Zapp, a money transfer service that operates through WhatsApp, announced the expansion of its services to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. With this expansion, Central American migrants in the United States can now send money to family and friends back home directly through WhatsApp, eliminating the need for separate apps or physical locations.
Recipients in the new markets can choose to receive their money through either a direct bank deposit or cash pickup at a broad network of banks and retail locations. In Guatemala, more than 15,000 banks and payment locations are available, including G&T Continental, Banrural, Banco Industrial, Elektra, and Banco Azteca. For transfers between $5 and $2,999, the fee is $4.74 for bank deposits and $5.74 for cash withdrawals, with a fixed rate for the entire range. In Honduras, over 8,000 bank deposit and cash withdrawal locations are accessible, including Banco Atlántida, Ficohsa, BAC Credomatic, and Elektra. Fees vary by amount: up to $200 costs $5.99, up to $1,000 costs $13.99, and up to $3,000 costs $32.99, increasing by approximately $1.00 for every additional $200. El Salvador offers more than 6,000 bank branches and affiliated businesses such as Banco Agrícola, Banco Cuscatlán, Super Selectos, and Walmart. Fees for bank deposits range from $4.99 for $100-$150 to $19.99 for up to $1,500, with cash withdrawals incurring a $1.00 surcharge. Nicaragua has over 5,000 banks and businesses, including Banpro, Banco Lafise, and BAC Credomatic, with fees starting at $5.99 for $100-$200 and increasing up to $33.99 for up to $3,000.
This expansion is significant for Central American migrants who sent over $25 billion in remittances to the region in 2024, according to the World Bank. By leveraging WhatsApp, which has over 2 billion users globally, Zapp lowers barriers to sending money, especially for those who may not have access to traditional banking services. The service offers competitive exchange rates and a user-centric approach, aiming to transform the remittance industry to provide better service to Latin American families.
Zapp operates as an authorized agent of Spectrum Global Payment Solutions, Inc. (NMLS ID 937914), a licensed money transmitter in Central America. Every transaction is covered by a money-back guarantee. Zapp is not affiliated with Meta or WhatsApp; it simply uses WhatsApp as a communication channel. For more information, users can visit the Zapp website or contact via the provided email addresses.
