Western Union Launches Money Transfer Service In Thailand

Western Union has expanded its services into Thailand and launched a brand new international money transfer service in the region, the company said in a release.

“Customers in Thailand can now connect with their families and loved ones around the world, (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), via the Western Union mobile app or transactional Westernunion.com/th. The services have been launched in association with Central Department Store, one of the largest department store chains in Thailand and Western Union’s first agent in the country, providing global money transfers at their retail locations for nearly 25 years,” the company said.

Customers in Thailand will be able to pay out into billions of bank accounts around the world and in almost 100 countries and territories, or to the company’s upwards of 500,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories. To use the service, customers can use a card or a bank account, or pay in person at a retail location. They can also use the Western Union mobile app.

“The ability to smoothly and fluidly transfer money internationally by the latest digital means elevates our relevance to our customers across the world. We use cutting-edge technology to simplify money transfer. Our systems automatically handle complexities from compliance to volatile currency exchanges so users can transfer money (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) to nearly every country across the world, with the touch of a few buttons,” said Khalid Fellahi, SVP and general manager of Western Union Digital.

The Thailand Board of Investment said that digital industry is going to be an important driver of the country’s economic strategy, and that Western Union’s services line up with the country’s “Thailand 4.0” initiative, which aims to bolster the economy with tech and innovation.

In Thailand, upwards of 57 million of the country’s 69 million people are estimated to be internet users. Also, the country has over 92 million mobile subscriptions.

“Our collaboration with Western Union is focused on delivering customer-centric solutions and services and enabling convenient financial transactions. Western Union’s innovation over time has built a powerful cross-border platform for moving money almost anywhere in the world in a matter of moments, and we are delighted to work together and open up new choices and possibilities to move money reliably in many available formats — digital or cash, online or offline,” said Montri Sithiyavanich, head of financial services at Central Group.