Western Union and Hong Kong’s Tap & Go Collaborate for Online Global Money Transfers
DENVER & HONG KONG–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The
Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a leader in cross-border,
cross-currency money movement, and HKT Payment Limited HKT (SEHK:
6823), a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) license holder1,
signed an agreement to enable Tap & Go customers to use their Tap & Go
mobile wallet to send money to their loved ones around the world, via
the Western
Union® mobile app and Westernunion.com.
Currently, customers in Hong Kong can pay for their Western Union money
transfer transactions online using any credit card issued in Hong Kong.
The collaboration between HKT Payment and Western Union will provide an
additional option to customers to pay via their Tap & Go mobile wallet
for their money transfers on Westernunion.com and the Western Union
mobile app, for seamless payout in cash at more than 525,000 Western
Union Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories worldwide,
or into billions of bank accounts and other wallets, where applicable.
“At Western Union, we are pulling out all the stops to provide customers
with convenient channels to send money to their loved ones. If a
customer wants to send money via a retail location – we make it
possible. If a customer wants to send money online – we make that
possible too. We are committed to our customers and realize their needs
are evolving, and we are evolving with them,” said Molly Shea, Senior
Vice President & General Manager, Global Money Transfer, Asia Pacific,
Western Union.
“We are delighted to be able to extend our service offerings to
customers in Hong Kong and provide them with multiple options to choose
from, to pay for their transactions online and send money to their
families back home. We are very pleased that our collaboration with Tap
& Go will help deliver on our shared commitment to making the lives of
customers easier,” added Shea.
“To better service our customers and to meet the increasing demand for
various uses of mobile wallet in Hong Kong, we are delighted to
collaborate with Western Union and extend our service offering for
customers to send money to their families and friends located in
countries around the world. Sending money overseas in different
currencies can be made easily with the Tap & Go mobile wallet. The
service will be welcome by all residents in Hong Kong. Together with
other payment and instant peer-to-peer transfer functions, Tap & Go
mobile wallet brings ultimate convenience when it comes to paying and
managing household expenses,” said Monita Leung, Head of HKT Financial
Services Limited.
According to the Nielsen
Media Index 2017 Year End Report2, smartphone penetration
in Hong Kong rose five percentage points from the previous year to 96%3,
and 97% of all Internet users in Hong Kong had used a smartphone to
access the Internet, highlighting the importance of the mobile channel.
WU-G
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a global leader in cross-border,
cross-currency money movement. Our omnichannel platform connects the
digital and physical worlds and makes it possible for consumers and
businesses to send and receive money and make payments with speed, ease,
and reliability. As of September 30, 2018, our network included over
550,000 retail agent locations offering Western Union, Vigo or Orlandi
Valuta branded services in more than 200 countries and territories, with
the capability to send money to billions of accounts. Additionally,
westernunion.com, our fastest growing channel in 2017, is available in
more than 50 countries and territories to move money around the world.
In 2017, we moved over $300 billion in principal in nearly 130
currencies and processed 32 transactions every second across all our
services. With our global reach, Western Union moves money for better,
connecting family, friends and businesses to enable financial inclusion
and support economic growth. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
About HKT
HKT (SEHK: 6823) is Hong Kong’s premier telecommunications service
provider and leading operator in fixed-line, broadband and mobile
communication services. It meets the needs of the Hong Kong public and
local and international businesses with a wide range of services
including local telephony, local data and broadband, international
telecommunications, mobile, and other telecommunications businesses such
as customer premises equipment sales, outsourcing, consulting, and
contact centers.
HKT offers a unique quadruple-play experience in Hong Kong delivering
media content on its fixed-line, broadband Internet access and mobile
platforms jointly with its parent company, PCCW Limited.
HKT also provides a range of innovative and smart living services beyond
connectivity to make the daily lives of customers more convenient,
whether they are at home, in the workplace, or on the go. For more
information, please visit www.hkt.com.
About HKT Payment Limited
HKT Payment Limited, a wholly-owned HKT Limited subsidiary, provides
mobile users in Hong Kong with a stored-value service under the Tap & Go
brand. In addition, the company offers local merchants a variety of
mobile payment solutions under the HKT Merchant Services brand.
Tap & Go is a prepaid mobile payment service that operates with
Mastercard® and UnionPay card schemes to enable secure,
reliable and instant mobile payment anywhere in the world and online.
HKT Merchant Services provides merchants with one-stop retail and
payment solutions which currently comprise in-app, online and QR code
payment options, a Smart POS facility. All these retail and payment
solutions from HKT Merchant Services help retailers to improve
efficiency while reducing operating expenses.
Issued by Western Union and HKT Limited.
1 HKT Payment Limited is a Stored Value Facilities (SVF)
license holder. Stored Value Facilities Licence Number: SVF0002
2
https://www.nielsen.com/hk/en/insights/news/2018/nielsen-media-index-take-up-of-mobile-first.html
3
https://www.nielsen.com/hk/en/press-room/2017/tv-remains-as-top-media-channel-in-hong-kong.html
Contacts
Western Union
Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific
Ingrid
Sahu, +97 14 437-3656
ingrid.sahu@westernunion.com
or
HKT
Stella
Wong, +852 2888 2253
Group Communications
stella.wm.wong@pccw.com
