- The new service is based on Vodafone Romania's
M-Pesa technical platform, which is also the first mobile
money platform on the Romanian market enabling Romanians to receive
remittances from abroad
BUCHAREST, Romania,
March 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
Vodafone Romania and MoneyGram, (NASDAQ: MGI), today announced the
launch of an innovative international money transfer service that
allows Vodafone customers in Romania to securely receive international
remittances, with M-Pesa, from over 125 countries around the
world.
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With the new service, MoneyGram customers are able to send money
from abroad within minutes and in a secure way to Vodafone Romania
users. All prepaid or postpaid Vodafone customers in Romania can now receive international money
transfers from any MoneyGram location in more than 125 countries,
24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can quickly make use of this
money, on their mobile phones.
"With almost half of the Romanian population being unbanked or
transacting mainly in cash(*), MoneyGram is excited to team up with
Vodafone Romania to provide millions of customers with access to
fast, reliable and secure options to send and receive money. This
new relationship will make it more convenient for people in the
most remote parts of Romania to
receive money from friends and family abroad," said Radu Pojoga, MoneyGram's regional director for
Southeast Europe. "MoneyGram is
proud of the role it plays in enabling families to pay for life's
emergencies and essentials, to open businesses, or to help them
celebrate a special occasion."
Vodafone users registered with M-Pesa can withdraw the received
amount in all M-Pesa locations nationwide or can use it directly
from their mobile phone to send money to friends/relatives,
recharging Cartela Vodafone, paying utility bills or other merchant
payments.
"Vodafone Romania puts at clients' disposal more than 350,000 of
MoneyGram agent locations around the world from where users can
send money to Romania, directly on
the mobile phone of the recipient. The service is based on Vodafone
Romania's unique technical platform, which is the first mobile
money platform in the Romanian market that enables Romanians to
receive money from abroad with immediate and 24/7 access to funds,"
said Valentin Stefan, Director,
Business Development, Vodafone Romania.
(*)World Bank data 2015
Vodafone Romania is a subsidiary of Vodafone Group, one
of the world's largest telecommunications companies which provide a
range of services including voice, messaging, data and fixed
communications. Vodafone has mobile operations in 26 countries,
partners with mobile networks in 57 more, and fixed broadband
operations in 17 markets. As of 31 December
2015, Vodafone had 461 million mobile customers and 13
million fixed broadband customers. For more information, please
visit: www.vodafone.com.
About M-Pesa The M-Pesa service was launched in
March 2007 by Safaricom Limited in
Kenya. It enables millions of
people who have access to a mobile phone, but do not have access to
a bank account, to send and receive money, top-up airtime, make
bill payments and enjoy a range of other services.
M-Pesa had approximately 24.6 million active customers as at
31 December 2015 and approximately
236,000 agents worldwide. It is available in 11 markets:
Kenya, Tanzania, South
Africa, Democratic Republic of
Congo, India, Mozambique, Egypt, Lesotho, Ghana, Albania and Romania.
About MoneyGram MoneyGram is a global provider of
innovative money transfer and payment services and is recognized
worldwide as a financial connection to friends and family. Whether
online, or through a mobile device, at a kiosk or in a local store,
we connect consumers any way that is convenient for them. We also
provide bill payment services, issue money orders and process
official checks in select markets. More information about MoneyGram
International, Inc. is available at moneygram.com.
Media Contact: Michelle Buckalew,
media@moneygram.com, +1 214-979-1418