News (Noticias) Tagged ‘money transfer’

David Chapman, Director of Member Benefits and Media Relations for Familia Primero(TM), released the following statement today announcing a $2.95 money sending fee with membership in the Hispanic immigrant workers association, Familia Primero(TM):

Many Hispanic immigrant workers send money to their families in Mexico and other Latin American countries-often more than once a month. Typical sending fees are between $8.00 and $20.00, depending on the amount and destination that the money is being sent to. That can add up, to serious costs, when you send money every month. One of Familia Premaro’s initial undertakings was to create a simple and safe way to transfer money at a greatly reduced cost.

“Lowering member’s cost of sending money to their families in Mexico and other Latino countries has been our first priority,” says Pedro ‘Pete’ Suarez, Executive Director for the association. “We believe that lowering the cost of sending money to $2.95 per transfer, is an important benefit for our members. However, now that we have added a free, simple, and secure way for our members to get their pay checks cashed, without having to pay the outrageous 3-5% fees at the check cashing stores, we are able to save our members from $600 - $900 each year.”

The lower cost money transfer system, available for Familia Primero(TM) members, requires two debit cards … issued for a one time $5.00 fee for both. One card is for the Familia Primero(TM) member-the other is for their family receiving the funds. How much money can be sent for $2.95? Any amount from $100.00 to $1,000.00. Transfers can be made as often as twice a month.

Another member benefit being considered is lowering cell phone rates to and from Mexico and other Latin American countries.

The association has also created an immigration reform petition located at their web site: www.familiaprimero.com

“Increasing political and educational empowerment for the Hispanic immigrant community is an important part of our agenda,” says Suarez.

“Actions are being taken promote the petition both on-line and by traditional media. Signatures will be sorted by zip code, tying the numbers to congressional districts for engaging congressional members on the specifics of our needs. The time for keeping quiet, about our need for more positive immigration laws is over.”

Familia Primero(TM) is a private membership association created to serve Hispanic families-helping to improve their financial circumstances and to empower them with many other benefits.

Membership in Familia Primero(TM) is available for $19.95 a year at www.familiaprimero.com , or by calling: 800 354-1016 from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mon-Fri, Pacific Time.

Please use new member invitation code FP-100 to join or inquire. “

Western Union today asked the Arizona State Supreme Court to review a recent ruling by the Arizona Court of Appeals, which overturned a trial court’s decision in Western Union’s favor concerning the ability of the state to seize money transfers sent from states other than Arizona to Sonora, Mexico.

“This case presents important constitutional issues that we believe merit continued consideration by the courts,” said David Schlapbach, Western Union General Counsel and Executive Vice President. “We support and endorse the State of Arizona’s law-enforcement goals. We are also concerned about the constitutional rights of people to undertake ordinary financial transactions without unreasonable government interference. We hope that the Arizona Supreme Court will give these issues the attention they deserve,”

BACKGROUND – The case dates back to September 21, 2006, when the Arizona Attorney General issued a warrant seeking to seize all Western Union wire transfers over $500 sent from 28 states to locations in Sonora, Mexico. Western Union obtained a stay of this warrant in Arizona State Court. After a hearing and trial, the trial court ruled in January 2007 that the seizures were invalid and enjoined the Attorney General from continuing such seizures. In July 2008, the Court of Appeals overruled the trial court. Today, Western Union asked the Arizona Supreme Court to review the matter and uphold the initial trial court decision.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in 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. It operates through a network of more than 355,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories. Famous for its pioneering telegraph services, the original Western Union dates back to 1851. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.”

Bank Freedom, a wholly owned subsidiary of Prepaid Card Holdings, Inc. (Pink Sheets:PPDC), today announced that it has launched a Spanish version website for its Bank Freedom Prepaid MasterCard® Card program.

Visitors can now go to www.bancolibertadtarjeta.com and order a Bank Freedom Prepaid MasterCard from a website entirely in Spanish. Bank Freedom has always had bilingual customer service agents and a bilingual website for its customers to access their prepaid card accounts. However, to help new Spanish-speaking customers better understand the benefits of the product they are ordering, the company is releasing this new card enrollment website.

Bank Freedom intends to air a radio campaign this month entirely in Spanish on several Spanish radio stations located in the Unites States. The company also plans to market its Bank Freedom Prepaid MasterCard through its established internet marketing network.

Bruce Berman, Founder and CEO of Bank Freedom, stated, “There is a great need for our product and until now we have not been able to directly reach the Spanish-speaking community in the United States. Our prepaid cards provide a much needed service with nominal costs. With a Bank Freedom Prepaid MasterCard card, a consumer can eliminate their reliance on check cashing services and money orders, and they are safer than cash and accepted worldwide.”

About Bank Freedom

Bank Freedom has recently entered the prepaid card industry with its Bank Freedom Prepaid MasterCard. The BankFreedom Prepaid MasterCard is issued by MetaBank pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated. According to market data available, there are between 40 and 80 million people in the United States who don’t have a bank account or who can’t qualify for a credit card because their credit scores are too low. This is called the under-banked market. The emerging prepaid card solutions offered by Bank Freedom can act as a card account and payment solution for those people who do not use banks or credit cards. For the under-banked, the evolution taking place with prepaid cards can replace their reliance on check cashing centers, money orders, and the inability to buy certain products that require a major credit card.

