ATMCASH

We at ATMCash are proud to announce we have made our 48th Kiva loan!

This particular loan went to Minu, in beautiful Nepal.  Minu maintains her own food production and distribution service that operates in the small Tangal region just outside of Kathmandu.

If you are not familiar, Kiva is an organization that allows people to lend money online directly to people in developing countries worldwide.  Microfinance groups operate locally in each country to facilitate the screening and validity of borrowers before being posted the the Kiva site for lenders to peruse. Loan repayment schedules vary but almost all loans are fully repaid.

Every day we are given the great privilege to assist our users with sending money to their friends or family abroad for a multitude of reasons.  So, when it’s finally our turn to be the sender of funds and not just the facilitator, we get thoroughly excited.

We wish Minu great success in her business ventures. We hope this loan will directly effect not only the output of her business, but the prosperity of her family and community.

Guatemala is known more for its status as a developing nation with an abundance of biodiversity than as a place where social activism flourishes and makes world news.  However, through this week’s demonstration about 30 miles from Guatemala City, a different characterization was brought to light.

More than 12,000 people joined forces in creating a human chain scaling to the top of Volcan de Agua (Water Volcano), to stand up against domestic violence in the Central American nation.  Participants joined hands and led themselves up the volcano from the early morning hours, before reaching the crater at the peak.

Once at the summit, a massive blanket was unfurled with a heart.  On top of the heart, participants spelled out 2012, to signify the dedication that will be made to preventing and fighting domestic violence. Even new Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina took part with his contingency and provided the nation’s flag in the center of the display.

The event was organized in part by the local British Embassy who works closely with many local groups to sponsor a ‘generational change’ throughout the nation. One that will see multiplied effects nationwide should there be a decrease in violence.

Currently, the greatest source of foreign income in Guatemala is through remittances from citizens abroad.  Whether it’s weekly, monthly, or just for special occasions, Guatemalans in America show a deep sense of care sending money to their family back home.

Many Guatemalans left for America to explore other opportunities, be it for employment, or their family.  To see their countrymen gathering en masse to stand up for a great cause can only cause emotions of delight and joy.

Unified acts such as this will cause progressive thought, action and inspire many country-wide, and abroad to remain prideful in their Guatemalan heritage.

Today we celebrate Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., a true American legend.  He would have turned 83 this weekend, and were he alive, he would continue to be an influential public figure.

No matter your ethnic or religious background, most people are able to find valuable truths, and lessons in MLK’s quotes, writings, and actions.

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

The above quote (among many) stuck out to us here at ATMCash. We felt it was worth sharing.  After some reflection here in our offices, we realized that we are privileged enough to talk to people everyday that live out this ideal.

Those that are aiding family or friends in a far away nation clearly have “decided to stick with love”.  Despite whatever issues remain in their lives, people selflessly send money to their friends and family, not allowing personal circumstance to be a “burden to bear”

This message from MLK also embodies a positive and optimistic mindset that allows him to overlook the unfortunate realities of his time.  Forward thinking and hopefulness are characteristics shared by those who send money abroad knowing that every dollar, baht, or peso can an immense impact on someone’s future.

MLK would admire the progress that has been made since his passing, but it’s a safe prediction that he would never be satisfied.  With an undying vigor, he would strive for continued improvement as individuals, as well as a unified world community as a whole.

Wednesday morning saw another large earthquake strike off the shores of Indonesia.  It was only a little over six years ago that a similarly measured earthquake launched a tsunami throughout Southeast  Asia.  Enormous waves were the culprit that took the lives of more than 230,000 people following the 2004 earthquake.

While this week’s quake was similar in magnitude, luckily its after effects were minimal.  Thankfully no waves were sent outward to terrorize Southeast Asian nations.  For hours after the initial early AM tremble, citizens remained anxious, hoping against the image of a wall of water moving towards the coast.  Many immediately headed for high ground, taking no chances.

There was no such waves.  The events served as an excellent test-run for locals, as they were able to use the preparation tactics that have been put in place during the last few years.  A large part of these strategies have been put in place through United Nations Development Program funding.  This funding has allowed local teams and organizations to be formed, to draft emergency plans, and inform citizens of the proper steps to take to be prepared for a disaster situation.

