Facebook Messenger Payments Launch Nationwide in U.S.

After testing Messenger person-to-person payments in New York City, Facebook has expanded the money transfer service to the entire U.S.

David Marcus, head of messaging products for Facebook, made the announcement June 30 through a post on the social media site. Marcus, former president of PayPal, left his role at the eBay subsidiary a year ago to join Facebook and help the company further develop its Messenger service.

Facebook Messenger app users can initiate free money transfers through linked Visa or MasterCard debit cards by tapping a dollar button, entering an amount and tapping "pay" on the screen through iOS and Android devices or desktop computers. The money transfers move from the payer's checking account to the recipient's checking account, Marcus said. The transfers are not completed in real time and could take several days to complete, depending on the banks involved.

The Messenger service, offered as a standalone app on mobile devices, allows Facebook users to communicate with other Facebook users, either in one-on-one sessions or group chats.