Zapp, a money transfer service that operates through WhatsApp, announced on July 16, 2026, the expansion of its services to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. This move allows Central American migrants in the United States to send money to family and friends back home directly through WhatsApp, leveraging a channel already widely used for communication.
Recipients in these new markets can choose to receive funds via direct bank deposit or cash pickup at a broad network of banks and retail locations. In Guatemala, Zapp partners with over 15,000 banks and payment locations, including G&T Continental, Banrural, Banco Industrial, Elektra, and Banco Azteca. Transfers from $5 to $2,999 incur a fee of $4.74 for bank deposits and $5.74 for cash withdrawals, with a fixed rate across the entire range. Honduras offers more than 8,000 locations, including Banco Atlántida, Ficohsa, BAC Credomatic, and Elektra, with fees starting at $5.99 for transfers up to $200 and scaling up to $32.99 for amounts up to $3,000. In El Salvador, over 6,000 bank branches and affiliated businesses such as Banco Agrícola, Banco Cuscatlán, Super Selectos, and Walmart are available. Fees there range from $4.99 to $19.99 for bank deposits depending on the amount, with cash withdrawals costing an additional $1.00. Nicaragua provides more than 5,000 banks and businesses, including Banpro, Banco Lafise, and BAC Credomatic, with fees from $5.99 for transfers up to $200 to $33.99 for up to $3,000.
This expansion addresses a significant need among Central American migrants, who sent over $23 billion in remittances to the region in 2023, according to the World Bank. By integrating money transfers into WhatsApp, Zapp simplifies the process, eliminating the need to visit physical locations or download separate apps. The service offers competitive exchange rates and a user-centric approach, aiming to transform the remittance industry. Zapp operates as an authorized agent of Spectrum Global Payment Solutions, Inc. (NMLS ID 937914), a licensed money transmitter in Central America, and every transaction is covered by a money-back guarantee. Zapp is not affiliated with Meta or WhatsApp but uses WhatsApp as a communication channel.
