Halyk Savings Bank of Kazakhstan and WESTERN UNION now business partners

/KASE, September 11, 09/ - Halyk Savings Bank of Kazakhstan (Almaty), a company listed on Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), and WESTERN UNION issued a joint statement dated September 10, 2009: Quotation beginning Western Union (NYSE: WU), a global leader in money transfer services, and JSC "Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan", a leading retail bank with the largest customer base and distribution network among Kazakh banks, today signed an agreement to offer the Western Union(R) global money-transfer service in 595 Halyk Bank branch offices across 16 regions in Kazakhstan. The agreement will connect consumers to more than 385,000 Western Union Agent locations worldwide. "All our business decisions are driven by our dedication to bring Western Union closer to its customers worldwide by making the money transfer service more accessible and convenient for all our clients no matter where they work and live. "Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan" is the largest Kazakh bank known by its impeccable reputation and high standard of service. Partnership with Halyk bank is an important step towards our customers", said Jan Hillered, Senior Vice President, Europe and CIS". "We are pleased to join Western Union's largest global money transfer network, - said Marat Satubaldin, Deputy Chairman of JCS "Khalyk Bank of Kazakhstan". - am confident that Western Union's time-tested technologies and more than 85 years of our experience in retail financial services will ensure a brilliant start and successful future of our business relationship". In 2008, Western Union completed more than 188 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide. Western Union's services have been available in Kazakhstan since 1998. The Western Union(R) global money-transfer service will be available at Halyk Bank locations in the nearest future. Khalyk Bank walk-in consumers will be able to send domestic or international money transfers for payout in 200 countries and territories. About Western Union The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global money transfer services. Together with its Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded money transfer services. Western Union provides consumers with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, as well as send payments and purchase money orders. It operates through a combined network of more than 385, 000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories. Famous for its pioneering telegraph services, the original Western Union dates back to 1851. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com. Western Union's services have been available in Kazakhstan since 1998. Western Union operates through a network of more than 2, 000 locations in the country. Western Union's network in the CIS consists of more than 35,000 locations. About Halyk Bank Halyk Bank is one of Kazakhstan's leading financial services groups and a leading retail bank with the largest customer base and distribution network among Kazakh banks. The Bank is developing as a universal financial group offering a broad range of services (banking, pensions, insurance, leasing, brokerage and asset management) to its retail, small and medium enterprise and corporate customers. The Bank is also present through its wholly-owned subsidiaries in Russia, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. The Bank is rated by the three main rating agencies: Moody's Investor Service (Ba2), Fitch Ratings (B+) and Standard&Poor's (B+). As at 30 June 2009, the total number of the Bank's outlets was 615, with 1,704 ATMs and 3,654 POS terminals. Halyk Bank's market share as at 30 June 2009 was 16.3 percent in total assets, 12.7 percent in total loans, 21.8 percent in total deposits and 22.6 percent in retail deposits. Contact: Akmal Saidov, Gulbahkor Rakhmanova Maslov PR Tashkent Tel. +998 (71) 2355466; 998 71 2385822 Akmal.Saidov@maslov-pr.com, Gulbakhor.Rakhmanova@intl.westernunion.com Quotation end [2009-09-11]