Visa has struck a seven-year deal with Western Union, fundamentally transforming how money is sent across borders. This partnership enables customers in 40 countries to quickly transfer funds directly to friends and family’s eligible Visa cards and bank accounts, leveraging Visa Direct capabilities. The collaboration also paves the way for the introduction of Western Union/Visa Debit Cards across multiple global regions, including North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Europe.
A New Era of Money Movement
Building on Western Union’s existing integrations with Visa Direct in 2022 and 2019, this agreement signifies a major step forward. The previous collaborations enabled U.S. and European customers to send and/or receive funds to eligible Visa cardholders overseas, laying the groundwork for this expanded partnership.
Fast, Global Transactions: Customers can now send money in real time to Visa cardholders in five key regions, making global transactions more seamless than ever.
Debit Cards and Humanitarian Aid: The partnership also extends to issuing Western Union/Visa Debit Cards, enhancing access and convenience for users. Furthermore, it introduces an innovative solution for distributing humanitarian aid through prepaid cards, assisting Western Union’s government and NGO customers in providing critical support during disasters.
Chris Newkirk, Visa’s Global Head of Commercial & Money Movement Solutions, emphasized the importance of this collaboration in offering lifeline payments for global remittances. The initiative aims to provide secure payment options that are both convenient and accessible, making a significant difference in how quickly and safely people can send and receive money.
Sam Jawad, Head of Ecosystem at Western Union,highlighted the collaboration’s role in delivering impactful products and services. This partnership is expected to empower customers to seize opportunities and build prosperous futures for themselves and their loved ones.
