TORONTO, April 15 /CNW/ - Scotiabank and Western Union today announced
the national rollout of an innovative new platform for money transfers. This
relationship will bring the global reach of Western Union to all Scotiabank
customers across Canada - online or in branches.
    "We are very pleased to extend our successful pilot with Western Union to
Canadian customers from coast to coast," said Sabi Marwah, Scotiabank
Vice-Chair and Chief Administrative Officer. "This relationship enables
Scotiabank to meet the unique needs of the diverse communities that we serve
through our banking services. Today's announcement enables us to give our
customers the ability to send money to friends, family and business colleagues
to over 200 countries and territories around the world in a safe, fast and
convenient manner, either from a participating Scotiabank branch, or the
comfort of their own homes using our online banking service."
    The national roll out of this collaboration allows Scotiabank customers
the option to go into one of the over 1,000 branches across Canada or use the
new online service to send money from home or the workplace to one of Western
Union's over 290,000 Agent locations across 200 countries and territories
around the world. The ability to transfer money online through a secure
Scotiabank site provides our customers the convenience of transacting from
home with the security of going to a branch.
    "Western Union and Scotiabank are global brands consumers trust," said
Western Union President and Chief Executive Officer, Christina Gold. "Together
with Scotiabank, Western Union will now provide Canada's diverse community,
one more way to connect to the world - helping one family at a time and one
community at a time provide support and new optimism to those back home."
    Scotiabank and Western Union launched a pilot in December, 2007, to offer
customers the ability to send outbound money transfers from 42 Scotiabank
branch locations in British Columbia, the Prairies and Ontario to more than
200 countries and territories through Western Union. Scotiabank demonstrated
the new online service at Scotia Plaza. Joining Mr. Marwah was Christina Gold,
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Western Union.
    This cooperation also builds on Scotiabank's continued efforts to meet
the unique needs of Canada's immigrant and multicultural communities. Earlier
this year Scotiabank became the first Canadian-based bank to offer the Euro
Savings Account. In March, the Bank announced a multi-year partnership to
launch Scotiabank Caribana, a key cultural event for the city of Toronto.
Scotiabank also announced last week that we have signed a three year
sponsorship agreement with Cricket Canada.

    About The Western Union Company

    Western Union, together with its affiliates Orlandi Valuta and Vigo, is a
leading provider of global money-transfer services, providing people with
fast, reliable and convenient ways to send money around the world, pay bills
and purchase money orders through a network of more than 335,000 Agent
locations in over 200 countries and territories. For more information, visit
www.WesternUnion.com.

    About Scotiabank

    Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and
Canada's most international bank. With more than 60,000 employees, Scotiabank
Group and its affiliates serve approximately 12.5 million customers in some
50 countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a diverse range of products
and services including personal, commercial, corporate and investment banking.
With $449 billion in assets (as at January 31, 2008), Scotiabank trades on the
Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit
www.scotiabank.com.