MoneyGram International (NYSE: MGI), a leading provider of global money transfer services, and Poste Italiane, the leading postal services operator in Italy, today announced an agreement that will enable Poste Italiane customers to initiate mobile money transfers to important markets around the globe, delivering faster, more convenient and flexible money transfer services.
The agreement also provides for the launch of money transfer service via the Web.
Both mobile and online transfers allow consumers to send money virtually anytime and anywhere, without the need to go to a post office or retail location making cash available for friends and family in just 10 minutes. The mobile money transfer service enables Poste Italiane customers with a Poste Mobile SIM card associated with their BancoPosta account or PostePay debit card to transfer money via mobile phone. Poste Italiane customers who have home banking service will now also be able to transfer money via the Web at www.poste.it.
"With the introduction of money transfer via mobile phone, Poste Italiane and MoneyGram offer a next-generation service that responds in a more dynamic, reliable and convenient way to the needs of migrants," said Poste Italiane AD, Massimo Sarmi. "We are excited to combine Poste Italiane's and MoneyGram's unique technology platforms in Italy to introduce an innovative service for our growing number of money transfer customers."
According to The Mobile World 2009, 93 percent of the approximately 4 million immigrants in Italy own a mobile phone. With the wide distribution of mobile phones around the world, offering money transfers via a mobile phone or the Internet provides customers with improved convenience.
"We are delighted to expand our partnership with Poste Italiane and together be the first to offer money transfer services via mobile phone in Italy," said Pamela H. Patsley, chairman and CEO of MoneyGram International. "MoneyGram is committed to providing customers with flexibility and choice in how they send and receive money. The service we are announcing today is a winning example of how our agent partners can use the MoneyGram technology to provide their online or mobile customers the benefits of an affordable, reliable and convenient money transfer send service without the need to go to a retail location."