‘Western Union and Tencent collaborate to enhance global money transfers to China’

Western Union Expands Collaboration with Tencent Financial Technology to Enable Direct Money Transfers to Weixin Users in China

Global payments giant, Western Union, has announced an expansion of its partnership with Tencent Financial Technology to allow customers worldwide to send money directly to Weixin users in China. Through Western Union’s digital platform, customers can now transfer funds directly to Weixin Pay wallets or linked bank accounts in China.

This move is aimed at streamlining the payment process and offering senders the option to bypass traditional cash collection methods. Customers can send up to USD 5,000 per transaction, marking a significant advancement in meeting the evolving demands of customers seeking international money transfer solutions.

The collaboration between Western Union and Tencent seeks to cater to the preferences of China’s tech-savvy population by providing improved money transfer services. By leveraging Weixin’s vast user base and Western Union’s global network, the partnership creates a digital bridge between China and the rest of the world to facilitate cross-border transactions.

Sohini Rajola, Head of Asia Pacific at Western Union, expressed enthusiasm about enhancing services on Weixin, a prominent digital platform in China with over one billion users. China ranks as the third largest recipient of remittances globally, with estimates reaching around US billion by 2023. Through the collaboration with Tenpay Global, Western Union aims to enhance services to meet the changing needs of customers.

The partnership with Tencent Financial Technology underscores the importance of addressing the rising demand for cross-border remittances, particularly in markets like China. China stands as the third largest recipient of remittances worldwide, with approximately billion in remittances expected in 2023.

In a related development, Western Union recently resumed money transfer services from the United States to Cuba to facilitate remittances to Cuban residents holding accounts in select local banks. The service allows customers to send money to recipients in Cuba from U.S. retail stores, WesternUnion.com, or through mobile apps, with a transaction limit of ,000.

Recipients are required to possess valid identification and maintain bank accounts with designated Cuban banks such as Banco Popular de Ahorro, Banco Metropolitano SA, and Banco de Credito y Comercio (Bandec). Transfers can only be received from bank accounts and debit cards for consumer transactions, with a limit of ,000 per transaction for U.S. customers presenting valid government-issued identification.

Overall, the collaboration between Western Union and Tencent Financial Technology marks a strategic move to enhance global payment accessibility, catering to the evolving needs of customers seeking efficient and reliable international money transfer solutions.