The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a leader in global payment
services, today announced the launch of a new mobile money transfer
service in the Ivory Coast in conjunction with the MTN
Group (JSE: MTN).
The new service, which builds upon the existing mobile money
collaboration between the companies in Uganda, allows consumers in Ivory
Coast who use MTN’s
Mobile Money service to receive a Western Union® money
transfer transaction directly on their mobile phones.
The new offering increases the breadth of Western Union’s payout options
in Ivory Coast. In addition to the new mobile service with MTN,
consumers can receive funds at nearly 900 Western Union Agent locations
throughout the country.
“Western Union continues to expand its mobile footprint and deliver an
exceptional customer experience across retail, mobile and online
platforms,” said Khalid Fellahi, senior vice president and general
manager, Western Union Digital. “Furthermore, Western Union seeks to
promote global economic opportunity by bridging gaps in the traditional
financial services system, and strives to provide consumers with access
to Western Union services any way and any time they choose.”
International money transfers for mobile pick-up via MTN Mobile Money
can be initiated at westernunion.com,
or at participating Western Union Agent locations.
As of March 2014, MTN Mobile Money had more than 16 million customers in
15 countries. The service enables users to perform local and
international money transfers and make utility payments and purchases.
In Ivory Coast, where MTN is one of the leading operators with more than
7.5 million customers, users are now able to pay for online purchases
with MTN Mobile Money.
“As an organization, MTN is committed to offering innovative services
that help improve the quality of life for our customers. As a result,
through this relationship, our customers in Ivory Coast will now be able
to receive money from family and friends from Western Union service
points around the world,” says Pieter Verkade, MTN Group Chief
Commercial Officer.
For more information on Western Union’s online and digital capabilities,
including mobile applications and mobile money transfer services, please
visit www.westernunion.com.
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment
services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western
Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union
provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient
ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to
purchase money orders. As of June 30, 2014, the Western Union, Vigo and
Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network
of over 500,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and
over 100,000 ATMs. In 2013, The Western Union Company completed 242
million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $82 billion
of principal between consumers, and 459 million business payments. For
more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
About MTN Group
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator,
connecting subscribers in 22 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle
East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South
Africa under the share code: “MTN.” As of 31 March 2014, MTN recorded
210.1 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin,
Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea
Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville),
Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda,
Yemen and Zambia. Visit us at www.mtnbusiness.com,
www.mtn.com
and www.mtnmmo.com.
WU-G
Copyright Business Wire 2014