ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), a leader in global payment services, announced zero-fee* and The Western Union Foundation today pledged disaster relief efforts to help the communities in the island of Dominica, severely impacted by flooding and mudslides as a result of Tropical Storm Erika.
From September 2 to 8, The Western Union Company is offering zero-fee* transaction from 26 countries1, including the United States, United Kingdom, France2 and the Caribbean at retail Western Union® Agent locations. From Canada, there will be a $1 fee.
Zero-fee transactions to Dominica are also enabled for the same time period at WesternUnion.com in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Online $1 fee transactions are also enabled in Canada.
The Western Union Foundation will provide support to the Dominica Red Cross to help the families and communities affected by Tropical Storm Erika. Support will be directed toward the provision of relief items, such as food, water, building supplies, hygiene kits and cleaning kits.
“The devastation after Tropical Storm Erika has had a significant impact on Dominica’s infrastructure, we feel it is Western Union’s duty to ensure we aide in being the lifeline in relief efforts,” said Mariano Dall’Orso, senior vice president and general manager, Western Union Mexico, Canada and Caribbean. “Western Union efforts are aimed at critical relief in this time of need,” Dall’Orso said.
“The monumental infrastructure damage in Dominica is estimated at setting the country's development back two decades, according to government information,” said Patrick Gaston, president of The Western Union Foundation. “We are committed to helping the communities we serve, and our thoughts are with the people of Dominica,” concluded Gaston.
* Western Union also makes money from currency exchange. When choosing a money transmitter, carefully compare both transfer fees and exchange rates. Fees and foreign exchange rates may vary by brand, channel, and location based on a number of factors. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice.
WU-G
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 June 30, 2015, 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, and included the capability to send money to millions of bank accounts. In 2014, The Western Union Company completed 255 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $85 billion of principal between consumers, and 484 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
About The Western Union Foundation
The Western Union Foundation is dedicated to creating a better world, where the ability to realize dreams through economic opportunity is not just a privilege for the few but a right for all. Through its signature program, Education for Better, and with the support of The Western Union Company, its employees, Agents, and business partners, The Western Union Foundation works to realize this vision by supporting education and disaster relief efforts as pathways toward a better future. Our combined social ventures efforts make life better for individuals, families and communities around the world. Since its inception, The Western Union Foundation has paid more than $103 million in grants and other giving. These funds have been pledged to more than 2,760 nongovernmental organizations in more than 136 countries and territories. The Western Union Foundation, is a separate §501(c)(3) recognized United States charity. To learn more, visit www.westernunionfoundation.org, or Follow us on Twitter.
1 United States, United Kingdom, France (excluding La Banque Postale), Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Barbados, Suriname, Belize, Haiti, Curacao, St. Maarten, Aruba, St. Martin, French Guiana, St. Barthelme, St. Lucia, Bermuda, Grenada, Dominica (domestic), St. Vincent, Antigua & Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts, Anguilla and Montserrat.
2 excluding La Banque Postale
