Western Union Expands in the Philippines with Cebuana Lhuillier

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Western Union (NYSE:WU), a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, and Cebuana Lhuillier, the largest and long-tenured microfinancial service provider in the Philippines, have come together to enable customers in the Philippines to send and receive Western Union money transfers.

The significant 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 will be able to 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 customer’s needs,” said Jean Claude Farah, President, Global Network, Western Union.

Farah added, “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.”

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 the underserved Filipinos and expanding our reach makes that all the more possible,” added Lhuillier.

Cebuana Lhuillier is a one-stop shop that offers microfinancial 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 is also acting as a cash agent for Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank and has since provided a bank account 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. In the Philippines, customers will soon be able to send and receive through Cebuana Lhuillier and may check the Agent Locator link for the status of their nearest locations.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments. 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 March 31, 2020, our network included over 550,000 retail agent locations offering our 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 2019, is available in over 75 countries, plus additional territories, to move money around the world. 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 Cebuana Lhuillier

P.J. Lhuillier, Inc. (PJLI) is the proud parent company of Cebuana Lhuillier, the Philippines’ largest microfinancial services provider that offers pawning, remittance, micro insurance, bills payment, e-load, business-to-business solutions services, and micro savings and other banking services through their banking arm, the Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank. For more than 30 years, Cebuana Lhuillier continuously provides fast, easy, secure, and convenient microfinancial products and services to more than 30 million customers through over 2,500 branches nationwide. The company has also expanded its services into the digital space through the eCebuana App, a product of the Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank, and a host of other financial platforms such as Cebuana From Home, ProtectNow.com and the Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry website.

Cebuana Lhuillier is committed to its purpose of bringing financial inclusion to the majority of Filipinos and has remained at the forefront of its industry through its many product innovations and leadership in customer service. Its commitment to excellence has given rise to many countless accolades and recognitions here and abroad.

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