Western
Union
Provides money transfer
and payment services worldwide.
Headquarters:
6200 South Quebec Street
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Employees: 5,900
CEO: Christina Gold
Stock Symbol: WU
Website:
http://www.westernunion.com
Career Site
The Western Union Company is a leading provider of global money
transfer services. Together with its affiliates, Orlandi Valuta
and Vigo, Western Union provides consumers with fast, reliable
and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world,
as well as send payments and purchase money orders.
The service lets immigrants easily send money back to their home countries for a transaction fee. Western Union operates through a network of over 400,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories.
Western Union became a separately traded
company in 2006 after being spunoff by First Data Corp.
Vigo Money Transfer was acquired in 2005
and is one of the largest money transmitters worldwide. Vigo
holds one of the largest market shares in the U.S. to Latin America
corridor.
Orlandi Valuta is a subsidiary of Western Union. Established in 1986, Orlandi Valuta offers international money transfers from the United States to locations in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and all 32 states in Mexico.
In 2008, the Western Union company reported revenues of $5.2 billion and net income of $919 million.
History
1851 -
A group of businessmen in Rochester, NY form The New York and
Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company - Western Union's
predecessor company.
1856 -
The New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company
changes its name to The Western Union Telegraph Company, signifying
the union of "western" telegraph lines with eastern
lines into one system.
1861 -
Western Union completes the first transcontinental telegraph
line, providing fast, coast-to-coast communications during the
U.S. Civil War.
1869 -
Western Union introduces the first stock ticker, providing brokerage
firms with New York Stock Exchange quotations.
1870 -
Western Union launches a time service, helping to standardize
time nationally. Western Union holds the distinction as "The
Nation's Timekeeper" for nearly a century.
1871 -Western
Union Money Transfer service was introduced and became the company's
primary business.
1884 -
Western Union is selected as one of the original 11 stocks tracked
in the first Dow Jones Average.
1914 -
Western Union introduces the first consumer charge card.
1920 -
Western Union introduces teletypewriters, joining branches and
individual companies.
1933 -
Singing telegrams are introduced.
1935 -
The first inter-city facsimile service is introduced.
1943 -
Western Union pioneers the first commercial inter-city microwave
system.
1958 -
Western Union introduces Telex, a direct-dial consumer to consumer
teleprinter service.
1964 -
Western Union launches the use of a transcontinental microwave
radio beam system, replacing poles and wires spanning the continent.
1970 -
Western Union MailGram messages offer next-day delivery through
the postal service.
1974 -
Western Union launches Westar I, the first commercial communications
satellite in the United States.
1980 -
Revenue from the Money Transfer service (originally known as
money order service) exceeds that from the telegram service for
the first time in Western Union history.
1982 -
Western Union is the first company with five satellites in orbit.
1989 -
Quick Collect provides creditors a service for securing fast
collection of payments via flat-rate money transfers. Rapid Money
Transfer service becomes available outside North America.
1992 -
Western Union Money OrderS service provides customers with a
fast, easy way to get money orders.
1993 -
Dinero en Minutos (Money in MinutesSM) service is introduced,
making funds sent to Mexico from the U.S. available in minutes.
1993 -
The Western Union Phone Card service is the first branded, pre-paid,
and disposable telephone card offered in the United States.
1994 -
First Financial Management Corporation acquires Western Union
Financial Services, Inc.
1995 -
First Financial Management Corporation completes a $7 billion
merger with First Data Corporation (NYSE: FDC). Western Union
Financial Services, Inc. becomes a First Data Corporation subsidiary.
1996 -
Western Union opens its North America headquarters in Englewood,
CO. International presence continues to expand with new regional
offices in Paris, Vienna, and Hong Kong.
1998 -
The Western Union Money Transfer service expands to reach 50,000
Agent locations worldwide, the world's largest money-transfer
network. International Regional Operating Centers open in Brussels
and Costa Rica.
1999 -
By the end of the year, there are more than 80,000 Western Union
Agent locations in more than 140 countries and territories around
the globe.
2000 -
Western Union launches westernunion.com, bringing the convenience
of money transfer to the Internet.
2001 -
Western Union celebrates its 150-year anniversary by reaching
more than 100,000 Agent locations worldwide.
2005 -
The Western Union Agent network, combined with subsidiary Orlandi
Valuta, exceeds 250,000 locations.
2006 -
Western Union discontinues its telegram service, completing its
transformation to a financial services company.
Benefits
* Medical
* Dental
* Vision
* Employee Assistance Plan
* Flexible Spending Accounts
* Life Insurance
* Business Travel Accident Insurance
* Short and Long-Term Disability
* Legal Assistance Plan
* Long-Term Care Insurance
* Auto and Home Insurance
* 401K
* Tuition Assistance
* Adoption Assistance
* Service year Anniversary Program
* Scholarship Award Program
* Gift Matching Program
* Holiday Club
* Employee Discount Program
* Coupons for Western Union products and services
Updated November 23, 2009
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