For further information contact Ryan Guenthart at 877-237-6260 ext. 110 or visit the Company website at www.BankFreedom.com.

About Prepaid Card Holdings, Inc.

Prepaid Card Holdings, Inc. is a publicly traded holding company whose current holdings consist of a 100% interest in the Berman Marketing Group, Inc., a multi channel direct market firm specializing in direct response marketing through Television, Radio, Internet and Print media and Merchant Processing International Inc. DBA Bank Freedom.

For further information contact Ryan Guenthart at 877-237-6260 ext. 110 or visit the Company website at www.PrepaidHoldings.com.

About MetaBank

MetaBank is a federally-chartered savings bank headquartered in Storm Lake, Iowa. Meta Financial Group, Inc.® is the bank holding company for MetaBank, MetaBank West Central, Meta Payment Systems®, and Meta Trust Company ®. The Meta Payment Systems division of MetaBank based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, serves banks, processors, and third party marketers by providing prepaid cards, credit cards, ACH origination, merchant acquiring, ATM sponsorship, and money transfer. Meta Financial Group is traded on the NASDAQ – Global Market: CASH.

For more information visit www.metacash.com. “*

TransferOrbit Corporation (OTC: TRBI) (www.transferorbit.biz) has signed a major long-term contract with TU-DNRO Inc. to become its exclusive processor of money transfers at all of the events promoted by their distributors. This agreement solidifies TransferOrbit’s positioning in the lucrative money transfer industry as the premier processing platform for international remittances. “We have been working very hard over the last several years in preparation for a venture of this scope and potential,” stated Jorge Toro, President & CEO. He went on to say, “Together with TU-DNRO Inc. we will change the landscape in the US remittance industry.”

The definitive agreement provides for initial targets of 100,000 transactions per month to be brought to TransferOrbit by TU-DNRO and its team members. In addition, the agreement provides for these targeted numbers to increase to 1 million transactions per month within 18 months. Peter Rochow, CFO of TransferOrbit stated, “The annualized gross revenue from Transaction fees and Foreign Exchange on the initial target of 100,000 monthly transactions is approximately $224 million, and when the 1 million transactions per month targets are reached, the annualized gross revenue will be approximately $2.1 billion.”

The TU-DNRO Network provides their distributors (Dance-Concert Promoters, Flea Market Vendors, Catering Truck Vendors, Mom & Pop Mexican Stores and others), with a comprehensive package of products, services, and tools to manage and grow a portfolio of prepaid distribution. Their Mexican-Latino business provides the backbone network to offer a wide range of prepaid products including wireless e-pins, long distance, stored value, prepaid debit/credit, bill payment, money transfers and other products, all running in virtually every POS terminal in the field. They work in conjunction with Ad-Promo-Mex-Tel, which has been promoting Mexican Dances, Concerts and other venues pertaining to Mexican history in California, Illinois, Texas and others, for more than 75 years combined. Their Market is the Mexican National living in the U.S.A. who sends $22 billion every year, and spends over $600 billion in the United States. They have over 800 strategic pre-paid ticket centers in California, Nevada, Texas and Arizona that sell the Dance-Concert tickets, and can convert them into P.O.S. and/or Kiosk Centers. In addition, TU-DNRO Inc. also has agreements with Lunch Truck Owners/Operators that can distribute and sell their products all over the Country.

For more information regarding TU-DNRO Inc. and Ad-Promo-Mex-Tel Inc., please visit: www.tu-dnro.net & www.adpromomextel.com.

TransferOrbit, a Florida Corporation, is an electronic intermediary for money transfer providers. Banks and non-banks use the Company’s scalable, turnkey system of proprietary software and secure network processing to facilitate the person-to-person transfer of money on a “private label basis” throughout Latin America. Providers piggyback on the Company’s established network in the United States and 17,000 transfer agents in countries throughout Latin America.”*

Frontera Investment, Inc., (OTC: FRNV) announced today that it has acquired a high volume financial services store in Oxnard, California. This store cashes $40 million in checks and processes $11 million in money transfers per year. This one store doubles Frontera’s current check cashing and money transfer business. Frontera will take physical possession of the store after building permits are approved, which are expected within 30 days.
Frontera paid $575,000 for the store and expects a two year payback on its investment. The acquisition of this latest store was financed primarily through the issuance of common stock from insiders. Over the last seven months, Frontera has raised $1.6 million through issuance of common stock. Frontera now has seven stores (five full service branches and two manned kiosks) all located in Southern California.
Frontera utilizes advanced technology to offer competitive prices on a wide range of financial products and services, including check cashing, loans (payday and gold jewelry loans), money transfers, and tax preparation. Frontera’s mission is to be the first full service, low cost, Hispanic financial services brand servicing the alternative financial services market.
The Hispanic market is currently estimated at 40 million consumers, half are un-banked. About 35 percent of the total US households are un-banked or use alternative financial services companies.
“

El Salvador-based money transfer operator Gigante Express and New Orleans-based insurer Pan-American Life on May 5 launched an insured remittance product that protects recipients in the case of the sender’s accidental death. What is the market for remittance insurance? Will other insurance and remittance companies team up in the future? What impact will insurance have on remittance flows?”*

For an immigrant community that isn’t always comfortable with traditional banks, these transactions — known as remittances — are more likely to be done in places like La Concha, or in tiny grocery stores, travel agencies, video shops and beauty salons tucked away in strip malls, with signs on the windows that advertise “Envios de dinero,” or money transfers.

