Customers at Western Union flagship and Walgreens/Duane Reade
locations can now send Money Transfers using Apple Pay solution
ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Western Union (NYSE:WU) a leader in global payment services, today
announced it will offer Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s technology Apple Pay™
mobile payment solution at Western Union’s flagship locations, to
provide consumers yet another way to fund global money transfers and
bill payments in the United States.
Consumers making Western Union transactions at kiosks in over 7,600
Walgreens and Duane Reade locations nationwide also have the ability to
utilize the Apple Pay service.
“Innovative payment options are a strategic focus for Western Union, and
starting to accept Apple Pay is in keeping with the company’s blueprint
for the future,” said Odilon Almeida, Western Union President, Americas
and European Union. “Our customers’ needs and preferences are top of
mind,” he added.
Western Union analysis shows that international money transfer senders,
particularly recent immigrants, are as mobile-savvy and digitally
motivated as the general population with nearly six out of 10 migrants
owning a smartphone, moving it from a luxury device to an irreplaceable
everyday necessity. Over two thirds of migrant international money
transfer senders and more than 80 percent of non-migrant international
money transfer senders own a smartphone.
“Our customers have an expectation of using mobile technology to make
money transfer service and product accessibility easier. Western Union
is rising to the occasion as we harness our system with modifications to
link cash and digital transfers between retail locations, mobile phones,
prepaid cards, online and traditional bank accounts and ATMs,” said
David Thompson, Executive Vice President, Global Operations and
Technology and Chief Information Officer.
Launched at Western Union’s flagship 1440 Broadway in New York City—with
more participating Western Union Agent locations to follow—customers
will be able to use their iPhone 6 to fund a Western Union Money Transfer®
transaction or bill payment.
To use this service, customers must register their debit card on their
device and ensure their bank is a participating partner of the Apple Pay
service. They can then make a payment simply by holding their phone near
the contactless reader with their finger on Touch ID. Consumers’ debit
card numbers are not transmitted in payment, nor are they shared with
the Western Union Agent.
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 September 30, 2014, the Western Union, Vigo
and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined
network of over 500,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories
and over 100,000 ATMs and kiosks. In 2013, The Western Union Company
completed 242 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide,
moving $82 billion of principal between consumers, and 459 million
business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
WU-G
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150127005225/en/
Source: Western Union Company