ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a leader in global payments, and Citizens Bank today announced an agreement through which Citizens will offer Western Union^® global money transfer and expedited bill payment services across all of its 219 branches in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

“We saw an opportunity in our marketplace to offer alternative financial services for our clients and for consumers who don’t regularly use traditional bank services,” said Sherry Forbes , Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Citizens Bank.

“As part of that strategy, we recently introduced a suite of reloadable cards, which complements Western Union’s money movement services. We believe Western Union’s experience, proven products and trusted brand will help us to advance this strategy. We’re excited to provide these convenient services to the communities we serve,” Forbes added.

Western Union’s services will be introduced over the next several months and will allow Citizens Bank’s account holders and walk-in consumers to send and receive domestic or international money transfers and make urgent payments conveniently and quickly to an extensive biller network.

“Western Union provides customers a fast, dependable and convenient way to move money across the U.S. and globally,” said Victoria López-Negrete, senior vice president and general manager, North America, Western Union. “Our agreement with Citizens Banks is part of Western Union's strategy to work with leading banks and extend the Western Union’s brand and services to a broader array of customers.”

For more information on Western Union services, visit www.westernunion.com.

About Citizens Bank

Citizens Bank is part of Citizens Republic Bancorp, Inc., a diversified financial services company providing a wide range of commercial, consumer, mortgage banking, trust and financial planning services to a broad client base. Citizens Bank serves communities in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin with 219 offices and 249 ATMs. Citizens is the largest bank headquartered in Michigan with roots dating back to 1871. More information about Citizens Bank is available at www.citizensbanking.com.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company 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 April 24, 2012, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of approximately 500,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories. In 2011, The Western Union Company completed 226 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $81 billion of principal between consumers, and completed 425 million business payments.

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Source: Western Union