The partnership will allow customers to send and receive money internationally at participating JuanPay outlets, potentially giving communities with strong ties to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) another channel for accessing remittance services.
The initial rollout will cover around 1,400 priority locations from JuanPay’s network of about 2,000 company-owned and franchise-operated outlets, with plans to progressively expand the service across the wider network.
Wider reach
The arrangement combines Western Union’s financial network spanning more than 200 countries and territories with JuanPay’s non-bank financial services footprint in the Philippines.
JuanPay, a subsidiary of ACM Group of Companies, has a strong presence in provincial markets and communities with significant OFW populations. Its outlets already provide services such as bills and loan payments, government transactions, pharmacy services and other consumer services.
Adding Western Union remittances means customers will be able to access international money transfers alongside services they already use at participating JuanPay locations.
“Our vision for JuanPay has always been to bring essential financial services closer to Filipino communities,” said ACM Group of Companies chair Rico Fernando M. Chico.
For JuanPay, the tie-up expands the financial services available through its outlets. Western Union, meanwhile, gains another retail distribution channel as it strengthens its mix of physical and digital services in the Philippines.
Physical, digital
The expansion follows Western Union’s launch of an upgraded mobile app in the Philippines in October 2025 featuring send-and-request capabilities.
Western Union said physical locations remain important despite the growth of digital financial services, particularly for customers who prefer face-to-face transactions or live in areas with varying levels of digital connectivity.
“With customers in the Philippines wanting more flexibility and convenience, multi-service locations that serve as one-stop shops for their financial services needs have a vital role to play,” said Western Union senior vice president and head of Asia-Pacific Vince Tallent.
He said the partnership combines JuanPay’s local reach with Western Union’s global network to make international financial services more accessible.
Remittance access
ACM Business Solutions Inc. president Rafael Angelo M. Padilla said the partnership supports JuanPay’s efforts to broaden financial access and provide technology-enabled services across the country.
Western Union regional vice president for the Philippines, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands Gregory Laurent said integrating remittance services into locations customers already use could make cross-border transactions more convenient.
The companies said the partnership is particularly aimed at improving access in communities connected to OFWs, whose remittances remain an important source of household income in the Philippines. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
