DENVER & HONG KONG–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement, and HKT Payment LimitedHKT (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.
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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
2https://www.nielsen.com/hk/en/insights/news/2018/nielsen-media-index-take-up-of-mobile-first.html
3https://www.nielsen.com/hk/en/press-room/2017/tv-remains-as-top-media-channel-in-hong-kong.html
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181113005387/en/
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
Source: The Western Union Company