- Western Union has partnered with Tencent to provide an international money transfer service in the Weixin app.
- More than one billion people who regularly use the Chinese social media app will now be able to take payments from loved ones abroad.
- The move is part of Western Union’s plans to expand further into China amid a surge in demand for digital payments.
Western Union has partnered with Tencent Financial Technology to launch an online money transfer service in the Weixin app for Chinese consumers.
The Weixin app, which is rebranded as WeChat in Western countries, has more than one billion users in China, who will now be able to receive money from friends and family abroad.
Western Union has worked closely with Tencent and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank to provide international money transfer options via ‘Weihuikuan’.
Weihuikuan is a new mini app that has been integrated into Weixin to improve its payment facilities. It means that Chinese customers will be able to receive money from Weixin users abroad, with a maximum of $3,000 per transfer.
Weixin users only need to add relevant information and provide a Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) to access the new facility. This will also allow them to deposit the digital transfers directly into their bank accounts.
The latest move is part of Western Union’s commitment to delivering fast, secure and convenient money transfers.
The firm also provides customers in China with a wide choice of payment options in an app that is hugely popular across the country.
Western Union has been working hard to expand its services in China amid a surge in demand for digital payments and high-quality online experiences. Its close partnership with Tencent has helped it to fulfil those ambitions at a time when there is significant investment in technology to support the Chinese economy.
It follows successful growth globally for Western Union, which now offers payment services in more than 130 countries.
For more information about the best online money transfer services available in your country, read our comprehensive money transfer reviews pages.