The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a worldwide leader in money
transfer services, recently concluded its annual series of global
Agent summits with a multi-day conference in Istanbul, Turkey. More
than 450 Western Union Agents, from locations throughout Europe, the
Middle East, Africa and South Asia, convened in Istanbul to discuss
the opportunities and challenges facing Western Union in the context
of continued increases in global economic migration.
Western Union and its subsidiaries, with a network of more than
305,000 global Agent locations, offer vital financial services to
consumers in more than 200 countries and territories. Western Union
credits much of its success and continued growth to this unparalleled
Agent network, whose businesses are as diverse as Western Union's
consumer base.
Western Union's annual Agent summits establish critical two-way
communication between the company and its Agents, who present the
public face of Western Union to the world. Regional banks, post office
networks, retail outlets and independent entrepreneurs all play an
important role in ensuring quick, convenient and reliable access to
money transfer services regardless of what part of the world a
consumer calls home.
"Western Union is one of the world's most trusted money transfer
services," said Hikmet Ersek, executive vice president and managing
director of Western Union EMEASA. "More importantly, our Agents' local
knowledge makes Western Union an expert in meeting the needs of our
consumers -- whether that means speaking to them in their local
language, helping them transact to a remote location or providing them
with outstanding service."
An additional summit took place earlier in the year in Malaysia,
allowing Western Union Agents from the region to provide valuable
feedback to the company and to hear more about its plans for future
growth.
"Western Union is in a unique position," said Ian Marsh, executive
vice president and managing director of Western Union Asia Pacific.
"Our vast global network has locations as diverse as bustling
metropolitan areas in Asia to remote mountain outposts in the
Americas. The Western Union Agent summits allow us to share our
insights with our Agents, and to learn from their knowledge and local
market expertise so we can all benefit from the opportunities we
discover."
With more than 60 percent of Western Union's total revenue being
generated by the international consumer-to-consumer money transfer
business, the company's fundamental message to its Agents centered on
providing a world-class experience to consumers worldwide. Western
Union believes that the key to its continued success lies with
awareness of its consumers, the ability to provide the choice and
service they have come to expect from Western Union and the continued
expansion of its Agent network.
"Western Union and its Agents have a perspective on the world that
allows us to see and respond to the latest migration trends,"
continued Marsh. "This perspective helps ensure that consumers have
access to a Western Union Agent location wherever they might be."
About Western Union
Western Union, together with its affiliates Orlandi Valuta and
Vigo, is a leading provider of global money transfer services,
providing people with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send money
around the world, pay bills and purchase money orders through a
network of more than 305,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and
territories. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
For further information on Western Union log on to
www.westernunion.com.
WU-G