Western Union - Send and Transfer Money Online - Foreign Currency Exchange, Rates, International FX, Business Solutions - Advertiser Profile Page

Western Union Business Solutions

Advertiser since:
19 January 2011

Organisation Name:
Western Union

Online at:
http://www.business.westernunion.com.au
http://www.onlinefx.westernunion.com.au

Contact:
Peter Seers
Western Union Business Solutions
Melbourne Office
Level 23, HWT Tower, 40 City Road, Southbank, Victoria 3006, Australia
Phone 61.3.9674.7176 | 0401.363.652(Cell)
peter.seers @ business.westernunion.com
http://business.westernunion.com.au

Details:
This information has been collected from the Western Union website on 19 January 2011. Western Union Business Solutions are advertising site wide across the Newcomers Network website.

Keywords:

Western, Union, send, transfer, money, online, foreign, exchange, rates, international, fx, business, solutions, advertiser, profile, page, currency, deals, forex, cash, worldwide, currency, converter, rates, rate, market, dollars, dollar, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Australia, Dublin, Ireland, London, United Kingdom

Details:

Currency Converter
http://business.westernunion.com.au/currency-converter/

Online FX
http://onlinefx.westernunion.com.au

Western Union Business Solutions
http://business.westernunion.com.au

Moving Business Forward

We help companies compete globally. Through a strong focus on payment services and foreign exchange expertise, we design solutions with your business in mind.
Backed by a brand with 150 years of innovation, a global financial network, and access to over 140 currencies, our world-class service continues to help clients operate across borders and currencies in fast, reliable and convenient ways.

Business Solutions

Fluent in foreign exchange
With our suite of payment and receivables solutions, foreign exchange transactions have never been so easy and cost effective.

Get ready for take off
FX Intelligence
Be in the know
Get the knowledge you need to make informed business decisions, with market intelligence and FX educational content.

Get the tools
In the News
Don't take our word for it
Often called upon by major financial news channels, we provide currency expertise on a market that never sleeps.

Western Union Business Solutions

Western Union® Business Solutions is a trusted global leader in foreign exchange and international business payments with clients operating in markets around the world.

Backed by a brand with 150 years of innovation, a global financial network, and access to over 140 currencies, our world-class service continues to help clients operate across borders and currencies in fast, reliable and convenient ways.

Company Profile

We help companies do business in international markets. Our global network, industry expertise, dedicated support and wide array of competitive advantages provide new payment options and opportunities.

Corporate Profile
A World-Class Brand. Western Union® Business Solutions is a global leader in foreign exchange and international payments. With industry expertise and market-leading technology, we help companies deliver funds fast.

In 2009, Western Union acquired Custom House, an award-winning industry leader with more than 18 years of experience in international payments and currency risk management. By leveraging Custom House's technological innovation and industry experience this acquisition allowed us to further establish our presence in the field of global business-to-business payments, helping our clients expand into competitive, profitable new markets.

One Focus: Our Clients
We aim to empower our clients with the tools and knowledge they need to make informed decisions.

We work in with our clients to ensure that we understand their unique business needs. Whether you require an online payment solution or personalised support to help guide you through the world of foreign exchange, our deep industry expertise and distinguished service portfolio enable you to make international payments and manage currency risk with confidence.

The Western Union Business Solutions Advantage
We enable companies to do business in international markets. Our global network, industry expertise, dedicated support and wide array of competitive advantages provide new payment options and opportunities.

High ethical and regulatory standards
Industry-leading knowledge
Strong foreign exchange expertise
Diverse service suite
Transparent rates, fees and payment processes
Innovative thinking
Exceptional customer service
Versatile business solutions

Learn about how we protect our clients

Compliance and Legal

We champion international security and regulations and ensure high standards of excellence and unparalleled ethics to our clients.

Western Union Business Solutions is subject to a wide range of laws and regulations and has a team dedicated to addressing these areas.

Data Security
Western Union Business Solutions establishes procedures and employs technology to help protect your information.

If you have questions about compliance or data security, please contact our compliance team.

http://business.westernunion.com.au/contact/
general/?subject=ComplianceAndLegal

Global Presence

With offices throughout the Asia Pacific region, North America and Europe, we offer a wealth of services around the globe. Read More

Global Locations
With trading offices throughout Asia Pacific region, North America and Europe and an international network of banking relationships, Western Union Business Solutions is pleased to service clients around the world with a wealth of innovative foreign exchange and payments solutions.

APAC
Level 13, 130 Pitt Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
Telephone: +61.2.8001.2100
Fax: +61.2.8001.2122

Europe
2nd Floor, 12 Appod St. London
United Kingdom, EC2A 2AW
Telephone: +44.845.882.4790
Fax: +44.845.882.4791

Canada
517 Fort St.
Victoria, BC V8W 1E7
Telephone: 250.220.1015
Fax: 250.992.2445

USA
100 Summit Ave.
Montvale, NJ 07645
Telephone: 866-344-4583
Fax: 201.263.5881

Corporate Foreign Exchange Solutions

Empowering clients with innovative solutions
We understand that when you work with foreign currencies, volatile currency fluctuations can raise your company's expenses, diminish your profits, and make accurate long-term planning virtually impossible.

Foreign Currency Payments and Receivables
As one of the largest foreign exchange providers in the world, we can offer our clients expertise and experience on more than 140 currencies. Our extensive network of global banking relationships means your payments and receivables are delivered through our streamlined payment processes.

An online account provides greater efficiency and savings when dealing with multiple currencies. A Western Union® online corporate account will complement your foreign payment and receivables needs and let you initiate multiple transactions without ever leaving your office.

As a foreign exchange specialist, we provide the following advantages:

Fast transactions
Accurate delivery
Fee transparency

Corporate Services
Our dedicated FX specialists bring market knowledge and hedging strategies into your hands, empowering you to do business the way you need to. Recommended for companies with $500k+ in FX payments annually.

Currency risk consultation
Access to FX market expertise
Multiple payment processing
Receivables solutions

More corporate services details
http://business.westernunion.com.au/corporate/

Currency Risk Management Consultation

With trading offices and foreign exchange specialists located all over the world, we can help you improve your cash and risk management, decrease the costs associated with foreign exchange, and help you to capitalise on market opportunities to increase profits.

All of our clients' needs are different. A dedicated FX specialist will analyse your specific business needs and design a plan to strategically utilise foreign exchange products to better achieve your business goals.

Currency Risk Management Strategy

Western Union® Business Solutions is dedicated to reducing our clients' exposure to currency fluctuations and increasing their competitive advantage with an effective risk management plan.

We take the time to understand your particular business operations so that we can better assess your current FX processes and recommend a solution that meets your goals.

A dedicated FX specialist will analyse your history of foreign exchange transactions to learn where improvements can be made.

We will consider your company`s appetite for risk, your long term goals and your short term needs. We'll implement a strategy for today and for the future.

Using forwards, options, or market orders, our strategy helps protects your company`s funds in a volatile market and allow you to benefit from favourable currency moves.
With the right plan in place, foreign exchange can be a key competitive advantage. Our FX specialists work around the clock monitoring currency rates and communicating with clients in order to deliver outstanding protection and optimised trading for your business.

We have local branches around the world to serve our corporate clients. Please contact us to set up an appointment.

International Payment Solutions

Whether you send payments online or through your local FX specialist by phone, we give you options to help serve your needs. Choose to deliver funds by wire for speed, or EFT/ACH to save on cost.

Fast and accurate transactions
Payment tracking and status reports
Fee transparency
Online Corporate Account Access
With your corporate account, you can manage and execute foreign currency payments from your office.

Bulk order uploads and downloads
Multi-level permissions
Automatic notifications to recipients
Rates and fees stated upfront
Transaction history and reporting
Manage forward contracts

Risk Management Services

Foreign exchange risk management can help you protect your business in a turbulent market – allowing you to focus on what you do best. Our foreign exchange specialists can help you build a solid risk management strategy with some of the following tools:

Forward Contracts:
Receive guaranteed exchange rates on local currencies to be purchased or sold in the future.

How does a forward contract work?
The forward contract is a straightforward currency hedging tool. It effectively allows you to buy or sell a foreign currency at today's market price, while delaying the settlement of the contract to some future point in time of your choosing. To compensate for the delayed settlement of the FX trade, the price of the forward is calculated by adjusting for the time value of money; a concept that states a dollar today is worth that much plus interest in the future. An adjustment, called the forward points, is applied to the spot price to compensate for the interest rate differential between the two currencies in question with the passage of time.

A forward is no different than a standard currency trade except that the settlement date is pushed forward into the future and the rate is adjusted slightly to account for the interest rate differential between the two currencies in question. When you sell a currency with a low interest rate and buy a currency with a higher interest rate in the forward market, you can obtain a forward price that is more favourable than can be achieved in the spot market.

The forward contract doesn't cost anything up front to book and provides you with a predetermined rate of exchange for a specified amount of currency.

A forward contract has one downside: on the day of settlement you are obligated to settle at the predetermined price. In exchange for this rate certainty, you forgo the ability to participate in the spot market if the prevailing market rate is more favourable than your predetermined forward rate.

The forward (exchange) rate is the rate at which the counterparties will execute the future currency exchange. This rate is based solely on the interest rate differential between the currencies. It is structured to eliminate any possible arbitrage opportunities between the spot and interest rate markets.

Market Orders: Secure your ideal pricing and desired exchange rate as soon as it becomes available.

Options: Maintain a position that is fully protected AND take advantage of favourable market fluctuations. What are Options and how do they work?

Currency Options Webinar

Currency options are an excellent way to help mitigate your exposure to foreign currency fluctuations when doing business internationally. Mark Frey, Regional Director for Corporate Canada explains what currency options are and how they can help to protect your company's bottom line when you're conducting business abroad in this informative hour–long Webinar.

Options 101
The Benefits of Currency Options
The fundamentals of Currency Options
How to protect your business from adverse currency movements
How to profit from favourable currency movements

These tools are part of currency hedging, a strategy employed to manage foreign currency risk. As part of the strategy offering, we'll show you how to use these services to your advantage.

Currency Hedging

In very simple terms, currency hedging is the act of entering into a financial contract in order to protect against unexpected, expected or anticipated changes in currency exchange rates. Currency hedging is used by financial investors and businesses to eliminate risks they encounter when conducting business internationally. Hedging can be likened to an insurance policy that limits the impact of foreign exchange risk.

Hedging can be accomplished by purchasing or booking different types of contracts that are designed to achieve specific goals. These goals are based on the level of risk the customer is exposed to and seeking protection from and allow the individual to lock in future rates without affecting, to a great extent, their liquidity.

Hedging can be a very complicated enterprise. The various hedging mechanisms range from basic to extremely intricate. The most prudent first steps, when considering a hedging strategy, would be to take note of potential FX exposure and, based on that, evaluate what goals need to be set and what actions need to be taken in order to mitigate that risk.

Western Union Hedging Process

Direct Options: Exchange currency at a predetermined rate and benefit from favourable market shifts. The risk taken is limited to the premium paid.

Range Forward: Establish both a worst case rate and a best case rate, which allows you to know from the outset the range in which you will be able to exchange your currency.

Custom Forward: Maintain a position that is fully hedged but also take advantage of favourable market movements on a predetermined percentage of your exposure.

Forward Extra: Take advantage of favourable market rates up to a preset 'trigger level'. If the market is unfavourable, you remain protected by a predetermined transaction rate.

Bonus Forward: Establish 'trigger rates' so that wherever the market is at expiry, your position is completely hedged against movement within your predetermined range.

Target Forward: Take advantage of a Target Forward, where you can achieve a rate that is more favourable than the corresponding forward exchange rate.

Convertible Options: Maintain a position that is fully hedged but also take advantage of favourable market movements if the market trades below a pre-set trigger level.

International Receivables for Business

No matter what industry you're in, managing your foreign accounts receivables can be time-consuming and costly. Western Union Business Solutions can help to simplify your accounts receivables process.

International Receivables Solution

Western Union Business Solutions can help manage your foreign receivables quickly and efficiently while providing reports and updates on payment status.

Receive payments directly to your AUS dollar account
Easily reconcile payments
Your clients can send funds in their local currency and you can receive it in yours

StudentPay solution for Education Institutions

Western Union Business Solutions' StudentPay service has been developed specifically for educational institutions. This unique receivables platform will help reduce costs, enhance efficiency and improve functionality when it comes to paying and processing international student fees.

No software installation, works with existing processes
Online webpage is co-branded with your institution's logo for easy recognition
12 different languages: Arabic, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, and Spanish

For Institutions looking to further improve efficiencies, Western Union Business Solutions has aligned with Medibank Private to offer an integrated solution that handles the set up and payment of students' required OSHC.

Contact us to learn more about receivables

Corporate Service Branches

Our corporate services branches are located around the world to better serve our business clients.

Sydney (Head Office):
Level 13, 130 Pitt Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
Telephone: 61.2.8001.2100
Toll Free: 1.800.887.773
Fax: 61.2.8001.2122

Search for a corporate services branch in your area.
Office Locator http://business.westernunion.com.au/corporate/locations/

Contact an FX representative

With Western Union Business Solution's comprehensive foreign exchange solutions, you can send and receive quick and easy payments, minimise your risk, and give your business a key competitive advantage.

If you would like to learn more about our services and how they can help you, please fill out the contact form below.

