Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money: Family & Friends Benefit From Peak Christmas Money Transfers

Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money: Family & Friends Benefit From Peak Christmas Money Transfers

12 December 2016

  • Money transfers made through the Western Union® Money TransferSM service at Sainsbury’s Bank peak just before Christmas(1)
  • Busiest day for transfers in 2015 was 23rd December
  • Average transfer in November/December is £250

The number of money transfers made within the UK and abroad increases steadily towards Christmas. The 23rd December is the most popular day for customers to send money in 2015, according to figures compiled by the Western Union® Money Transfer service for Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money(1) located in a Sainsbury’s store. The average amount sent in any one transfer during November and December was £250.

While the popularity of the service starts to ramp up during November, the busiest overall week for transfers through the Western Union® Money Transfer service at Sainsbury’s Bank last year was from 14-20 December.

In terms of the number of transfers, the top destinations customers sent money to included Zimbabwe, Romania and the Philippines. By value, however, the top destination was India with the UK, Thailand and Romania close behind.

Simon Taylor, Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money, said: “December sees a definite increase in both the number and value of transactions. Some of these may be regular, planned transfers to support family members, for example, but many customers are also using the service to send money to friends and family over the holiday season”

The Western Union® Money Transfer service is available seven days a week at over 230 Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money bureaux nationwide, combining the convenience of your local Sainsbury’s store with the reliability of Western Union’s customer to customer money transfer service. Transfers are ready to collect from over 500,000 Western Union agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Jennifer Johnston-Watt Natasha Virtue Sainsbury’s Bank on 0131 286 0010 / [email protected]

Emma Murphy / Patricia de Bidegain, Citigate Dewe Rogerson on 020 7638 9571

Notes to Editors

  • Information source: Western Union Agent location count valid as of 30 September 2015. Western Union Payment Services Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Information on fees is available from any Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money bureau – fees will vary depending on how much money you are transferring, the location you are transferring it to and how it is being received

This press release is information for journalists only and is not intended to be a promotion to be acted upon by consumers.

Sainsbury’s Bank:

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Sainsbury’s was the first major British supermarket to open a bank, commencing trading in February 1997. The Bank benefits from a fantastic, trusted brand that enables us to combine the shopping experience with personal finance. Sainsbury’s Bank provides a range of quality products including travel money, insurances, credit cards, savings and loans which we provide through multiple channels, including instore, by telephone and online.

Sainsbury’s Bank plc. Registered Office, 33 Holborn, London EC1N 2HT (registered in England and Wales, no 3279730) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register no. 184514). Sainsbury’s Bank plc is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).