In a move set to advance the future of global remittances, Zūm Rails has announced a strategic collaboration with Western Union Canada to enable real-time cross-border payments from Canada to over 200 countries and territories worldwide.
At the heart of the partnership is the integration of Zūm Rails’ API technology into Western Union’s payment infrastructure. This enhancement will enable Canadian customers to leverage Interac e-Transfer to instantly fund their international transfers, making real-time, global money movement more accessible and efficient than ever before.
The initiative addresses growing consumer demand for faster, seamless digital payments. While peer-to-peer transactions have normalized the expectation of instantaneous transfers, enabling such experiences in cross-border contexts requires both technical sophistication and compliance readiness, barriers that many traditional financial institutions still face.
“Our work with Western Union reflects a larger trend across the payments industry, defined by real-time money movement as a non-negotiable service for consumers and enterprises alike,” said Miles Schwartz, CEO of Zūm Rails. “Partnerships between fintechs and traditional financial leaders are key to accelerating this shift.”
Western Union, a global leader in cross-border remittances, is leveraging this collaboration to deepen its digital transformation and meet evolving customer expectations. According to Ranjit Sarai, Vice President of Digital and Ecosystem at Western Union Canada, “Consumers should be able to send payments anywhere in the world at the same speed as native peer-to-peer apps. Our work with Zūm Rails makes this a reality.”
The partnership also capitalizes on the widespread adoption of Interac e-Transfer in Canada. A recent Interac survey shows that 88% of Canadians have used the service, with $338 billion transferred in the past 12 months alone, figures that underscore the national appetite for reliable, real-time payment solutions.
With this integration, Western Union is poised to offer a more agile, digital-first experience while maintaining the trust and reach that have defined its global brand for decades.