One of our FX representatives will contact you soon.
http://business.westernunion.com.au/corporate/request/

Business Solutions Overview

Foreign Exchange for Business
With a suite of tailored business services, we help enable businesses of all sizes to manage their international transactions, reduce risk, and act on market opportunities.

Online FX Payments
Send funds without leaving the office. Our online service can help simplify your payments to international suppliers. Ideal for businesses with less than $500k in payments annually.

24/7 online access
Real–time rate quotes
24 hour customer service

Online FX for Small Business
We can help you spend less time managing your payments and devote more time to growing your business. Our solutions are designed for how you would like to work: booking payments at your convenience, without going to the bank, and avoiding unnecessary fees.

Easy bank–to–bank transfers
Deliver payments right from your account to theirs, easily and conveniently with over 140 currencies available.

Transparent Rates
Lock in real-time rates. Our "Quick Quote" tool lets you check the latest rates at any time of day. There are never any surprises with all fees disclosed before you book a transaction.

Payment status visibility
Say good-bye to uncertainty with visibility into your payment status right from your computer. Your recipients can be notified via email once a payment has been made and you will always have access to a complete payment history.

Dedicated customer support
Get on the phone with one of our customer service representatives 24 hours a day, 6 days a week with any questions or concerns about your account, sending a payment or transfer status.

How it Works
Having an online account with us makes sending funds easy and convenient.

1. Set Up Your Account
After your account has been approved, simply add your bank account and your recipients' bank accounts. This information is used for future use and reduces the time it takes to book a transaction down to minutes.

2. Initiate Your Payment
Access our online system through simple drop down menus, enter payment information and choose how you would like your recipient to receive the funds. Confirm foreign exchange rate details and book your payment. We will send you an email with the payment specifications.

3. You Send Us the Funds
We provide a variety of ways for you to send us the payment in your currency including direct debit and BPayee options. See all options available at http://business.westernunion.com.au/online-fx/funding-and-payment-types/.

4. We Send the Payment Out
We will take care of the foreign exchange and quickly send the payment to your recipient in your specified currency. You can receive an email notifying you that the payment has been made. We can even send your recipient an email notifying them of the incoming payment.

Empowering clients with innovative solutions

In order to get your payments moving quickly, there are two separate steps to be aware of ahead of time. The first step involves determining how to provide us with the funds for your transaction. The second step determines the delivery method in which your beneficiary will receive the funds.

Step one: Sending us your funds
Choose how you will send the funds from your financial institution to us.

Sending Funds (to us)

Fee

Process Time*

Description

BPay
Recommended

1 day

Simply add Custom House** to your list of bill payees in your online banking account.

Available at the majority of major Australian banks and credit unions.

Direct Debit

3 days

Link your chequing account to Western Union. We'll withdraw funds when the transaction is booked.

Wire Transfers

1 day

Initiate a Wire Transfer through your bank. Wire instructions are provided to you at the time you book your transactions.

Sending bank may charge fee.

*All processing times (for the incoming payment) are subject to change.

**Western Union acquired Custom House in 2009 and owns and operates Custom House as Western Union Business Solutions along with it services under the Western Union name.

Step two: Choose your delivery method
We offers a variety of methods in which you may deliver funds to your beneficiary.

Please note that the recipient's bank may charge additional fees.

Delivery Method (to recipient)

Fee

Process Time

Description

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT/ACH) Recommended

3-5 days

Deposited directly to the recipient's bank account.

Available for most major currencies and countries in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.

Wire Transfers

$22

1-2 days

Deposited directly to the recipient's bank account but faster than an EFT/ACH.

Available for all currencies except KYD.

Draft (cheque)

10-15 days

Mailed as a draft (cheque) to the address of your recipient.

Available in select countries.

The World is at your Fingertips

Currencies marked * please call for assistance.

Albania Lek (ALL)
Algeria Dinar (DZD)
Angola Kwanza (AOA)
Argentina Peso (ARS)
Armenia Dram (AMD)
Aruba Guilder (AWG)
Australia Dollar (AUD)
Azerbaijan Manat (AZN)
Bahamas Dollar (BSD)
Bahrain Dinar (BHD)
Bangladesh Taka (BDT)
Barbados Dollar (BBD)
Belize Dollar (BZD)
Bermuda Dollar (BMD)
Bhutan Ngultrum (BTN)
Bolivia Boliviano (BOB)
Botswana Pula (BWP)
Brazil Real (BRL)
Brunei Dollar (BND)
Bulgaria Leva (BGN)
Burundi Franc (BIF)
Cambodia Riel (KHR)*
Canada Dollar (CAD)
Cape Verde Escudo (CVE)
Cayman Island Dollar (KYD)*
Chile Peso (CLP)
China Yuan (CNY)
Colombia Peso (COP)
Commuanute Financiere BCEAO Africaine Franc (XOF)
Commuanute Financiere BEAC Africaine Franc (XAF)
Comoros Franc (KMF)
Costa Rica Colon (CRC)
Croatia Kuna (HRK)
Cyprus Pound (CYP)
Czech Republic Koruna (CZK)
Denmark Krone (DKK)
Dominican Republic Peso (DOP)
East Carribbean Dollar (XCD)
Egypt Pound (EGP)
El Salvador Colone (SVC)
Estonia Kroon (EEK)
Ethiopia Birr (ETB)
Euro Member Countries Eur (EUR)
Falkland Island Pound (FKP)
Fiji Dollar (FJD)
French Polynesia (Tahiti) Franc (XPF)
Gambia Dalasi (GMD)
Georgia Lari (GEL)
Ghana Cedi (GHS)
Gibraltar Pound (GIP)
Great Britain Pound (GBP)
Guatemala Quetzal (GTQ)
Guinea Franc (GNF)
Guyana Dollar (GYD)
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
Hungary Forint (HUF)*
Iceland Krona (ISK)
India Rupee (INR)
Indonesia Rupiah (IDR)
Iran Rial (IRR)
Iraq Dinar (IQD)
Israel New Shekel (ILS)
Jamaica Dollar (JMD)
Japan Yen (JPY)
Jordan Dinar (JOD)
Kazakhstan Tenge (KZT)
Kenya Shilling (KES)
Kuwait Dinar (KWD)
Laos Kip (LAK)
Latvia Lat (LVL)
Lebanon Pound (LBP)
Lesotho Loti (LSL)
Liberia Dinar (LRD)*
Lithuania Litai (LTL)
Macau Pataca (MOP)
Macedonia Dinar (MKD)
Madagascar Ariary (MGA)
Malawi Kwacha (MWK)
Malaysia Ringgit (MYR)
Maldives Rufiyaa (MVR)
Malta Lira (MTL)
Mauritania Ouguiya (MRO)
Mauritius Rupee (MUR)
Mexico Peso (MXN)
Moldova Leu (MDL)
Mongolia Tugrik (MNT)
Morocco Dirham (MAD)
Mozambique Metical (MZN)
Myanmar Kyat (MMK)
Namibia Dollar (NAD)
Nepal Rupee (NPR)
Netherland Antilles Guilder (ANG)
New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Nigeria Naira (NGN)
Norway Krone (NOK)
Oman Rial (OMR)
Pakistan Rupee (PKR)
Papua New Guinea Kina (PGK)
Paraguay Guarani (PYG)
Peru Nuevo Sol (PEN)
Philippines Peso (PHP)
Poland Zloty (PLN)
Qatar Rial (QAR)
Republic of Congo Franc (CDF)
Romanian New Leu (RON)
Russia Ruble (RUB)
Rwanda Franc (RWF)
São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Saudia Arabia Riyal (SAR)
Serbia Dinar (RSD)
Seychelles Rupee (SCR)
Sierra Leone Leone (SLL)*
Singapore Dollar (SGD)
Slovakia Koruna (SKK)
Slovenia Tolar (SIT)
Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD)*
Somalia Shilling (SOS)
South Africa Rand (ZAR)
South Korea Won (KRW)
Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR)
St. Helena Pound (SHP)
Sudan Pound (SDG)
Suriname Dollar (SRD)
Swaziland Lilangeni (SZL)
Sweden Kroner (SEK)
Switzerland Franc (CHF)
Syria Pound (SYP)
Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
Tanzania Shilling (TZS)
Thailand Baht (THB)
Tonga Pa'anga (TOP)
Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TTD)
Tunisia Dinar (TND)
Turkish Lira (TRY)
Turkmenistan Manat (TMT)
Uganda Shilling (UGX)
Ukraine Hryvnia (UAH)
United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)
United States Dollar (USD)
Uruguay Peso (UYU)
Vanuatu Vatu (VUV)
Venezuela Bolívar Fuerte (VEF)
Vietnam Dong (VND)
West Samoa Tala (WST)*
Yemen Rial (YER)
Zambia Kwacha (ZMK)
Zimbabwe Dollar (ZWL)

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions. If you cannot find what you are looking for here, please call to speak to one of our customer service representatives at 1800 773 546. You can also send an email to online@westernunion.com.

Registration
What types of documentation will I need to submit with my online application?
Canada and the US require different information in some cases. Please review the following carefully.
If you are a sole proprietor, you will need all of the following:
Bank statement
One, valid primary piece of identification and one, valid secondary piece of identification
*Physical mailing address, PO boxes are not accepted

If you are a business, you will need all of the following:
Bank statement
List of all shareholders holding at least 25% of the company
Proof of signing authority
Official business documentation (ex. business license)
Physical mailing address, PO boxes are not accepted
One, valid primary piece of identification and one, valid secondary piece of identification (passport, birth certificate, and driver's license)

*Examples of acceptable identification include passport, birth certificate, and driver's license.

How will I know if my application has been accepted?
Upon completing the online registration, you will receive an email with information about the status of your account. You may be required to provide additional information to complete your account registration.

Once all requirements have been satisfied, you will receive an email confirming the activation your account.

Transaction
Will I be charged a fee for using this service?
There is no fee to start and hold an account. Fees vary by your actual transaction. Depending on the nature of your transaction, some charges may be imposed by a third party institution such as banks and payment processors. Please see the funding and payment types section for more information.

How fast will my recipients receive their money?
Speed varies by the options you choose. Please see the funding and payment types section for more information.

Do my recipients need to have a Western Union account too?
No they don't. You can send a payment directly into their bank account or as a draft (which is like a money order) through the mail. Drafts are available only in select countries.

Do I still need to add my bank account if I submitted my bank statement?
Yes, your bank statement is used for authentication, and we will still need to add your bank account manually once your account has been activated.

Who do I contact for questions or troubleshooting?
Customer Service representatives are available 24 hours a day, six days a week. Please call 1.866.430.5386 or email online@westernunion.com

Do I still need to add my bank account if I submitted my bank statement?
Easy sign up for easy access
Having an online account with us makes sending payments easy and convenient and it's completely free.

Please be prepared with the following:

Two pieces of identification
Recent bank statement
Access to a scanner

In order to expedite the process, please provide your full legal name during the sign up process and add our email address (online@westernunion.com) to your safe sender list.

Once you have finished the registration steps, your account will be reviewed before activation. Accounts are typically activated within 1-2 days.

https://secure.westernunion.com/signupbusiness/?Locale=en-au

Why We Ask for Your Personal Information
Like most financial institutions, we require a proof of your identity in order for you to open an account. Due to legislation regarding the proceeds of crime, money laundering, and terrorist financing, we must verify the identity of all of our customers.

Foreign Exchange Risk Management

Minimise your risk–protect your profits and prosper in an uncertain economy. Protect your company's bottom line – a changing economy doesn't have to impact your profits. Ensure that the success of your business depends on its operations and not unpredictable economic factors and volatile currency rates. Find out how to manage your company's currency risk.

Clear up the top three myths associated with currency hedging.
Learn how to identify and mitigate your company's FX risks.
Discover the key elements for a successful FX risk management strategy.
Protect your company from changes in an uncertain economy.

Excerpt
Over the past few decades the growth and complexity of international business, multinational operations and import and export has increased at a staggering rate. As the economies of many different countries become more entwined, the economic stability and prosperity of the countries that you do business with becomes more important. This, coupled with the dramatic currency fluctuations that have taken place in developed and emerging economies, demonstrates the need to be aware of the factors influencing your business operations and the need to take an active role in protecting, stabilizing and potentially increasing your currency assets.

Dealing with multiple currencies, foreign suppliers, imported goods or overseas operations exposes you to foreign currency risk. The key to surviving and thriving amidst ever-changing market conditions and currency fluctuations is to hedge these foreign currency risks that affect your business.

A 2006 survey conducted by a large North American foreign exchange provider found that 80% of the corporations surveyed acknowledged that their businesses were exposed to significant foreign exchange risk. However, only 42% of these corporations indicated that they currently employ currency hedging techniques to manage their risk.

The objective of currency hedging is not to maximize profits through currency speculation but rather to minimize the risk that your company is exposed to. A hedging strategy is essentially an insurance policy against the adverse effects of currency fluctuations and economic conditions that are out of your control. In the same way you would insure your business from fire or theft, hedging insures your company's currency assets from unforeseen changes in the global foreign exchange market.

Even if you believe you are not exposed to currencies outside of your domestic currency, it's likely that you are. Companies that don't directly deal in foreign currency may be inadvertently affected by suppliers that deal in foreign markets. For example, you are exposed to Chinese economic conditions when you purchase from a supplier that imports from China, because your supplier will pass changes in currency on to you. The Chinese economy has seen dramatic growth over the past decade, forcing the yuan to continually appreciate against the US dollar. As a result, the US dollar's purchasing power continually diminished.

