New debit card option available for money transfers

Western Union, a leader in global payment services, and GraceKennedy Money Services, Western Union's agent in Jamaica and 10 other Caribbean countries, have announced that customers in Jamaica will have the option of using their debit cards to fund money transfers via National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited (NCB's) point-of-sale technology, nationwide.

Commencing immediately, the service allows consumers to use their NCB debit cards to fund the money transfer they send to family and friends both domestically and internationally from any Western Union agent location in Jamaica.

Assistant general manager, Payment Services, NCB Group, Claudette Rodriquez said that the new service forms part of the company's continued efforts to make financial transactions more convenient, simple and fast.

"In rolling out our NCB 2.0 strategy, it was incumbent on us to show Jamaicans exactly what we meant when we said changes were coming to the industry. Today, it is possible to use a debit card to send money to loved ones wherever there is a Western Union agent location, eliminating the use of cash," Rodriquez said.

"This is one example of how we are evolving and making financial services easier and more convenient. This already established option also serves our consumers who may prefer not to conduct transactions in cash," she said.

The ability to accept debit cards at point-of-sale money transfer locations demonstrates GraceKennedy's commitment to respond to the changing and diverse needs of customers," said Noel Greenland, senior vice-president of marketing and operations, GraceKennedy Money Services.

According to Andre Largie, director for Western Union in the Caribbean, this is the type of game-changing feature that will transform the way consumers transact business.

"By working with NCB, we are now able to bring even greater value to our customers, by enabling them to conduct a money transfer using their debit card, in addition to cash," he said.

For more information about this service, consumers may contact GraceKennedy Money Services Contact Centre at 926-2454.