Western Union expands in Guatemala

Regional News By Joyce Aerts Aug 7, 2019

Master Agent AirPak Signs Grupo Financiero G&T Continental to offer Western Union Services

GUATEMALA, August 7, 2019Western Union, a leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement, and AirPak, the Western Union® Master Agent in Central America, have signed Grupo Financiero G&T Continental1 to expand Western Union Money Transfer services in Guatemala.

The expanded services across G&T Continental’s more than 200 locations offers greater convenience for customers sending and receiving money transfers to and from more than 200 countries and territories, including the United States, Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras.

“By expanding our money transfer services in Guatemala, Western Union is offering customers more convenience and ease to send and receive money. Our alliance with AirPak and its tie-in with G&T Continental enables us to be closer to where our customers live and work,” said Rodrigo García Estebarena, General Manager and Vice President, Western Union Mexico, Central America and Caribbean.

“At AirPak we are constantly seeking new ways to deliver customer-focused solutions that allow convenient access to financial services. We are proud to continue expanding access to Western Union international money transfers for customers across Guatemala, in collaboration with G&T Continental,” said Piero P. Coen, President of AirPak.

“At Grupo Financiero G&T Continental, we maintain a strong commitment to the communities we serve, and we always seek to offer our customers the best options to access products and services in one place and optimize their time,” said Enrique Rodríguez, General Manager of Grupo Financiero G&T Continental. “This collaboration strengthens customers’ confidence in our business, as they can now count on money transfer services with extended hours. We remain firmly committed to Guatemalans who strive every day and work abroad to provide a better future for their family back home.”

According to data from IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department, remittances received in Guatemala represent 11 percent of the country’s GDP and are a lifeline for families, who use these funds for regular expenses and education.

Western Union has operated in Guatemala in alliance with AirPak for approximately 30 years and currently has a robust retail Agent network that continues to expand throughout the country with alliances which represent the Guatemalan community, such as G&T.

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Grupo Financiero G&T Continental operates Western Union money transfer services under a subagent contract with AirPak.

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 March 31, 2019, 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 2018, is available in approximately 70 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 AirPak

For approximately 30 years, it has been Western Union’s exclusive representative in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Furthermore, in 2013 AirPak became a non-exclusive Agent of Western Union in Mexico.
AirPak offers a high-technology service, ensuring wide geographic accessibility throughout more than 5,500 locations in its own facilities and through third-party locations.

About G&T Continental

Grupo Financiero G&T Continental is a Guatemalan financial organization that ranks among the leaders in this market with a history of over 60 years. Currently, the group is composed of several companies of the sector, including Banco G&T Continental, Financiera G&T Continental, and G&T Insurance Company, S.A. The Bank has a subsidiary operation in El Salvador; however, it attends to the rest of the region through its international banking, GTC Bank. G&T Continental organizational culture is characterized by the excellence of its products and services, allowing to simplify the daily management of the finances of its customers, the solvency of a large organization and a technological platform in constant evolution.