Download for free at http://business.westernunion.com.au/resource-centre/ed/risk-management/

Local Currency Payments

Minimise your risk when importing – benefit from paying in local currency. Paying international suppliers in US dollars is not the only option and, in many cases, may not be the best option. By offering to pay in the local currency instead of dollars, US importers can relieve the foreign supplier of the risks and costs of receiving dollars and be able to negotiate a better product price as a result.

Protect your business with better FX planning and forecasting.
Discover why foreign banks aren't the best alternative when it comes to foreign exchange.
Learn how to save 2-10% when negotiating prices in your supplier's local currency.

Excerpt
When an importer pays a supplier in China, India or Europe, for instance, in US dollars it is highly unlikely that the supplier actually holds a US dollar account. In most cases, the beneficiary of the payment will hold a local currency account (RMB in China, INR in India and EUR in Europe) and the dollars will be converted into the local currency before being deposited to the recipient's account. Sending dollars is relatively easy for a western importer, but receiving dollars poses certain risks or costs to the foreign supplier and they will price these risks and costs into their product. By offering to pay in the local currency instead of dollars, the importer will relieve the supplier of the risks and costs of receiving dollars and should be able to negotiate a better product price as a result. A discount of two to ten percent would be within the realm of expectations given the benefits to the supplier to receive payment in their local currency.

What costs might a foreign supplier face on receiving a dollar payment? When dollars are received by the supplier's bank, they are converted into the local currency at a rate prescribed by the bank, and the beneficiary will have little, if any, influence over this rate. The beneficiary account holder is a captive market for the bank and the bank will likely leverage the fact that they are holding the dollars and the beneficiary has no opportunity to shop the exchange rate. Currency exchange premiums up to ten percent over interbank spot rates are not uncommon in some parts of the world.

Download for free at http://business.westernunion.com.au/resource-centre/ed/local-currency/

Currency Options Webinar

Options 101
The Benefits of Currency Options
The fundamentals of Currency Options
How to protect your business from adverse currency movements
How to profit from favourable currency movements

Download for free at http://business.westernunion.com.au/resource-centre/ed/options-webinar/

Featured Webinar - An Effective International Payments Program

Watch the latest Western Union Business Solutions Webinar: Corporate Foreign Exchange: Tools to establish an Effective International Payments Program.

Download for free at http://business.westernunion.com.au/resource-centre/ed/payments-program-webinar/

Events

Western Union Business Solutions participates and hosts a number of seminars, conferences and tradeshows all over Australia.

Find an event near you http://business.westernunion.com.au/resource-centre/articles/category/Events.aspx

Foreign Exchange (FX) 101

Resources and tools from our foreign exchange specialists that help you navigate the foreign exchange basics.

Empowering clients with innovative solutions
Our foreign exchange specialists have created a comprehensive guide to the foreign exchange basics to help you do business with confidence. Our FX 101 resources will help you navigate the market and decipher all terminology.

How the FX market functions
Foreign Exchange is the world's largest financial market. It runs 24 hours a day and only closes for a few hours each week.

Other than the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), where currency futures trade, there is no physical FX market. Rather the "market" is an interconnected network of bank traders, brokers, dealers and fund managers. Indicative and executable pricing is shared through electronic dealing platforms such as Reuters, Bloomberg EDS and proprietary platforms.

London remains the main foreign exchange trading Center with just over 50% of the flow. London is nicely situated to catch the end of the day in Asia and the beginning of the day in North America. As such, London foreign exchange traders typically put in 12 hour days.

In a 2010 BIS survey (http://www.bis.org/publ/rpfx10.htm), average daily FX turnover was calculated to be $4.0 trillion. To put this in perspective, the New York Stock Exchange, the world's largest equity market, traded approximately $153 billion daily in 2008.

The vast majority of FX trades (more than 90%) have nothing to do with international payments (whether for imports or exports) but are executed for speculative purposes and, to a lesser extent, hedging purposes.

How to Read Currency Exchange Rates

The value of a currency is determined by its comparison to another currency. The first currency of a currency pair is called the "base currency", and the second currency is called the "terms currency" (or "quote currency"). The currency pair indicates how much of the terms currency is needed to purchase one unit of the base currency.

Foreign Exchange market convention is such that most currencies are quoted directly against the US dollar. A "direct quote" always indicates the amount of foreign currency to buy or sell one US dollar. Other common direct currencies include USDJPY (Japanese yen), USDCHF (Swiss franc), and USDMXN (Mexican peso). Currencies quoted indirectly include GBPUSD (British pound), EURUSD (Euro), AUDUSD (Australian dollar), and NZDUSD (New Zealand dollar). There is no particular reason why a currency is quoted directly or indirectly, it is a standard market convention that has evolved over time.

If you want to see the rate in terms of Australian dollars (the AUD rate) as opposed to US dollars (the USD indicative rate) you must find the indirect rate. Indirect rates are shown with the USD listed second. For example, AUD rates are indirect rates and are formatted as AUDUSD, i.e. the value of one Australian dollar in USD terms. USD rates are direct quotes and are formatted as USDAUD.

EXAMPLE:
A US company needs to pay 50,000 Euros to their supplier in Europe today.

The quoted rate for EURUSD is 1.5699

This means that it will cost (not including margins) 1.5699 US dollars for each Euro that they need to purchase today.

50,000 x 1.5699 = 78,495

So 50,000 Euros will cost the company $78,495 US dollars today.

Bid vs. Offer

The bid is the price at which the market would buy the currency pair (before any commissions or fees), the
offer (or ask) is the price at which the market would sell the currency pair (before any commissions or fees).

Most market participants have no difficulty in determining the "bid" from the "ask" when they are dealing in their domestic or home currency. However, confusion usually prevails when doing a trade in a currency pair that differs from your standard FX requirements or if you happen to execute a trade in a currency that is not your home unit.

FX rates are always quoted in terms of the unit currency, where 1 of the "unit" currency yields X of the terms or settlement currency (the second currency in the pair). For example, a USDCAD exchange rate of 0.9950 means that 1 USD will yield .9950 CAD. Since the rate on the bid is always lower than the rate on the offer, it is then easy to determine whether you are on the bid or offer when asking for a quote. If you are buying the unit currency from your dealer, you will always receive a price that is higher than the price at which you sell it (as your dealer always wishes to buy low and sell high). As such, the price you receive will be on the offer.

AUD, GBP, NZD and EUR are all quoted in European terms against the USD. That is, the foreign currency is always the unit currency or the first currency in the pair (i.e. AUDUSD, GBPUSD, etc.). There are a few other minors and exotics that are quoted as such but in general, most other currencies are quoted in American terms with the USD being the unit currency. This is important because once you understand the pair and direction (which currency are you buying and which are you selling), determining which side of the market you should be quoted on is a breeze.

For example, with AUDUSD, one would buy AUD from the customer on the bid, thereby selling them USD. Alternatively, one would sell (or offer) the unit currency, AUD, on the offer and buy the second currency; USD.

EXAMPLE:
A Australian company will need to purchase 100,000 US dollars to pay for imported goods.

The USDAUD quoted rate is 1.0625 on the bid and 1.0675 on the offer, by convention the USD is the unit currency and AUD is the terms currency.

The company will have to buy the USD on the dealer's offer, and will pay 1.0675 for each dollar bought.

The importer pays 100,000 x 1.0675= 106,750 AUD.

What is a Cross Rate and How To Derive One

The US dollar (USD) is the currency against which all other currencies are priced. Any exchange rate (AUDCAD for instance) that does not involve the USD is considered a "cross rate".

Currency cross rates are not usually quoted outside of a few significant market pairs: EURGBP, EURJPY, EURCHF and AUDNZD.

If you are trying to derive the rate at which you would change your base currency and it does not involve USD you may need to find the cross rate.

In order to do this you have to find two currency pairs: one that contains your home currency and the other must contain the foreign currency that you want to exchange it with. Then you need to determine what type of quote each of your two selected currency pairs is and apply the corresponding rule for deriving a cross rate.

Direct Quote: 1 foreign currency unit = x home currency units
Indirect Quote: 1 home currency unit = x foreign currency units
How to Derive a Cross Rate from a Direct Quote and Direct Quote:
Rule:divide the terms currency by the base currency on the opposite side

EXAMPLE:
Derive the rate for JPYAUD
Bid Ask
USDJPY 119.25 119.65 USD is base, JPY is term
USDAUD 1.0485 1.0535 USD is base, AUD is term

The JPYAUD Bid rate = divide the term currency bid by the base currency ask
= 1.0485 / 119.65 = 0.008763
this is the rate at which the market buys JPY and sells AUD

The JPYAUD Ask rate = divide the term currency ask by the base currency bid
= 1.0535 / 119.25 = 0.008834
this is the rate at which the market sells JPY and buys AUD

How to Derive a Cross Rate from a Direct Quote and Indirect Quote:
Rule: multiply on the same side
EXAMPLE: Derive the rate for EURAUD
Bid Ask
EURUSD 1.3798 1.3858
USDAUD 1.0432 1.0502

The EURAUD Bid rate = divide the term currency bid by the base currency ask
= 1.3789 x 1.0432 = 1.4394
this is the rate at which the market buys EUR and sells AUD

The EURAUD Ask rate = divide the term currency ask by the base currency bid
= 1.3858 / 1.0502 = 1.4553
this is the rate at which the market sells EUR and buys AUD

How to Derive a Cross Rate for an Indirect Quote and Indirect Quote:
Rule: divide the base currency by the terms currency on opposite sides of the spread.

EXAMPLE: Derive the rate for GBPEUR
Bid Ask
GBPUSD 1.9850 1.9950 GBP is base, USD is terms
EURUSD 1.3460 1.3520 EUR is base, USD is terms

The GBPUSD Bid rate = divide the base currency bid by the terms currency ask
= 1.9850 x 1.3520 = 1.4682
this is the rate at which the market buys GBP and sells EUR at 1.4682 EUR per GBP.

The GBPEUR Ask rate = divide the base currency ask by the terms currency bid
= 1.9950 / 1.3460 = 1.4821
this is the rate at which the market sells GBP and buys EUR at 1.4821 EUR per

Carry Trade
The carry trade essentially involves taking advantage of low borrowing costs in one country (Japan for instance) and high fixed income investment rates in another country (New Zealand and Australia for instance). You get paid to 'carry' the trade over time. Traders use this strategy to capture the difference between the prevailing interest rates in the respective countries.

Through the forward market, the foreign exchange market provides a 'short-cut' for borrowing in the low interest rate country and investing in the high interest rate country. It eliminates the need to go through the actual process of borrowing (in Japan) and investing (in New Zealand or Australia).

The forward market reflects the interest rate differential in the forward points. So rather than having to actually borrow and convert yen, all a money manager has to do is sell JPY forward and buy NZD forward in one simple transaction. Because of the low interest rates in Japan and high interest rates in New Zealand, the yen trades at a forward premium relative to the New Zealand dollar, and a seller of JPY against NZD picks up these premium points.

There are certainly money managers and investors who do that through the fixed income markets in Japan and Australia and New Zealand, but borrowing in Japan and investing elsewhere involves a lot of legal and accounting costs, not to mention tax implications that most money managers would rather avoid if possible. The currency market simplifies the process through the forward market.

At the end of the forward term, if the spot rate has moved up you will have an FX gain to add to your carry gain. But if the spot rate moves down, as it hasdid in dramatic fashion recentlyin 2009, the FX loss will cut into your carry gain and may even wipe it out.

EXAMPLE:
Here's an example of a "yen carry trade": a trader borrows 1,000 yen from a Japanese bank, converts the funds into U.S. dollars and buys a bond for the equivalent amount. Let's assume that the bond pays 4.5% and the Japanese interest rate is set at 0%. The trader stands to make a profit of 4.5% (4.5% - 0%), as long as the exchange rate between the countries does not change. Many professional traders use this trade because the gains can become very large when leverage is taken into consideration. If the trader in our example uses a common leverage factor of 10:1, then they can stand to make a profit of 45%.

The big risk in a carry trade is the uncertainty of exchange rates. Using the example above, if the U.S. dollar was to fall in value relative to the Japanese yen, then the trader would run the risk of losing money. Also, these transactions are generally done with a lot of leverage, so a small movement in exchange rates can result in huge losses unless hedged appropriately.

Spot Transaction

A spot transaction refers to an exchange of currencies at the prevailing market rate. For most currencies, a spot transaction consists of a two day settlement period but for the Canadian dollar (CAD) and Mexican peso (MXN) a spot transaction is settled in one business day.

That being said, if CAD or MXN is exchanged for a currency other than the USD or each other, then the two day convention stands. The Spot Market is the trading mechanism used to move funds on a day to day basis enabling you to buy and/or sell your domestic or foreign currency without any rate adjustment to account for interest rate differentials.

It should be noted that some currencies can settle within spot value (same day or next day value) but the interest rate differential is factored into the rate.

EXAMPLE:
A European would like to purchase a home in the US, and will need to fund their USD account for the transaction. They will need the funds in two days, so they book a spot transaction today thereby locking in the rates at which the two currencies will be exchanged. In two days time, they transfer the required EUR's to the counterparty and receive the USD into their account.

