Digital-native generation becomes largest remittance sender group as Zepz reveals changing remittance behaviours in new insights report

London, 18 August, 2026 – Zepz, the global payments group behind leading remittance brands WorldRemit and Sendwave, has identified a profound shift in the profile of global remittance senders. A younger, digitally native generation is now the driving force behind global money movement. Women account for almost half of all remittance senders, and today’s senders are managing increasingly interconnected financial responsibilities that span multiple households and countries.

The findings are drawn from Zepz’s first proprietary report, More Than a Transfer: Understanding Today’s Global Remitter, which analyses data from more than 5.5 million unique senders.* Together, they provide one of the clearest pictures yet of how the profile, behaviours and financial responsibilities of global remittance senders are evolving. 

Young adults are reshaping expectations of cross-border finance

Adults aged 25–34 now represent the largest sender group across the Zepz network, accounting for 30% of all unique senders. Having grown up with mobile banking and digital-first financial services, this generation expects cross-border finance to be as fast, intuitive and flexible as the on-demand apps they use every day. As their influence grows, they are raising the standard for the industry, accelerating demand for services that offer greater speed, simplicity, control and flexibility.

Women are becoming an economic force in remittances

Women now account for 45.9% of remittance transactions, having increased consistently year on year. This challenges the traditional story of remittances centred on the male migrant worker sending money home to support his family to paint a more complete picture. Over the past five years, the gap between the average amounts sent by men and women has also more than halved, and in major sending markets women now send more. This points to a remittance market that is becoming more balanced, more representative and more reflective of the realities of modern migration.

Supporting loved ones increasingly means supporting wider networks

The analysis also challenges the perception of remittances as occasional payments or emergency support. Almost half (45.3%) of all transfers are below $50, revealing a pattern of small, regular transfers that help families manage everyday expenses, education, healthcare and life’s important moments across borders. Yet while payments may be small, the financial lives behind them are becoming increasingly complex. Today, 70% of senders support multiple recipients, and often across multiple countries, reflecting a shift from simple money movement to managing interconnected financial responsibilities. 

Barrie Morris, Interim CEO of Zepz, said: “For years, the remittance story has been told through transaction volumes and growth rates. What this report shows is that people aren’t simply sending money across borders – they’re managing increasingly complex financial lives, supporting multiple loved ones, planning ahead and balancing responsibilities across countries. As those responsibilities grow, the financial services they rely on must evolve too to give people the confidence that their money will move quickly, securely and reliably.”

Download More Than a Transfer: Understanding Today’s Global Remitter research report: https://zepz.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/ZEPZ-MORE-THAN-A-TRANSFER.pdf

*Data analysed across the Zepz network between May 2021 and May 2026.