Another source of emergency aid for Indonesians, (as well as other parts of Southeast Asia) is from family and friends abroad. As the fourth most populous nation worldwide, Indonesia maintains a large emigrant community worldwide.  The earthquake this week has also served as another reminder that things can change quickly and being prepared is vital. Many who feel that their family is indeed ill-prepared to deal with a major natural disaster are sending money or ordering them supplies.  The funds or supplies can then be stored for safe-keeping.

The growing awareness and preparedness of Indonesian communities will surely save lives going forward and leave family members abroad resting easier.

Do any of these taglines sound familiar?

“60% discount on Roof Estimate”
“Join a Class Action Lawsuit!”
“Try the Latest Herbal Remedies!”
“Clone Yourself Today in Just 15 Minutes!”
“Missing something in the bedroom?”

Ok, well maybe I made up one of them, but the others are all too common queries found in our email accounts on a daily basis.  Their presence is especially large now as the holiday season remains in full swing.  Email marketing campaigns are aggressive as ever from both respectable, known companies, as well as spam happy and at times shady enterprises.

As money transfer specialists, we have become experts when it comes to fraud prevention and general online security.  Protection of your email address has proved to be a difficult front to defend. Here are some important tips to fight the battle against the barrage of sales emails that will continue to flood your inbox.

Unsubscribe, Unsubscribe, Unsubscribe

It’s a simple step that many of us fail to take. At the bottom of most email inquiries is an “Unsubscribe” link that will remove your address from their mailing list. Don’t be afraid to click the link, even from established retailers. Many people put off clicking that button in hopes that one day that perfect offer will arrive in their inbox.

Enough people who unsubscribe will signal to companies that they need to improve their offers to entice people to tolerate their emails. Or it will just tell them to develop some new marketing strategies.

Alternate Email Addresses

When filling out forms, signing up for one-time use services, or other situations where immediate contact with you isn’t required use an email different than your primary one (make sure to remember the password).  Keep your daily email somewhat under wraps to keep your correspondences safe, secure, and supremely organized.

This is the perfect opportunity to dust off that old yahoo, hotmail, or even AOL address. Sure the address probably is somewhat embarrassing, with “bball” or “cutie” in it, but it’s the perfect destination for all your email marketers’ messages to remain captive. You then get the pleasure of signing in occasionally, taking a peak at your email prisoners, and seeing if there is any value.

Spam Protection

You can employ a third-party service or plug-in that integrates with your computer or email client to seek-and-destroy spam messages as they try to enter your inbox.  This option will most benefit from those that have already had their email addresses exposed from other activity.

For those feisty marketers that can elude your spam defense mechanisms, you should simply be able to designate their messages with the ‘Mark as Spam’ button within your email client.  Going forward they should then be left standing at the door, unable to gain entrance to your inbox.

Website Registrations

Upon registering for new online stores, services, or sites, personal information is usually securely taken. The issue arises with their reliability, with regards to what they will do with it.

Watch out for automatically checked boxes near the end of registration forms that opt you in for occasional email notifications.  Unfortunately to some, “occasional” is a daily occurrence that quickly becomes an annoyance.

Also, be on the lookout for “Terms and Service” or “Privacy Policy” agreements, aka the fine print of any registration or subscription. This location is where sites might have details of whether they will be sharing your email address for “marketing” purposes with others.  Take a minute to glance through the dense writing and syphon out any possibly harmful clauses like a mosquito.

Know the Site

Avoid blindly inputting personal information without an idea of the reputation of the site in question.  If there is any doubt, execute a quick search for some reviews about the site.  Gathering reviews will allow you to gage the experience others have had, so a proper judgement on their reliability can be made.

Can I Eliminate Spam and Marketing Emails Altogether?

It will be hard, but you should try. But if you complete the steps to take control of your inbox, email will be much less of a chore.

Here’s the instant replay: Unsubscribe from those nagging companies. Get to know the site you are giving your information to via online reviews. Opt-out of automatically checked boxes for less daily bother. For not as important registrations use a secondary email address.

Be informed! Be diligent! Do the job of controlling your online information, because you don’t want someone else to hire themselves. They will do a much worse job.

Although the news is not necessarily “breaking”, the deadline is quickly approaching.  For only the second time, Mexicans abroad will be permitted to vote in the upcoming 2012 Mexican presidential election.