Hedging and Risk Management

Currency Hedging
In very simple terms, currency hedging is the act of entering into a financial contract in order to protect against unexpected, expected or anticipated changes in currency exchange rates. Currency hedging is used by financial investors and businesses to eliminate risks they encounter when conducting business internationally. Hedging can be likened to an insurance policy that limits the impact of foreign exchange risk.

Learn about Forward Contracts

Forward Contract
The forward contract is a straightforward currency hedging tool. It effectively allows you to buy or sell a foreign currency at today's market price, while delaying the settlement of the contract to some future point in time of your choosing. To compensate for the delayed settlement of the FX trade, the price of the forward is calculated by adjusting for the time value of money; a concept that states a dollar today is worth that much plus interest in the future. An adjustment, called the forward points, is applied to the spot price to compensate for the interest rate differential between the two currencies in question with the passage of time.

The forward contract doesn't cost anything up front to book and provides you with a predetermined rate of exchange for a specified amount of currency.

Direct Options: Exchange currency at a predetermined rate and benefit from favourable market shifts. The risk taken is limited to the premium paid.

Range Forward: Establish both a worst case rate and a best case rate, which allows you to know from the outset the range in which you will be able to exchange your currency.

Custom Forward: Maintain a position that is fully hedged but also take advantage of favourable market movements on a predetermined percentage of your exposure.

Forward Extra: Take advantage of favourable market rates up to a preset 'trigger level'. If the market is unfavourable, you remain protected by a predetermined transaction rate.

Bonus Forward: Establish 'trigger rates' so that wherever the market is at expiry, your position is completely hedged against movement within your predetermined range.

Target Forward: Take advantage of a Target Forward, where you can achieve a rate that is more favourable than the corresponding forward exchange rate.

Convertible Options: Maintain a position that is fully hedged but also take advantage of favourable market movements if the market trades below a pre-set trigger level.

Newsletters

Inbox Intelligence
Market intelligence delivered right to your inbox for free!
Subscribe to Market Intelligence
http://business.westernunion.com.au/resource-centre/newsletters/

World Market Update
The World Market Update newsletter is published electronically by Western Union Business Solutions and details all the various market factors that affect the market and currency pricing. Written in plain language, our foreign exchange specialists give readers an idea of where the market is and where it's going.
Subscribe to the World Market Update
http://business.westernunion.com.au/resource-centre/newsletters/world-market-update/

Monthly Currency Outlook
Stay on top of the rapidly fluctuating currency market with fresh analyses and market forecasts from Western Union Business Solutions, designed to help you protect your profits and prosper in an uncertain economy.

Our Currency Outlooks are a synthesis of Western Union Business Solutions' premier currency analysis pieces, undertaken by our top foreign exchange specialists from around the globe. Consultants charge hundreds of dollars for subscriptions like this but we'll deliver this extremely high-value information to you every month for free.

Subscribe to the Monthly Currency Outlook
http://business.westernunion.com.au/resource-centre/newsletters/currency-outlook/

Media Coverage

See details of media coverage received at
http://business.westernunion.com.au/resource-centre/articles/category/Media-Coverage.aspx

Strategic Alliances

Add Value To Your Business with Western Union® Business Solutions.

Western Union Business Solutions benefits companies around the world, delivering international payment services to their customers.

Increase customer satisfaction and create a new revenue stream by presenting a fast and reliable international payment solution that complements your current business operations. We'll work closely with you in order to select and implement an effective option that will benefit your clients.

Strategic Alliance Options

Add Value To Your Business.

1. Become an Affiliate of Western Union Business Solutions.

Refer your customers to us and receive commissions on qualifying referrals.

The process is simple:

We provide marketing materials for you to use on your website and customer communication
They contain tracked links to a webpage where your referrals sign up for our services
Commissions earned are sent every month
This is a quick way to present your customers with foreign exchange payment services.

Apply for the Affiliate Program
http://business.westernunion.com.au/affiliates/

2. Integration Programs

For companies with more significant payment demands, we implement our integration programs. Add value to your current service offering by integrating our international payment solutions directly into your website or software.

Co-Branding Alliance
Co-brand and integrate our online payments platform into your website.

Financial Institutions
Provide an international payment solution for your customers without having to use a competitive processing bank.

Integrated Software Service
Incorporate an international payment solution directly into your software through an API interface.

Contact us for information on integrated alliances
http://business.westernunion.com.au/contact/general/
?subject=strategicalliances

All of our Strategic Alliances offer:

New revenue streams.
Access to educational materials about international payments.
Additional products to complement your product suite, improve customer satisfaction and increase retention.

Support includes:

Compliance: Benefit from the collaboration and support of Western Union's experienced, global compliance team.
Sales: A global sales force that can train and/or assist your sales acquisition team or sell directly to your customer.
Technical Support: A dedicated team to assist in the development and implementation of technical solutions and a resource for the ongoing stability and scalability of the solution.
Marketing: Experienced marketing professionals will help you develop different marketing strategies to reach and promote our integrated payment solution to your customers.

Question about Strategic Alliances?

Contact a representative
http://business.westernunion.com.au/contact/general/
?subject=strategicalliances

3. World-wide Agent Network

Do you own a storefront?
Learn how to become part of the Western Union world-wide agent network.
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/helpContactUs.
asp?country=global

Inquiries

Business Inquiries
International Payment Solutions
Inquiries related to our business and international payment platforms, online accounts, as well as all payment method inquiries.
http://business.westernunion.com.au/contact/general/
?subject=BusinessSolutions

Online Payments
Inquiries related to online payment solutions for small business, account status, changes to your account as well as inquiries regarding tuition payments.
http://business.westernunion.com.au/contact/general/
?subject=BusinessSolutions

International Receivables
All inquiries regarding the management of your foreign receivables processes.
http://business.westernunion.com.au/contact/general/
?subject=InternationalReceivables

General Questions
Inquiries about anything else related to Western Union Business Solutions.
http://business.westernunion.com.au/contact/general/

Individual Consumer and Agent Inquiries
Money Transfer and Money Orders
For individuals and groups with questions regarding Western Union Money Transfers and Money Orders.
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/helpContactUs.asp?country=global

Fraudulent Emails
If you receive any unexpected or suspicious emails which claim to be sent by Western Union Business Solutions, please do not hesitate to notify us.
http://corporate.westernunion.com/contact_us.html

Careers

Please visit the Career Center for job openings. Specific questions regarding your resume for Business Solutions positions, please contact human resources.

http://business.westernunion.com.au/about/careers/
http://corporate.westernunion.com/careers_job_search.html
http://business.westernunion.com.au/contact/general/?
subject=humanresources

Careers
Our success is driven by a high performance team of professionals. We look to attract and retain dynamic, diverse, and innovative professionals around the globe.

Our core values - teamwork, opportunity, passion, integrity, and partnership - form the solid foundation to drive innovation, deliver outstanding service, and create client-focused business solutions. Through our shared commitment to these core values and our client focus, we will ensure that our future is as bright as our past.

Build the career you want in a progressive, dynamic, stimulating, fast-paced industry. We strive to offer a fulfilling work experience, competitive compensation and benefits, a flexible environment and a corporate culture that cares about our clients, employee satisfaction, business and professional growth.

We don't just talk about growth, we make it happen - for our business and our employees.

job search
Western Union employs 6,900 people around the world.

At Western Union, we strive to offer a fulfilling work experience, competitive compensation and benefits, a flexible environment and a corporate culture that cares about our consumers, employee satisfaction, business and professional growth.

Our employees live and work in more than 40 different countries and speak 75 languages and dialects. Whether you live and work in the United States, the United Kingdom or the United Arab Emirates, Western Union offers many career opportunities.

We don't just talk about growth, we make it happen - for our business and our employees.

Our employees live and work in more than 40 different countries and speak 75 languages and dialects. We don't just talk about growth: we make it happen.

Our core business

The Western Union Company helps people connect with loved ones and makes day-to-day life easier with Western Union Consumer-to-Consumer, Consumer-to-Business and other services.

About us

The Western Union Company touches people around the world with 435,000 Agent Locations in 200 countries and territories. We are committed to bringing our service to every corner of the world.

Values

Western Union does business each day with absolute integrity, honesty, and passion, partnering as a team to meet our consumers’ needs.

Our core values

We develop our people by providing opportunity for growth that will drive our success. We lead by providing services that enable consumers to realize their dreams, and by example in giving back to the communities where we do business.

. integrity
We do business each day with an absolute commitment to ethics, honesty and credibility. Our employees and agents foster trust, so our consumers are confident their transactions are fast and reliable.

. partnership
Our relationships with employees, Agents and organizations that support our business are critical to our success. These relationships enable us to better understand our consumers in order to deliver services that meet or exceed their needs and our shareholders’ expectations.

. opportunity
We develop our people through new opportunities and challenges; we recognize and reward high performers; we embrace diversity and varied perspectives; and we respect the commitment our people make to our business, their families and society.

. passion
We are passionate about our business, doing the right thing for our people and proud to enable our consumers to achieve their dreams. We lead by example in giving back to the communities we serve and improving our world.

. teamwork
We are one team, working together for one world. We have a dynamic and inclusive work environment where our people are motivated to excel.

"What I find most interesting at Western Union is the ‘yes!’ drawn on the face of every colleague, every morning. A ‘yes!’ to integrity, passion, opportunity, partnership and teamwork..

Bassem Awada
Dubai, UAE

Western Union Foundation

Through Western Union’s Our World, Our Family® signature program, the Western Union Foundation supports initiatives to empower individuals, families and communities through access to better education and economic opportunity. Recognized by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy in 2009, the program is a five year, $50 million commitment reflecting the efforts made by Western Union employees, Agents, and partners around the world. Since its inception, the Western Union Foundation has awarded almost $55 million in grants and disaster relief to over 1,870 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in 100 countries.

Ethics

We aspire to maintain a work environment of mutual trust and respect at Western Union, where we provide equal opportunities and reward people based on merit.

Western Union has an unwavering commitment to lawful and ethical conduct. We embrace our differences and value diversity. Our culture focuses on inclusion and our values guide our everyday actions to help us build a strong company.

All Western Union employees receive fair opportunity and are recruited and developed based on their qualifications and talents. We provide open and constructive evaluations, recognizing and rewarding employees on performance and merit.

Diversity

We employ people in all parts of the world to create a diverse team that delivers the value of our services and strengthens our multi-cultural company.

Our proud and diverse Western Union team is made up of approximately 6,000 unique and talented individuals around the world. Multicultural and diverse, our employees live and work in over 40 countries and speak 75 languages and dialects.

The living, breathing diversity of the people who work at Western Union represents our commitment to creating and maintaining a versatile and international workforce where everyone is treated with equality, trust and respect.

Whether it be in the United States, the United Kingdom, or the Middle East, Western Union offers many career opportunities. Almost a private United Nations with one common goal, we are one team, working together for one world.

Professional growth

We realize that the key to any successful company requires cultivating the talent of and providing opportunity for employees.

Western Union provides a significant opportunity for growth. Western Union has expanded its global agent network in response to consumer demand, fueled by long-term global migration trends, which create increasing cross-border remittances. In 2006, the World Bank reported that the global cross-border remittance market was estimated to be US$269 billion. This significant business provides an opportunity to have a positive impact and be recognized for those efforts.

We are committed to helping our employees do their best work and we encourage their ongoing education and development. Honing existing skills and developing new ones is critical not only to our business success, but also to the continued success of our employees.

"Five years ago, I had been off the job market for a while raising my children and really needed a job. Would I be able to find the right opportunity? YES! I started in the call centre here in Costa Rica; a year later, I moved on to the Training Department and I am now I'm in Talent Management where I love to welcome all new employees into this great company and share the passion and commitment of the Global Service Centre. I have had endless possibilities of growth and development. My leaders and co-workers have helped me discover potential in myself that I didn't know I had. I love working for this company. I cannot imagine working anywhere else."

Caroline Mata
Global Service Centre, Costa Rica

Equal employment opportunity

At Western Union, we're proud to foster a work environment of diversity and mutual trust where our culture focuses on inclusion and our people are rewarded based on merit.

Western Union provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, pregnancy or any other factor that may be protected by law. This policy extends to all employees and includes all aspects of the employment relationship.

In keeping with our core values, Western Union fosters a diverse work environment characterized by respect and dignity for people and which prohibits unlawful discrimination or harassment.

Corporate citizenship

Western Union global corporate citizenship is our commitment to enrich the lives of global citizens by expanding economic opportunity. Through initiatives like the Western Union Our World, Our Family program, we are able to put our values into action.

Our corporate citizenship efforts focus on three primary areas:

. Supporting Cultural Inclusion: We recognize the importance of helping individuals and families build strong communities, in which all members can contribute their distinctive talents and feel at home

. Creating Pathways to Opportunity: We help diverse individuals and communities around the world realize their tremendous potential with scholarships supporting financial literacy, entrepreneurship, job training, and other skills necessary on the journey to a better life

. Fostering Hope in the Developing World: We support economic development and opportunities with infrastructure development, community centers and access to technology

Together with our Foundation and our Agents, we strive to leverage our global reach, knowledge and leadership in diverse communities. This allows us to serve as a resource, advocate and trusted partner with our consumers, grassroots and community organizations, development agencies, and policy makers. We have a rich and consistent history of giving back in the communities where we live and work:

. we have a passion for doing the right things for our people, consumers, and society

. We provide value through the jobs we create and the programs we support

. Our citizenship efforts help to amplify the impact of remittances, a powerful force for social good

. Our employees contribute their time, talents and resources to benefit local communities worldwide

. Last year, we gave millions to support disaster relief, education, and human services

. Our impact echoes across oceans, countries and cultures to enrich our global community

Today, Western Union continues to support a number of programs through the Western Union Foundation and through partnerships with leading governmental and non-governmental organizations. Since 2001, the Western Union Foundation, in collaboration with Western Union Agents and employees, has granted more than $40 million USD to more than 1,500 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in 70 countries around the globe to support humanitarian projects. In addition, the Foundation has supported more than 50 disaster-relief operations and has funded education and human services programs.

