The Western Union company, in coordination with the Cuban entity Orbit SA, announced the resumption of its service from the United States to Cuba with immediate effect.
The company suspended its services to the island in January due to technical problems with Cuban banks and with Orbit, a non-banking financial entity that processes remittances.
Western Union issued a Press release in which it explains that from now on its clients can send money from any point of sale in the United States, the website or the Western mobile application, to close family members with bank accounts and debit cards in these banks: Banco Popular de Savings, Banco Metropolitano S.A. and Bank of Credit and Commerce (Bandec).
"We understand that our service is a crucial connection between those living in the US and their family living in Cuba," said Rodrigo García Estebarena, President of Western Union for North and Latin America.
"We are pleased to resume service to this vital corridor and provide essential money transfer services to those living on the island," he added.
The company detailed the characteristics of this service:
-Funds can be received in bank accounts and debit cards only. The service is limited to consumer money transfers only.
-The US customers can send up to $2,000 per transaction by presenting a valid government-issued identification document.
-The money will be available for receipt on the same day, including weekends and holidays.
-The service is available for recipients with an identification card and bank accounts and/or debit cards in the following banks in Cuba: Banco Popular de Ahorro, Banco Metropolitano S.A. and Bank of Credit and Commerce (Bandec).
-Deposits into freely convertible currency (MLC) accounts are only available in US dollars.
At the end of March, Western Union blamed the Cuban authorities for not having been able to resume sending remittances to the Island.
A company official then revealed to Martí News that Havana had not made the corresponding updates to the banking system.
"The date has been extended since Cuba has not collaborated"said the source.
"Western Union I hope that everything will be resolved by the month of April, but unfortunately there is no new information in the system regarding the problem we were experiencing. For now, shipments remain suspended," he explained.
What do you think?
COMMENTFiled in: