FIJIANS and Pacific Islanders working in New Zealand can save more in remittance charges with the new Westpac Express Visa Prepaid Card. 
The Westpac Express Visa Prepaid Card enables people in New Zealand to send money home to nominated family members without paying large money transfer fees. Pacific islanders working in New Zealand are estimated to have lost US$40 million per year due to transaction fees from sending money from New Zealand. 
The total cost of sending money between NZ and the Pacific Islands is 15-25%of the transaction value Remittances to the Pacific Islands has tripled over the last 10 years according the World Bank, to US$425 million. 
The card expected to cut through these costs. Two cards are issued—one for the owner in New Zealand and one is sent toanominated person in the Pacific.
The owner ‘tops up’ the New Zealand card with funds, either at the bank, online or by phone, and sends a second card to a nominated family member, the family member use’s the card to withdraw money and pay for goods.
The second card is only activated once the family member in the Pacific receives it and the PIN number, which will be sent directly to them by Westpac New Zealand.
More and more overseas labour markets are opening up, so we are delightedto be able to provide an affordable way to send money home regularly,’ says Westpac General Manager Fiji Jason Stephens. 
The bank introduced the Westpac Express Visa Prepaid Card in December last year aimed at reducing remittance charges for islanders working in New Zealand. New Zealand allowed 5558 Pacific Islands seasonal workers into their farms and workplaces in the year ending March 31, 2009. 
Most struggling Pacific Islanders depend on money from family in New Zealand to pay for food and education and money transfers across the Pacific are estimated to be worth around $800 million (US$423 million) a year.
By accessing any Westpac ATM in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomons and the Cook Islands and based on an average remit of $200, the cost to send money home will be just three percent ($6) of the amount sent overseas.
Costs are currently anywhere between 15 and 25 percent of the value of the transaction for telegraphic transfers, which amounts to a huge savings for those that regularly send money home to the Islands.
 “This product will be beneficial to Pacific Islanders with relatives living in New Zealand that regularly send money to home.
“The card will make it convenient for the recipient of the funds as they will not have to stand in a queue at a money transfer service or bank but instead just use their card at any Westpac ATM or EFTPoS.
“I encourage customers who have further queries on the Westpac Express Visa repaid Card to talk to a Westpac Customer Service Representative at any of our branch location in Fiji,Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and the Cook Islands.”
Unofficial means of sending money to the Pacific Islands, such asthrough the post or friends, could account for another 50% of this total, About Westpac Express Visa Prepaid Card:
• This is the first product to enter the market and comply with the new regulations;
• There are two cards—one with the owner in NZ and one with family in the Pacific region. The owner tops up the New Zealand card which allows their family to buy goods and get money out like a debit card in the Pacific Islands;
• The Express Visa Prepaid Card is always in positive balance  it is not a credit card;
* The Express Visa Prepaid Card can be topped up online, by phone or at any Westpac branch;
• The Express Visa Prepaid Card can be used to access the EFTPOS and Visa networks;
• The Express Visa Prepaid Card costs $20 to purchase and $3 for a manual, or $1 for an electronic top ups;
• The Express Visa Prepaid Card minimum deposit is $50.