UK Post Office Cash connections – 30 per cent increase in international money gifts over festive season
Cash gifts to destinations across the globe are set to prove popular this year according to research from Post Office® and MoneyGram.
An estimated GBP 2.3 billion is sent overseas from the UK through international money transfer services each year, and Post Office® and MoneyGram research forecasts a 30 per cent increase in cash gifting in the run up to the 2007 Christmas period.
Cash gifts from the UK are relied upon by people in both developed and developing countries, not only to help celebrate the festive season but also for day-to-day living expenses. In many cases money is sent to friends and family overseas to cover essentials such as food, education and medical fees.
Top destinations for international money transfers over the 2007 Christmas period are set to be:
• Africa including South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Kenya
• Caribbean countries such as Jamaica
• Central and Latin America including Brazil and Columbia
• Eastern Europe in particular Poland, Romania and Bulgaria
• New Zealand and Australia
In just ten minutes, cash can travel to and from any UK Post Office® branch in addition to 125,000 locations in approximately 170 countries and territories worldwide. So, from Portsmouth to Prague or Shetland to Sydney, it’s easy to use the Post Office® and MoneyGram service.
Rob Scott, MoneyGram® Manager, Post Office said: “People across the world rely on cash gifts from the UK to help them celebrate the festive period. People using the Post Office® and MoneyGram can trust us to ensure their money arrives safely and quickly at its destination.”
The Post Office® and MoneyGram offers by far the largest international money transfer network in the UK, and its investment this year in a fully computerised service means its never been easier to send and receive cash too.
MoneyGram was previously available at around 3,500 Post Office® branches, but now all branches are equipped with the latest technology meaning MoneyGram transfers can be sent to and received from all 14,000 Post Office® branches. Unlike some other money transfer services it is not necessary to have a bank account to send or receive a MoneyGram transfer.