La Concha owner Tomas Ballesta, whose money-wiring business is one of the largest in the state, said he processes about 150 of these transactions on an average day; on a busy day, there might be 250. He collects a fee per transaction, typically between $8 and $10 for transfers under $1,500. Part of that is his commission; the rest covers fees charged by the wire transfer company.

Customers also pay a currency exchange fee to the wiring company, typically about 2 percent. Those picking up the money on the other end are generally not charged any fees.”*

More than three million Latin American immigrants in the United States, responding to the economic downturn and new uncertainties about their future, have stopped sending money home to their families in the last two years, according to a survey released on Wednesday by the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington.

…

The drop in the number of people sending remittances, as the money transfers are known, is a sign of pressures on Latino immigrants as a result of the slump in the low-wage job market and of the Bush administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, the survey shows. Of the immigrants interviewed, 47 percent said they did not have legal status. The others were American citizens and legal immigrants.”*

TransferOrbit Corporation (OTC: TRBI) (www.transferorbit.biz) released today its new banking product line. The product line is called alBanco (“to the bank” in Spanish) and invites primarily Hispanic customers to use banking services offered by Banks that are TransferOrbit Customers. “Banks that work with TransferOrbit can offer products to compete and win in the money transfer market,” said Jorge H. Toro, President & CEO of TransferOrbit.

After one year of a successful pilot with an existing client, TransferOrbit is initiating a marketing campaign to promote the alBanco product line. The new alBanco product line offers banks the ability to capture money transfers at the bank teller, ATM terminals, via mobile phone technology, and to any merchant that works in partnership with the Bank. “Currently, banks watch as the Latino population bank at ethnic grocery stores by cashing checks and originating money transfers there,” said Jorge Toro. He added, “With TransferOrbit, the banks can offer multiple money transfer products to their customers at a much lower cost, with added security and are fully compliant with regulations.” TransferOrbit continues to invite Banks to enter the Money Transfer and Bill Payment Business in order to attract the elusive Latino customer by means of a product line (alBanco) that best suits their financial needs. TransferOrbit recently announced its partnership with FonWallet and the acquisition of FonWallet’s Mobile Transfer Platform, which is now part of the alBanco product line. For more information about the alBanco product line visit www.albanco.biz.

TransferOrbit, a Florida Corporation, is an electronic intermediary for money transfer providers. Banks and non-banks use the Company’s scalable, turnkey system of proprietary software and secure network processing to facilitate the person-to-person transfer of money on a “private label basis” throughout Latin America. Providers piggyback on the Company’s established network in the United States and 17,000 transfer agents in countries throughout Latin America.”*

*From: http://www.businesswire.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Mexicans working abroad, mostly in the U.S., reduced money transfers to their families at home at a record pace in January as a U.S. housing slump squeezed construction employment.

Remittances, the second-biggest source of dollar flows into Mexico after oil exports, fell 5.9 percent in January to $1.65 billion from a year earlier, the central bank said today. It was the biggest decline since Banco de Mexico began records in 1995.”*

*From: http://www.bloomberg.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

As part of its commitment to better serve the Hispanic community during tax season 2008, H&R Block is unveiling 257 new Latino offices in 18 markets nationwide starting Jan. 2, 2008.

Staffed by Spanish-speaking, bilingual tax professionals, these new offices have been designed to provide a family-friendly and culturally inviting environment for Latino clients. The offices feature work by local Hispanic artists, a children’s play area and magazines, all designed to make clients’ overall tax preparation experience easier and less stressful. The new offices will be located in top high-density Hispanic markets, including Albuquerque, Atlanta, Castroville/Monterey, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, El Paso, Ft. Myers, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Diego, and Tucson.

The Spanish-speaking, bilingual tax professionals at H&R Block have received the latest training on all the recent tax law changes and will guide the clients, in the language of their choice, to file their returns and claim the relevant credits and deductions they are entitled to. In addition, they have been trained to help recently arrived taxpayers better understand the U.S. tax terminology and process.

“H&R Block has been helping taxpayers comply with their tax obligations for more than 53 years,” said Maria Stanco, Director of Multicultural Marketing at H&R Block. “We recognize that the U.S. tax requirements can be very different from those in their home countries, while the second language can add to the complexity. From experience, we know that our Spanish-speaking clients prefer to have complex financial discussions in their language of choice, and we are ready to provide them an easy- to- understand tax experience.”

