Despite its location just 93 miles south of Florida, Cuba has been somewhat isolated from the United States since 1959 due to strained political relations. Much of that has changed in recent years as the two countries have made major strides in to normalize relations with Cuba and its people. This new era of openness means new opportunities for travel, the exchange of ideas, and the chance for members of the Cuban diaspora to more easily send money to loved ones back home.

That’s why Western Union is proud to add Cuba to our list of countries available for online and app-based money transfer. We’ve been proud to offer remittances to Cuba for the past fifteen years, and this updated offering provides a new way for the tech-savvy to send a Western Union Money Transfer® quickly and conveniently to any of our 420 Agent locations across all of Cuba’s 16 provinces and 168 municipalities in Cuba.

Helping Cuba move money for better through online remittances

It’s clear that members of the Cuban diaspora around the world maintain strong ties to family and friends back home. According to a February 2015 report by the Inter-American Dialogue, remittances to Cuba were estimated at $1.2 billion in 2013 and 2014, and a majority of these transfers originated in the U.S.

Just like with the rest of the world, good things happen in Cuba when money gets where it needs to go quickly and conveniently. Research by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) indicates that remittances already reach 62% of Cuban households, sustain 90% of the retail market and help provide thousands of jobs. The convenience of sending money to Cuba through a smartphone means Cuban families and businesses alike can look forward to an even brighter economic future.

Have someone in Cuba you’d like to send money to? It’s easier than ever to get started. Visit our US Website and select the new “Send to Cuba” option or j ust download the Western Union app for iOS or Android in the US or Internationally for iOS and Android in the respective App stores.

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