WU Broadens Its Offerings in Two U.S. States Through Partnership With Vallarta

Western Union Expands Money Transfer Services Through Vallarta Supermarkets

Western Union has partnered with Vallarta Supermarkets, enabling customers to access its money transfer services at all Vallarta locations across California and Arizona. Starting February 28, shoppers can visit any Vallarta store to utilize Western Union’s offerings.

Alongside Western Union’s core services, Vallarta customers will also have access to retail money orders, bill payment solutions, and prepaid options, making it easier to manage various financial needs in one convenient stop.

This collaboration aims to streamline financial transactions for Vallarta shoppers, allowing them to handle money transfers and other financial tasks while completing their grocery shopping. With Vallarta operating 65 stores and employing over 9,000 people in California and Arizona as of 2026, Western Union is leveraging Vallarta’s strong regional presence to broaden its reach.

The initiative is part of Western Union’s broader digital growth strategy, designed to attract more customers by offering a wider range of services. By integrating its platform into Vallarta locations, Western Union expects to provide faster, more accessible money transfers, which could boost usage and drive continued growth in its digital money transfer business. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the company’s branded digital segment saw a 7% increase in revenue compared to the previous year.

Through strategic alliances and investments in technology, Western Union has developed a robust digital platform, positioning itself as a leading provider of global money transfers and expanding digital financial services in underserved communities.

Leading Companies in Cross-Border Payments

Several other major players are active in the cross-border payments sector, including Mastercard, PayPal, and Visa.

• Mastercard: The Mastercard Move platform offers banks and financial institutions secure, nearly instant money transfer capabilities both domestically and internationally. Covering over 200 countries and supporting more than 150 currencies, Mastercard’s cross-border transaction volumes grew by 14% in local currency terms in the fourth quarter of 2025.
• PayPal: With licenses in key markets and subsidiaries in Luxembourg, the UK, and Singapore, PayPal enables seamless international payments. Cross-border transactions typically yield higher revenue and margins for PayPal, and in the latest quarter, its cross-border payment volume rose by 6% year over year.
• Visa: Visa’s suite of cross-border solutions, including Visa Direct and Visa B2B Connect, facilitates rapid, secure global payments for both consumers and businesses. Visa’s cross-border volumes increased by 12% in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to the previous year.

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