Western Union announced Thursday that it will extend its money transfer services to Cuba through thousands of points of sale in the United States and its digital platforms. The company made this announcement in an official statement.
Last year, Western Union began a pilot program to resume money transfer services to Cuba after two years of interruption. However, these services were only available at 24 specific locations in Miami, Hialeah, and Coral Gables.
Brad S. Jones, company spokesman, announced that the experiment ended in its first phase and that Western Union is expanding its "trial" service to cover more than 4,400 retailers in the United States, including Puerto Rico.
Now WesternUnion.com and its mobile app allow users to send money to Cubans. Transactions can be up to $2,000 (in a single movement) and can be sent to people in Cuba with debit cards or accounts at three different banks: Banco de Crédito y Comercio, Banco Popular de Ahorro and Banco Metropolitano S.A.
Western Union has announced that it has reached an agreement with Orbit S.A., a Cuban government company authorized by the Central Bank of Cuba in February 2022 to process money transfers to the island. As a result, the money will be deposited in US dollars to facilitate transactions.
Jones has appointed Orbit S.A. as the payment processor for Western Union bank accounts in Cuba.
Orbit S.A. announced on Facebook that it will expand its activities in the United States and will partner with Western Union for shipments to the island. The company has been processing money transfers from Canada and Europe since last year, sent through Cubamax and VaCuba, two Miami-based travel agencies.
The US embargo prohibits most financial transactions with Cuba, although remittances are generally allowed.
The embargo regulations were tightened by the Donald Trump administration to prevent any transfer of funds involving companies related to the Cuban armed forces.
Despite the time that has elapsed, the regulations remain in force. In November 2020, Western Union halted its activities due to sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on two financial institutions, Fincimex and AIS, which were in charge of processing money transfers, due to their connections with GAESA, the business group belonging to the military Cuban.  Later, certain money transfer service providers in Miami established an alternative channel in collaboration with Banco Financiero Internacional. However, the Trump administration also imposed sanctions on this bank due to its subordinate relationship with GAESA.
Before Orbit S.A. Before it began its quiet collaboration with Miami travel agencies, the Cuban government had rejected the idea of ​​transferring the remittance business to a non-military company, despite the Joe Biden administration's claim that this move would solve the problem.
Don't wait any longer to send money to your loved ones in Cuba! Western Union has expanded its money transfer services to the island and now you can do it easily and safely through thousands of points of sale in the United States and its digital platform.
With Western Union's new partnership with Orbit S.A., a company authorized by the Central Bank of Cuba to process money transfers on the island, your loved ones can receive their remittances in US dollars and use them for whatever they need.
Additionally, Western Union now allows you to send money through its website and mobile app, making the process even more convenient and accessible.
If you're still not sure how to send money to Cuba via Western Union, don't worry. We have a comprehensive guide that explains everything you need to know to get it done quickly and easily. Click the link on our website and find out how to send money to Cuba today!
Don't miss the opportunity to provide financial aid to your loved ones in Cuba and make a difference in their lives. Send money via Western Union today and feel good knowing you're making a significant contribution to their financial needs.