Through these offices, taxpayers who do not have or qualify for a Social Security Number can also process their Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), a 9-digit number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax purposes only. As an authorized acceptance agent for the IRS, H&R Block can facilitate the application process for taxpayers by preparing and submitting their ITIN paperwork, as well as filing their returns, all in their language of preference.

Aside from tax preparation, other relevant products and services offered at participating offices include the H&R Block Emerald Prepaid MasterCard(R), which allows taxpayers to directly deposit their refunds to it so they can use the funds anywhere MasterCard(R) prepaid cards are accepted; money transfer services offered through Western Union at a discounted rate for our H&R Block Emerald Card customers; and a special $49 offer for the preparation of one 1040 EZ form.

As part of the new office opening celebration, H&R Block will make a $1,250 donation in select cities to a Latino charity that shares the company’s mission to enhance the lives of Latinos in the United States.

No matter how long taxpayers have been in the U.S. or how complicated their tax situation is, the trained H&R Block professionals at these new Latino offices will make them feel at home while they take care of their tax and financial needs in their own language.

Visit www.hrblock-espanol.com to find more information about H&R Block’s new and existing products and services as well as to locate a Latino designated office near you. “*

*From: http://www.hispanicprwire.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a global leader in money transfer services, and Grupo Vimenca, a privately held group of financial services companies in the Dominican Republic, have renewed their relationship by entering into a 10-year agreement.

The deal, ratified at a signing ceremony in Santo Domingo to commemorate the companies’ 18-year business relationship, will continue to provide consumers the ability to send and receive intra-country and outbound global money transfers through the Western Union(R) Agent network. Christina Gold, President and CEO Western Union, and Don Victor Mendez Capellan, President and Founder Grupo Vimenca, represented their companies at the event.

Grupo Vimenca, a family-owned company that began as a small business with one employee, today offers consumers global money transfer services through Western Union, in addition to banking, mortgage, business-to-business call center services, travel and mobile offerings.

Western Union entered the Dominican Republic in 1989 with Remesas Vimenca, a wholly owned subsidiary of Grupo Vimenca which now boasts a strong network of more than 205 locations throughout the country.

Gold commented: “Dominican Republic is a key strategic market for Western Union. For companies operating on a global scale, the ability to interact with consumers on a day-to-day basis is a prerequisite for business success. Through Vimenca, Western Union has been able to consistently achieve this goal over the last 18 years. Today’s announcement is yet another demonstration of Western Union’s commitment to serve and help our consumers achieve their life goals. We are delighted to work with Vimenca and look forward to continue delivering fast and reliable money transfer services that support the evolving needs of the Dominican consumer.”

Mendez Capellan added: “Western Union and Group Vimenca are names synonymous with trust. Western Union’s mission to serve others mirrors the founding principles of Vimenca: patience, humility, prudence, discipline and loyalty. Together, we share similar attributes in our approach to business, which include the shared belief, the consumer comes first. In the years ahead, we will continue to cultivate our mutual strengths to benefit of the families we serve.”

According to The World Bank, the number of worldwide immigrants is nearly 200 million or approximately three percent of the world’s population. As economic and social climates change, Western Union is uniquely positioned to respond to these trends. With more than 320,000 global Agent locations, Western Union’s robust Agent network enables consumers to chose, when and how to send money to their loved ones.
“*

*From: http://www.hispanicprwire.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Coinstar E-Payment Services Inc., a Coinstar, Inc. company, today announced at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) show in Atlanta the addition of two new products to its Pay as You Go program. These new products, Azteca Mobile and Ilimitado Mexico (Unlimited Mexico), are geared towards Mexicans living in the United States.

Azteca Mobile is a prepaid wireless program that provides seamless voice and data capabilities, including two-way radio services and phone numbers for both the U.S. and Mexico. Unlimited Mexico from TeleCents Communications is a pay per call card that can be used from any phone. By dialing a specified domestic toll-free access number, international long-distance calling rates are eliminated. Azteca Mobile and Unlimited Mexico are two examples of how the Coinstar Pay As You Go program can create a retail destination with traffic-building products and services targeted to a key demographic.

“We are very pleased to expand our portfolio of innovative products specifically designed for Hispanic Mexican communities,” said Steve Verleye, senior vice president and general manager of E-Pay services at Coinstar, Inc. “Individuals of Mexican origin are the largest group of Hispanics living in the United States, and we see an increasing demand for products that are reasonably priced that resonate with this target group, while providing ultimate shopper convenience.”

Coinstar’s Pay As You Go product suite includes universal and single brand gift cards, national and regional wireless programs, long distance cards, prepaid debit cards, and money transfer. This turnkey program is available to convenience stores and other retailers to drive incremental traffic and revenue. With no upfront costs, Coinstar provides retailers with a complete category management solution including point-of-sale integration, inventory set-up and management, retail merchandising, and reporting.

About Coinstar, Inc.

