Migrants' Choice of Remittance Channel: Do General Payment Habits Play a Role?

37 Pages Posted: 6 Apr 2013

See all articles by Anneke Kosse

Anneke Kosse

Government of Canada - Bank of Canada

Robert Vermeulen

De Nederlandsche Bank

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: April 4, 2013

Abstract

This paper investigates the determinants in migrants’ choice of payment channel when transferring money to relatives abroad. We surveyed 1,680 migrants in the Netherlands, identifying five remittance channels: bank services, money transfer operator (MTO) services, in-cash transfers via informal intermediaries, ATM cash withdrawals abroad and carrying cash when travelling back home. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to present evidence of the role played by general payment habits: migrants who regularly use internet banking for other purposes are more likely to use bank services for remittances as well. However, we also demonstrate that other important drivers exist in determining the choice of payment channels, such as personal characteristics and country-specific factors, (perceived) costs, ease of use and the availability of remittance options. Based on our findings, we suggest that financial education, cost reduction and new (mobile) remittance solutions may serve a valuable role.

Keywords: Remittances, payment instruments, qualitative choice models

JEL Classification: F24, E42, C25

Suggested Citation

Kosse, Anneke and Vermeulen, Robert, Migrants' Choice of Remittance Channel: Do General Payment Habits Play a Role? (April 4, 2013). De Nederlandsche Bank Working Paper No. 375, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2244970 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2244970

Anneke Kosse (Contact Author)

Government of Canada - Bank of Canada ( email )

234 Wellington Street
Ontario, Ottawa K1A 0G9
Canada

Robert Vermeulen

De Nederlandsche Bank ( email )

P.O. Box 98
1000 AB Amsterdam
Netherlands

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