Xoom is using a conversion rate of $RD35.72 to $1 USD. You can get $RD36.80 per $1 USD at Banco Vimenca or Promerica. The option to pick up your transfer in USD's instead of DR pesos at Progreso or BHD involves an additional $50 fee on top of the $4.99 charge for an amount of $2,999. Use the calculator on their website and you will see what I am talking about.
I have a BHD Dollar Account, it is a Savings Account.
when I send money to that account from Europe(I would guess it is not more complicated to do so from the USA) I pay only a Flat Fee for the Transaction to the European Bank where the money comes from, 3 euros something for up to 1000 euros, 7.90 Euros for 1001-3000 Euros per Transfer and 13.40 Euros for 3001+Euros per Transfer.
the Exchange Rates from my European Euros Account to the US Currency of my Dominican $$$ Account at BHD are always on Top, the real that day/moment exchange rates between the 2 currencies.
here in the DR at BHD Bank of course I withdraw the Money in US$ Currency, not in Pesos.
BHD Bank itself does not get any additional Fees of those Transactions, the opposite, on the money on that account they pay me Interests, because it is a Savings account.
I also withdraw regularly Pesos from ATM's, with a European Mastercard Credit Card, Balance will always the next Month be taken from my German Euros Account, also here great exchange Rates, but a 5 Euros Fee per Transaction will be taken from my European Bank, and the max Pesos per Transaction to take out of ATM's around my area is 10.000.- per Transaction.
if somebody knows a ATM in Bavaro/PC with a higher limit per transaction, would appreciate the Info.
cheers
Mike