ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Union Financial
Services, Inc., the company famed for bringing news of joy and sorrow to
millions through its pioneering telegraph service, announced today that it has
broken ground on a new 40,000 square foot facility at 370 Corporate Center in
St. Charles, Missouri.  Now known primarily as a financial services company,
Western Union has signed a five-year lease for the space with SS&D Properties,
LLC, of St., Charles, developers of 370 Corporate Center.
    When complete in August, the facility initially will house about 200
employees and serve as the center of Western Union's Financial Operations
group, which provides accounting, credit, collections and other financial
support services for the company's worldwide money transfer, money order and
message services.  The facility could eventually employ as many as 250 people,
not including options Western Union has for an additional 20,000 square feet
of build-to-suit space.
    Ground breaking for the facility took place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday,
February 27 at 370 Corporate Center.  Present for the ceremony were
Charles T. Fote, executive vice president, First Data Corporation, Western
Union's parent, St. Charles Mayor Robert L. Moeller; Nadine Boon, St. Charles
economic development director; and 50 other Western Union employees and
guests.
    Western Union has experienced consistent growth since it opened its
Customer Service Center in 1972 at 13022 Hollenberg Drive, Bridgeton with
fewer than 100 employees.  The Bridgeton center now employs about 900 people
and handles more than four million telephone calls per month.  Experiencing
rapid growth, the company's worldwide money transfer service grew from 35
million to 48 million transactions in 1997 alone.
    In March 1997, this growth caused the company to move its Agent Automation
group to a new 30,000 square foot facility in St. Peters.  And continuing
growth is spurring the company's St. Charles expansion.
    "This expansion gives our employees much needed space to accommodate the
company's rapid growth," said Terry Woods, Western Union vice president and
controller.  "At the same time, we're very pleased to expand our presence to
St. Charles and in the St. Louis area.  We've been here for more than 25 years
and we've been rewarded with a skilled workforce, a strong work ethic and a
pro-business environment that has fueled our expansion.  We appreciate the
work of the St. Charles Economic Development department to make this a smooth
expansion.
    "The city of St. Charles values its businesses and we sincerely welcome
Western Union's Financial Operations group and its 200 employees into our
community," said Robert L. Moeller, St. Charles mayor.  "We look forward to
meeting their needs as they grow and prosper."
    "Western Union's decision to locate in St. Charles was exciting for us
because their high quality jobs will enhance our economic and employment
base," said Nadine Boon, director of Economic Development for the City of St.
Charles.  "And, Western Union is the first tenant in our newest office park --
the 43-acre 370 Corporate Center -- which has an excellent strategic location
in the Highway 370 Development corridor."
    Western Union Financial Services, Inc. is a worldwide leader in electronic
money transfer services.  The company provides rapid money transfer services
through more than 40,000 agent locations in 40 countries worldwide.  Famous
for its pioneering telegraph services the original Western Union dates back to
1851.  Western Union is credited with having inaugurated the age of electronic
commerce by introducing electronic money transfer in 1871.
    Western Union is a subsidiary of First Data Corporation (NYSE: FDC).
Founded in 1992, Hackensack, NJ-based First Data is a global leader in payment
systems, electronic commerce and information management products and services.
First Data and its principal operating units process the information that
allows millions of consumers to pay for goods and services by credit, debit or
smart card at the point of sale or over the Internet; by check or wire money.

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