Most recently, Western Union introduced the Western Union Our World, Our Family program. This $50 million, five-year commitment continues Western Union's historical giving program to create global economic opportunities which will help aspiring individuals and their families stay connected, overcome barriers, and realize their dreams. The funding is expected to consist of direct contribution and investment to support The Western Union Our World, Our Family program together with contributions to the Western Union Foundation and other company-supported initiatives.

Western Union Foundation Guidelines

Through the donations of The Western Union Company, its employees and Agents, the Western Union Foundation helps to fund programs that create economic opportunity around the world.

Embracing the global nature of its corporate sponsor, the Western Union Foundation has granted more than $55 million to over 1,800 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in 100 countries.

The Western Union Foundation is part of Western Union's Our World, Our Family® initiative, a $50 million, five-year commitment to facilitate global economic empowerment and to help migrants and their families stay connected, overcome barriers and realize their dreams.

Western Union's Our World, Our Family has four program elements that engage:

. Local Migrant Communities through Our World Gives: Provide funds for economic opportunity programs through innovative joint philanthropy efforts.
. NGO and influencers through Our World Learns: Connect new migrant families with vital local resources, boosting language skills, job readiness and civic engagement, putting them on the path to financial success.
. Customers, employees and Agents through Our World Strives: Helps more established migrants and families in the communities they leave behind build assets through entrepreneurship and micro-enterprise support.
. Influencers and Global Thought Leaders through Our World Speaks: Western Union serves as a global champion for migrants, rallying global influencers around issue advocacy efforts.

For more information, visit http://foundation.westernunion.com

Western Union Foundation Guidelines and Application Process

The Foundation receives hundreds of funding requests each year. Only eligible organizations with proposals that most closely align with the following program areas and criteria will be considered for funding.

Eligible organizations
. Nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) whose primary mission is to serve migrant and immigrant populations (preference will be given to migrant and immigrant led organizations).
. NGOs operating in the developing world that alleviate poverty and provide economic development programs.
geographic and program priorities

The Western Union Foundation will consider proposals from nonprofit and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) providing education and economic development programs in the following countries:

. Brazil
. China
. India
. Mexico
. Philippines

Proposals from the above countries that address poverty alleviation through education and economic development programs such as job training, life skills development, small business development, computer education, financial literacy and assistance to migrants will be most competitive.

The Western Union Foundation will also consider proposals from nonprofit organizations in the United States serving migrants and immigrants in the following metropolitan areas:

. Los Angeles, California
. San Francisco, California
. Denver, Colorado
. Chicago, Illinois
. New York, New York
. Washington, DC
. Miami, Florida

Programs in the United States that help individuals integrate into their new communities by providing language acquisition and civic engagement programs and assist with the transition into a new community will be the most competitive.

Criteria
Organizations that meet the following criteria will be the most competitive:

. Programs that are in alignment with the Foundation’s primary geographic and program areas.
. Organizations that conduct relevant projects that have been in operation for more than one year.
. Organizations that target primarily members of lower income migrant or immigrant populations.
. Not-for-profit, non-governmental organizations that are based outside the United States and provide official documentation establishing the legal and tax status of the applicant organization, including a copy of the legislative act or statute, or the sections thereof, granting exemption to this type of organization.
. Not-for profit, non-governmental organizations that are based in the US and recognized as tax exempt from federal income tax under IRC Section 501 (c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Service Code and are eligible to receive charitable contributions under IRC Section 170 (c)(2). A copy of the tax determination is required.
. Organizations that meet all requirements and standards for transparency, governance, and reporting and have sound fiscal and legal standing.
. Organizations that have a demonstrated track record of meeting stated program goals with measurable results.
. Organizations that can provide audited budget and financial statements demonstrating that administrative costs as a percentage of budget fall within an acceptable range that are consistent with industry standards.
. Organizations that serve the community without discrimination on the basis of age, color, citizenship, disability, disabled veteran status, gender, race, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, or military service.
. Organizations that observe the highest standards of business conduct in their relationships with the public.

Ineligible requests
Generally, the Foundation does not fund general operating support, individuals, endowments, special events, capital projects, other post-secondary scholarship programs, early childhood education programs, deficits or retirement of debt, re-granting agencies, awards.

The following program areas will not be considered for funding:

. Health and Disability
. Disease research
. Environmental causes
. Sports and athletics
. Arts, media and humanities
. Religious organizations
. Political organizations

Process
Foundation staff will review all LOIs utilizing the criteria detailed above. Organizations that most closely align with the Foundation’s funding priorities will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Full proposals will be reviewed by the staff and recommendations will be made to the Foundation President and then to the Foundation board of directors for final approval.

2009 application timeline
Organizations may only apply once per year.

. August 28 - Letter of Inquiry (LOI) due to the Foundation through the online process. (LOIs will only be accepted online).
. September 30 - Notification of acceptance or declination of LOI
. October 23 - Deadline for full proposal
. December 31 - Notification of grant award or declination
If you have questions about the application process, you may send an email to the Western Union Foundation or call us at 720-332-6606.

Global migration

Hiring Of Foreign Workers Gets Business Vote Of Confidence
December 21, 2009 - Despite reports of growing protectionist and nationalistic sentiment prompted by the global recession, world business leaders believe that migration continues to be good for business and the economy, according to a survey conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit on behalf of Western Union.

global migration barometer
The Western Union® Global Migration Barometer2 equips national and international decision-makers with a peer-reviewed, country-to-country comparison of the environment and outlook for migration.

asian remittance study
Building a future back home: Leveraging migrant worker remittances for development in Asia” is a study sponsored by Western Union and carried out by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

global migration video
At Western Union, we are proud to support migrants in their journey toward greater economic opportunity. They are modern day heroes, who, one family at a time and one community at a time, are creating hope and opportunity in the countries they come from and the countries to which they travel. The stories behind the data not only are complex, they are deeply personal.
.1 Source: United Nations (2006). "Trends in the Total Migrant Stock: The 2005 Revision." United Nations Population Division: New York.

2 The Economist Intelligence Unit bears responsibility for the migration index and for this report. The findings and conclusions expressed here do not reflect the views or opinions of Western Union. No data has been sourced from Western Union.

global migration barometer
Western Union commissioned the Economist Intelligence Unit to compile the Global Migration Barometer and an assessment of countries' need for migrants.

The Economist Intelligence Unit developed the methodology behind the index and collected the required data, with input from Western Union and an independent panel of migration experts.

forum video
Western Union convened a forum* to stimulate an informed discussion of migration among businesses, academics, government representatives, migration experts and others.

The event was held at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. on September 15, 2008. With this effort, Western Union hopes to foster a greater human understanding and inclusion of the world’s mobile workforce.

The presentation was delivered by Leila Butt, Senior Economist, Economist Intelligence Unit.

*Western Union is proud to sponsor the Global Migration Forum but does not assume responsibility for errors or omissions in the information provided herein. The findings, views and conclusions expressed here do not reflect the views or opinions of Western Union.

Audio and video

http://corporate.westernunion.com/audio_video.html

We make a difference in the lives of our consumers, everyday and with every transaction.

Our unmatched global presence uniquely positions us to spur economic growth to the benefit of individuals, communities and nations all over the world. Discover the many ways we connect people with opportunity and growth.

choose a video below:

Corporate Video
At Western Union, we're working harder than ever to help people move money quickly, reliably and more efficiently across borders and around the globe. We enable businesses to connect with manufacturers and suppliers half a world away by managing foreign currency risk and simplifying payments. And we're laying the groundwork for new growth.

Global Migration Barometer
Western Union commissioned the Economist Intelligence Unit to compile the Global Migration Barometer and an assessment of countries’ need for migrants.

Global Migration
At Western Union, we are proud to support migrants in their journey toward greater economic opportunity. The stories behind our customers not only are complex, they are deeply personal.

Western Union - India
The strength and extraordinary reach of the Western Union brand is evident in this piece about our business in India, the world's number one remittance receive market.

Western Union - Philippines
In this piece you'll meet Merlyn Tuazon, from Manila, Philippines. Her story shows the important role our brand plays in the lives of millions of migrant families, who see Western Union as a financial lifeline.

Western Union Heroes
The word hero can mean many things to many people. Learn what it means to us.

Media room

http://corporate.westernunion.com/news_media_room.html

Our rich heritage creates a strong foundation for building one of the largest money-transfer networks in the world. Consumers trust Western Union® to connect them with friends and loved ones.

Western Union, and its associated Orlandi Valuta® and VigoSM brands, offers the security and convenience consumers want. In 2008 we processed over $67 billion in cross-border consumer-to-consumer money transfers. Our company continues to grow to meet the evolving needs of global consumers.

corporate fact sheet
Western Union generated a total revenue of $5.1 billion in 2009 through our three core businesses: Money Transfer, Bill Payment and Prepaid Services.

For more than 150 years, consumers have trusted Western Union (NYSE:WU) to connect with friends and loved ones across the globe. This rich heritage has provided a strong foundation for building one of the largest money transfer networks in the world.

With Western Union, consumers and businesses can quickly, reliably and conveniently transfer funds, send bill payments, purchase money orders, or pre-pay for phone, Internet or credit card services using the company’s proprietary money transfer network. Western Union, along with its associated Orlandi Valuta and Vigo brands, has approximately 435,000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories.

key facts
In 2009, The Western Union Company reported:

. Total revenue of $5.1 billion
. $65 billion of cross-border remitted principal
. $1.2 billion of cash flow from operations
. Since 2001, the Western Union Foundation, in collaboration with our Agents and employees, has granted over $45 million to nonprofit organizations worldwide in more than 70 countries and territories to support humanitarian projects, provide disaster relief and to fund education, health and human services programs.

Core business

money transfer
. Person-to-person money transfer is Western Union’s most widely used service. People trust Western Union to provide quick transfer of funds to family and friends around the globe.
. Consumers in the U.S. and certain other countries can send funds at Agent locations, by phone via 1-800-CALL-CASH® or online at westernunion.com.
. Consumers in select locations can send funds directly to a bank account via the Direct to Bank (economy) service.
. Western Union is working with mobile phone operators in select countries to introduce money transfers that consumers can send and receive with a cell phone.

bill payment
. Consumers in the U.S. and select locations in Canada, Argentina and other countries can send their mortgage, auto loan, credit card, utility and phone payments how they want, when they want.
. Western Union provides behind-the-scenes payment tools that enable business clients to accept bill payments directly electronically, online or over the phone.

prepaid services
Western Union offers a variety of prepaid services at participating Agent locations for consumers who prefer pay-as-you-go services, such as wireless or home phone service, Internet access or debit card services.

payment services fact sheet
Western Union Payment Services, a division of The Western Union Company, offers a complete suite of electronic and cash bill-payment services.

Western Union Payment Services offers a complete suite of electronic and cash bill-payment services backed by a trusted, reliable brand.

Western Union Payment Services is a reliable resource for thousands of billers, including many leading companies in the utility, auto finance, mortgage, insurance and government industries.

Core business within Western Union payment services:

bill payments
With the Western Union® Quick Collect, Western Union Convenience Pay® and SpeedPay® services, U.S. consumers can send a number of bill payments, including:

. Mortgages
. Auto Insurance
. Auto loans
. Utilities (electric, cable, gas, water)
. Phone and cellular bills
. Child support
. Credit cards
. Fines and fees

In addition, consumers can:

. Purchase airline tickets, travel packages, prepaid wireless airtime, and catalog and Internet items from participating companies in cash;
. Send funds to the account of an inmate in participating U.S. correctional facilities nationwide.

Western Union accepts a variety of payments and offers a number of convenient and quick ways for consumers to pay their bills, including:

. In person at one of over 45,000 Western Union Agent locations in the U.S. and select locations in Argentina and Canada;
. Online at westernunion.com (for U.S. and U.K. consumers);
. Over the phone by calling 1-800-CALL-CASH®.

prepaid services
Western Union offers a variety of prepaid services at U.S. Agent locations for consumers who prefer pay-as-you go services such as wireless or home phone service, Internet access or debit card benefits.

equity accelerator® service
The Western Union Equity Accelerator service allows U.S. consumers to make mortgage payments via their checking accounts by ACH and to schedule additional recurring principal payments on their mortgages more quickly, thus reducing their loan balance.

money orders
Western Union money orders make paying bills and loan payments easy. They are sold at participating Western Union Agent locations in the U.S. and Canada.

custom house
Acquired by Western Union in 2009, Custom House allows you to make international payments, receive foreign currency and protect your business with currency risk management services.

key facts
In the third quarter of 2008, Western Union completed the acquisition of Transfer Express de Panama, a money transfer and bill payments company.

westernunion.com fact sheet
Consumers can use one of our transactional websites for 13 countries in nine languages to securely route money to support family and friends.

