1998 - the number of points of money transfers worldwide reached 50,000. The network of money transfers of Western Union is the world's largest. Leaving the idea of expansion into Europe, Western Union took up the expansion of services in the U.S. market. In April 1851 companions registered in Albany New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company (NYMVPTC), which included founded two years before New York State Printing Telegraph Company. In October 2006 the company made an initial public offering of shares on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming independent from First Data company. Western Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to purchase money orders. The first offices of company were located in the Reynolds Arcade building in Rochester, New York. The sign above the main entrance to the building - In 1856, in 7 years after the foundation of New York State Printing Telegraph Company, the company changed its name to Western Union Telegraph Company. Number of active holders of "Golden Card" of Western Union amounted to 9.5 million people worldwide.