News

Western Union to offer ATM card payout for money transfer transactions

December 6, 2001

DENVER -- Western Union Financial Services Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corp., continues to utilize the ATM to expand its money transfer services.

Customers who use Western Union's direct access platform, Western Union Direct Connect, now have the option to receive payout in the form of a Western Union ATM card, which can be used to obtain cash at any ATMs throughout the U.S. in the MAC and PLUS networks.

According to a news release, Western Union agents gain the ability to process and pay out money transfer transactions without having to keep large amounts of cash on hand or deplete current cash supplies. Western Union customers also benefit by gaining the ability to access their funds when and where they need them.

"Western Union is always working on ways to improve the experience of both our customers and agents,' said Mike Yerington, president of Western Union North America.

The Western Union ATM Card payout option is currently available in select agent locations throughout the U.S. By end of year, more than 1,500 Western Union agent locations are expected to offer Western Union's direct access platform, Western Union Direct Connect. Many of these locations will also offer the ATM Card payout option.

To use Direct Connect, customers pick up the Direct Connect phone at their local agent location and are connected to a Western Union customer service representative. Customer service is available in more than 15 different languages, enabling the customer to conduct the money transfer transaction in his native language. The operator gathers all necessary information and provides the customer with a transaction number.

When sending funds, the customer takes the transaction number to the store clerk who collects the funds to be transferred, plus a fee, and provides a printed receipt. Receiving customers also present their transaction number to the clerk who pays the amount receivable either in cash or by check, money order -- and now by Western Union ATM card.

Earlier this month, Western Union announced it had inked an agreement with Genpass, owner and operator of the MoneyMaker and MoneyBelt networks, to roll out money transfer on ATMs owned and/or driven by Genpass.

Western Union is currently adding money transfer functionality to ATMs owned and operated by American Express. The two companies plan to eventually offer money transfer on up to 6,000 machines.