You walk into the corner store with cash in your pocket, and a few minutes later your mother in San Miguel has it in her bank account. That’s Athena Remittances. The service is live now at more than 3,000 Athena kiosks across 28 states, and cash is all it takes. Leave the bank account, the debit card, and the app at home.

Why cash, and why a kiosk…

A lot of people who send money home get paid in cash. Turning that cash into a transfer has usually meant a wire counter with a line, a cutoff time, and a fee you find out about once you’re standing there. Athena kiosks already sit inside the shops you pass every day, and they stay open as long as the store does. The screen shows the fee, the exchange rate, the federal tax, and the exact amount your family receives before you insert a single dollar.

What to bring

Cash, your phone, your email address for the receipt, and the recipient’s name exactly as it appears on their DUI. If you’re depositing to a bank account, bring their account details too.

Sends of $2,000 or more also need a government issued ID to scan at the kiosk.

Four steps at the kiosk

1. Choose how they get paid. Bank deposit lands straight in their account at any of seven banks in El Salvador: Davivienda, Fedecaces, Fedecrédito, BAC, Bancovi, Bancoagrícola, or Banco Atlántida. Cash pickup sends it to the Red Cusca network, with more than 3,000 locations open 365 days a year.
   
2. Insert your cash and enter your email.
   
3. Review the total. Fee, exchange rate, federal tax, and amount received all show on one screen.
   
4. Take your receipt. The kiosk prints it and emails it to you. For cash pickup, text the confirmation number to your recipient. They’ll need it along with their DUI.

What it costs

Introductory pricing runs for the first six months. Bank deposit is $2.40 plus 1% of the amount sent. Cash pickup is $3.20 plus 1%. Both carry the 1% federal tax on cash remittances. You can send up to $1,999 with just your phone and your cash. From $2,000 to $2,999 you’ll scan an ID. The limit is $2,999 a day and $8,000 a month.

When it matters

Rent due Friday, or a prescription that can’t wait until Monday. The money lands in minutes, so the problem gets handled today. Other weeks there’s no emergency at all, just a birthday or a good week at work, and you send something because you can.

What’s next

El Salvador is the first corridor. Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras are on the way. Until then, every Athena kiosk in the US can send to El Salvador right now.

Find an Athena kiosk near you and send today.

Common questions

Do I need a bank account to send?
Cash is the only thing the kiosk asks for. Your recipient can receive by bank deposit or pick up cash.

How does my family pick up cash?
They go to any Red Cusca location in El Salvador with their DUI and the confirmation number from your receipt.

How long does it take?
Minutes. The kiosk prints your confirmation as soon as the send goes through.

Can I send from any Athena kiosk?
Yes, from any of the 3,000+ kiosks across the 28 states where Athena operates.