Western Union Archives

August 25, 2023

Through a partnership with People’s Bank, People’s Leasing & Finance PLC (PLC) the trusted leader is now poised to provide Western Union international money transfer pay-out services. This collaboration not only expands the remittance services network of People’s Leasing but also enhances accessibility for customers nationwide. With over 110 locations of People’s Leasing & Finance PLC across Sri Lanka, customers can conveniently receive Western Union money transfers.

As a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, Western Union operates a vast financial network spanning over 200 countries and territories, including Sri Lanka. With its longstanding presence in Sri Lanka, Western Union has successfully connected Sri Lankans living and working across the globe, facilitating secure and convenient money transfers.

Stemming from its vision of “to become legendary in the financial-service scene as a provider of customer-friendly, creative and innovative total solutions,” PLC focuses on empowering the customer. As part of the collaboration, many offerings have been incorporated to ensure recipients enjoy Western Union’s services at PLC. These include a dedicated software system (fully automated system) and a central remittance unit at the Head office, which will support smooth operations while performing tasks, addressing customer issues, complaints etc.

Shamindra Marceline, Director/CEO of PLC said, there has been a notable rise in Sri Lankans living and working abroad who actively support their families back home. He emphasized that when receiving money from overseas, customers seek convenience, speed, and reliability. PLC is pleased to fulfill these requirements through its collaboration with Western Union, extending their services not only to urban areas but also to rural regions. PLC has always prioritized customer aspirations and will continue to do so, striving to provide exceptional service. “I would like to express our sincere appreciation to People’s Bank for their instrumental support in enabling us to operate as a subagent of People’s Bank for offering the Western Union branded money transfer services and for their unwavering assistance throughout the implementation phase,” he concluded.

PLC invites customers to visit any of the PLC branches to collect their remittances through Western Union on working days.

PLC is a leading Non-Bank Financial Institution in Sri Lanka and the flagship subsidiary of the People’s Bank, which is one of the largest state-owned banks in the country. PLC commenced business operations in 1996 and was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in 2011. PLC has grown to become a diversified non-bank financial powerhouse with six subsidiaries in allied areas of specialization, including an overseas venture in Bangladesh.

July 20, 2022

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon and leading money transfer operator Western Union are collaborating on a novel promotion that will reward recipients of remittances with a most timely and in-demand gift: a rechargeable LED light with every remittance worth Rs 10,000 or more, received until 15^th September 2022 or until stocks last.

The Bank said it hopes the campaign will help expand its Western Union customer base, strengthen relationships with existing remittance customers, boost customer loyalty and also increase the Bank’s remittance market share.

Western Union is a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement, and is present in over 200 countries and territories worldwide with 525,000 agent locations. The Commercial Bank of Ceylon tied up with Western Union in 2019 to enable users of the service to receive money over the counter of a Bank branch from anywhere in the world, especially from the USA, Canada, parts of Europe and the Middle East which are popular destinations for remittances.

One of Commercial Bank’s key strengths in serving the remittance needs of customers is its island-wide network of 268 branches, many of which remain open on public, bank and mercantile holidays, and its network of 940 ATMs, which is the largest automated cash dispensing system owned by a single private bank in Sri Lanka. The Bank operates a dedicated customer support call centre for remittances and provides SMS alerts when a remittance is received and is ready to be paid out.

One of the most active players in the country in the field of remittances, Commercial Bank launched Sri Lanka’s first Remittance Card in 2016 complete with a cash advance loan facility against emergencies. The Bank has issued over 40,000 such cards to date.

To further cater to this segment, the Bank launched ‘ComBank RemitPlus’ in 2019 to enhance access to remittance-related information and services. It also operates 24/7 remittance processing units and has installed dedicated remittance counters at its main branches.

Commercial Bank is Sri Lanka’s first 100% carbon neutral bank, the first Sri Lankan bank to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World and the only Sri Lankan bank to be so listed for 12 years consecutively. It is the largest lender to Sri Lanka’s SME sector and is a leader in digital innovation in the country’s Banking sector. The Bank’s overseas operations encompass Bangladesh, where the Bank operates 19 outlets; Myanmar, where it has a Microfinance company in Nay Pyi Taw; and the Maldives, where the Bank has a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake.

October 20, 2020

Western Union partnership was recently announced at a ceremony held at the Seylan Bank head office. The launch ceremony took place with the participation of both Seylan Bank officials and Western Union representatives with Mr. Noor Elahi, Country Manager of Western Union Sri Lanka and Maldives, joining via video conferencing. Seylan Bank customers who were the first few Western Union money recipients were also present at the occasion. As the Bank with a Heart, Seylan Bank continues to place customer convenience at the heart of their operations, constantly showcasing exceptional service quality, offering products and services that support the financial needs of all their customers.

August 20, 2020

Seylan Bank locations across Sri Lanka to provide Western Union Money Transfer Services

Western Union, a leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, today announced a collaboration with Seylan Bank, enabling receivers in Sri Lanka to connect to their loved ones around the world. Customers in Sri Lanka can now receive money at over 172 Seylan Bank locations across the country.

“At Western Union, we have adopted a truly global and inclusive perspective by considering the needs of customers in markets across the world,” said Sohini Rajola, Head of Network, Middle East and Asia Pacific, Western Union. “We are excited about our collaboration with Seylan Bank, providing customers with additional locations to receive money. The common vision we share to facilitate customers in the country to connect to their loved ones in over 200 countries and territories across the globe, is what drives us to provide high service levels.”

“Over the years, Sri Lankan’s living and working overseas have continued to support their loved ones back home” said Kapila Ariyaratne, Director /CEO, Seylan Bank. “When receiving money from abroad, abroad, customers look for convenience, speed and reliability. We are glad to provide that in partnership with Western Union – reaching not just the city, but also rural areas. Throughout our history we have placed customer aspirations at the heart of everything we do, and we will continue to do so.”

Western Union’s unique ability to partner with a growing base of local financial institutions, is driving financial inclusion and improving last-mile access for millions of unbanked and underbanked populations. Western Union serves customers from a large network of Agent locations offering unparalleled convenience to customers in Sri Lanka. Customers are advised to check the Agent Locator link for the status of the nearest locations.

People’s Leasing & Finance PLC Establishes Partnership with People’s Bank to Enable Western Union International Money Transfers

ComBank’s Western Union customers to receive gifts of light from July to September

Western Union at Seylan Bank

Western Union Expands with Seylan Bank in Sri Lanka