:Draft:Smiles Mobile Remittance

Smiles Mobile Remittance (Smiles) is an international mobile money transfer service launched in 2017, allowing customers to send money overseas rom Japan, Singapore, and Canada. Smiles also received the Good Design Award 2021, becoming the first mobile application service to be granted the award.

Japan Institute of Design Promotion (20 October 2021). [https://www.g-mark.org/gallery/winners/9e5f0bcf-803d-11ed-af7e-0242ac130002 | “Smiles Mobile Remittance App”]. Retrieved 27 January 2025.

In June 2017, the service was launched by Digital Wallet Group and founded by CEO Eiji Miyakawa.

Smiles Mobile Remittance was founded in June 2017 by Eiji Miyakawa (宮川 英治), a former Sony Corporation employee and licensed lawyer.

After a few years down the road, in October 2021, Smiles Mobile Remittance received Good Design Award 2021 for its excellence in product design. Smiles made history by becoming the first mobile application to be granted the prestigious award.

On 14 February 2022, Smiles entered the Canadian market, initially allowing the Filipino community to send money using the application.Polly Jean Harrison (18 February 2022). [https://thefintechtimes.com/digital-wallet-group-enters-canadian-market-with-smiles-remittance-service/ “Digital Wallet Group Enters Canadian Market with Smiles Remittance Service”]. The Fintech Times. Retrieved 30 January 2025.

Later in May 2022, Singapore was introduced to Smiles Mobile Remittance after transitioning from RediMoney Express Pte Ltd, which was acquired by Digital Wallet back in August 2021.Alex Pugh (2 September 2021). [https://www.fintechfutures.com/2021/09/dwg-expands-into-singapore-with-remittance-app-acquisition “DWG expands into Singapore with remittance app acquisition”]. Fintech Futures. Retrieved 27 January 2025.In addition to offering its application, Smiles opened a physical location to deliver personal and face-to-face experiences called, “Smiles Studio” at Lucky Plaza.Smiles Mobile Remittance (23 May 2022). [https://www.smileswallet.com/japan/digital-wallet-group-brings-smiles-to-singapore-with-launch-of-mobile-remittance-app-for-foreign-workers | “Digital Wallet Group Brings Smiles to Singapore with Launch of Mobile Remittance App for Foreign Workers.”] Smiles Mobile Remittance. Retrieved 12 February 2025.

On 20 March 2023, Digital Wallet Group partnered with Lawson Bank to allow Smiles Mobile Remittance customers to send money and fund their e-wallets, known as Smiles Wallet, via any Lawson Bank ATM in JapanThe Nihon Keizai Shimbun (20 March 2023). [https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZRSP651423_Q3A320C2000000/ | “デジタルワレットとローソン銀行、「Smiles Mobile Remittance」の国際送金カードをATMで取扱開始.”] The Nikkei. Retrieved 12 February 2025.. In addition to all Japan Post (Yucho) Bank and AEON Bank ATMs that initially allowed Smiles customers to remit and fund, Lawson Bank's collaboration allowed Digital Wallet to offer over 50 thousand ATM locations in Japan.

In August 2023, all Smiles Mobile Remittance customers sending money to the Philippines were introduced to the Bills Payment feature added to the application.Digital Wallet Corporation (21 August 2023). [https://www.digitalwallet.co.jp/en/news/2023/8/21 “Smiles Mobile Remittance Officially Launches Bills Payment; ‘Pay with Smiles’ from Japan, Singapore and Canada.] Digital Wallet Corporation. Retrieved 12 February 2025. This allowed OFWs to invest in their futures and pay their bills directly. Also in August 2023, Smiles Singapore shifted to a fully digital experience, starting the next stage of the service.Digital Wallet Corporation (28 August 2023). [https://www.digitalwallet.co.jp/en/news/2023/8/28 “Digital Wallet’s Smiles Mobile Remittance to Complete Migration of Former RediMoney Service and Start Next Stage of Service for Singapore”.] Digital Wallet Corporation. Retrieved 12 February 2025.

In February 2024, Smiles Mobile Remittance became number one in having the largest ATM network in Japan with over 77 thousand locations. This follows Digital Wallet’s collaboration with Seven Bank and acquiring Seven Global Remit, an international remittance service of Seven-Eleven Group Japan.CNW Group (9 February 2024). [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/digital-wallet-corporation-acquires-international-130100083.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABwV-J1F3QYrrjbLoMM1uSzxBz29nmKMZY6uva05Z2jGTvMBl4atI6yVFVx5KsZUsBjlRoy_OUNvwuLDCc7lR4wWLvk7IZVL7bv9pKn987dLkDyyB0sJ6vnFbqxu9SDuoenjv9ZEX372I2dwdU8uTxnKZ5btMxq9zOh9pr92v80- “Digital Wallet Corporation acquires International Money Transfer Service, Company of Seven-Eleven Group Japan”.] Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 27 January 2025.

In addition to being able to send money overseas from Japan, Smiles Mobile Remittance users can send money from Singapore to the Philippines and Indonesia as well as from Canada to the Philippines and Vietnam. Customers can choose their beneficiary to receive either via cash pickup or directly from their bank account.

The remittance application can transfer money anytime to over 200 countries from Japan with a wide network of over one million cash pickup locations. Customers in Japan also have access to the largest network of ATMs with over 77 thousand locations.

The remittance service operates satellite offices in 9 locations, including its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan: Singapore, Canada, the United States, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal, and EU.