The "No Transfer Fee" program to Turkey Earthquake Zone city of Van will be available Thursday, October 27, 2011 through Friday, November 25, 2011 and is subject to network, service and currency availability. Consumers sending money to Turkey may visit participating Western Union(R) Agent locations to send a money transfer to family and friends in Turkey or may do so over the phone or online at http://www.westernunion.com.

The Western Union Foundation today also donated US$50,000 to the Turkish Red Crescent in support of disaster relief efforts. The Western Union Foundation will match registered employee donations to the Foundation designated for the Turkish Red Crescent, on a two-to-one match for U.S. employees and three-to-one match for employees outside the U.S., up to US$100,000 per employee.

"Western Union stands together with the people of my home country Turkey at this time of need," said Hikmet Ersek, President and CEO, Western Union. "The earthquake has generated a number of challenges for consumers and businesses operating in Turkey and Western Union is working with its Agents toward restoring full service as quickly as possible to people in affected regions. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the people who died and wish all the best to those who are injured."

Additionally, for individuals and corporations wishing to donate to disaster relief efforts in Turkey, the Western Union Foundation has set-up an account where payments can be sent globally in locations equipped with the Western Union Quick PaySM, Quick Collect(R), or Payments service (Blue Form)- with Pay To identified as: WESTERN UNION FOUNDATION, Code City identified as: WUFOUNDATION, and Account # identified as: TURKEY - benefiting the Turkish Red Crescent. Western Union will provide consumers who wish to contribute with a fee-free* payment contribution service directed to Turkish Red Crescent, up to US$5,000 through November 30, 2011.

Western Union may make money on the exchange of currencies.