Finablr, the parent firm of remittance and currency exchange brands ranging from Travelex to Xpress Money and others, announced a global partnership with Alipay to enable cross-border money transfer services, according to a company release. 

Alipay, which has 1.2 billion users when combined with its local digital wallet partners, will have access to Finablr's multiple remittance brands, which also include Unimoni and UAE Exchange. Finablr will become one of the first cross-border remittance partners that Alipay has ever worked with.

"We are delighted to welcome Alipay to our growing portfolio of partners," Promoth Manghat, group CEO of Finablr, said in the release. "Together we seek to empower the financial aspirations of billions of consumers with enhanced access and convenience for their cross-border payment needs."

He said the companies would build on their complementary capabilities and plan to work on additional opportunities. 

"We are excited to partner with Finablr for global remittances, as we continue to explore new ways to apply our technology in order to benefit more people around the world," Clara Shi, head of Alipay's global remittance service, said in the release.

She noted a separate blockchain remittance partnership that AlipayHK created with GCash allows real-time transfers between Hong Kong and the Philippines. 

Alipay and Finablr will also be working on digital gifting and driving efficiencies through the Alipay Blockchain Information System.