MADISON, Wis. – The World Council of Credit Unions recently formalized a strategic global alliance with MoneyGram that the organization says will strengthen its IRnet platform of international remittance services. MoneyGram is the second largest money transfer operator in the world. It has a presence in more than 170 countries and a network of 70,000 points of service. WOCCU already has strategic remittance alliances with VIGO and Travelex, and Pablo DeFilippi, IRnet products and services manager, said WOCCU's partnership with MoneyGram provides another channel for credit unions paying remittances in other countries. On Feb. 10, Caja Popular Mexicana, the largest credit union in Mexico with 331 branches in 22 states and 900,000 members, signed an agreement with MoneyGram. MoneyGram is also being made available in other countries. For example, Guatemala already signed a service agreement with the company and is currently going through the service implementation process. In addition, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador are in different stages of negotiation as is Caja Libertad, the second largest credit union in Mexico. DeFilippi said "WOCCU feels comfortable with the customer friendly practices that MoneyGram has incorporated, and we are confident that this relationship is bringing an important added value to the program and the people who we serve."