Mexico's Cross-Border Money Transfer Network Gets Major Upgrade: Western Union Expands Presence Across OXXO Outlets

Mexican consumers now have even easier access to international remittance services, as Western Union and OXXO deepen their eight-year partnership to boost money transfer capabilities nationwide. The collaboration, which recently introduced new branding initiatives in Oaxaca’s select OXXO locations, represents a significant expansion of financial accessibility across Latin America’s second-largest economy.

The Scale of Operations

With a footprint spanning over 21,000 OXXO convenience stores across Mexico, the partnership creates one of the region’s most extensive remittance networks. Operating from 6 am to 10 pm every day of the year, these locations enable customers to withdraw transferred funds in amounts up to 4,000 pesos through a straightforward process. Recipients simply provide the transfer reference number provided by the sender abroad, plus valid government-issued identification—a voter registration card, passport, or consular ID suffices.

This accessibility has become increasingly vital given Mexico’s economic landscape. In 2023, the country received a record-breaking $63.313 billion in international remittances, marking a 7.6% year-over-year increase, according to data from Mexico’s central bank (BANXICO). These inflows represent far more than transaction volumes; they constitute a critical financial lifeline supporting millions of families and entire communities.

Strategic Alignment on Financial Inclusion

Claudia Reyes Armebianchi, Regional Head at Western Union for Mexico and Central America, emphasized the initiative’s broader mission: “Our goal extends beyond offering secure, 24/7 money movement capabilities. We’re committed to ensuring customers can quickly and easily identify pickup locations. This collaboration with a trusted partner like OXXO creates the ideal platform to accomplish that.”

OXXO’s leadership echoed this commitment to financial empowerment. Monica De Martino, Cash Management Transformation Leader at OXXO Mexico, noted that the company is simultaneously undergoing technological modernization. “Through this Western Union partnership, we’re not only upgrading our service infrastructure but actively contributing to economic and social development in the communities we serve,” she stated.

Beyond Transactions: Community Integration

The reimagined concept stores in Oaxaca signal a broader shift in how convenience retailers approach financial services. Rather than treating remittance services as ancillary offerings, both companies recognize them as integral to community development. The partnership reinforces OXXO’s positioning as more than a shopping destination—it’s becoming a hub for financial interaction and local economic participation.

This approach aligns with both companies’ corporate values. OXXO, operating through FEMSA’s Proximity Division, serves over 13 million customers daily across 160,000+ employees. Western Union, processing transactions across more than 200 countries and territories in nearly 130 currencies, maintains access to billions of bank accounts, millions of digital wallets, and hundreds of thousands of physical retail points globally.

The expanded initiative demonstrates how established partnerships can evolve to meet changing consumer needs, particularly as remittances remain foundational to Mexico’s economy and cross-border financial flows continue reshaping how families stay connected internationally.