DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens has launched Western Union Bill Payment services, provided via digital self-service kiosks, chainwide.

The service will enable the drug chain’s customers to make payments to 15,000 billers in and outside the United States, according to Western Union Co. Located in more than 7,800 Walgreens and Duane Reade stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the kiosks are the same stations where Walgreens provides its photo and Balance Financial services in stores.

“Offering a fuller menu of financial services supports our drive to provide customers with ultimate convenience,” stated Jay Bernstein, manager of financial services at Walgreens. “With Western Union’s expanded offerings, customers can now visit our store to quickly pay an eligible utility bill or more easily transfer funds to a college student out-of-state or a relative overseas.”

Western Union said its services offered at Walgreens, available 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., allow customers to independently stage transactions and fund money transfers and bill payments via cash or PIN-based debit. The transactions are initiated at the kiosk using a photo touchscreen and finalized at the register.

“The expansion of Western Union services at over 7,800 Walgreens and Duane Reade locations across the nation will provide great convenience to consumers by allowing them to not only transfer money but also pay bills while running daily errands,” commented Carter Hunt, senior vice president and general manager for Western Union U.S.

Customers also have access to Western Union’s My WU customer rewards program and can expect an enhanced kiosk experience with fast, easy transactions, the payment service company added.

“Western Union’s cross-border money transfer and bill payment platform allows customers sending money from Walgreens true international connectivity to more than 200 countries and territories as well as domestic money transfers and bill payments,” stated Odilon Almeida, president of Western Union for the Americas and European Union.