The partnership considerably expands WorldRemit’s footprint and allows its customers in over 50 countries to send money to FirstBank accounts directly from their phones.
Over the years, FirstBank has taken the lead in providing relevant e-payment options for its customers. The bank pioneered with Western Union Money Transfer in 1996, then Transfast Money Transfer, MoneyGram, Ria, PayPal, Pay Attitude and now, WorldRemit.
Speaking i at the pact signing in Lagos, Deputy Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Gbenga Shobo, said the lender has extended its frontiers to WorldRemit in order to leverage the wide e-platform capabilities it offers to further ease the money transfer process for our numerous customers across the globe who seek new and easier payment transaction options regularly.
“WorldRemit’s mobile-first, digital model complements FirstBank’s digital strategy to drive convenient banking transactions from the comfort of homes and offices using the FirstMobile and FirstOnline banking platforms,” he said.
He added: “WorldRemit’s plan to serve 10 million customers connected to emerging markets by 2020. FirstBank is collaborating with WorldRemit to drive convenience and ease of banking for its teeming customers as well as provide the much-needed push for financial inclusion initiatives.
Established since 1894 and with footprints in six African countries and a full-fledged branch in London, FirstBank has over 14 million customer accounts and more than 750 business locations providing a comprehensive range of retail and corporate financial services across these markets”.
Regional Head of Middle East & Africa at WorldRemit, Andrew Stewart, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with First Bank, one of Nigeria’s leading banks, to give its 14 million customers access to our best in class money transfer experience. Nigeria remains our largest and fastest growing market in Africa and WorldRemit’s second biggest market globally. This is a key partnership in the country that will further support Nigeria’s transition from offline remittances to online, safer, faster and lower-cost money transfer methods.”
He said that with a diaspora of over 15 million people living in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, remittances play an increasingly important role in Nigeria’s economy. The World Bank estimates that in 2017 alone, Nigeria received over $22 billion in remittances, making it the largest recipient in Africa.
Sub-Saharan Africa still remains the most expensive region to send remittances to, with an average cost of 9.4 percent for sending $200, according to the World Bank.
WorldRemit’s mobile-first, digital model provides migrants abroad with an affordable means of sending money, in a few taps directly from their phones – without the inconvenience of visiting brick and mortar agent locations. WorldRemit customers’ complete over one million transfers every month from 50 send countries to over 145 destinations. More than half of these transfers go to Africa.
According to Group Head, Products and Marketing Support at FirstBank, Abiodun Famuyiwa, the bank is excited to be working WorldRemit in delivering swift digital remittances to its customers in Nigeria. This partnership is one of the numerous ways the Bank would continue to put customers first by leading the industry in the use of technology to provide safe, convenient and fast banking solutions.