Westernunion.com offers country-specific Web sites for nearly all of the 200 countries and territories in which Western Union operates. Using the web site for their home country, consumers can quickly and conveniently access information on approximately 435,000 Western Union Agent locations and the services offered from the comfort of their own homes.

Services available on westernunion.com include:

information
Westernunion.com’s convenient Agent locator tool allows consumers worldwide to locate a nearby Agent location. Western Union Agents are located in grocery stores, drugstores, banks and post offices – the same places consumers do business every day.

money transfer
Consumers in 13 countries can send money virtually anywhere in the world in just minutes with their credit or debit card. Countries with transactional websites include:

. Australia
. Netherlands
. Austria
. New Zealand
. Canada
. Norway
. France
. Sweden
. Germany
. United Kingdom
. Ireland
. United States
. Italy

the western union gold card
Consumers in select countries can sign up online for a Western Union® Gold Card, a rewards program for frequent Western Union users.

prepaid MasterCard®
U.S. consumers can sign up online for a prepaid Mastercard® and load funds onto the card at more than 45,000 U.S. Agent locations.

other online services
U.S. consumers can:

. Quickly send mortgage, utility and car payments.
. Fund the account of an inmate at participating correctional facilities nationwide.
. Send funds directly to a receiver’s bank account in the U.S., Mexico and the Philippines.
key facts
. Services on westernunion.com are available in 9 languages.
. In early 2007, westernunion.com launched online transactional service to two new countries: Germany and New Zealand.

mobile money transfer service fact sheet
The Western Union® mobile money transfer program will provide consumers with an additional option to send and receive funds how, where and when they want.

When Western Union looks at a mobile phone, we see more than a just device to make calls or send text messages. We see a new tool in the hands of a globally mobile workforce and a networked connection to family and friends.

With more than 3.6 billion mobile phones active worldwide - now more phones in developing economies than developed1 - it is clear the mobile phone is as essential in Manila and Mumbai as it is in New York and London.

A key part of the Western Union® business strategy is to offer consumers convenience and choice. The Western Union® mobile money transfer program will provide consumers with an additional option to send and receive funds how, where and when they want.

how will it work?
Western Union and the GSM Association (GSMA), a global trade group representing over 750 GSM mobile phone operators, are working together to develop a framework mobile operators can use to deploy services that enable consumers to send and receive low-principal, high-frequency money transfers using their mobile phones.

Western Union recently announced the first three mobile operators to participate in this initiative:

. Globe Telecom (Philippines)
. Smart Communications (Philippines)
. Bharti Airtel (India)
. Orascom Telecom (operators in six countries)
The first commercial services began in the second quarter of 2008. Consumers can now send mobile money transfer transactions from select Western Union Agent locations in Hawaii, the UAE, Hong Kong and Singapore to Globe and Smart subscribers in the Philippines.

more ways to send money
If your mobile operator works with Western Union, using the mobile money transfer service could potentially be like having access to 200 countries and more than 334,700 Agent locations in your pocket. Western Union's unique service will allow anyone to use mobile money transfer – even if they don’t have a mobile phone!

At full deployment, consumers will be able to send and receive funds three ways:

. Cash to Mobile: A consumer can take cash to a participating Western Union Agent location in select countries and provide the recipient’s mobile number and the send amount. Western Union will take care of the rest.
. Mobile to Cash: A consumer with a mobile-enabled account can send funds to be picked up by the recipient at a participating Western Union Agent location worldwide. The receiver is notified of the arrival of the funds via text message.
. Mobile to Mobile: Using a mobile phone, a consumer with a mobile-enabled account can send funds to a recipient with a mobile-enabled account. Funds are added directly to the recipient’s account balance.
why western union?
. The Mobile Money Transfer service will leverage the same trusted platform used by more than 435,000 Western Union Agents in over 200 countries.
. Western Union has extensive compliance capabilities and systems and the experience to handle cross-border transactions.
. Consumers trust the Western Union brand.
1 Source: GSMA

Corporate social responsibility fact sheet

Western Union supports the communities in which our employees and consumers work and live through our socially responsible efforts.

For more than 150 years, consumers have trusted Western Union to connect with friends and loved ones across the globe. This rich heritage has provided a strong foundation for building one of the largest money-transfer networks in the world.

Central to Western Union’s philosophy is to support the communities in which our employees and consumers live and work. It is one of the foundations of our business, and something we are proud to say that we do every day.

The Western Union Foundation began in 2000 as a philanthropic organization to facilitate charitable giving programs worldwide. Through the generous donations of The Western Union Company, our employees, Agents and others, the Foundation helps to fund programs that enhance the quality of life for those most in need around the world.

key facts
Since 2001, the Western Union Foundation has:

. Granted nearly $40 million to nonprofit organizations worldwide in more than 70 countries and territories to support humanitarian projects, provide disaster relief and to fund education, health and human services programs.
. Supported 500 non-traditional students worldwide with scholarships totaling nearly $895,000;
. Supported more than 50 disaster-relief operations around the world;
. Joined more than 150 Western Union Agents in charitable programs.
recent projects
. The Clinton Global Initiative recently recognized Western Union's "Our World, Our Family®" program, a five-year, $50 million effort to promote greater economic opportunity.
. In Costa Rica, The Western Union Foundation donated $25,000 to Fundacion Alimentando Esperanzas, a nonprofit organization in San Jose, Costa Rica, offering education and family support services to children and their families.
. In Haiti, The Western Union Foundation gave US$25,000 to CARE to assist disaster-relief efforts in the aftermath of several storms.

key partnerships
The Western Union Company also serves as a credible and reliable resource, advocate and trusted partner of multiple grassroots and community organizations across the globe, including:

. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
. The Federation of Zacatecano Clubs of Southern California
. The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families
. Jobs for America’s Graduates
. El Rescate
. The National Immigration Forum
. The Latin American Association
. The Polish American Association

Western Union Foundation Fact Sheet

The Western Union Foundation began in 2000 as a philanthropic organization to facilitate charitable giving programs worldwide.

Central to Western Union's philosophy is to support the communities in which our employees and consumers live and work. It is one of the foundations of our business, and something we are proud to say that we do every day.

The Western Union Foundation began in 2000 as a philanthropic organization to facilitate charitable giving programs worldwide. Through the generous donations of The Western Union Company, our employees and Agents, the Foundation helps to fund programs that enhance the quality of life for those most in need around the world.

key facts
Since 2001, The Western Union Foundation has:

. Granted nearly $40 million to more than 1,500 organizations in 70 countries around the globe to support humanitarian projects, provide disaster relief and fund education, health and human services programs.
. Supported 500 non-traditional students worldwide with scholarships totaling nearly $895,000;
. Partnered with 150 Western Union Agents in charitable programs;
. Supported more than 50 disaster-relief operations around the world;
. Made 43 grants totaling more than $2.4 million to help communities, children and families throughout Mexico.
corporate citizenship focus areas
. Supporting Cultural Inclusion: The Foundation recognizes the importance of helping individuals and families build strong communities, in which all members can contribute their distinctive talents and feel at home.
. Creating Pathways to Opportunity: The Foundation is committed to helping diverse individuals and communities around the world realize their tremendous potential with scholarships supporting financial literacy, entrepreneurship, job training, and other skills necessary on the journey to a better life.
. Fostering Hope in the Developing World: The Foundation supports economic development and opportunities with infrastructure development, community centers and access to technology.

2008 projects
. In September, the Foundation donated US$25,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help the victims of two consecutive hurricanes in Cuba.
. Also in September, the Foundation and Agent GraceKennedy announced a joint donation of US$50,000 to United Way of Jamaica to assist in disaster relief efforts for Tropical Storm Gustav.
. In July, the Foundation together with the Isi Group donated $400,000 to the Fondazione Oltre in Italy for microcredit initiative.

2007 projects
. In the summer of 2007, the Foundation donated a total of $400,000 to help fund disaster-relief efforts in Bangladesh, India, Jamaica, Nepal, Nicaragua, Pakistan and Peru.
. In September 2007, the Foundation announced the launch of “Our World, Our Family,” a $50 million, five-year initiative.
◦Less than a month later, the Foundation named the first grant recipients under the program. More than 70 non-profit organizations received nearly $2 million in grants.

2006 projects
. In Mexico, The Western Union Foundation donated $500,000 to provide cochlear implants for 38 deaf children throughout the country.
. In the U.S., the Foundation donated $1 million to Hurricane Katrina victims for clothing, food and shelter and $500,000 for permanent homes for eight evacuee families.
. In Thailand, the Foundation donated $100,000 toward the purchase of new fishing boats for fishermen whose livelihood was destroyed during the tsunami.
. In Kenya, the Foundation donated $50,000 to provide funds for drought relief.

The United States and Canada Fact Sheet

Western Union offers Money Transfer , Bill Payment and Prepaid services at more than 58,000 agent locations in the region.

the americas: the united states and canada fact sheet
With Western Union, consumers and businesses can quickly, reliably and conveniently transfer funds, send bill payments, or pre-pay for phone, Internet or credit card services using the company’s proprietary money transfer network. Western Union, along with its associated Orlandi Valuta and Vigo brands, has approximately 435,000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories.

Western Union is one of the leading money transfer service providers in the United States and Canada. Including Western Union, Orlandi Valuta and Vigo Agent locations, Western Union has a network of more than 58,000 Agent locations across the region.

Core Business within the Region:

money transfer
In the U.S. and Canada, Western Union offers a variety of ways for consumers to send funds to friends and loved ones, including:

. In person at over 58,000 Agent locations using cash and, in select locations, a debit card;
. Online at westernunion.com;
. Over the phone by calling 1-800-CALL-CASH®
bill payment
Western Union allows consumers in the U.S. and Canada to:

. Quickly send payments for mortgages, insurance, auto loans and phone bills;
. Send funds to the account of an inmate at a correctional facility;
. Purchase airline tickets, travel packages, prepaid wireless airtime, and catalog and Internet items in cash.

prepaid services
For consumers who prefer pay-as-you-go services, such as wireless or home phone service, Internet access or debit card benefits, Western Union offers a variety of prepaid services at participating Agent locations in the U.S.

the western union® gold card
Members of the Western Union® loyalty and rewards program enjoy benefits such as service fee reductions, phone time, merchandise and gift cards.

. As of the third quarter of 2007, the loyalty program was available in 65 countries and 9 and a half million active cards, primarily in the U.S.
. In the U.S. in 2006, approximately 45 percent of Western Union-branded consumer-to-consumer transactions were initiated using a Gold Card.
key facts
. In 2007, consumer-to-consumer transactions between and within the U.S. and Canada accounted for 11 percent of Western Union’s revenue.

recent launches
. The company announced in January 2008 that it had extended its agreement with Delhaize-US to offer Western Union services at 1,120 locations nationwide.

Latin America, Caribbean, Mexico (LACA) Fact Sheet

Western Union offers Money Transfer, Bill Payment services and a variety of ways for consumers to send and receive funds in the region.

With Western Union, consumers and businesses can quickly, reliably and conveniently transfer funds, send bill payments, or pre-pay for phone, Internet or credit card services using the company’s proprietary money transfer network. Western Union, along with its associated Orlandi Valuta and Vigo brands, has approximately 435,000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories worldwide.

Western Union is one of the leading money transfer service providers in the Latin America region, which includes Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Including Western Union, Orlandi Valuta and Vigo Agent locations, Western Union has a network of more than 47,000 Agent locations spanning over 40 countries and territories in the region.

Core Business within the Region:

money transfer
Western Union offers a variety of ways for consumers to send funds to friends and loved ones, including:

. In person at more than 47,000 Agent locations throughout the region, including more than 18,000 Agent locations in Mexico;
. Online at westernunion.com and over the phone via 1-800-CALL-CASH® from the U.S. to most countries in the region.
Western Union also offers consumers a variety of options in sending and receiving funds, including:

. The “Money in Minutes” option;
. The “Next-Day” delivery option;
. The “Direct to Bank” option, which enables consumers to send funds from the U.S. to a qualifying Mexican or Brazilian bank account;
. The option for receivers to direct funds to a stored-value card, debit card or money order in select countries;
. Home delivery of funds with Western Union and/or Vigo in select countries.
bill payment
Western Union allows consumers in Argentina to:
. Send cash payments for public services and taxes and pre-pay for Internet access and mobile phone top-up at approximately 3,300 Agent locations through the Western Union affiliate Pago Facil.

recent launches:
. Western Union recently completed the acquisition of Transfer Express de Panama, a money transfer and bill payments company, and plans to begin offering bill payment to consumers in Panama in coming months
. Western Union recently extended its agent agreement for five additional years with Banco do Brasil, building on the 10-year successful relationship.

Europe, Middle East, Africa and South Asia (EMEASA) Fact Sheet

Western Union offers Money Transfer services through more than 211,700 agent locations in the region and online.

With Western Union, consumers and businesses can quickly, reliably and conveniently transfer funds, send bill payments, or pre-pay for phone, Internet or credit card services using the company’s proprietary money transfer network. Western Union, along with its associated Orlandi Valuta and Vigo brands, has approximately 435,000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories.

Western Union is one of the leading money transfer service providers in EMEA, with more than 800 employees working across the region. The staff is responsible for a network of more than 278,000 Agent locations spanning over 120 countries and territories.