The registration period opened in October and runs until January 15th. Registration can be done online or at a local Mexican consulate, with ballots then arriving later in the mail.  The cost and push for this campaign for foreign voters is being backed by the Federal Electoral Institute.  This investment of nearly 3 million dollars should see many Mexican immigrants currently in the U.S. exercise their civic right.

The influx of foreign votes may be a valuable chip as the presidential race moves forward. Mexican voters in the U.S. hold distinct opinions, gathered from their experience working and living abroad, which can be factored into their voting decision.

Remittances remain a major contributor to the Mexican economy.  Thousands of people send money on a regular basis to Mexico, with nearly 11.2 billion dollars sent back within the first six months of 2011.

Flows of money will not stop to Mexico, they will only continue to increase.  It is reasonable to think that greater consideration given to Mexicans abroad may pique their interest and influence going forward.  Those abroad may then be more apt to transfer money to organizations, send money to Mexico for their family, or invest in business opportunities.

Today, December 5th, marks the 84th birthday for Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej.  King Adulyadej, also known as Rama IX, to designate his place in the Thai dynasty history, is one of the most revered figures in the history of the Southeast Asian nation.  King Adulyadej’s reign has lasted 65 years to date, leaving him as the world’s current longest running monarch.

Although the King’s power is technically muted to exclude him from political dealings, he has stepped in throughout his reign to facilitate important agreements, such as the nation’s transition to Democracy.  Despite opposition from some groups, a large percentage of Thais exalt the King as a vital part of their cultural heritage.

This year’s celebrations were noticeably subdued due to the King’s poor health and the continuing struggle of many affected by flooding throughout the nation.  Many celebrations, with hundreds of thousands of attendees each took place.  At the Grand Palace in Bangkok there was a mass candle lighting ceremony, where the King made a rare public appearance.  In his short message, he urged Thais to “cooperate and help each other.”

Respect and admiration of King Adulyadej is visible on a daily basis throughout the country.  His image can be seen on billboards, in merchant’s shops, and clothing.  A special video tribute (which all are asked to stand for) is also played before all movies in Thailand, which can easily bring goosebumps to Thai’s and foreigners alike.  The montage changes yearly and a couple renditions can be seen below.

The videos show various images of His Majesty in different forms around the country, juxtaposed with scenes of the Thai people united, and working together.  Thailand is a country of great tradition and pride, with King Adulyadej serving as a symbol of those characteristics.

His desire to minimize his own celebrations in respect for those still suffering from recent flooding will possibly endear him more.  More importantly it will bring national and worldwide attention to the poor state of affairs, and need for global financial assistance.

In this time of struggle many organizations and Thai people abroad are doing their best to send money to Thailand to assist those left in difficult circumstances.  Any type of money transfer will surely go a long way to relieving the floods that have besieged the amazing country.

Wanna stay in the know? Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! Join our circle on Google+!

The presence of women in the workplace has improved dramatically over the last forty years.  Accounting for only those with paying jobs, the employment percentage of women in America has grown from 48 percent in 1970 to 64 percent last year.  It is interesting to distinguish the difference between these percentages worldwide.  In Nordic countries the rate is over 70 percent while  Eastern and Southern European percentages are closer to that of the 1970′s American rate.  These rates aren’t a matter of right or wrong but merely bring to light the differing cultural norms and governmental programs in place that make the workplace a more accessible venue for women.

The biggest factor contributing to the increase of these percentages worldwide is increased levels of education for women.  Obviously the more education someone has, the more competitive they can be in the workplace.  Since the 1980′s women have been graduating from American universities at a higher clip than men.  As women have invested their time in education, many have delayed starting a family, and spent more years working.

But a historical shift in the young woman’s point of view also occurred within America over the last 70 years.  As young girls saw their mother’s going to work daily, possibly in low-level employment, the act holding a steady job became more of an accepted norm. During the same time frame, divorce became much more commonplace, forcing women into the workplace and instilling the thought that a backup income source may not be a bad idea.With increased workforce participation, women have helped economies worldwide as a new source of GDP expansion, tax income, and overall development.  Previously underutilized, all women are now able to participate more fully in the economy.  In America, dual income households in many cases mandatory, and things are improving in slower reacting nations worldwide.  With this occurrence, women have become greater forces in the marketplace for goods and services.

