Denver—Western Union (NYSE:WU), a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, and Cebuana Lhuillier, the largest and long-tenured micro-financial services provider in the Philippines, have come together to enable customers in the Philippines to send and receive Western Union money transfers.
The collaboration with Cebuana Lhuillier adds 2,500 more locations to Western Union’s global network and will provide greater access to customers in the world’s fourth largest remittance receiving country. Money transfer customers accessing Cebuana Lhuillier’s nationwide branch network can send or receive money via Western Union’s global network in more than 200 countries and territories. The services are expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks.
“Western Union and Cebuana Lhuillier understand the importance of connectivity and building relationships, while keeping customers at their core. This strategic collaboration and integration of capabilities of two leaders highlights the power of combined assets to meet customers’ needs,” said Jean Claude Farah, President, Global Network, Western Union.
“In an age when speed, reliability and convenience mean everything, we are increasing the number of touchpoints where our customers can access our services and connect with their loved ones around the world. We welcome Cebuana Lhuillier to the Western Union family and are proud and excited to work collaboratively to reach more customers together,” Farah added.
After successfully serving Filipinos for decades, offering vital financial services, the two companies have joined forces to advance cross-border money movement for customers in the Philippines. This alliance supports Western Union’s strategy to leverage its platform and portfolio of capabilities, enabling other businesses looking to expand their global reach, and build upon a robust partnership. The cooperation between the two companies also puts forward Cebuana Lhuillier’s vision of empowering Filipinos through financial services.
“This partnership with Western Union is a prudent step in ensuring accessibility for the millions of Filipinos around the world and in paving the way for a future-proof network with presence in almost all parts of the globe,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, president and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier.
“We are more than thrilled to collaborate with Western Union as their company values line up perfectly with our core of facilitating financial inclusion for underserved Filipinos, and expanding our reach makes that all the more possible,” added Lhuillier.
Cebuana Lhuillier is a one-stop shop that offers micro-financial services to over 30 million clients through its more than 2,500 branches with 20,000 domestic partners and 1.7 million physical and virtual touchpoints. The company also acts as a cash agent for Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank and has since provided microsavings accounts to 4 million previously unbanked Filipinos since the launch of the rural bank’s revolutionary product, Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings.
Western Union serves customers globally from a fast-growing digital network of web, app, and the largest agent retail locations across the world. In addition, Western Union’s global payout network includes billions of bank accounts and wallets offering unparalleled convenience to families and loved ones sending money to the Philippines. Locally, customers will soon be able to send and receive money through Cebuana Lhuillier and may check the agent locator link for the status of their nearest locations.