Core Business within the Region:

money transfer
. Western Union offers fast, reliable and convenient person-to-person money transfers.
. More than 270 banks and postal institutions in over 100 countries are Western Union® Agents.
. The company has extensive experience in the international money transfer business and extensive knowledge of the money transfer market.
. Consumers in select countries can enroll in the Western Union loyalty and rewards program, the Gold Card. The Gold Card is available in:
◦Belgium
◦UAE
◦France
◦United Kingdom
◦Ireland
◦Portugal
◦Spain
◦Greece
◦Sweden
◦Kenya
◦Switzerland
◦Germany

online money transfer
. Consumers in eight countries in the region can send money online using their credit or debit card.
. Countries with transactional websites include:
◦United Kingdom
◦Ireland
◦Austria
◦Netherlands
◦France
◦Norway
◦Sweden
◦Germany

recent milestones in the region
. In October 2008, Western Union announced that it would begin to roll out services at Absa bank branches throughout South Africa. Absa is South Africa’s largest regional bank.
. In the third quarter of 2008, Western Union announced that services are available at all VICTORIABANK branches and offices in Moldova.

Asia Pacific (APAC) Fact Sheet

Western Union offers Money Transfer services through more than 62,500 agent locations in the region and online.

Western Union is one of the leading money transfer service providers in Asia Pacific (APAC). More than 400 employees working in 14 offices spread across the region are responsible for a network of more than 62,500 Agent locations spanning 39 countries and territories.

Core Business within the Region:

money transfer
. In Asia Pacific, Western Union offers consumer-to-consumer money transfers, providing quick transfer of funds to family and friends around the globe.
. Western Union offers consumer-to-bank-account money transfers, which enables customers in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore to send money to their bank accounts in the Philippines and Indonesia through the Western Union® Direct to Bank option.
. Across the APAC region, more than 40 banks and postal institutions are Western Union Agents. The company has 19 years of experience in the money transfer business within the region.
. Domestic money transfer (in-country) is available in the Philippines and Indonesia.
. Home delivery of funds is available in Vietnam.

online money transfer
Consumers in Australia and New Zealand can send money online using their credit or debit card at westernunion.com.au and westernunion.co.nz.

the western union® gold card
Consumers in select countries can enroll in the Western Union loyalty and rewards program, the Gold Card. Gold Card members enjoy benefits such as insurance coverage (Continuity of Income program), phone time, shopping sprees, shopping coupons and discounts at participating retail outlets.

Countries where the Gold Card is available:

. Australia
. New Zealand
. Brunei
. Philippines
. Hong Kong
. Singapore
. Japan
. Taiwan
. Malaysia

Recent Milestones in the Region
. Western Union Filipino customers in Hong Kong can draw 12- to 18-month installment loans from PrimeCredit Limited, following an agreement signed by the two companies to offer a pilot consumer lending program.
. In October 2008, Western Union announced that customers of Malaysia's CIMB Bank can now send funds online from their bank accounts for payout in cash at one of approximately 435,000 Western Union Agent locations worldwide.

Investor Relations

http://ir.westernunion.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=203395&p=irol-financial

Western Union passionately commits to doing business the right way and we are always looking for new ways to grow beyond our core business.

Consumers value the services we offer. What we do, helping people stay connected, brings vitality to relationships. And thinking responsibly for the company and the community is the anchor of how we do business.

Financials
We believe in providing investors and analysts with meaningful financial information to assist in understanding the Western Union financial results and to better review our business.

In 2009, Western Union continued to make solid progress in pursuing our strategic and financial objectives. We generated substantial cash flow and maintained strong margins, while positioning our company for continued growth.

2009 annual report
In 2009, Western Union continued to make solid progress in pursuing our strategic and financial objectives. We generated substantial cash flow and maintained strong margins, while positioning our company for continued growth.

quarterly results
Access highlights and details on Quarterly Results for the Western Union Company, including revenue, earnings per share, cash provided by operating activities and operating income margin.

sec filings
Download the latest SEC Filings, including Proxy Statements, Prospectuses filed, Quarterly, Annual Reports, and XBRL data.

gaap reconciliations
Analyze our underlying business by reviewing our non-GAAP financial measure with our GAAP and the reconciliation of removing acquistions from revenue growth and spin-off expenses from our operating income.

About Us

With a 150-year history of connecting people when it matters most, Western Union continues to shape the world in which we live.

Western Union offers one of the easiest ways for families and friends to send money and stay connected almost anywhere in the world. It all comes down to the relationships we've established over many years. We take pride in being close to our consumers. Together with our Agents, we speak our consumers' languages and live in our consumers' neighborhoods. And we share our consumers' cultures. We are a significant part of each other's lives.

As a result, our Agents and employees are more like ambassadors. They are ambassadors of trust. Ambassadors of responsibility. And ambassadors of hope. They are the living, breathing manifestation of who we are as a company and everything we stand for:

Integrity. Partnership. Opportunity. Passion. Teamwork.

our values
We do business each day with absolute integrity, honesty and passion, partnering as a team to meet our consumers' needs.

The values that matter most to our employees shape the core values of Western Union. They are a part of the fabric of our day-to-day work experience and demonstrate behaviors that foster a positive, inclusive and engaging company culture.

Our values define who we are and what we stand for as a company. Living these values is at the heart of all that we do, and is demonstrated every day in our interactions with consumers, colleagues and the global community.

integrity
We do business each day with an absolute commitment to ethics, honesty and credibility. Our employees and Agents foster trust, so our consumers are confident their transactions are fast and reliable.

partnership
Our partnerships with employees, Agents and organizations that support our business are critical to our success. These partnerships enable us to better understand our consumers in order to deliver services that meet or exceed their needs and our shareholders' expectations.

opportunity
We develop our people through new opportunities and challenges; we recognize and reward high performers; we embrace diversity and varied perspectives; and we respect the commitment our people make to our business, their families and society.

passion
We are passionate about our business, doing the right thing for our people and proud to enable our consumers to achieve their dreams. We lead by example in giving back to the communities we serve and improving our world.

teamwork
We are one team, working together for one world. We have a dynamic and inclusive work environment where our people share the desire to win.
history
For more than 150 years, the familiar signs of Western Union have stood as a trusted symbol for connecting friends, family and businesses around the world.

Known today as an innovator in financial services, The Western Union Company has become an industry leader in global money transfer with approximately 435,000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories. From the roots of our signature telegram business, we expanded and evolved our services in 1871 to offer electronic money transfer. Today, Western Union offers money order, money transfer, payment and prepaid services. While the telegram is a memory, we continue a long history of connecting people around the corner and around the globe with financial services that are fast, reliable and convenient.

Did you know?

1851
Western Union was founded in 1851 as the New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company.

1856
The company changed its name to Western Union in 1856 to mark the consolidation of several telegraph lines in what was then the Western-most reaches of the American telegraph system.

1861
Western Union completed the first transcontinental telegraph line across North America in 1861.

1869
The first successful stock ticker was introduced by Western Union in 1869.

1871
Western Union introduced money transfer in 1871.

1884
Western Union was one of the original 11 stocks included in the first Dow Jones Average in 1884.

1896
In 1896, Western Union provided service to Europe, Northern Africa, North and South America, Australia and Asia.

1914
In 1914, Western Union introduced the first consumer charge card.

1933
In 1933, Western Union delivered the first singing telegram.

1943
Western Union pioneered the first commercial inter-city microwave communications system in 1943.

1974
The first commercial satellite in the U.S. was introduced by Western Union in 1974.

1980
In 1980, revenue from the money transfer service exceeded telegram service revenue for the first time in Western Union history.

1993
In 1993, Western Union introduced the first prepaid, disposable telephone card.

2001
Celebrating its 150-year anniversary in 2001, Western Union expanded to more than 100,000 Agent locations worldwide.

2006
In 2006, The Western Union Company handled 147 million consumer-to-consumer money transfers and 249 million consumer-to-business transactions.

Services

Western Union does so much more than simply send money. Every day we help people connect with loved ones around the world by offering a fast, reliable and convenient means of transferring money.

Under its Western Union, Orlandi Valuta and Vigo brands, The Western Union Company provides consumers fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, as well as send payments and purchase money orders. We operate through a network of approximately 435,000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories.

consumer-to-consumer
Connect with loved ones throughout the world by sending your support through Western Union.

consumer-to-consumer service
Our Consumer-to-Consumer service allows people to send and receive money worldwide, primarily through a global network of third-party Agents who use our multi-currency money transfer processing systems.

We offer consumers a variety of ways to send money through Western Union, Orlandi Valuta and Vigo Agents worldwide. There is an Agent location nearly everywhere—from the biggest cities to the most remote towns. In many countries, we also offer the ability to send money over the Internet or the telephone using a credit or debit card.

We also offer consumers several options for receiving a money transfer. While we pay the vast majority of transfers in cash at Agent locations, in some places we offer payments directly to the receiver's bank account or a stored-value card.

walk-in money transfer service
More than 90 percent of our transactions are still done in person where consumers receive the attention and expertise of an Agent clerk. The Agent clerk collects cash from a consumer and within minutes, payment is available for pick-up at an Agent location convenient to the receiver. In the United States, many Agent locations also accept debit cards to initiate a transaction. We are continually developing convenient and customized solutions for consumers in a variety of regions.

online money transfer service
Our transactional Web site allows consumers to send funds online using a credit or debit card. Additionally, consumers can conveniently check the status of their transfer online.

telephone money transfer service
Our Telephone Money Transfer service allows consumers to send funds by telephone without visiting a Western Union Agent location. Consumers may call a toll-free number in the United States or the United Kingdom and use a debit card or credit card to initiate a transaction. The money transfer is then available for pay-out at a participating Agent location.

mobile money transfer service
We are working with mobile phone operators in select countries to introduce money transfers that consumers can send and receive with a cell phone. Recently, we announced three mobile operators that will participate in this initiative – expected to extend the benefits of financial services to many of the world's families for the first time. The first commercial services began in the second quarter of 2008.

payout services
Receivers can typically pick up available funds within minutes of the sender completing a transaction. In some countries, funds can be sent for next-day payout, bank account delivery or loaded to a stored-value card. In a number of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Union Agents offer a bank deposit service, in which the paying Agent provides the receiver the option to direct funds to a bank account or to a stored-value card. Vigo also offers Direct to Bank and home delivery service in certain countries.

consumer-to-business
Simplify your everyday life by sending utilities, car loans and mortgage payments through Western Union.

consumer-to-business service
Our Consumer-to-Business service provides consumers with fast, flexible and convenient ways to send bill payments.

Western Union offers several electronic and cash payment options that allow our consumers to send bill payments on a one-time or recurring basis. Consumers can conveniently send payments for utility bills, auto loans, mortgages, financial and insurance service providers and government entities through our network of third-party Agents and various electronic channels.

For billers, our service provides comprehensive and customizable bill payment solutions that help improve cash flow and reduce costs. In the United States, our Consumer-to-Business segment is experiencing a shift in demand from cash-based, walk-in payment services to electronic payment services.

payment channels and methods of payment
Consumers can send payments over the telephone or Internet using credit cards, debit cards or through an Automated Clearing House (ACH), depending on the country of origin and the biller. Guaranteed funds for post-paid or prepaid services can also be sent in cash, and in some cases, debit card. Money order payment instruments can be purchased in the United States and Canada and used for monthly bills or catalog purchases.

.business-to-business
Custom House allows you to make international payments, receive foreign currency and protect your business with currency risk management services.

business-to-business service

Foreign Exchange and International Payments
Acquired by Western Union in 2009, Custom House Ltd. is a global payments company that offers extensive international payment solutions using market-leading technology and a worldwide network of trading offices. Founded in 1992, Custom House enables clients to make payment transactions quickly, efficiently and securely – in person or online – through our dedicated global banking relationships. Through our vast knowledge of the market and industry expertise, we remain committed to providing superior value and innovative, cost effective solutions for our diverse client base by addressing the needs of individuals, enterprise clients, Fortune 500 companies and industry specific markets.

The Custom House Advantage
. Industry-leading knowledge and global expertise
. Award winning products and customized solutions
. Market leading online platforms and innovative technology
. Exceptional customer service and personalized support
. Competitive exchange rates
. The highest ethical and regulatory standards

Custom House is available to customers worldwide - 24 hours a day, 7 day a week and our size and efficiency mean clients can complete global transactions faster and more securely than ever before. But what truly sets us apart is our ability to work closely with customers to provide customized global payment solutions that precisely meet specific requirements.

Contact Custom House today to learn more about how we can help you speed up, simplify and secure all of your international payment requirements with competitive rates.

business solutions
Yes, your financial institution can create new revenue streams by offering new money movement solutions.

Turn your bank or credit union into a one-stop financial shop for your customers with Western Union. Our various money transfer and bill payment solutions not only complement your existing offerings, they also open the door to new consumer-driven fee revenues – a fact not lost on more than 300 banks worldwide who have already joined us.

western union money transfer®
The Western Union® Money in Minutes service allows consumers to move money to 200 countries and territories generally in minutes, and their recipient can pick it up at one of over 435,000 Agent locations worldwide.

western union bill payment
The Western Union Quick Collect® Bill Payment service helps consumers make urgent and routine bill payments. With over 5,000 direct biller relationships across multiple industries, including mortgage, auto finance, credit card, insurance, and telecom, your customers are covered.

the western union advantage
With Western Union, your financial institution can:

. Provide money movement solutions that your customers want and appreciate.
. Product differentiation can help you to add new revenue streams and improve the competitive position of your financial institution.
. Team up with a market leader and trusted provider known locally as well as around the globe.
. Enhance current customer relationships.
. Integrate these services at your choice of multiple consumer channels (retail branches, online, call centers).
join the 300 banks around the world who have said, “yes” to our network
Become the next bank to join Western Union, a leader in global money movement. To learn more about the advantages of an alliance with Western Union email us at becominganagent@westernunion.com today.

other services
Enhance your financial management with money orders, prepaid cards, and other financial services from Western Union.

