Beginning today (May 11), Google Pay users in the United States, India, and Singapore will be the first to benefit from Western Union’s linking of its cross-border platform with the Google Pay app.
Users may fund their transactions using Google Pay (with the debit or credit card linked to their Google Pay account), bank account, or card.
By year’s end, Google Pay users in the U.S. will be able to send money to their family and friends worldwide, paying out across Western Union’s global financial network of billions of bank accounts and millions of wallets and cards in 125 countries, or more than half a million retail locations in 200 countries and territories in minutes.
The team-up of Google Pay and Western Union to move money more easily is especially good news as so much of the world still grapples with the effects of the COVID pandemic.
“The pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on communities, customers, and colleagues in many parts of Asia, especially in India,” said Shelly Swanback, President, Western Union Product and Platform. “This convenient channel through Google Pay will help people continue supporting one another in these trying times as they reimagine how they can pay and move money – first to India and Singapore and worldwide by year-end.”
“Cross-border payments are not just a lifeline for loved ones; they form the financial backbone for many economies,” said Josh Woodward, Director of Product Management, Google Pay. “For many people with families abroad, sending money home is something they do as frequently as every month. By teaming up with Western Union, we are providing a way for Google Pay users to send money quickly, safely, and reliably from the Google Pay app.”
Google Pay’s user base includes 150 million people in 40+ countries. The company’s redesigned Google Pay app (Android and iOS) gives people a safe, simple, and helpful way to pay and manage their finances.
