Company Recognized as ‘Best Network Branded Gift Program’ and ‘Outstanding New Entrant’ at 2010 Prepaid Expo

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), a leader in the money-transfer segment of global payments, was awarded two prestigious prepaid awards for its new prepaid programs. Western Union’s Gift and Greeting Card service was selected as a winner in the Best Network Branded Gift Program and The Western Union MoneyWise™ Visa® Prepaid Card was awarded “Outstanding New Entrant” in the Best General Purpose Reloadable Card Program category. The two awards were presented at the 2010 Prepaid Expo during the PayBefore Awards ceremony hosted in Las Vegas.



Considered the most prestigious in the prepaid stored-value card industry, the PayBefore Awards, now in their fourth year, are presented annually by Prepaid Media.



Western Union’s prepaid go-to-market strategy and suite of prepaid services in the United States include the Western Union® MoneyWise™ Visa® and Western Union Gold Card Visa® Prepaid Reloadable Cards, the Western Union Gift Card and Greeting Card*, and the Western Union GoCashSM service. Western Union’s prepaid services complement the Western Union consumer experience, providing consumers convenience and ease-of-use in managing their day-to-day personal finances.



“As prepaid cards and services continue to gain momentum with consumers, particularly in today’s economy, Western Union sees its prepaid services platform as an opportunity to strengthen both its relationship and value proposition with consumers,” said Greg Schneider, senior vice president of marketing information management, loyalty and global cards, Western Union. “We are honored to receive this industry recognition.”



The Western Union® MoneyWise™ and Gold Card Visa® Prepaid Cards



The Western Union® MoneyWise™ and Gold Card Visa prepaid cards provide consumers with the convenience of a reloadable prepaid card without many of the fees, such as monthly maintenance, purchase transaction and customer-service fees.



The Western Union® MoneyWise™ and Gold Card Visa prepaid cards incorporate all the benefits of a reloadable Visa prepaid card and offer consumers increased convenience and ease of use, including adding money in four convenient ways:



Benefits:

• The ability to use the cards anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted including online and at ATMs1


• The cards are protected by Visa’s zero-liability policy


• No credit check or bank account required to sign up for either card


• The ability to manage card accounts both online and over the phone

Adding Money:

• Reload money in-person at any of the over 46,000 participating Western Union Agent locations in the U.S.


• Add funds online using a bank account


• Use direct deposit through an employer


• Load a Western Union Money Transfer® transaction directly to the cards

The Western Union Gold Card, the company's consumer loyalty program with 8 million members in the U.S. alone, has been enhanced with the convenience of a reloadable Visa® prepaid card.

• The Western Union® Gold Card Visa® Prepaid Card Benefits


• The card combines both rewards and a Visa reloadable Prepaid Card


• Consumers save time and can earn valuable rewards sending qualifying Western Union Money Transfer® and Quick Collect® transactions


• Western Union Gold Card members do not need to fill out money-transfer forms when sending qualifying money transfers


• Gold Card member information is easily retrieved expediting transactions


• Members earn rewards with qualifying transfers


• The Western Union Gold Card also serves as a calling card, allowing the user to recharge phone time

Consumers can sign up for either program by simply visiting www.westernunion.com.



The Western Union Gift Card



Western Union launched last November a Visa® prepaid gift card and greeting card offering, providing consumers in the U.S. new ways to send the gift of money anytime of the year. Consumers can quickly and conveniently send the new Gift and Greeting Card to loved ones by simply visiting www.westernunion.com or www.wugift.com.



1. Pick from nearly 50 different greeting card designs covering multiple occasions, from birthdays, anniversaries and seasonal holidays to weddings, graduations and other milestones.

2. Simply add a personal message which will be printed in the greeting card.

3. Select the amount to load onto the Western Union Visa Gift Card, up to $100.

4. Choose from three shipping options including FedEx overnight, second day delivery services and regular first class mail.

5. The personalized greeting card along with the Western Union Visa Gift Card is delivered directly to the recipient.



As part of its new prepaid gift card offerings, Western Union also unveiled the Western Union® Wyclef Jean Visa® prepaid gift card featuring the artist's name and image. The card, available online at www.westernunion.com/wyclef, gives fans the opportunity to show their affinity for Wyclef Jean.



Western Union® GoCashSM Service



Western Union® GoCashSM is a new prepaid money-transfer service that can be purchased in-lane at select retailers, similar to gift cards. Consumers can choose amounts of $50, $100 or $200 for either domestic or international money transfers for a flat fee per denomination. Once purchased, senders call Western Union or go online to westernunion.com at their convenience to complete the transaction by providing information about themselves and their receivers. Both retailers and consumers benefit from the speed and convenience offered by the GoCash service.



* Cards issued by MetaBank™ pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. INC. MetaBank; Member FDIC. A $2.50 per month servicing fee applies after 12 consecutive months of non-use.

¹ ATM Cash Withdrawal Fee of $1.00, plus applicable ATM operator fees apply.

² Phone service provided by a third-party telecommunications provider and not Western Union. For customer service and current rate information call 1-888-520-7924. Calls are billed in one-minute increments and are rounded up to the nearest penny. Phone time rewards expire 90 days after award date. Prepaid minutes expire 365 days after latest recharge.



CALLS INITIATED FROM A PAY PHONE ARE SUBJECT TO A SURCHARGE OF 90¢. As of January 1, 2010, the maximum charge per minute for calls within the continental U.S. is 3.9¢. International rates differ according to destination; calls to cellular phones will be billed at higher rates. Rates are subject to applicable taxes and may change without notice. Calls to 700, 900 or certain toll-free numbers or operator-assisted calls may be blocked or charged at a higher rate.



About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Custom House branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, as well as send payments and purchase money orders. The Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services are offered through a combined network of more than 410,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories. In 2009, The Western Union Company completed 196 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $71 billion of principal between consumers, and 415 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

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