Moving Abroad Currency Exchange Services

Foreign Exchange Transfers: Maximise Value on Your Move Abroad

At Abels, timing your currency transfer is as important as coordinating your removal. That is why we have partnered with Lumon for international transfers and currency exchange, helping UK clients protect their money against currency volatility during their move abroad. Below, we cover how Lumon’s rates compare with a bank, how locking in a rate works, what to watch for with “no fee” offers, and how to book a free consultation before you transfer.

Lumon: Abels’ Trusted Currency Exchange Partner

Exchange rates move constantly, and a shift on the day you transfer can make a real difference to a large payment. Lumon’s team monitors the market on your behalf and can help you plan ahead, so you are not left guessing when to send your money. Lumon can also lock in a rate ahead of your transfer, so you know exactly what you will get before you commit, rather than hoping the market moves in your favour between now and moving day. As a Royal Warrant holder, Abels only works with a regulated, established currency specialist for a partnership like this.

Traditional banks do not always charge a separate transfer fee, but they often build a bigger margin into the exchange rate itself, which is usually where the real cost of a bank transfer sits and why banks can offer poor exchange rates compared with a specialist. The rate banks use to trade currency between themselves is called the mid-market rate. Most providers add a margin on top of it, so the number that matters is the final rate you are quoted, not a headline fee. Even a small markup can add up to a meaningful amount on a large transfer, which is why it is worth comparing the actual rate rather than just the advertised fee. Lumon advertises competitive exchange rates that beat the banks, with no transfer fees, so more of your money reaches its destination whether you are sending pounds, euros, US dollars or another currency.

Book a Free Currency Exchange Consultation

Complete the form to speak with the Lumon team about your move. They can talk you through your options, help you buy currency cost effectively, and plan the timing of your international money transfer around your moving date.

FX Transfer Services

"*" indicates required fields

Currency Specialists You Can Trust With Your Money Transfer

Lumon is Abels’ chosen partner for money transfers and international payments, and unlike a bank counter, it gives you a dedicated account manager as your personal point of contact throughout, backed by teams across seven countries. Our international relocation team works alongside Lumon’s account managers so your money and your possessions arrive on the same schedule. What Lumon brings to your move:

An international payments and overseas property specialist, working alongside Abels’ relocation team on your buying property abroad plans as well as the move itself, whichever of our country guides you have been reading.
Cared for more than 70,000 customers since 2000.
Authorised as an Electronic Money Institution under the UK’s electronic money regulations, and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with your funds securely safeguarded separately from Lumon’s own money.
A personal account manager as your single point of contact, backed by currency experts across seven countries.

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Transfers available to more than 150 countries in over 40 currencies, with 24/7 access to live exchange rates online.
Competitive, bank-beating exchange rates advertised, with no transfer fees and no high fees hidden in the rate.
Ability to lock in an exchange rate ahead of a transfer, for budget certainty on larger payments.

A Personal Service With No Cash Advance Fee

Paying for a large currency transfer on a credit card can trigger a separate cash advance fee from your card provider, on top of whatever the transfer itself costs. Ask whether you can pay by bank transfer or debit card instead, and whether either option carries a fee. Your account manager can talk you through this as part of the same personal service that helps you plan the rest of your move.

Great Rates on Large Transfers Money to Your New Country

The bigger the transfer, the more a small difference between a strong exchange rate and a poor one matters. Whether you are moving a deposit for overseas property or the proceeds of a house sale, it is worth getting expert support from a specialist before you transfer, rather than accepting whatever rate your bank offers on the day. A specialist can also help you manage several transfers of larger amounts, rather than moving everything at once.

Choosing the Right Currency Transfers Partner for Your Move

Look for a company that is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, is transparent about its exchange rate and any fees, and gives you a named account manager rather than a call centre. This is why Abels works with Lumon, an FCA-regulated Electronic Money Institution, to support UK clients moving money abroad as part of their relocation and helping them save on the cost of a large transfer.

Using Rate Alerts and Regular Transfers to Plan Large Transfers

Some currency companies can set a rate alert so you are notified when the market reaches a level you are happy with, or arrange regular transfers if you need to send money abroad more than once, such as paying a deposit followed by a final balance for your new life overseas, or covering your living expenses once you have moved. Your dedicated account manager at Lumon keeps track of the market on your behalf, so you have support when deciding the right time to transfer you, rather than watching rates alone. Ask your account manager what is available before you commit to a single transfer date.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the Cheapest Way to Exchange Foreign Currency?

Specialist currency transfer companies typically offer better exchange rates than traditional high-street banks, since a bank’s margin is often built into the rate rather than shown as a separate fee. Comparing the actual rate you will receive, not just the headline fee, is the most reliable way to find the cheapest option for a large transfer, and a good provider will help you provide proof of the saving against your bank’s own rate. For smaller amounts of travel money, airport exchange desks and tourist-area bureaus are usually the weakest value, so it is worth sorting currency before you fly wherever possible.

What Should I Watch Out For With a "Zero Fee" Currency Transfer?

A provider advertising no transfer fee can still make its money by widening the margin on the exchange rate itself, so a zero-fee offer is not automatically the cheapest one. Ask for the exact rate you will receive before you commit, and keep a record of your exchange confirmations and receipts, since you may need them later for tax purposes.

Book a Free Consultation

Start your journey today. Tell us about your moving needs, and our team will respond quickly. You can read verified feedback from other Abels clients on our customer reviews page, or browse our moving FAQs for more advice on the rest of your move.