Western Union and Wise announce integration with Google Pay

By Pavithra R

Google has announced partnering with Western Union, a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, and Wise, a global technology company, to enable users in the U.S. to send money to Google Pay users in India and Singapore.

To send money internationally, Users can start by searching for the Google Pay user who he/she wants to send money to, tap “Pay,” and select either Western Union or Wise. From there, users can follow the steps to complete the payment. Users may fund their transactions using a Google Pay bank account or card.

“We are pleased to link our digital cross-border capabilities to bring real worldwide connectivity with a few taps for Google Pay’s vast and growing user base,” said Shelly Swanback, President, Western Union Product and Platform.

The announcement marks the latest move by Western Union to embed its cross-border, cross-currency platform capabilities into leading third-party platforms and marketplaces and follows similar agreements with financial, telecom and tech players worldwide. Till June 16, Western Union will offer unlimited free transfers when sending money with Google Pay, and Wise will make the first transfer free for new customers on transfers up to $500.

“Providing people with a simple and seamless way to safely send money to friends and family is more important than ever – be it for everyday use or in times of need. Wise’s mission is money without borders – instant, convenient, transparent, and eventually, free. Through this collaboration, and with the integration of the Wise Platform, Google Pay customers can now send money internationally cheaper, faster, and easier,” said Harsh Sinha, Chief Technology Officer at Wise.

By the end of the year, Google expects that U.S. Google Pay users will be able to send money to people in more than 200 countries and territories through Western Union and to more than 80 countries through Wise. Upon worldwide activation, users can choose to send funds to billions of bank accounts, wallets and cards, as well as more than half a million retail locations in minutes. Google Pay’s user base includes 150 million people in 40 countries.

“Cross-border payments are not just a lifeline for loved ones; they form the financial backbone for many economies. For many people with families abroad, sending money home is something they do as frequently as every month. By teaming up with Western Union, we are providing a way for Google Pay users to send money quickly, safely and reliably from the Google Pay app,” said Josh Woodward, Director of Product Management, Google Pay.