Nigerians in the Diaspora now have another platform for convenient and reliable money transfer transactions through the partnership between the nation’s Number One Brand Bank, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, and Ria International Money Transfer Services.
FirstBank, through its network of over 600 branches, will act as Receiver Agent to Ria, a subsidiary of Euronet Worldwide, Inc., and the third largest global remittance company and leading specialist in international money transfers.
Established in 1987, the company provides fast, reliable and secure money transfer services using state-of-the-art technology.
Ria is widely acclaimed for its strength in terms having a network of 150,000 send agents and over 156 company-owned outlets located in over 120 countries spread across North America, the Carribean, Europe and Asia.
According to Folake Ani-Mumuney, Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, the partnership, in addition to the Bank’s Moneygram and Western Union platforms, is another innovative offering from FirstBank that gives Nigerians in the diaspora 24/7 access to convenient, secure, and reliable international money transfer services.
Ani-Mumuney said besides receiving cash (USDollar/Naira) over the counter, Ria customers have the option of having their remittances credited directly into their accounts with the Bank, providing flexibility and support for the cashless society initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
She said: “FirstBank’s existing and prospective customers all over the world now have another platform for remitting money to their loved ones with the peace of mind, expertise, and convenience that FirstBank offers.
“Ria is a top brand in money transfer business and we are delighted at having another opportunity to serve the Diaspora market with seamless money transfer services.”
It will be recalled that FirstBank was the first to introduce International Money Transfer services to the Nigerian market and has over the decades remained a foremost provider of sundry financial services to Nigerians in the Diaspora.
The Bank has since has launched FirstDiaspora, a suite of products specially designed to cater to various finance related needs and projects of Nigerians in the Diaspora.
The products under the FirstDiaspora bouquet enable diaspora customers maintain operative accounts, finance investments in real estate in Nigeria, transact domestic and international funds transfers, and grow their net worth in Nigeria.
Nigerians in the Diaspora also have an opportunity to carry out cashless transactions via FirstBank’s alternative channels during the London 2012 Olympic Games where the Bank will serve as official Banker to the Nigeria Olympic Committee.