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 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 incomes for 2007 have made $4,9 billion US dollars, and the quantity of transactions has made 572 million. Gold Card Loyalty Program Western Union