DENVER – (Sept. 15, 2004) – The First Data Western Union Foundation and Western Union Financial Services, Inc. announced today that they are taking an active role in providing immediate relief to the people of the Caribbean islands most affected by recent hurricanes.

The First Data Western Union Foundation will provide a grant of US$50,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross Red Crescent (IFRCRC) to support victims of Hurricane Ivan throughout the Caribbean. The First Data Western Union Foundation, launched by First Data in 2000, was established to address needs in the areas of education, health and basic human services. Since its inception, in addition to its other charitable grants, the foundation has made more than 20 donations to support disaster relief efforts in the United States and around the world. In recent weeks, the foundation has made three grants totaling US$75,000 to the National American Red Cross and its Daytona Beach chapter to aid victims of Hurricanes Charley and Frances in the state of Florida.

In addition, Western Union is, for a limited time, reducing its current service fees by $5.00 on Western Union Money Transfer transactions up to a principal amount of $500.00 being sent from select areas to Jamaica, Grenada or the Cayman Islands. For example, during this period customers can send up to $300 to Jamaica for just $6.99. This offer applies to transactions originating at participating Western Union Agent locations in the New York area and select areas of Florida, including the Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties; Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville and Fort Myers. This offer is effective beginning Wednesday, September 15 and continuing through midnight, Eastern time on Saturday, Sept. 25. For more information, consumers can call (800) 325-6000.

Western Union also has established a special no service fee account for consumers who wish to help by making personal donations directly to the Red Cross. In the United States, consumers can visit any participating Western Union Agent location and fill out a blue Quick Collect form for the amount of their donation. Consumers will enter REDCROSSUSA in the Pay To and Code City fields and DC in the State field. Western Union is also making this offer available to consumers through participating Agent locations in Canada, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean.

“Western Union is firmly committed to the communities it serves,” said Christina Gold, president, Western Union Financial Services. “We hope that our foundation’s donation to the Red Cross will allow that organization to respond to the most immediate needs of those affected by this disaster. At the same time, our reduced fees will make it easier for people to send emergency funds to loved ones who are beginning the process of rebuilding their lives.”

Just as other individuals and businesses have been impacted by the hurricanes, several Western Union agent locations in the Caribbean have also received damage. In some cases, locations may be temporarily closed. In these instances, Western Union is working diligently to restore service as quickly as possible. Consumers in the Caribbean may call their local Western Union agent to inquire about service availability and the nearest open location.

In addition to the transfer fees applicable to this transaction, a currency exchange rate set by Western Union will be applied. The exchange rate applied by Western Union provides customers with less foreign currency per dollar than Western Union receives when it obtains foreign currency. Western Union keeps the difference.

About Western Union Financial Services, Inc. and First Data

Western Union Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC) is an international leader in consumer money transfer services. Consumers can quickly and reliably pay bills and transfer money around the globe using the company’s proprietary money transfer network. Western Union and its subsidiary, Orlandi Valuta, together make up one of the world’s largest money transfer networks with a total of approximately 200,000 agent locations in more than 195 countries and territories. Famous for its pioneering telegraph service, the original Western Union dates back to 1851 and introduced electronic money transfer service in 1871. For more information, please visit the company’s web site at www.westernunion.com.

First Data Corp., with global headquarters in Denver, helps power the global economy. Serving approximately 3.5 million merchant locations, 1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers, First Data makes it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses to buy goods and services, using virtually any form of payment: credit, debit, smart card, stored-value card or check at the point-of-sale, over the internet or by money transfer. For more information, please visit the company’s web site at www.firstdata.com.

About First Data Western Union Foundation

The First Data Western Union Foundation, the charitable organization of First Data Corporation (NYSE:FDC), supports philanthropic initiatives worldwide. Since it’s inception in December 2000, the Foundation has donated millions of dollars to help those most in need. Grants are made to non-profit organizations in health, education and human services that strengthen and improve the lives of many individuals in comminutes throughout the world. Scholarships are given to nontraditional college students. The Foundation also provides disaster relief funding to communities in need. Additionally, the Foundation raises money from First Data employees and business associates to increase the impact of grantmaking to communities worldwide. Please visit the Foundation’s website at www.firstdatawesternunion.org.