Coinstar, Inc. (Nasdaq:CSTR) is a multi-national company offering a range of 4th Wall™ solutions for the retailers’ front of store consisting of self-service coin counting, electronic payment solutions, entertainment services and self-service DVD rental. The company’s products and services can be found at more than 56,000 retail locations including supermarkets, banks, drug stores, mass merchants, convenience stores, and financial institutions. For more information, visit www.coinstar.com or visit Coinstar at the NACS show, booth number 4852.”*

Libertad Bank SSB, a Texas State Savings Bank, today announced that Gus Garcia has joined its Board of Directors. Mr. Garcia is the former Mayor of the City of Austin, Texas, where he also held other elected public offices including; Council Member of the City of Austin, President of the Austin Independent School District, President of Austin Community College Board, and Trustee of the Austin Independent School District and Austin Community College Board. Mr. Garcia is well recognized throughout Central-Texas for his long and distinguished public service career, his numerous professional accomplishments, and his dedication to helping the Hispanic community.

“Libertad Bank fills a critical need in our community,” said Gus Garcia, member of Libertad Bank’s Board of Directors. “It has proven that it is possible for a bank to succeed by serving both the commercial needs of small businesses and the unique needs of the Hispanic Community.”

In addition to Mr. Garcia, Rudy Colmenero, Partner in Mitchell & Colmenero LLP; Gilbert Martinez, Partner in Martinez & Sons Builders Inc. and owner of Ben White Florist; and Marvin Melson, retired past President, CEO and Director of National Bancshares Corporation, have also joined the Libertad Bank Board of Directors.

“This is an exciting time for Libertad Bank. In addition to adding the wealth of experience and relationships our new board members bring, we are experiencing tremendous growth,” said Ricardo Chapa, CEO and President of Libertad Bank. “Our ability to serve the members of our community as well as small business owners and their Spanish speaking employees and customers has served as a significant competitive advantage in this market.”

Libertad Bank has more than doubled in size during the first eight months of 2007, growing from $13 million in assets at the beginning of the year to over $28 million in assets.

“Our rapid growth has validated our business model and the value our unique products and services bring to this community,” said Erik Beguin, Executive Vice President and Founder of the bank. “Just a year and a half after opening our first retail branch we add close to a hundred new accounts a month and are rapidly approaching profitability.”

About Libertad Bank

Libertad Bank SSB is a FDIC insured Texas State Savings Bank with over $28 million in assets that is committed to growing the wealth of the communities it serves, including the fast growing Hispanic community in Central-Texas. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Libertad Bank SSB is the first and only community bank in Central-Texas to provide innovative and differentiated financial products and services to meet the unique needs of the Hispanic community as well as full-service community banking including residential mortgages and commercial banking services to the general market. Libertad offers its financial services in a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere from a friendly staff that is fluently bilingual in Spanish and English. The Bank’s products and services include traditional commercial banking and residential mortgage services, free international money transfers for account holders, remote deposit over the Internet, and mortgages specifically designed for immigrant and first-time home buyers.

www.LibertadBank.com (English)
www.BancoLibertad.com (Espanol)

“Orlandi Valuta, a leader in the money transfer business, recently announced the addition of 18 new Agents with a total of 1,060 locations throughout Central and South America.

The majority of the new Agent locations previously offered Vigo money-transfer services. These locations will now offer Orlandi Valuta services in addition to Vigo services.

The agreement with these 18 new Agents will allow consumers to receive money transfers at additional locations in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru. In addition, consumers in the United States can send funds to any of these 1,060 Agent locations in 11 countries from any Orlandi Valuta Agent location in the United States.

New Agents include Latin Express in Argentina, with 34 locations; Banco de Credito de Bolivia in Bolivia, with 46 locations; Afex and Cambios Inter in Chile, with a total of 62 locations; Macrofinanciera and Suma Valores in Colombia, with 80 total locations; Teledolar and Soluciones Monetarias in Costa Rica, with a total of 47 locations; BHD in the Dominican Republic, with 39 locations; Coonecta, Rianxeira and Banco del Austro in Ecuador, with a total of 249 locations; Fedecaces in El Salvador, with 42 locations; Fenacoac and Elektra Guatemala in Guatemala, with a total of 239 locations; Facach in Honduras, with 90 locations; and Jet Peru and Interbank in Peru, with a total of 132 additional locations.

The addition of the new Agents in Ecuador more than triples the number of Orlandi Valuta Agent locations in that country. Orlandi Valuta launched services for the first time ever in Ecuador at the end of 2006.

“As people continue to move around the world and send money home to their loved ones, demand for money-transfer services is strong,” said Liz Alicea-Velez, Western Union’s Executive Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean, and President, Orlandi Valuta. “We are proud to offer these additional locations in 11 countries to meet the different needs of our consumer segments.”

About Orlandi Valuta

Orlandi Valuta is a subsidiary of The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU).

Established in 1986, Orlandi Valuta, an electronic money-transfer service provider, offers international money transfers from the United States to agent locations in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and all 32 states in Mexico. The company has more than 12,000 agent locations worldwide, including approximately 7,000 that offer both Orlandi Valuta and Western Union services. “

“Pro Mujer, a development organization providing Latin America’s poorest women with micro-finance, business training and healthcare support, today announced it will honor Western Union President, CEO and Director Christina Gold, as Pro Mujer Woman of the Year, for her outstanding support of women and the global communities in which they live.

