Fact Sheets

At Wal-Mart we are committed to bringing about solutions to some of the most pressing health care challenges facing America's working families. We’ve made this a major focus of the last year -- our more affordable health benefits improvements are a prime example. We are making a real difference for our associates, our customers and the communities we serve. And we are building on those efforts. That’s why Wal-Mart, along with several other large employers who are concerned about the rising cost of health care and inefficiencies in the current system, are coming together to form Dossia, a new non-profit organization that will provide a framework for electronic personal health records.

At Wal-Mart, we believe in promoting and supporting wellness and healthy lifestyle choices by our Associates.  By providing convenient, affordable and innovative opportunities for our Associates to make healthy choices every day, we are committed to helping them raise their satisfaction with their physical, social and emotional health and happiness.  From the informative articles, interactive tools and discounts available on our internal benefits Web site – walmartbenefits.com – to the in-store events focused on health issues, we are finding new ways to educate, engage, support and connect with our Associates as they pursue their health and wellness goals. 

Every business in America is dealing with the rising cost of health care and shares a concern about the number of Americans who are uninsured.  At Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club, millions of working Americans put their trust in us, and we take that trust very seriously.  We believe everyone should have health care coverage, and there are a number of ways that can happen. That’s why we continue to work hard to find affordable, accessible health benefit solutions for our associates and their families.

The latest news on Wal-Mart health care benefits for 2008 from WalMartFacts.com

The latest news on Charitable Giving from WalMartFacts.com

At Wal-Mart, we appreciate the service and sacrifice of our nation’s military men and women, their families and our veterans. We strive to support their heroism in a variety of ways, and have traditionally worked to understand and address some of the specific and special unmet needs facing the military community. Whether it’s bringing Christmas cheer to military families across the country or helping to create a special DVD for children coping with the deployment of a parent, Wal-Mart is committed to serving those who have served our country.

For more than 20 years, Wal-Mart has partnered with The Salvation Army to help individuals in need.  Our company supports The Salvation Army at all levels, from working together at the national level with funds from the Wal-Mart Foundation to on-the-ground work at the local level, where stores and clubs partner with local Salvation Army corps to assist with specific, community-related needs.

At Wal-Mart, we understand how critical education is to the lives and well-being of all Americans. Over the years, Wal-Mart and its Foundation have given more than $67 million to fund continued support of students and opportunities in post-secondary education.  Through its scholarship programs alone, the Wal-Mart Foundation awards 8,000 students with scholarship funding totaling more than $8 million each year.  By supporting education, the Wal-Mart Foundation ensures that the leaders of tomorrow have access to the quality education opportunities they need to be successful today.

At Walmart, we understand the importance of supporting the communities we serve and we are committed to helping families in need. In 2007 alone, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the U.S. Most recently, the Wal-Mart Foundation partnered with Feeding America in a monumental food donation program that – once rolled out to all 2,724 Walmart Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets – will provide 70 million meals per year to families in need.

In a speech to Wal-Mart store managers in Kansas City on January 23, 2008, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. CEO and President Lee Scott laid out the company’s vision for addressing major issues that are important to the future of the company and the world.

“We’re all working together; that’s the secret. And we’ll lower the cost of living for everyone, not just in America, but we’ll give the world an opportunity to see what it’s like to save and have a better lifestyle, a better life for all. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished; we’ve just begun.” – Sam Walton (1918-1992).

According to Nielsen estimates, more than 200 million people in the U.S. shop at Wal-Mart each year, choosing us to save them time and money.

At Wal-Mart, helping communities is what we do every day. And when a crisis strikes this becomes an even greater priority.

The latest news on Disaster Relief from Wal-Mart.

Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Wal-Mart leveraged its unique strengths as a company to help storm victims in their greatest hour of need. Our rescue efforts provided essential supplies and assistance to our associates, our customers and our neighbors. We are proud to serve the local community—especially during times of crisis.

The latest news on Economic Opportunities from Wal-Mart.

Nuestros clientes pueden ahorrar al utilizar nuestros servicios financieros básicos, como el cambio de cheques, giros monetarios, transferencias de dinero y pago de cuentas.

Wal-Mart is good for America’s working families. We create thousands of jobs every year -- many of them in neighborhoods that need them the most. We offer our associates job opportunity and affordable healthcare, including health plans that cost as little as $23 per month.

Information Resources, Inc. released a report, titled “Wal-Mart, Helping Consumers Navigate a Transforming Economy,” that highlights Wal-Mart’s exceptional position for growth within the struggling U.S. economy. The research concluded that Wal-Mart’s ability to offer goods at low prices and its improvements to the total shopping experience are resonating with a broader mix of consumers, who are now reaping the benefits of shopping at Wal-Mart. The current strategy adopted by Wal-Mart allows consumers, suppliers and stakeholders to withstand the changing U.S. economy.

