If you live in Brazil and use WhatsApp, there is good news. Starting today, you will be able to send and receive money securely right from within your chat with friends, family, and businesses.
The press release on WhatsApp’s blog says that the feature is powered by Facebook Pay. Users will be able to send money to loved ones and folks with WhatsApp business accounts. The feature should make it easier for small businesses to easily receive payments.
WhatsApp users in Brazil can now send money to friends and family or pay a business right from your chat 💸💸💸 pic.twitter.com/BwrcCq9CJW
— WhatsApp Inc. (@WhatsApp) June 15, 2020
WhatsApp says the payment is secure and a six-digit PIN or fingerprint will be required before transactions can be completed.
At the moment, WhatsApp payment is supported by Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards from Banco de Brasil, Nubank, and Sicredi. WhatsApp also says it is working with Cielo, Brazil’s leading payments processor, and has built an open model to make it easy for more partners to join in the future.
The payment doesn’t attract a charge when you send or receive money save for businesses that will have to pay a processing fee to receive payments from their customers.
The service is already rolling out to users already and should arrive for everyone in the coming weeks.
WhatsApp first began receiving payments in India in 2018 but it was a test run. The service was supposed to roll out to more users but the company has been facing challenges with approvals.
WhatsApp is yet to announce which countries will be getting the feature next.
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