“Christina is a dynamic leader who stands apart because of her passion to support women and families,” said Lynne R. Patterson, Pro Mujer’s executive director and co-founder. She cited Western Union’s efforts to support immigrants’ home countries through the 4 1 gift matching program.

Pro Mujer will present the award to Gold next month at its annual “Giving Women Credit” celebration.

“Pro Mujer’s work is reflective of our corporate culture,” Gold said. “It not only respects but helps families leverage their unique skills to live a better life. On behalf of my colleagues, thank you for working hard to lead such an important cause.”

Under Gold’s leadership Western Union has successfully launched and executed the 4 1 program, a private-sector gift-matching initiative in Mexico to support immigrant communities. According to the Population Reference Bureau, there are approximately 200 million migrants supporting women and children back home. Through its 4 1 gift-matching program, Western Union is both creatively fighting poverty and promoting economic development so that migration can be an option, not a necessity, and the well-being of those who remain in their own communities can be improved.

Through a presence in Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru, Pro Mujer believes that health is women’s most precious asset, a key to their well-being and success in the home, the workplace, and their community.

Health care is particularly crucial for micro-entrepreneurs because an illness can deplete savings and other assets, keep them away from their business, and cause other disruptions that can threaten a business.

Pro Mujer has pioneered an approach that integrates health care and financial services, providing information and services that help clients stay healthy and run their businesses.

Pro Mujer offers both health care and financial services from neighborhood centers. Pro Mujer reinvests the profits generated from financial services to expand coverage; to innovate and better serve clients; and to partially subsidize the social development services, including healthcare support, business training and empowerment programs.

Salma Hayek, Placido Domingo, Benjamin Bratt, Talisa Soto, Robert and Luciana Duvall, and Maria Elena Lagomasino lend their support to Pro Mujer’s achievements in improving the lives of over one million women and their families throughout Latin America over the last 17 years.

About Pro Mujer

Pro Mujer is an international micro-finance and women’s development network that offers financial services, business training and healthcare to poor women in Latin America, helping them to achieve economic security and improved health.

Established in 1990, the network comprises micro-finance institutions in Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru. Since its inception, Pro Mujer has disbursed more than US$327 million in small loans averaging approximately US$189.

Pro Mujer clients have saved US$12 million, providing a financial buffer for their families in times of crises.

Pro Mujer is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. More information is available on the website, http://www.promujer.org.

About Western Union

Western Union (NYSE: WU), 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 312,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com. “

“US Starcom, Inc. (PinkSheets: USTA) announced that its subsidiary Bell Latino Multiservices, Inc. has opened a new Bell Latino in Asbury Park, New Jersey. There are currently eight Bell Latino retail stores; this is the company’s fourth store in New Jersey.

Bell Latino retail outlets, also know as “tiendas”, provide money transfer services, international phone booths, internet access, prepaid phone cards and other ancillary communications and financial services. The new Asbury Park store is located at 809 Main Street.”

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“MoneyGram announced today that its money transfer network in the U.S. will be available for sending donations to the American Red Cross to help victims of the recent hurricane and earthquake in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The company will waive its normal transaction fees for anyone sending these contributions for a limited time.

For contributions to the Red Cross earthquake relief program for Peru, fees will be waived through Sept. 30; transaction fees on donations to the Red Cross Latin American/Caribbean hurricane relief efforts will be waived until Nov. 1.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to everyone touched by these disasters,” said Phil Milne, president and chief executive officer of MoneyGram International. “We hope we can help by opening our network and expediting the flow of funds for relief to the Red Cross.”

“Hurricane Dean and the recent earthquake in Peru are reminders of the power of nature, but the resiliency of disaster survivors are reminders of the power of the human spirit,” said Kathleen Loehr, interim senior vice president of development for the American Red Cross. “We are thankful for MoneyGram’s support, providing their customers with a convenient donation channel to support the work of the Red Cross in response to these and other international disasters. Our humanitarian mission can only become a reality through the support and generosity of caring people and partners, such as MoneyGram and its customers.”

MoneyGram is also making a $20,000 corporate grant to the American Red Cross for disaster relief.

To make up to a $240 no-fee donation to the American Red Cross, go to a MoneyGram agent location in the U.S. and tell the agent that you wish to send a Red Cross donation for either Peru earthquake relief (receive code 2541) or Latin America/Caribbean hurricane relief (receive code 3727). To locate a MoneyGram agent, call 1-800-MONEYGRAM or go to the agent locator on the company’s Web site at www.moneygram.com. To make an on-line donation, go to the MoneyGram eMoney Transfer site at www.moneygram.com. Click on “Send Money On-line,” choose ExpressPayment then select the relief effort you wish to help. Save the receipt for proof of the charitable contribution.

MoneyGram is also working with the Spanish Red Cross on a special campaign to aid the Peru earthquake victims. For that campaign, MoneyGram will donate one Euro to the Spanish Red Cross for every MoneyGram money transfer sent from Spain to Peru for a limited time. That campaign began Aug. 24 and will run through Sept. 7. MoneyGram has a large agent network in Peru and agents in the affected regions have been able to continue providing services.