Our other services enhance our portfolio and provide consumers and businesses with additional convenient financial tools.

Western Union is a trusted source not only for money transfer and bill payment services, but also for money orders, prepaid cards and other financial services. Our Agent network offers these other services that allow our consumers to conveniently manage their finances.

money orders
Money orders are a reliable payment choice for those who may not have checking accounts. They can be used for making purchases and paying bills, and can be deposited directly into bank accounts or cashed at check cashiers, some banks and some retailers. Money orders can be purchased at participating Agent locations in the United States and Canada.

prepaid cards and services
The Western Union® Prepaid MasterCard® card is sold through our Agent network primarily in the United States and on the Internet. This service allows consumers to load money or receive a direct deposit from their employer onto the card for use at a later date. The card can be used to withdraw money from an ATM or shop online anywhere MasterCard debit cards are accepted.

In addition to debit cards, Western Union enables consumers to pre-pay for mobile phones, Internet access and other services. These “top-up” services allow consumers to store value with service providers that can be accessed by the consumer in the future.

corporate incentives
Western Union® Corporate GiftGramSM gift checks draw on the company's longstanding expertise in delivering money and messages. Corporate GiftGramSM gift checks offer companies an easy way to recognize employees, clients and customers. They consist of a gift check and recognition certificate customized with a message and the company's logo.
leadership
We strive to meet our consumers’ expectations. We remain competitively positioned in a fast-growing worldwide market.

At Western Union, leadership takes more than the latest technology to quickly send money and connect millions worldwide. It takes a team of dedicated people who understand the evolving needs of consumers, while maintaining the integrity of our promise to provide convenience, trust and reliability. Our company leaders continue to build upon our heritage and live our values as we adapt our business to the needs of the marketplace.

management team
Our management team executes strategies around the world to adapt our business to the needs of the marketplace and help millions of people live easier lives.

board of directors
Our board of directors believes that responsibility for the company and for the community is the anchor of how we do business.

heroes
The word hero can mean many things to many people.

To Western Union, it's our consumers, who work hard to fulfill their dreams. It's people like Godson Beaugelin, a young father who is funding the educations of his brother and sister in Haiti while caring for his young child. It's people like Maria Genevieve Buncal, working for a better future in Hong Kong and sending money home to the Philippines. It's people everywhere, across the world, moving every day in the direction of their dreams.

Watch the videos below and see what the word hero means to us.

http://corporate.westernunion.com/heroes.html

global organization

With more and more people leaving their homelands to make a living in other countries, the value of our services increases immensely and we have committed more resources toward various regions.

The Western Union Company, under the Western Union, Orlandi Valuta and Vigo brands, touches people around the world with approximately 435,000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories. We are becoming an integral part of the fabric of local communities everywhere. There has never been a greater demand for our services. Hundreds of millions of people currently live outside of their home countries and use Western Union® services to remain connected to their families and homelands. We are committed to bringing our service to every corner of the world.

consumer protection
We strive to educate consumers on safeguarding transactions and personal information, and avoiding fraud when using Western Union® services.

Every day, millions of consumers rely on Western Union Money Transfer® services to send money to loved ones near and far. If consumers are sending money to someone they don't know personally, they could be putting themselves at risk for fraud. At Western Union, we value the consumers who use our services. That's why we remind consumers to protect themselves and their hard-earned money.

agents
Every day, The Western Union Company works with our Agent network of approximately 435,000 locations to help people all over the world realize their dreams.

Western Union has a history of adapting our business to meet the changing needs of the people we serve. So as more of our consumers continue moving to more places around the world, our Agent relationships have never been more important.

The relationship between a consumer and their Western Union Agent is a special one. Our Agents' deep understanding of the communities they serve comes from the fact that they live in these communities themselves. Our strong Agent relationships are the primary reason our Western Union® Gold Card loyalty program has more than 11 million active cards operating in 2008. And their long tenure with Western Union gives them the knowledge and insight to create customized solutions on a local basis. We continually look to implement new strategies that will allow our service, our technology and our Agents to have an even greater impact in our communities.

Online International Money Transfers

Easy Bank-to-Bank TransfersDeliver payments right from your account to theirs, easily and conveniently with over 140 currencies available.

Transparent RatesLock in real-time rates. Our "Quick Quote" tool lets you check the latest rates at any time of day. There are never any surprises with all fees disclosed before you book a transaction.

Payment Status VisibilitySay good-bye to uncertainty with visibility into your payment status right from your computer. Your recipients can be notified via email once a payment has been sent and you will always have access to a complete payment history.

Dedicated Customer SupportGet on the phone with one of our customer service representatives 24 hours a day, 6 days a week with any questions or concerns about your account, sending a payment or transfer status.

HOW IT WORKS

Having an online account with us makes sending funds easy and convenient.

1. Set Up Your Account
After your account has been approved, simply add your bank account and your recipients' bank accounts. This reduces the time it takes to book a transaction to minutes.

2. Initiate Your Payment
Access our online system through simple drop down menus, enter payment information and choose how you would like your recipient to receive the funds. Confirm foreign exchange rate details and book your payment. We will send you an email with the payment specifications.

3. You Send Us the Funds
We provide a variety of ways for you to send us the payment in your currency including direct debit and bill payee options. See all options available.
http://onlinefx.westernunion.com.au/funding-and-payment-types/

4. We Send the Payment Out
We will take care of the foreign exchange and send the payment quickly to your recipient in your specified currency. You can opt to receive an email notifying you that the payment has been made. We can even send your recipient an email notifying them of the incoming payment.

FEES and PAYMENTS

An online solution for your global payments
In order to get your money moving quickly, there are two separate steps to be aware of ahead of time. The first step involves determining how to provide us with the funds for your transaction. The second step determines the delivery method in which your beneficiary will receive the funds.

Sending Funds (to us)	Fee	Process Time*	Description
BPay [RECOMMENDED]	$0	1 day	Simply add Custom House** to your list of bill payees on your online banking account.
Direct Debit	$0	3 day	Link your checking account to us. We'll withdrawal funds when the transaction is booked.
Wire Transfers	$0	1 day	Initiate a Wire Transfer through your bank. Wire instructions are provided to you at the time you book your transactions. (Sending bank may charge fee.)

* All processing times (for the incoming payment) are subject to change.

**Western Union acquired Custom House in 2009 and owns and operates Custom House as Western Union Business Solutions along with its services under the Western Union name.

Step two: Choose Your Delivery Method
We offer a variety of methods in which you may deliver funds to your beneficiary.

Delivery Method (to recipient)	Fee	Process Time*	Description
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT/ACH) [RECOMMENDED]	$0	3-5 days	Deposited directly to the recipient's bank account. Available for select currencies and countries, including USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand.
Wire Transfer	$22	1-2 days	Deposited directly to the recipient's bank account but faster than an EFT/ACH. Available for all currencies except KYD.
Draft (check)	$0	10-15 days	Mailed as a draft (check) to the address of your recipient. Available in select countries

Please note that the recipient's bank may charge additional fees.

FAQ'sBelow are some of the most frequently asked questions. If you cannot find what you are looking for here, please call to speak to one of our customer service representatives at 1-800-773-546 or +1.732.694.2257 from international locations. You can also send an email to online@westernunion.com.

Registration
Which account is right for me? Personal or a business account?
Global Payment accounts are commonly used by the following types of customers:

Personal Account
. Sending funds to family overseas
. Buying foreign property
. Purchasing foreign goods

Small to Medium Sized Businesses
. Making payments to international suppliers
. Visit OnlineFX for business

What types of documentation will I need to submit with my online application?
Depending on the nature of your transaction, different types of information may be required.
If you are an individual or a sole proprietor, you will need all of the following:
. Bank statement
. One, valid primary piece of government issued photo identification and one, valid secondary piece of identification*
. Physical mailing address, PO boxes are not accepted
*Examples of acceptable identification include passport, birth certificate, and driver's license.

How will I know if my application has been accepted?
After you have gone through the online application process and provided all supporting documentation, most new accounts are approved within 24 hrs.
A customer service representative will follow up with you directly if more information is required. In some cases you may be required to provide copies or further documentation.

TRANSACTION
Will I be charged a fee for using this service?
There is no fee to start and hold an account. Fees vary by your actual transaction. Depending on the nature of your transaction, some charges may be imposed by a third party institution such as banks and payment processors. Please see the payment types section for more information

How fast will my recipients receive their money?
Speed varies by the options you choose. Please see the payment types section for more information.

Do my recipients need to have a Western Union account too?
No. You can send a payment directly into their bank account or as a draft (which is like a money order) through the mail. Drafts are available only in select countries.

Do I still need to add my bank account if I submitted my bank statement?
Yes, your bank statement is only used for authentication. Therefore you will still need to add your bank account manually once your account has been activated.

Who do I contact for questions or troubleshooting?
Customer Service representatives are available 24 hours a day, six days a week. Please call 1-800-773-546 or email online@westernunion.com.

ACCOUNT SIGNUP
Easy Sign Up for Easy Access
Having an online account with us makes sending payments easy and convenient.

Please provide the following:
Two pieces of identification
Recent bank statement

In order to expedite the process, please provide your full legal name during the
sign up process and add our email address (online@westernunion.com) to your safe sender list.

Once you have finished the registration steps, your account will be reviewed before activation. Accounts are typically activated within 1-2 days.

Why We Ask for Your Personal Information
Like most financial institutions, we require a proof of your identity in order for you to open an account. Due to legislation regarding the proceeds of crime, money laundering, and terrorist financing, we must verify the identity of all of our customers.

Continue to sign up http://onlinefx.westernunion.com.au/account-signup/

Have a Business? Visit Online FX for Small Business http://business.westernunion.com.au/online-fx/

More information:

Is available on the Western Union website
http://www.business.westernunion.com.au
http://www.onlinefx.westernunion.com.au

See our link on the following pages:

Logo Link - site wide on the right hand side of every page

Links on this Western Union Profile page

BIS Survey
http://www.bis.org/publ/rpfx10.htm

Western Union
http://www.business.westernunion.com.au
http://www.onlinefx.westernunion.com.au

Last update: 19th January 2011

Ebooks you can buy

Upcoming Events

In Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide,
Perth and Brisbane

Adelaide, Australia
10 May 2012
Free Living, Working and
Networking in Adelaide 6pm

Brisbane, Australia
17 April 2012
Free Living, Working and
Networking in Brisbane 5:30pm

Perth, Australia
10 May 2012
Free Living, Working and
Networking in Perth 6pm

Melbourne, Australia
10 May 2012
Free Living, Working and
Networking in Melbourne 6pm

10 May 2012
Free Newcomers
Networking 7:30pm

Sydney, Australia
10 May 2012 Free
Living, Working and
Networking 6pm

10 May 2012 Free
Newcomers
Networking 7:30pm

Loading...

Western Union - Send and Transfer Money Online - Foreign Currency Exchange, Rates, International FX, Business Solutions - Advertiser Profile Page

Details:

Moving Business Forward

Business Solutions

Western Union Business Solutions

Company Profile

Compliance and Legal

Global Presence

Corporate Foreign Exchange Solutions

Currency Risk Management Consultation

Currency Risk Management Strategy

International Payment Solutions

Risk Management Services

Currency Options Webinar

Currency Hedging

International Receivables for Business

International Receivables Solution

StudentPay solution for Education Institutions

Corporate Service Branches

Contact an FX representative

Business Solutions Overview

Empowering clients with innovative solutions

The World is at your Fingertips

Frequently Asked Questions

Foreign Exchange Risk Management

Local Currency Payments

Currency Options Webinar

Featured Webinar - An Effective International Payments Program

Events

Foreign Exchange (FX) 101

Hedging and Risk Management

Learn about Forward Contracts

Newsletters

Media Coverage

Strategic Alliances

Inquiries

Careers

Our core business

About us

Values

Western Union Foundation

Ethics

Diversity

Professional growth

Equal employment opportunity

Corporate citizenship

Western Union Foundation Guidelines

Global migration

Audio and video

Media room

Core business

Core business within Western Union payment services:

Corporate social responsibility fact sheet

Western Union Foundation Fact Sheet

The United States and Canada Fact Sheet

Latin America, Caribbean, Mexico (LACA) Fact Sheet

Europe, Middle East, Africa and South Asia (EMEASA) Fact Sheet

Asia Pacific (APAC) Fact Sheet

Investor Relations

Did you know?

Services

Online International Money Transfers

More information:

See our link on the following pages:

Links on this Western Union Profile page

BIS Survey http://www.bis.org/publ/rpfx10.htm Western Union http://www.business.westernunion.com.au http://www.onlinefx.westernunion.com.au

Last update: 19th January 2011

Ebooks you can buy

Upcoming Events

Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: NO)

BIS Survey
http://www.bis.org/publ/rpfx10.htm

Western Union
http://www.business.westernunion.com.au
http://www.onlinefx.westernunion.com.au