Tag: western union

  • UOB Hires New Managing Director

    UOB Hires New Managing Director

    United Overseas Bank recently hired a regional head of engagement to expand its digital team in SingaporeIndustry veteran Kristina Curtis joined UOB two months . ago as managing director, regional head of engagement, group retail digital. Her LinkedIn profile shows extensive experience in digital banking, having worked for ANZ as customer analytics and digital for global wealth, and for BT financial group as chief digital officer.

    When contacted, the bank declined to comment on the personnel move.

    Experience in digital banking

    The demand for people who have leadership and project management experience in digital banking is high in Singapore as banks are pushing to launch new digital platforms in areas of payment and wealth management.

    The ability to leverage on mobile application and new technologies to build an effective communication pathway with the customers and allow for continuous engagement is increasingly valued, evident from the fact that Curtis is not the only recent senior digital.

    Last October, UOB officially appointed Aaron Chia, formerly from Western Union, as the new head of its digital plus unit for wealth and lifestyle products.

  • Western Union Debuts New Payment Option for Amazon

    Western Union Debuts New Payment Option for Amazon

    Cross-border, cross-currency money-movement firm Western Union has unveiled a new payment option that allows Amazon customers in Hong Kong and other Asian markets to pay in local currency for their purchases. The service is being offered initially in 10 countries – Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Peru, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand – enabling customers who prefer to pay in cash to shop Amazon.com’s vast product selection.

    The new platform is called Amazon PayCode, which processes the complex foreign exchange, settlement and money movement requirements for international e-commerce transactions. After selecting PayCode on the Amazon.com checkout page, customers will be sent a code along with instructions on how to pay in person at a participating Western Union agent location.

    The move by Western Union and Amazon will provide greater access to online goods for customers who have largely been excluded from e-commerce shopping due to lack of accepted payment methods.

    “We’re helping to unlock access to Amazon.com for customers who need and want items that can only be found online in many parts of the world,” said Khalid Fellahi, SVP and GM of Western Union Digital.

    “This is a great example of two global brands innovating and collaborating to bring customers more convenience and choice. In a world where cross-border buyers and sellers are often located on different continents and in completely different financial ecosystems, our platform is ideally suited to solving the complexity of collecting local currency and converting it into whatever currency merchants need on the other end.”

    “Amazon is committed to enabling customers anywhere in the world to shop on Amazon.com, and a big part of that is to allow customers to pay for their cross-border online purchases in a way that is most convenient for them,” said Ben Volk, director of payment acceptance and experience at Amazon. “Amazon PayCode leverages the reach of Western Union to make cross-border online shopping a reliable and convenient experience for customers who do not have access to international credit cards, or prefer to pay in cash.”

  • Maybank launches mobile money transfer service in Malaysia with Western Union

    Maybank launches mobile money transfer service in Malaysia with Western Union

    Maybank and Western Union have launched a digital remittance service in Malaysia via the Maybank2u (“M2u”) mobile banking app and Maybank’s website.

    The service enables Maybank customers to transfer money to more than 500,000 Western Union® Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories. The money transfer service is available 24 hours a day and customers to transfer up to RM10,000 daily. Recipients will be able to receive money quickly after it is wired by the sender.

    “This new service reflects the same commitment we have as Western Union in providing consumers the best in cross-border financial services. Maybank customers are now able to enjoy fast, convenient and reliable cross-border remittance transfer services digitally around the world,” said Maybank Group Head, Community Financial Services, Datuk Lim Hong Tat.

    “We have revolutionised the money transfer processes for Maybank customers when comparing with current practice where they need to visit a Western Union Agent location in order to transfer money. Now, all they need to do is log in to the M2u App and select the Western Union service, and they are good to go,” added Lim.

    Lim added that new service will help the bank to grow its digital transactions business.

    Bassem Awada, Western Union Vice President for Key Initiatives, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe and CIS, said, “This mobile banking app not only grows our relationship with Maybank, but also strengthens our position in Malaysia’s cross-border money transfer market. The combination of Maybank’s strong presence in digital banking and Western Union’s growing digital network, geographic reach and ability to exchange in 130 currencies enables us to move money quickly and reliably.”