Verizon Wireless to Offer Western Union(R) SwiftPay As Replenishment Option for Pre-Pay Customers

Verizon Wireless to Offer Western Union(R) SwiftPay As Replenishment Option for Pre-Pay Customers

		WESTERN UNION FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. LOGO Western Union Financial Services, Inc. logo. (PRNewsFoto)[EM] ENGLEWOOD, CO USA

		VERIZON WIRELESS LOGO Verizon Wireless logo. (PRNewsFoto)[JL] BEDMINSTER, NJ USA

Addition of Western Union Adds Premier Payment Channel for Pre-Pay Wireless Customers ENGLEWOOD, Colo., March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Union Financial Services, Inc. a subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), and Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless provider, today announced a multi-year contract, which will allow Verizon Wireless' Prepay customers to use the Western Union(R) SwiftPay(SM) service to replenish minutes on their accounts. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010306/LATU012LOGO http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/VERILOGO-a ) Under the agreement, Verizon Wireless Prepay customers will be able to simply present the SwiftPay card and their cash payment at any participating Western Union agent location, which number more than 30,000 around the country. The payment is posted to the customer's account on a near real-time basis, replenishing the account within minutes. Verizon Wireless Prepay customers know when to replenish their accounts, because a recording announces available minutes before every call. The program will be phased in around the country over the next several months. Rollout to customers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Georgia will begin in March. "This agreement creates a relationship between the leading provider of wireless services and a leader in the payment processing industry. Both companies are dedicated to providing exceptional service," says Joe Jackson, president -- Western Union Commercial Services. "Verizon Wireless has a reputation for offering premier wireless services to its customers and, with the help of Western Union, it will also offer a premier payment channel." "Verizon Wireless is committed to delivering simple, affordable and national wireless products. Part of that commitment is convenient, familiar ways for our Prepay customers to replenish calling minutes on their accounts," said Debra Carroll, vice president-marketing for Verizon Wireless. "Western Union's unparalleled network of agent locations and the ease of the Western Union SwiftPay service allows us to do just that." With the SwiftPay service, Western Union leads the industry in providing pre-payment alternatives for the telecommunications and utilities markets. The Western Union SwiftPay service is a card-based payment solution that facilitates consumer pre-payment for any services or products where pre- payment is a requirement or an option. The SwiftPay service provides a true end-to-end payment solution, reducing or eliminating much of the back office work formerly done by pre-paid service providers. "The Western Union SwiftPay service lets businesses leverage the strength of the Western Union name and our exceptional distribution network to provide value and convenience to their customers," says Jackson, "It is the most convenient, value-added way of making payments in the pre-paid industry." About Western Union Western Union Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corporation (NYSE: FDC), is a worldwide leader in consumer money transfer services. The company provides rapid money transfer service through more than 95,000 agent locations in more than 185 countries and territories worldwide. Famous for its pioneering telegraph service, the original Western Union dates back to 1851 and introduced electronic money transfer service in 1871. Western Union is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2001. For more information please visit the company's web site at http://www.westernunion.com. About First Data Corp. Atlanta-based First Data Corp. is a global leader in electronic commerce and payment services. Serving more than two million merchant locations, more than 1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers, First Data makes it easier, faster and more secure for people and businesses to buy goods and services, using virtually any form of payment: credit, debit, stored-value card or check at the point-of-sale, over the Internet or by money transfer. For more information, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.firstdata.com. About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with 27.5 million wireless voice and data customers. The new coast-to- coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp and GTE Corp. -- now Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) -- and Vodafone (NYSE: VOD; London). The company has a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the US population. Verizon Wireless, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 38,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com