Originally launched in mid-September 1958, the BankAmericard is back. To coincide with the 40th anniversary, BofA is introducing a new BankAmericard credit card offering rewards to customers for banking with Bank of America. Called the BankAmericard Banking Benefits card, the new card rewards cardholders with one point for every $100 of their new monthly purchases or two points when they carry a balance on their cards. Reward points can be applied towards checking account fees, mortgage closing fees, homebanking fees, e-bill payment fees, investing in a mutual fund, buying U.S. Savings Bonds, increasing a CD rate, lowering the credit card rate or paying off a credit card balance.The new BankAmericard has no annual fee, a fixed, six-month introductory rate of 5.9% and a prime +8.99% long-term rate.

Starting mid-October, the Discover Card will sponsor a "FeelGood Fridays" promotion. Every time cardholders use their Discover Card for purchases on Fridays from September 18th to November 13th, they have a chance to earn an additional $100 Cashback Bonus award. The promotion is part of Discover's new marketing strategy that includes a new advertising campaign, new sponsorships and promotions, new philanthropic partnerships, and expanded cardholder benefits. The new advertising campaign will carry the theme of "Discover the Feeling," which links the Discover Card to the positive emotions of buying something special and getting a Cashback Bonus award. Discover is going all out with new ads on television, radio, national magazines, the Internet and alternative point-of-sale media such as gas pump handles, wrapped buses and supermarket floor mats. Discover Card is also introducing new ways to earn and redeem their Cashback Bonus awards and will also be a major sponsor of Universal Studios Escape opening in Orlando next summer. This Thanksgiving, Discover will be involved in the promotion of the new movie "Babe: Pig in the City."

The Flying Elvi landed at the Sunset Station Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas this month to deliver the new VISA Las Vegas Platinum card. Consumer Rewards International and First USA teamed up to issue the card which brings together a group of 17 Las Vegas hotel/casinos and other companies. The new VISA Platinum program offers cardholders 1-percent cash back, issued in $10 increments on their monthly statements. Las Vegas residents also will be able to earn 3 percent higher cash rebates on purchases made through the local VISA Las Vegas Merchant Network. In addition, cardholders receive up to $25 in combined reward certificates when they use their card each month within the first five months of having it. Reward certificates are redeemable for cash or credit toward purchases at several Las Vegas establishments including Circus Circus, Excaliber, Luxor, and 14 other hotel/casinos.

Mark your calendar for Thursday, September 17. The National Foundation for Consumer Credit and USA Today will host a second, annual, "Ask-the-Expert" telephone call-in in conjunction with the NFCC's annual conference in Miami. During the day-long "Ask-the-Expert" session, NFCC-member counselor volunteers will take telephone calls from consumers with credit and debt questions. The 12-hour call-in will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, September 17. See the September 17 issue of USA today for details.

The Federal Trade Commission ordered Trans Union last month to stop distributing and selling target marketing lists based on consumer-credit data. The FTC says Trans Union invades consumers’ privacy when it sells consumers’ credit histories to third-party marketers without consumers’ knowledge or consent. Trans Union had argued that target-marketing lists do not fall within the definition of "consumer reports" that are protected by the FCRA. The FTC also rejected arguments that Trans Union’s lists are protected by the First Amendment, citing both the government’s substantial interest in protecting consumers’ right to privacy and the fact that the FCRA advances this interest without being unduly restrictive. The recent decision points to a 1993 FTC agreement with TRW (Experian) which allows TRW to extract certain consumer information such as: name, telephone number, mother’s maiden name, address, zip code, year of birth, age or social security number from its database for target marketing. TRW, unlike Trans Union, does not extract high credit amounts, auto loan expiration dates, and loan dates from its consumer reporting data base for use in target marketing lists. Equifax abandoned the practice voluntarily in 1991. Trans Union says it will appeal the recent ruling.

The Internal Revenue Service announced last month it has reached agreements with Discover, MasterCard and American Express to accept credit cards for federal taxes. Beginning in 1999, U.S. taxpayers will be able to pay IRS bills either by calling a toll-free number or filing electronically. Discover cardholders will be able to use Intuit's TurboTax or MacInTax tax preparation software to file their returns electronically and then pay using any NOVUS-issued card. A convenience fee, based on the size of the transaction, will be charged regardless of what option the taxpayer uses. VISA has not joined the acceptance group yet, reportedly holding out for a flat fee instead of a percentage of the transaction.

Reward cardholders will now be able to signup for consolidated, online, reporting of frequent traveler credits. Chicago-based MaxMiles, Inc. and Excite, Inc. have teamed up to offer an online frequent flyer mileage management service called MileageMiner. The new service enables travelers to receive all of their frequent flyer account information in one online consolidated statement. In addition to offering consolidated account balances, the 'MileageMiner' service also highlights the most current mileage promotions and offers, searches for missing mileage credits and warns travelers of mileage expirations. Through Excite, customers can enroll in the service for $2.95 per month with the first three months free.

Michigan National Bank rolled out a new card product based on home equity last month called the Equi:Money VISA Gold. Besides offering tax deductible interest and a low interest rate, the new secured credit card offers an interest-free grace period on new purchases even when an account carries a balance forward from the previous month. In addition, 'Equi:Money VISA Gold' offers cardholders the option to enroll in Michigan National's Relationship Rewards program, which allows them to receive special benefits and added discounts on many banking products and services. The card carries a prime+2% rate for balances under $25k, prime+0.5% for balances between $25k and $50k and the prime rate+0% for balances over $50k. The annual fee is $40 with a first year fee waiver. The card is targeted to Michigan homeowners.