The Motley Fool Take

It isn't all bad news for financial services companies. Sure, the debt markets are rattled, the mortgage industry has run out of steam, and banking giants are flirting with disaster, but money-transfer powerhouse Western Union (NYSE: WU) will hear nothing of it.

Its first-quarter revenue jumped 12 percent, to $1.3 billion, over last year's levels, while earnings rose 8 percent. As has been the case in previous quarters, the international segment was the MVP of growth. International consumer-to-consumer revenue and volume surged 19 percent during the quarter. Two-thirds of its consumerto consumer business, which accounts for the great majority of Western Union's revenue, came from overseas transactions.

During the quarter, Western Union began its micro-lending strategy in Hong Kong. Micro loans are made to those who fall outside a lender's normal target market, but who still present opportunities for companies willing to accommodate smaller customers.

With a sprawling global market at its fingertips, and no sign of financial markets taking a serious toll on business, Western Union's future looks about as bright as it's ever been. Management expects between 9 percent and 11 percent revenue growth this year, and net income of $1.19 to $1.23 per share for 2008, up as much as 11 percent over 2007.

In the shaky financial sector, Western Union is standing strong.