Western Union has taken of 451st position in the rating Fortune 500 in 2009, having moved from 473rd line in 2008. In order to increase competitiveness and market expansion of its services, Western Union launched a program of loyalty Western Union Gold Card for customers, who has repeatedly made money transfers via Western Union. Another invention of Western Union - time synchronization. In the 80's of Nineteenth century, Western Union was repeatedly tried capture by the railroad tycoon Jay Gould. He worked with Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the first phone. In October 2006 the company made an initial public offering of shares on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming independent from First Data company. In the 1910-1920 years. Western Union is actively engaged in researching, innovating in the field of data transmission.