Western Union is truly going digital in recognition of the new economy. It is wonderful that it is adapting to the changing times. Just three months ago, the global payment services leader struck a partnership with Chinese App service, WeChat to enable cross border money transfer.
The company has now announced another partnership, this time with leading mobile messaging app, Viber. Western Union stated that the agreement with 664m+ unique user app company will offer a fast and simple way to send money to friends and family virtually anywhere in the world from the convenience of the Viber app.
Leveraging the recently released WU Connect platform, the collaboration between Western Union and Viber will focus on three key areas:
- Send money around the world: In this first release, Viber users in the United States will be able to send up toUS$499 for pickup at more than 500,000 Western Union Agent locations in 200+ countries and territories.
- A user experience for the messaging world: Western Union and Viber have created a money transfer experience that will start and complete within the messaging screen of Viber users.
- Integrated solutions: The solution leverages robust technology, foreign exchange conversion, data management, as well as regulatory, compliance and anti-money laundering infrastructure, to expedite efficient and timely money movement almost anywhere in the world.
“Through this alliance with Viber we continue our positive momentum to increase the number of ways to move funds into our global FinTech cross-border platform, expanding our digital omni-channel network,” said Hikmet Ersek, President and CEO, Western Union.
“Our users are already using Viber to stay in touch with friends and families worldwide, so the ability to send money to loved ones through the app is a natural next step,” said Michael Shmilov, Chief Operating Officer, Viber. “Viber’s alliance with Western Union is our first step into this direction and it gives our users a new way to quickly and conveniently send money to friends and family.”
Launched in 2015, the new, innovative API-based WU Connect platform enables third-party digital platforms to integrate with Western Union in order to provide a seamlessly integrated global money transfer experience to their users. Consumers are able to enjoy using their favorite social and messaging app while they send money directly from the app. They could also fund the money transfer utilizing debit card, credit card or bank account and easily direct the funds to any participating Western Union retail agent location around the world, a mobile wallet or a bank account where available.
“The WU Connect platform offers an opportunity to create more meaningful and engaging relationships for users of third-party digital platforms and is really a win-win for both Western Union and the companies we work with,” said David Thompson, EVP and CIO, Western Union. “We are excited to integrate the WU Connect platform into Viber’s messaging service and look forward to growing the capability moving forward.”
