Facebook is launching a new feature that allows people to send and receive cash on its Messenger app.
The social network wrote in a blog post today that they will be rolling out this feature in the United States in the coming months, rivaling other digital wallet services such as PayPal and Venmo.
Other tech companies such as Snapchat, which partnered with Square in November, and Google already allow its users to send money instantly through a message.
To send money on Facebook, users will have to add a Visa or Mastercard debit card issued by a U.S. bank to their account. Once they start a message with a friend, they tap a money sign, enter the amount they want to send, tap pay and then add their debit card to send money.
Facebook shows how it works in a video here:
But with privacy and security being a top concern for users who store their debit card information digitally, Facebook is stressing to users that the feature is safe and secure.
The company said it encrypts the information, users software and hardware protections, stores the payment systems in a secure environment and has a team of anti-fraud specialists keep an eye out for suspicious activity.
Users can also add a PIN after they add their debit card information to messenger for extra security, Facebook said.
Photo Credit: Facebook
