee applies to Guatemala transfers regardless of delivery method; the membership is $5.99 per month.
Supported Guatemalan banks for bank transfers
For the Guatemala destination, the bank-transfer network covers most of the country's major institutions. The supported list includes:
- Banco Industrial
- Banrural
- G&T Continental
- Bantrab
- Banco Agromercantil (BAM)
- Banco de América Central
- Banco Promerica de Guatemala
- Banco Azteca de Guatemala
- Banco Internacional
- Banco de Antigua
- Crédito Hipotecario Nacional de Guatemala
- Banco Inmobiliario
Banrural has the densest branch network in rural Guatemala and is often the most practical receiving bank for recipients who live outside Guatemala City or the departmental capitals. Banco Industrial and G&T Continental have the strongest urban presence and are common choices for recipients in larger cities. Ask your recipient which bank they already use before you set up the transfer, since the bank-transfer flow goes straight into an existing account; opening a new account in Guatemala just to receive a transfer is rarely necessary.
What your recipient needs to receive a bank transfer
A bank transfer requires that your recipient already has, or opens, an account at one of the supported Guatemalan banks. To receive the funds, your recipient needs:
- An open, active account at one of the supported Guatemalan banks
- A bank account number in the format the receiving bank uses
- A name on the account that matches the name you enter when setting up the transfer
The name match matters. If the recipient name you enter does not match the name on the receiving bank account, the receiving bank can hold or reject the transfer. Ask your recipient to send you the exact spelling on their account statement or app screen, including any second surnames, before you start.
You do not need anything beyond the account details from your recipient to send the money. They do not need to visit the branch, present an ID, or sign anything to receive a bank transfer. The funds arrive in the account, and they access them the same way they access any other deposit, including at the bank's ATMs and through its app.
How a bank transfer to Guatemala works, step by step
The end-to-end process from your phone in the US to a deposit in your recipient's Guatemalan account has the same shape on every transfer.
- Open the app and start a new money transfer.
- Select Guatemala as the destination country.
- Choose bank transfer as the delivery method.
- Pick the receiving bank from the supported list (Banco Industrial, Banrural, G&T Continental, Bantrab, BAM, or another supported institution).
- Enter the recipient's details: full legal name as it appears on the bank account, and the Guatemalan account number.
- Enter the USD amount you want to send. The app shows the live USD-to-GTQ exchange rate, the GTQ total your recipient will receive, and the estimated delivery time before you confirm.
- Confirm the transfer. You receive a transfer reference number and the funds begin processing.
- Your recipient sees the deposit in their account. Most Guatemala transfers are instant; some can take up to several business days depending on the receiving bank's processing rules.
If the name on the account or the account number is entered incorrectly, the receiving bank can reject the transfer. Correcting an in-flight transfer takes longer than entering the details right the first time, so double-check before you confirm.
Bank transfer compared with the other two Guatemala delivery methods
Three delivery methods are supported to Guatemala. The table below summarizes how bank transfer compares with cash pickup and Tigo Money on what the recipient needs, typical speed, and best fit.
| Delivery method | What your recipient needs | Typical speed | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer to a Guatemalan bank | An account at Banco Industrial, Banrural, G&T Continental, Bantrab, BAM, or another supported institution, plus the account number | 30 minutes to 5 business days, depending on the receiving bank | Recipients who already bank with a major Guatemalan institution; widest rural reach via Banrural |
| Cash pickup at a participating bank branch | A valid government-issued ID and the transfer reference, at a branch of Banco Industrial, G&T Continental, Bantrab, or BAM | Same day at most participating locations | Recipients without a Guatemalan bank account, or who prefer cash |
| Mobile wallet to Tigo Money | A Tigo Money account on a Guatemalan phone number | Minutes once the transfer is confirmed | Recipients who already use Tigo Money for everyday payments |
Bank transfer is the right method when your recipient already has a Guatemalan bank account, when they prefer to keep the money in their account for later use, or when they live in a rural area better served by Banrural than by the cash-pickup banks. If they do not have an account and live close to a participating branch of one of the four cash-pickup banks, cash pickup is usually a quicker fit. If they already use Tigo Money on a Guatemalan phone, the wallet option lands the fastest.
ID and account requirements in Guatemala
To open or hold a Guatemalan bank account, your recipient typically needs the DPI (Documento Personal de Identificación), the national ID issued by RENAP. A passport is also commonly accepted, especially for Guatemalan nationals abroad. The bank may also ask for proof of address and a tax identification number (NIT). These requirements vary by bank and are set by the receiving bank, not by the app.