In the last few years, MoneyGram has helped raise about $300,000 to help disaster victims through the American Red Cross. The company responded to the Hurricane Katrina disaster in 2005 with a corporate donation of $125,000 to Red Cross.

MoneyGram International, Inc., (NYSE:MGI) is a leading global payment services company with 125,000 money transfer agent locations in 170 countries and territories. The company’s major products and services include global money transfers, money orders and payment processing solutions for financial institutions and retail customers.

MoneyGram is committed to giving back to the communities where it does business through its involvement with Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity International and the MoneyGram Global Giving Program. For more information about MoneyGram, visit the company’s website at www.moneygram.com. “

“To help the victims of Peru’s deadliest earthquake in more than 35 years, The Western Union Foundation today donated $50,000 to CARE USA, a humanitarian nonprofit organization fighting global poverty with local operations in Peru since 1970.

Additionally, for individuals and corporations wishing to donate to disaster relief efforts in Peru, The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) and its Peru Agents A. SERVIBAN S.A. and DHL Express have set-up a Quick Collect contribution account in the U.S. - code city identified as “PERUHELP, WA” or “AYUDAPERU, WA” - benefiting CARE USA. Western Union will provide U.S. consumers with no fee Quick Collect money transfer services directed to the account, up to $2,500 over the next 30 calendar days.

“The damages to the cities of Pisco, Ica and Chincha are catastrophic, leaving tens of thousands in need of support,” said Luella Chavez D’Angelo, president The Western Union Foundation. “CARE USA will use the funds to assist with critical efforts such as providing food, water and shelter to families and children most affected by the disaster.”

The Western Union Foundation also is encouraging employee donations through the Western Union Employee Gift Matching Program. The Western Union Foundation will match registered employee donations to CARE USA on a one-to-one basis, up to $25,000.

“The hearts of all Western Union employees go out to everyone affected by this disaster,” said Liz Alicea-Velez, executive vice president, Latin America and the Caribbean Western Union.

“We are working together with our Agents in Peru to help facilitate the delivery of services, to the region, in a fast, reliable and convenient manner during this time of need.”

Since 2001, The Western Union Foundation alone has awarded over $40 million in grants to more than 1,500 nonprofit organizations, across 70 countries, that provide critical disaster relief, education and basic human services.

“Western Union’s support of CARE’s response is providing critical support to Peruvians in the worst affected areas,” said Erin Geiger senior director development CARE USA. “Through the grant, Western Union has become one of the corporate leaders in helping CARE carry out this important work alongside the international community.”

CARE response teams are providing clean water, food, blankets, tents, medicine, flashlights and tools to families in the wake of the 8.0-magnitude earthquake. In addition to distributing relief supplies, CARE is also working with local partners to develop a longer-term response to help communities rebuild homes and water systems.

Together, The Western Union Company and The Western Union Foundation support education and cultural inclusion for migrants and their families and the creation of economic pathways to opportunity for those striving to develop their businesses and become entrepreneurs.

Western Union is committed to fostering hope in the developing world by creating a dialogue about issues that impact our consumers and our global community.

About CARE USA
CARE fights root causes of poverty in the world’s poorest communities. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. In 66 countries, women are at the heart of CARE’s community-based efforts to improve education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources. Each year, CARE helps tens of millions of people around the world effect real, positive changes in their lives. For more information, please see www.care.org.

About The Western Union Foundation
The Western Union Foundation began in 2000 as a philanthropic organization to facilitate charitable giving programs worldwide. Through the donations of The Western Union Company, its employees and Agents, the Foundation helps to fund programs that enhance the quality of life for those most in need around the world. Since 2001, The Western Union Foundation, in collaboration with Western Union Agents and employees, has granted nearly $40 million to more than 1,500 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in 70 countries around the globe to support humanitarian projects. In addition, the Foundation has supported more than 50 disaster-relief operations and has funded education and human services programs.

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 312,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.WesternUnion.com. “

“Western Union will return $400,000 in fees paid by customers from Illinois and 25 other states whose money transfers were seized by Arizona authorities last year.

The funds remain in dispute, however.

Arizona officials alleged that wire transfers through firms such as Western Union and MoneyGram help fund the smuggling of drugs and illegal immigrants from Mexico. The Arizona attorney general’s office has said that since 2002 it has seized $17 million in wired funds to Arizona and Mexico.”

“The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a leader in global money transfer services, announced today the expansion of the 4+1 Program to the State of Veracruz. Since last year, Western Union has been working with federal, state and local officials in Mexico to implement this pioneering initiative, supporting economic development projects across local communities in Zacatecas and four other Mexican states.

For the second time in less than a year, Christina Gold, CEO, Western Union, visited Mexico to meet with key Western Union Agents and top government officials involved in economic development and the remittance industry. In addition to the 4+1 Program, they discussed matters regarding social responsibility and competition within the Mexican market.

“Western Union is deeply committed to all the communities we serve around the globe, and Mexico is no exception,” said Mario Hernandez, Director of Public Affairs, Western Union, who accompanied Ms. Gold on her trip to Mexico. “Our dedication to the Latin American and U.S. Hispanic consumer grows stronger every day, through our corporate giving campaigns, improved service and lower rates.”

