KRALENDIJK – After a long period without a money transfer service on the island, Western Union is once again available on Bonaire. The service is now being offered through the island’s postal service FXDC.
Nicole Merkies, director of FXDC, tells ABC Online Media that the reintroduction of the service was made possible after a lengthy preparation period. Following the constitutional changes of 10-10-10, De Nederlandsche Bank introduced strict anti-money laundering regulations, making money transfers with services such as Western Union more complicated. Previously, MCB offered the MoneyGram service, but eventually decided to discontinue the service.
High demand for money transfers
Fast money transfers are essential for many foreign nationals on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, especially for those without a bank account or with relatives who have no access to an ATM. The absence of such a service caused significant issues, on the three islands.
To ensure a smooth launch, the service is currently being offered on a limited basis through a “soft opening.” This approach is intended to identify and resolve any potential issues in the process.
Expansion
It is not yet certain whether Western Union services via FXDC will also be made available on St. Eustatius and Saba. “First, we want to ensure everything runs smoothly on Bonaire. After that, we’ll decide on possible expansion,” Merkies said.
Since 2014, FXDC holds exclusive rights to provide postal services on Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba under a concession granted by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK).