At Wal-Mart, we are committed to creating opportunity beyond the walls of our stores and Clubs. The Jobs and Opportunity Zones (JOZ) program is about making unique contributions to the local community by offering an even greater economic boost to the people and the neighborhoods that need Wal-Mart the most. This effort is an extension of the company’s dedication to associates, the communities we serve, and to the millions of working families who rely on us every day to save them money, so they can live better.

Los consumidores sin una relación bancaria son los que no tienen acceso a los servicios financieros tradicionales. Los consumidores que los usan de forma insuficiente pueden tener acceso a los servicios financieros, pero no los usan con regularidad.

Unbanked consumers are those who lack access to mainstream financial services. Underbanked consumers may have access to financial services, but don’t use them regularly.

The CATO Institute recently issued an article in its publication, the Regulation, on Wal-Mart’s impact on small “mom and pop” businesses, titled “Has Wal-Mart Buried Mom and Pop? (2008)”  The article concluded that the popular and publicly-accepted belief that Wal-Mart destroys small businesses in its path is a misconception.

The Wal-Mart MoneyCard is a re-loadable prepaid Visa® card that provides many of the advantages of a checking account – it’s a safe, easy and convenient way to receive direct deposit of wages, pay bills, make purchases and manage money.

La Tarjeta MoneyCard de Wal-Mart es una tarjeta recargable prepagada Visa®  que ofrece muchas de las ventajas de una cuenta de cheques; es una forma segura, fácil y conveniente de recibir el depósito directo de salarios, pagar facturas, hacer compras y administrar dinero.

En Wal-Mart, creemos que todos deben tener acceso a servicios financieros a bajo costo, como giros bancarios, transferencias de dinero, cambio de cheques y pago de facturas. Los MoneyCenter de Wal-Mart fueron creados para ofrecerles a nuestros clientes un ambiente seguro y protegido, en el que puedan llevar a cabo estos servicios y atender otras necesidades financieras, mientras se aseguran de ahorrar más dinero en vez de gastarlo en cargos bancarios.

At Wal-Mart, we believe everyone should have access to affordable financial services, like money orders, money transfers, check cashing and bill payment. Wal-Mart MoneyCenters were designed to provide our customers a safe and secure environment in which to take care of these and other financial needs while making sure they keep more of their money instead of spending it on fees.

Scholars from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) detailed the benefits of big-box retailers, such as Wal-Mart, to consumers, workers and the economy in the book, “The Wal-Mart Revolution.”1 Their research and analysis concluded that Wal-Mart’s economic impact is more positive than negative, and that the negative impacts are minimized by gains associated with the retailer’s existence. The book indicated that Americans benefit as a result from Wal-Mart presence in communities and credits Wal-Mart as being “part of the solution to the problem of poverty in America.” By focusing on community impact, consumers and employee relations, the book indicated that Wal-Mart’s impact is far-reaching and provides many social and economic benefits.

Global Insight 2007 study

University scholars researched the age-old question “Is Wal-Mart good for the economy?” The study, “The Effects of Wal-Mart Supercenters on Grocery Prices in New England (2008)”1 focused on the impact of Supercenters on grocery prices, and its competitive effects on prices at conventional supermarkets.

What Community Leaders are Saying about Wal-Mart Financial Services

As one of the country’s largest private employers, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. places a diverse and multicultural workforce—at all levels—among its top priorities. And our commitment to diversity is not just something we talk about, it’s who we are. We believe we can better serve our customers and provide a positive work environment for our more than 1.4 million U.S. associates by cultivating respect for their diverse lives and backgrounds through various company initiatives. As part of this commitment, Wal-Mart has made tremendous strides to support women and the organizations and issues of importance to them.

As one of the country’s largest private employers, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. places a diverse and multicultural workforce—at all levels—among its top priorities. And our commitment to diversity is not just something we talk about, it’s who we are. We believe we can better serve our customers and provide a positive work environment for our more than 1.4 million U.S. associates by cultivating respect for their diverse lives and backgrounds through various company initiatives. As part of this commitment, Wal-Mart has made tremendous strides to support the African-American community and the organizations and issues of importance to it.

As one of the country’s largest private employers, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. places a diverse and multicultural workforce—at all levels—among its top priorities. And our commitment to diversity is not just something we talk about, it’s who we are. We believe we can better serve our customers and provide a positive work environment for our more than 1.4 million U.S. associates by cultivating respect for their diverse lives and backgrounds through various company initiatives. As part of this commitment, Wal-Mart has made tremendous strides to support the American Indian and Alaskan Native community and the organizations and issues of importance to it. 

As one of the country’s largest private employers, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. places a diverse and multicultural workforce—at all levels—among its top priorities. And our commitment to diversity is not just something we talk about, it’s who we are. We believe we can better serve our customers and provide a positive work environment for our more than 1.4 million U.S. associates by cultivating respect f