|
CARDNEWS FOR CONSUMERS
|
(11/30/00)
Business Card Miles
The business credit card market is rapidly heating up as some issuers enhance
their offerings with air miles. This week Ohio-based National City unveiled the
Business FirstAir VISA Platinum credit card.
-READ MORE |
(11/29/00)
Rent Charge
The expanding acceptance of credit cards now range from taxis to taxes. This
week a new pilot program seeks to capture rent payments onto plastic. The
unusual concept comes from nowhere else but San Francisco.
-READ MORE |
(11/28/00)
AmEx Gift Card
American Express has moved into the gift card market with a pilot program in San Diego. Westfield America
is testing the new co-branded gift card program at eight Shoppingtowns in California. If successful the program may be expanded nationwide.
-READ MORE |
(11/27/00)
Principal Card
The first professional card has hit the market. Pro2Net and the Principal
Financial Group have teamed up to offer a VISA Platinum card that offers a
1.25% cash-back bonus that can be applied toward financial products.
-READ MORE |
(11/22/00)
Black Friday
While the busiest shopping day is the day before Christmas, the benchmark day for the holiday shopping season is Thanksgiving Friday. Also known as Black Friday, November 24 will be the first real measure of consumer holiday spirit.
-READ MORE |
(11/21/00)
Holiday Plastic
For the first time in history American consumers will charge more than $100
billion to their major credit cards during the holiday season. Between
Thanksgiving and Christmas, consumers will charge an estimated $113.7 billion
to their VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards.
-READ MORE |
(11/20/00)
Grinch Cereal Card
VISA has stuffed cereal boxes across the U.S. with special Cash Cards worth up
to $25,000 each. The holiday promotion is built around the new Universal movie
"Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!".
-READ MORE |
(11/16/00)
Cancer Fighting Cards
Citibank has launched two Platinum MasterCards to generate contributions to
assist in the fight against cancer. The American Cancer Society Platinum
MasterCards are expected to generate over $15 million over five years for the American Cancer Society.
-READ MORE |
(11/15/00)
Holiday Home
MasterCard wants to give you a home for the holidays. Between now and the end
of year MasterCard users will be automatically entered to win a $250,000 cash
prize in a special holiday promotion.
-READ MORE |
(11/13/00)
Grinch Visa
VISA has secured a front row seat for next weekend's opening of Jim Carrey's
new holiday Grinch movie. VISA has launched a Christmas promotion offering
cardholders free purchases between now and the end of the year.
-READ MORE |
(11/9/00)
Record Late Fees
Late payment fees for consumer credit cards have finally broken the $30
barrier. Fleet Credit Card Services is assessing a $35 late fee on all its card
products including the new Fusion smart VISA.
-READ MORE |
(11/8/00)
Business MilesOne
Capital One has turned up the heat on the business card market with the
introduction of a free VISA card that offers air miles, good for travel on any
airline.
-READ MORE |
(11/7/00)
Canadian Rewards
Canada's top frequent flyer credit card program is taking off for a new market.
CIBC VISA has unveiled the new CIBC Aerogold VISA Card for Business. The new
card carries a CD$180 annual fee and risk-based APRS of 10.9%, 13.9% and 16.9%.
-READ MORE |
(11/6/00)
Juniper MasterCard
A newly established bank is set to offer online and wireless banking plus a new credit card. Juniper Bank is now offering a transparent MasterCard that
features no over-limit fees, low late fees, and the ability for cardholders to manage their accounts and pay their bills online or via wireless devices.
-READ MORE |
(11/3/00)
XMAS Spending
American consumers are ready to ring Santa's bell this year. A new survey
reveals that consumer holiday spending will rise for the fifth straight year. According to the 2000 American Express Retail Index, consumers will spend an average of $1,684 on holiday related expenses, an 8% increase over 1999.
-READ MORE |
(11/2/00)
VISA Buxx #4
Capital One launched its VISA Buxx prepaid teen card this week. This is the
fourth VISA Buxx card to hit the U.S. market. Managed by parents, the Capital
One VISA Buxx card works similarly to cash-not a credit card.
-READ MORE |
(11/1/00)
Grinch Card
Austin Powers got a credit card and now Jim Carrey is getting a gift card.
Wells Fargo announced this week it will offer a disposable, prepaid Holiday
Season Grinch VISA Gift Card.
-READ MORE |