In the initial stages of the program, Western Union donated funds for eight projects in Zacatecas communities. These included an eco-tourism park, fruit and vegetable processing, nopal farming, agribusiness equipment, a pork farm and a computer assembly plant. In all, Western Union will contribute at least $1.25 million to these and other projects in several Mexican states.

The 4+1 program is an extension of the 3X1 Program, established by the Mexican government in partnership with Mexican Hometown Associations in the United States. The Western Union Company is the first private-sector company to participate.

“Western Union is helping the community here on many levels,”said Esthela Valencia, President of Zacatecano Federation of Northern California. “Not only have they made it easier to send money to our families, but they continue to show a commitment to crucial development projects in our communities back home.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanics constitute the fastest-growing segment of the American population with more than 43 million people now residing in the U.S. Approximately two-thirds of these are Mexican, many of whom regularly send remittances to their families in Mexico. According to the Bank of Mexico, total remittances to Mexico totaled more than $23 billion in 2006.

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. “

“Orlandi Valuta and Vigo, both leaders in the money-transfer industry, today announced that 215 Soriana and Mercado Soriana grocery stores throughout Mexico are now offering consumer money-transfer services.

With this multi-year agreement, consumers can send funds from Vigo and Orlandi Valuta Agent locations in the United States to 215 Soriana and Mercado Soriana locations in Mexico.

Consumers in Mexico then receive their money transfers on loyalty cards issued by Soriana at any Soriana or Mercado Soriana location from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, 365 days a year. The loyalty cards can be used at all Soriana and Mercado Soriana locations for purchases at the stores or can be exchanged for cash at store registers.

“At Soriana, our focus is on providing exceptional customer service,” said Humberto Fayad, Marketing Director for Soriana. “We continue to seek products and services to meet the demands of our consumers. They want the convenience and ease of receiving funds from friends and family while they visit Soriana locations, and they want to receive them through the trusted brand names of Vigo and Orlandi Valuta.”

With this agreement, Soriana joins the thousands of other Orlandi Valuta and Vigo Agent locations throughout Mexico, which include banks, pharmacies and grocery stores.

“We continue to expand the Orlandi Valuta and Vigo brands to meet the needs of different consumer segments,” said Liz Alicea-Velez, Executive Vice President, Latin America/Caribbean, Western Union.

“Consumers trust Vigo and Orlandi Valuta to send their family’s crucial financial resources because they know the funds will arrive in their destination quickly and reliably every time. And with Soriana, they can pick them up at hours and locations that are convenient to them.”

About Orlandi Valuta

Orlandi Valuta is a subsidiary of The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU). Established in 1986, Orlandi Valuta, an electronic money-transfer service, offers international money transfers from the United States to locations in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and all 32 states in Mexico. The company has more than 12,000 locations worldwide, including approximately 7,000 that offer both Orlandi Valuta and Western Union services.

About Vigo Remittance Corp.

Vigo Remittance Corp, a subsidiary of The Western Union Company
(NYSE: WU), is a branded consumer financial-services company with 20 years of experience in the most competitive U.S. and international markets. Vigo is one of the largest electronic-funds transfer companies in the United States and provides affordable and efficient payment services, with more than 4,000 agents in 45 states in the U.S. and more than 30,000 locations worldwide, including locations that offer both Vigo and Western Union services.

About Soriana

Organizacion Soriana (BMV: SORIANA) is a grocery-store company headquartered in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The company, founded in 1968, currently operates under the brands City Club, Super City, Mercado Soriana and Soriana. The Mexican-owned and operated company operates supermarkets, price clubs and convenience stores for consumer and wholesale markets and currently has 234 stores in 108 cities and 29 states in Mexico and six distribution centers. For more information, visit www.soriana.com.mx. “

“Liz Alicea-Velez, executive vice president Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Union, will join Colombia’s Minister of Communications, Maria del Rosario Guerra de la Espriella, at The Economist Conferences’ Business Roundtable with the Government of Colombia: Building on success and addressing the challenges, May 23 and 24, in Bogota.

Alicea-Velez’s discussion will focus on increasing consumer confidence in electronic commerce. The panel, Opportunities in Technology and Telecommunications, is part of a larger two-day dialogue on Colombia’s prospects for business and investment.

During her visit, Alicea-Velez will attend a series of separate meetings with elected officials and businesses.

In Colombia, Western Union has a presence of more than 400 Agent locations through its Agents Giros y Finanzas and Acciones y Valores.

Alicea-Velez has executive management oversight for all Western Union sales, service, marketing, systems operations, financial and support functions throughout Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean - the world’s largest remittance receiving region.

Alicea-Velez joined Western Union in 1992. In her 15 years with the company, she has held a number of senior-level positions with increasing responsibilities, most recently serving as senior vice president of the Latin America and Caribbean region. Prior to joining Western Union, she held positions in both the software and Spanish-language television industries. Alicea-Velez holds an M.B.A. from the Harvard School of Business.

About Western Union
Western Union (NYSE: WU), 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. “