Close to 1000 Agent Locations Open to Send and Receive Cash in
Affected Areas
Photo Credit: The American National Red Cross 2017
ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
In continued support of the communities and families affected by the
devastation of Hurricane Harvey, The Western Union Company, a leader in
global payment services, and The Western Union Foundation today
activated a rapid response plan to ramp up accessibility of money
transfer services in impacted areas of Texas, and pledged an increased
contribution to the American Red Cross, with matching grants up to a
combined total of $200,000. *
Western Union President and CEO, Hikmet Ersek said, “Our company is
guided by a purpose of moving money for better and this drives every
decision we make. This also means digging deep and moving rapidly on
issues that are extremely critical to the communities we serve.
“To this end, we have mobilized a company-wide approach, engaging our
Foundation, employees, business associates and hometown community to
support those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
"We know first-hand – operating in more than 200 countries and
territories across the globe – that cash is vital to emergency relief,
as it is the most effective way to help fund basic and immediate needs.
To help meet these urgent needs in Texas, we are committed to enabling
ways for people to receive funds quickly, when mainstream infrastructure
has been disabled by natural disaster,” he said.
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Western Union® Agent Locations Rapid Response “Ready-to-Serve”**
Plan:
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Approximately 1000 Agent locations are open in hurricane-impacted
areas in Texas, and are currently serving those needing to both
send and/or pick up cash. Some Agent locations have activated
mobile units to offer financial services, including Western Union
Money Transfer® service.
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Western Union is providing hardware support for Agent locations
who may have lost or have had their equipment damaged in affected
areas, so that they may quickly ramp up services, as soon as
safety permits.
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Fee-Free Money Transfers Now Live: Effective Wednesday, August
30, Western Union digital channels – wu.com
and its mobile app will offer $0 fee money transfers using
promocode HELPTEXAS from the United States to Texas. Effective Sunday,
August 27, Western Union enabled $0 fee money transfers when
sending from the U.S. through Western Union Agent locations or
telephone money transfers.
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Western Union Financial Support: Today, the Western Union
Company has pledged to match the first $100,000 raised by Hurricane
Harvey Telethon contributors in Denver. If you would like to donate,
call 866-367-3001.
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The Western
Union Foundation has donated $30,000 to the American Red
Cross. The Western Union Foundation will also provide a 1:1 match
of qualifying contributions from participating Western Union
Agents and a 2:1 match from contributions made by Western Union
employees in the United States, for an additional donation of up
to $70,000.
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Fee-Free Red Cross Donations: Consumers who want to take
advantage of fee-free donations to the American Red Cross at Western
Union® Agent locations in the U.S. can complete the blue
Payments section on the Western Union form, using “American Red Cross”
as the Pay To recipient; “REDCROSS DC” as the Code City, along with
“Hurricane Harvey Relief” in the Account field.
Western Union has a long history of being one of the lifelines for
communities in need. In many instances, Western Union has been one of
the few ways for people around the world to receive funds easily, with
services available when no other infrastructure exists.
* The Western Union Foundation has already pledged $30,000; and an
additional $70,000 for Agent and Employee matching. Western Union has
pledged an additional $100,000 as a matching grant for funds
raised by Hurricane Harvey Telethon contributors in Denver.
** Due to the severity of the floods, some Western Union Agent
locations may not be immediately operational or possess sufficient funds.
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment
services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western
Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union
provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient
ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to
purchase money orders. As of June 30, 2017, the Western Union, Vigo and
Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network
of over 550,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and
over 150,000 ATMs and kiosks, and included the capability to send money
to billions of accounts. In 2016, The Western Union Company completed
268 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $80
billion of principal between consumers, and 523 million business
payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
About The Western Union Foundation
The Western Union Foundation is dedicated to creating a better world,
where the ability to realize dreams through economic opportunity is not
just a privilege for the few but a right for all. Through its signature
program, Education for Better, and with the support of The Western Union
Company, its employees, Agents, and business partners, The Western Union
Foundation works to realize this vision by supporting education and
disaster relief efforts as pathways toward a better future. Our combined
social ventures efforts make life better for individuals, families and
communities around the world. The Western Union Foundation has paid more
than $111 million in charitable giving since its inception in 2001.
These funds have been pledged in more than 137 countries and
territories. The Western Union Foundation is a separate charitable
corporation that is tax-exempt under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code, contributions to which are tax-deductible for US income tax
purposes. To learn more, visit www.westernunionfoundation.org,
or Follow us on Twitter @TheWUFoundation.
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View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170830005991/en/
Source: The Western Union Company