It can be argued that women have always had a strong say-so in terms of purchase decisions within the household but as their employment rates have increased, their influence has only grown.  With more disposable income available, households are now more likely to look to help friends and family financially through a money transfer.   It can be both a luxury and necessity to send money worldwide to friends or family, but a challenge that has been easier to meet since greater inclusion of women in the workplace.

The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) is the most populated country in the world with over 1.3 billion residents.  The Communist Party of China, which governs the country maintains an extreme level of control over all aspects of Chinese daily life. Among their reins is access to internet domains.

Anyone who has visited China has seen firsthand the power the government wields over online visitation. Dominant American social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Vimeo are censored by the PRC. Even seemingly harmless Google Docs, and The Huffington Post are taboo to the Chinese.  Of course there are ways around the censors, but to the majority of the 500 million plus Internet users in China these sites remain a mystery.

Interestingly enough the blocking of prominent U.S. based sites has spawned an opportunity for Chinese tech entrepreneurs to develop their own duplicate versions.  Among others, RenRen is a Facebook equivalent, and Kaixin001 mirrors Twitter.

China has seen hoards of new users flock to social media due to a few factors.  Extensive citizen migration from rural to urban communities increases the desire of many to keep in touch with those left behind. Surely an unintended consequence, the PRC law permitting only one child per family has left many young Chinese without others similar in age to interact with in their family or at home; thrusting them into the online sphere.   Compounding these circumstances is more affordable broadband Internet access throughout China.

Social Media will only continue to grow in China. In a Synthesio survey, 95% of Chinese are more trusting of firms and companies that are active in social media and micro-blogging.  This statistic can partially be explained by the government’s stark stand against social media via the national firewall.  As the ancient proverb says: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”.

Check out this awesome infographic for more insights into Social Media in China.

Another Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone with U.S. consumers taking advantage of deals ranging from tech gadgets, to furniture, to designer shoes.  As much as the carving of the turkey and pumpkin pie are part of the American fabric, Black Friday and Cyber Monday continue to rise in popularity.

According to IBM, overall spending for Black Friday increased by 39.3 percent overall, while spending with online retailers grew by 24.3 percent.  ComScore, who measures digital business analytics reported a total of $816 million in online sales, making Black Friday the largest online shopping day of 2011.

Preliminary Cyber Monday results show 33 percent increases in sales over 2010. More intriguing is the growth of of sales originating from mobile devices, which reached over 7 percent in 2011, in comparison to approximately 2 percent last year.

While excessive consumer spending on material goods can reach outlandish heights, the continual growth of Black Friday and Cyber Monday spending does indicate some positive signs. Immense spending on behalf of the American people may be an indicator of some families improving circumstances in the economy. The other side of the coin is that maybe many people simply know a deal when they see one, and pounced on their given opportunities.  Both cases are positives with regards to the American consumer.

Another reason for the increase in online shopping this Black Friday, prior to Cyber Monday is the continued proliferation of mobile devices.  Internet ready devices are making their way into not only more targeted users’ hands, but also those who are perceived to be out of the demographic, such as pre-teens and the elderly. Smartphone, tablet, as well as laptop ownership continues to grow nationwide allowing users increased online interaction whether it be in the social media or e-commerce realms. This increased time online connects more users with targeted ad placements.  The sum of these factors is more people with more convenient access to e-commerce sites leading to more purchases.

The online spending plateau over the weekend also serves as an indicator of how comfortable Americans are completing digital transactions. This continued growth is a positive sign for those providing online services which naturally are less tangible than hard goods, and thus have been in some cases slower to be adopted.  Online services such as money transfer firms, digital personal assistants, or even snail mail for example can look forward to expanding growth as Americans maximize the capabilities of their devices.  Utilizing devices to their full range of possibilities leaves users more time doing the activities they value most and less time at third party locations dealing with logistical matters.

Look for this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday mark to be exceeded once again next year as we move closer and closer to digital marketplace domination. Think of it this way, more online spending and emphasis on Cyber Monday versus in-store spending on Black Friday means less hoards, lines, and possibilities of pepper spray. If you have yet to complete your holiday shopping, don’t fret, there will still be deals to be had, just remain vigilant and persistent.