GraceKennedy Remittance Services (GKRS), in responding to customer requests for the ability to remit funds digitally, on Monday, February 10, 2025, unveiled an industry-first SEND feature on its GK One app.

In a release, the company said the new addition to the mobile app will redefine how Jamaicans send money as customers can now transfer funds directly through GK One using the Western Union.

GKRS further promotes the app for “revolutionising how Jamaicans send money both locally and internationally” and delivering “unmatched convenience and reliability” to customers with a few taps on their phones.

According to Grace Burnett, CEO of GraceKennedy Financial Group (GKFG) – the parent company of GKRS – the new app will position the remittance company to stay at the forefront of innovation and to meet evolving customer needs.

“We are constantly listening, learning, and striving to provide the best possible financial services to all Jamaican people, and today I’m incredibly proud to announce a major leap in that commitment,” she further outlined during the launch at GraceKennedy headquarters in downtown Kingston.

While GKRS customers have adapted to receiving Western Union transfers into their GK ONE mobile wallets and were pleased with the speed and convenience that it comes with, some were still asking for the ability to send funds from it.  

“Today we launched a game changer for remittances in Jamaica, the ability to send your Western Union international transfers directly from the GK One app, and you should all be very excited about that,” Burnett shared at the launch.

With this new feature, GKRS customers can avoid long lines at Western Union outlets, stress less about reaching to an outlet before closing hours; and digitally remit funds for pickup at over 400,000 locations worldwide; as well as to bank accounts in Canada, the United States, and United Kingdom. Moreover, the feature offers the convenience of sending funds at any time within the day.

At present, the transaction limit for sending funds using GK ONE is J$150,000. Customers can send money by topping up their mobile wallet, linking their First Global Bank account to the app, or adding any Mastercard or Visa debit and credit cards.

 “We understand that life doesn’t always stick to business hours and GK One is designed to fit your life and not the other way around. And, of course, for us at GK, security is paramount, so you can rest assured that every transaction is protected by our cutting-edge technology. We are committed to ensuring the safety and reliability of your funds,” the GK CEO said.

“It simplifies the process, reduces stress, and empowers individuals to support each other no matter the distance. And, most importantly, it eliminates the hassle of going to a physical location when time is of the essence. GK One puts the entire process in the palm of your hands,” she added.

Commenting on the efficiency, security and transparency of each transaction on the app, GKFG chief operations officer Margaret Campbell pointed out that the feature is user-friendly even if for those who are “not techies”, funds can be tracked from the time of sending to the when it’s picked up and that there are no “hidden fees or surprises”.

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While noting that her responsibility was to ensure the optimum customer experience, she noted, “So you can do instant transfers with multiple payment options… You’re able to select how the person will receive the money, whether it is cash pickup in a location, direct to a bank account, or if there is a mobile wallet in that country, you’ll see the mobile wallet appear as an option. All of this is dynamic, and as the Western Union network grows and more options become available, your GK One app will also show you those options.”

Further highlighting the transparency involved in remitting funds, Campbell explained that the receiver will not have any costs deducted. Rather, it is the sender who pays an upfront fee for the transaction.