ENGLEWOOD, Colo. & MEXICO CITY – The Western Union Company rolled out Western Union Money Transfer services across OXXO, Mexico’s largest convenience store chain, with a self-service feature that allows customers to receive funds faster at check-out.
Customers visiting OXXO’s 14,000 locations can receive their funds by completing their payout information independently via one of a few options: calling a national hotline in advance or using dedicated in-store phones and digital devices. The self-service feature allows faster and more efficient funds collection at check-out. OXXO’s convenience store chain collectively services 11 million customers daily.
By fully activating services at OXXO, Western Union’s retail agent network has nearly doubled to more than 26,600 locations, from approximately 13,500 at the close of 2015.
“We are putting customers’ evolving needs at the center of our innovation and upholding the trust and convenience they expect from our global trusted brand,” said Odilon Almeida, Western Union president, Americas and European Union.
"Our innovative self-service feature in Mexico in collaboration with OXXO is part of our strategy to digitalize our retail network. In the process, we have amplified our brand strength and access, making it even easier for customers across urban, rural and remote parts in Mexico. We continue to execute on our strategy to attract ‘Main Street’ and ‘High Street’ brands to serve customers,” Almeida added.
Asensio Carrión, director of financial services of OXXO, said: “We are proud to expand the portfolio of financial products and services available to customers by offering Western Union services and being connected to a global network in more than 200 countries and territories. We are equally pleased to extend the convenience of receiving money transfers while customers shop for essentials, offering more than 2,600 products in each store.”
The cash payout limit is capped at 1,000 Mexican pesos (approximately $50 USD) per user, per day. Larger payouts are credited into debit cards of major banking providers, as well as OXXO’s Saldazo debit card. OXXO operates from 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week.
Mexico is the fourth largest recipient of remittances globally after India, China and the Philippines, according to World Bank data, which reported that $25.7 billion were received in Mexico in 2015, an 8.7% increase over 2014 ($23.64 billion).