JAMAICA, MARCH 21, 2018 – In line with the company-wide strategy to expand its digital network globally, Western Union, a leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement, today announced that it will launch Western Union® digital money transfers in Jamaica. Westernunion.com/jm is expected to go live end-April, in alliance with GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS), pioneering 24/7 online money transfer services in the Caribbean.
Jamaica will become the first country in the Latin America and Caribbean region to offer Western Union digital money transfer services, connecting customers to more than 200 countries and territories. The launch is part of the company’s digital expansion plans across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Expanding the company’s digital capabilities in these regions builds on its strong digital presence in North America, Europe, and Oceania.
“I am proud to announce that Jamaica will be the first country to kick off Western Union’s digital rollout across Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Western Union President and CEO, Hikmet Ersek. “It’s already an achievement to allow customers in Jamaica to send money to nearly every country across the world from every parish. Now, they will soon have the convenience of connecting to this same network with a click, anytime, anywhere. This is Western Union – continuously innovating global cross-border money movement and delivering greater value for our customers.”
GKMS has been Western Union’s Agent for almost three decades, and currently offers Western Union Money Transfer services in 12 Caribbean nations: Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas.
“Today’s announcement will bring a new era of financial services to Jamaican customers,” said Don Wehby, Group Chief Executive Officer of GraceKennedy Limited. “We are proud that Jamaica will be joining Western Union’s global digital footprint. Soon, customers will have a new convenient way to send international money transfers right from the comfort of their home, office-or on the go, using a computer, tablet or their mobile phone’s web browser.”
“In 2017, Jamaicans received money from more than 160 countries and territories and sent money to more than 170 countries and territories for education, gifting and small investments for family and loved ones. It is very rewarding to see this cycle of monetary goodwill moving in and out of Jamaica-helping people realize aspirations and promoting economic activity”, Wehby said.
Liberalization of the telecommunications sector has bolstered internet penetration in Jamaica. In 2017, Jamaica had over 2.5 million cell phone users and 1.7 million internet users1, representing more than half of the total population.
Prior to the first use of the Western Union service via westernunion.com/jm, customers are required to complete the registration process online and validate their government issued ID at any of Western Union agent locations in Jamaica. After registration is confirmed, customers will be able to send money with westernunion.com/jm and fund their transactions using a locally issued Visa or Mastercard debit and credit card. To learn more, consumers may call GraceKennedy Money Services’ Customer Service Center at 926-2454. In alliance with GKMS, Western Union has a network of more than 100 Agent locations across Jamaica. Customers can also receive money transfers via their mobile phones with GK MPay, GK’s mobile wallet solution.
