Western Union CO (NYSE: WU)

The Western Union Company is a leader in cross‑border, cross‑currency money movement, payments, and digital financial services, empowering consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments with fast, reliable, and convenient ways to send money and make payments worldwide. The company leverages its global retail network and growing digital platforms to provide money transfer and related financial services while pursuing a digital‑first strategy that includes the launch of a U. S. dollar‑backed stablecoin and a digital asset network to expand how money moves for customers, agents, and partners.

The Western Union Company generates revenue primarily from fees paid by customers to transfer money, which vary by channel, send and receive locations, transfer amount, and the foreign exchange spread between the rate set for customers and the wholesale market rate. Consumer Money Transfer accounted for 87% of total consolidated revenue in 2025, while Consumer Services contributed the remaining 13%. Revenue in Consumer Services comes from bill payment fees, money order services, travel money services, check acceptance, prepaid cards, lending partnerships, digital wallets, media network advertising, and interest earned on money order settlement assets.

The company operates through the following segments:

• Consumer Money Transfer: This segment enables people to send money around the world through Western Union‑branded retail agent locations, company‑operated stores, websites, mobile applications, and third‑party digital partners’ platforms marketed under the Branded Digital brand. It operates in more than 200 countries and territories, derives income from transaction fees and foreign exchange spreads, and relies on a global network of agents and subagents to facilitate cash pick‑ups, bank deposits, and mobile wallet payouts.

• Consumer Services: This segment includes bill payment services in Argentina and the United States, money order services, travel money services, check acceptance, media network, prepaid cards, lending partnerships, and digital wallets that allow consumers to load and spend funds. Revenue is generated from transaction fees charged to consumers and billers, interest on money order settlement assets held in U. S. state and municipal securities, media network advertising, and fees from prepaid card and lending partnership arrangements.

The Western Union Company holds a leading position in the global cross‑border money transfer industry, competing against global money transfer providers, regional niche players, digital channels including mobile wallets and cryptocurrency platforms, banks, postbanks, post offices, informal networks, and alternative channels such as mail couriers and stored‑value cards. Its competitive advantages stem from strong brand recognition associated with speed, reliability, trust, and convenience, an extensive agent network spanning over 200 countries, deep relationships with long‑term agents, and ongoing investments in digital innovation such as the USDPT stablecoin and Digital Asset Network to meet evolving consumer preferences for faster, lower‑cost money movement.

The Western Union Company serves a diverse customer base that includes individual consumers sending remittances or paying bills, businesses utilizing payment and payroll solutions, financial institutions accessing cross‑border settlement services, and government agencies requiring disbursement or collection capabilities. The company’s retail agent network and digital platforms enable it to reach consumers worldwide, while its business‑focused offerings support corporate clients and institutional partners across multiple corridors.