Western Union provides cardholders with Visa Gold Card feature

The global money transfer services leader Western Union on Thursday revealed its intention to strengthen its global consumer loyalty program, The Western Union® Gold Card, with the convenience of a reloadable Visa® prepaid card.

The new service is to be offered from July and targeted 8 million Western Union Gold Card loyalty members in the USA. 

The Western Union Gold Card Visa® Prepaid Card benefits are Prepaid Benefits and Gold Card Benefits. 

Prepaid Benefits are: 

• The card serves as both a loyalty program card and a Visa Prepaid Card 

• The card can be reloaded 

• Consumers can save time and can earn valuable benefits, including discounts, when sending qualifying Western Union Money Transfer® and Quick Collect® transactions 

• No monthly maintenance or purchase transaction fees, unlike other prepaid cards 

• Cardholders can use the card anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted including online and at ATMs2 

• The card is protected by Visa's zero liability policy3 

• If lost or stolen the consumer has the option to have the card replaced 

• Access to account activity online 

• SMS (texts) and email balance alert capabilities 

Gold Card Benefits are:

• Western Union Gold Card members do not need to fill out money-transfer forms when sending money-transfers 

• Gold Card member information is easily retrieved expediting transactions 

• Members earn points to redeem for rewards that include merchandise or money-transfer discounts 

• Every transaction with a Gold Card earns free phone time 

• The Western Union Gold Card also serves as a calling card, allowing the user to recharge phone time.

According to a recent Western Union research, around 25% of American consumers responded they are using cash more often than they have in the past; 88% said an important reason they use cash is to avoid high interest rates and fees charged by credit card companies; and 91% say it is important for them to use cash more often as it help them to avoid building credit card debt. 

Previously Western Union implemented an innovative Overnight Home Delivery service4 pilot featuring the new Western Union MoneyWise™ Visa prepaid debit card designed to better meet the needs of money-transfer receive consumers.