For a bank transfer you already set up, your recipient does not need to show an ID at the branch to receive the funds. The deposit arrives in the account they already hold. They only need an ID if they later withdraw cash at the counter, but the more common path is to use the bank's ATM card or app.
Typical timing for a Guatemala bank transfer
Bank-transfer timing to Guatemala depends on the receiving bank. The baseline range across the money-transfer network is 30 minutes to 5 business days, but most Guatemala transfers are instant in practice. The estimated delivery time shown in the app on the confirmation screen reflects the chosen bank, the time of day, and the partner network's current processing status, and it is the authoritative figure for the specific transfer you are about to make.
Three factors influence the time on a Guatemala bank transfer:
- The receiving bank. Banks process incoming international transfers on different schedules; some clear within minutes, others batch them during business hours.
- The time of day. Transfers confirmed after the receiving bank's business hours can wait until the next processing window.
- The day of the week. Transfers confirmed on weekends or public holidays in Guatemala or the US may not start processing until the next business day at the receiving bank, even if the send side processes immediately.
If your recipient is expecting the deposit at a specific time, check the in-app estimate before you confirm and pick a delivery method that fits the window.
What to do next
- Ask your recipient which Guatemalan bank they hold an account at, and confirm the exact name on the account.
- Ask them for the account number, in the format the bank uses on statements or in its app.
- Open the app, start a transfer to Guatemala, and choose bank transfer as the delivery method.
- Select the receiving bank from the supported list, enter the recipient's details, and enter the USD amount. Review the GTQ total, the exchange rate, and the estimated delivery time.
- Confirm the transfer and share the transfer reference with your recipient so they can match it against their statement when the deposit lands.
How MAJORITY can help
MAJORITY is a financial membership for migrants in the US. The Guatemala destination includes bank transfers to Banco Industrial, Banrural, G&T Continental, Bantrab, Banco Agromercantil (BAM), and other major Guatemalan institutions; cash pickup at participating branches of Banco Industrial, G&T Continental, Bantrab, and BAM; and mobile wallet sends to Tigo Money. At the member tier, no per-transfer fee applies to Guatemala transfers regardless of delivery method, and the live exchange rate and estimated delivery time are visible in the app before each transfer is confirmed.
To get started:
Frequently asked questions
How do I send a bank transfer to Guatemala?
Open the app, start a transfer to Guatemala, choose bank transfer as the delivery method, and pick the receiving Guatemalan bank (Banco Industrial, Banrural, G&T Continental, Bantrab, BAM, or another supported institution). Enter the recipient's full legal name exactly as it appears on the account and the Guatemalan account number. Confirm the transfer; the funds land in the recipient's account, usually instantly.
Which Guatemalan banks can I send a bank transfer to?
Supported banks for bank transfers include Banco Industrial, Banrural, G&T Continental, Bantrab, Banco Agromercantil (BAM), Banco de América Central, Banco Promerica de Guatemala, Banco Azteca de Guatemala, Banco Internacional, Banco de Antigua, Crédito Hipotecario Nacional de Guatemala, and Banco Inmobiliario. Banrural has the widest branch network in rural Guatemala and is often the most practical choice for recipients outside the major cities.
What information do I need to send a bank transfer to Guatemala?
You need your recipient's full legal name as it appears on the bank account, the receiving Guatemalan bank, and the recipient's Guatemalan account number. The name on the account must match the name you enter in the app, since a mismatch can cause the receiving bank to hold or reject the transfer.
How long does an international bank transfer to Guatemala take?
The baseline range is 30 minutes to 5 business days, depending on the receiving bank. In practice, most Guatemala transfers are instant once you confirm them in the app. The estimated delivery time shown on the confirmation screen is the authoritative figure for your specific transfer.
Is there a fee to send a bank transfer to Guatemala?
At the member tier, no per-transfer fee applies to Guatemala transfers regardless of delivery method, including bank transfer. The membership is $5.99 per month. The applicable USD-to-GTQ exchange rate at the time of the transfer is shown in the app before you confirm.
Can I send a bank transfer to Banrural?
Yes. Banrural is one of the supported Guatemalan banks for bank transfers. It has the densest rural branch network in Guatemala, so it is often the right choice for recipients who live outside Guatemala City and the departmental capitals.
Disclosures
The MAJORITY app facilitates banking services through Axiom Bank, N.A. ("Axiom"), Member FDIC. The funds deposited in the account held at Axiom, Member FDIC, are FDIC-insured on a pass-through basis up to $250,000 per depositor in the event Axiom fails and subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. Non-deposit products or services such as money transfers and telecom services are not FDIC-insured.
MAJORITY Visa® Debit Card is issued by Axiom Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.