(2/26/99)
OOO-LA-LA
MasterCard International is celebrating its third year of alliance with the
French Government Tourist Office (Maison de la France), by announcing special
value-added travel offers to its cardholders.
-READ MORE |
(2/26/99)
Card Protection Scam Settles
Florida-based GEP,INC. and Bank Card Security Center, Inc., along with their
owner Steven Zwicker, have agreed to pay a $44,000 civil penalty in their
settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.
-READ MORE |
(2/25/99)
I-Bank Freebies
Convenience and free services is a hard combination to beat. CompuBank, the
first virtual National Bank, is now offering free electronic bill pay services
as well as four free ATM surcharge reimbursements (up to $1.50 each) per
month.
-READ MORE |
(2/25/99)
Y2K Anti-Panic Tips
Are you worried about the Y2K bug? Maybe even feeling a little panicky?
The electronic financial services industry has been working on the Y2K
challenge for years.
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(2/24/99)
Debit Card Rewards
The first co-branded debit card has just been launched by Chase Manhattan Bank
and Continental Airlines. Known as the Chase/Continental Banking Card, it
will offer one Continental OnePass mile for every two dollars spent on purchases.
-READ MORE |
(2/24/99)
AmEx Golf Goodies
The first tournament of the World Golf Championships is scheduled for February
24-28 at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California, and American Express
will be there
to bring a premium level of special offers and consumer service to its
cardmembers and golf enthusiasts.
-READ MORE |
(2/23/99)
Heat is On
Another bill to ban ATM fees was introduced last week by the Wisconsin
legislature. Wisconsin State Rep. John Lehman introduced the 'ATM Consumer
Protection Bill 113', which is expected to be referred to a Wisconsin
Assembly committee this week.
-READ MORE |
(2/23/99)
Low Rates Y2K
The teaser rate marketing game remains alive and well as CitiBank
continues to market its 3.9% APR, 12-month balance transfer rate on its
'Platinum Select VISA'. CitiBank has launched a direct mail campaign this week offering the 3.9% rate through March 1, 2000.
-READ MORE |
(2/22/99)
Ultimate Y2K Party
How will you usher in the new millenium? MasterCard and Preview Travel would
like you to greet the new century sipping champagne as their guest at the
Chateau de Courcelles in the Champagne Region of France.
-READ MORE |
(2/22/99)
E-Billing Saves
Did you know that the average American household pays approximately 200
bills a year? If sent by snail mail, at 33 cents apiece, it will cost about $66 a
year just to mail your bills. Adding the cost of printing checks and the
occasional late fee, the privilege of paying bills could top $100 annually.
-READ MORE |
(2/19/99)
GetSmart GotSold
GetSmart.com got sold yesterday to Providian Financial for $33 million in
cash. GetSmart.com is a free, on-line marketplace for home loans, personal
loans, credit cards, student loans and auto leases.The company offers loan
products, via performance-based contracts, from more than 100 lenders.
-READ MORE |
(2/19/99)
Convenience Charging
According to the American Express Everyday Spending Index, American
households spend an estimated $23,379 throughout the year on expenses such as
groceries, fast food meals, healthcare, gasoline and utilities.
-READ MORE |
(2/18/99)
CHL MasterCard
Canadian Hockey League fans now have their own special MasterCard. The CHL
and
the Bank of Montreal have recently unveiled a slick new affinity MasterCard
that helps support CHL education initiatives, as well as development of junior
hockey players on and off the ice.
-READ MORE |
(2/17/99)
Processing Fee Scam
The Federal Trade Commission has settled with two businesses who allegedly
told
consumers that they could get an unsecured VISA or MasterCard credit card,
regardless of their past credit history, for a one-time upfront processing
fee.
-READ MORE |
(2/17/99)
Debitalk Arrives
IDT Corporation has just launched their first pre-paid callback phone card,
specifically designed for the international marketplace: Debitalk.
-READ MORE |
(2/16/99)
Record Web Traffic
Credit card issuers advertising on CardWeb's consumer channels have
apparently discovered a gold mine of traffic. According to official
Internet traffic statistics released last week, a record 4.4 million page
views were delivered during January.
-READ MORE |
(2/16/99)
ATM Fee Ordinance
San Francisco's proposed ordinance to forbid ATM surcharging is expected
to be voted on Wednesday. Meanwhile the Oklahoma state Senate Finance
Committee narrowly passed a bill last week putting a $1 cap on ATM
surcharges.
-READ MORE |
(2/12/99)
Smart Valentine's Day
Still searching for that last minute Valentines Day gift? Maybe you can find
it online. MasterCard International has introduced a special Shop Smart! For Your
Sweetheart Internet site just for their cardholders...
-READ MORE |
(2/12/99)
My VISA
In 1997 NextCard made history by launching The First True Internet VISA. With
the new NextCard My VISA they're offering a personalized credit card, letting
you build your VISA online, customizing your card with upgrades, valuable
rewards and even your favorite photo.
-READ MORE |
(2/11/99)
Not Another Card!
Prepare yourself for yet another choice among credit card brands.
CitiGroup is bucking VISA to promote the 'CitiCard'. It appears MasterCard
may accomodate CitiGroup's wish to put the VISA or MasterCard logo on the
back of the card instead of the front.
-READ MORE |
(2/11/99)
Look Who is Smiling Now
The industry may do what the U.S. Department of Justice is trying to do --
unravel duality. Under duality, U.S. banks may issue both VISA and
MasterCards.
-READ MORE |
(2/11/99)
Sears Fraud
Sears Bankruptcy Recovery Management Services, Inc., has been charged with one
count of bankruptcy fraud in a scheme involving reaffirmation practices that
began in 1985 and continued until early 1997.
-READ MORE |
(2/10/99)
Citi Quits VISA
The high stakes poker game between VISA USA and CitiGroup has apparently
ended. Both sides confirmed that two of CitiGroup's top executives have
quit VISA's U.S. board...
-READ MORE |
(2/9/99)
EarthLink VISA
Want to earn money for shopping online? EarthLink and MBNA America Bank have just made that possible.
-READ MORE |
(2/9/99)
Credit Complaints Up
For the third year in a row, home repair and telephone slamming remained the top two consumer complaints in the office of Illinois Attorney General Jim
Ryan.
-READ MORE |
(2/9/99)
Save The Bay Card
MBNA, the largest independent credit card lender in the world, has announced
that Save The Bay has signed an agreement to issue a credit card to its
supporters.
-READ MORE |
(2/8/99)
Cash Rules??
Just in time for National Consumer Protection Week, Congressman Chaka Fatta
(D-PA) has reintroduced the Cash Consumer Protection Act, HR 599. The Cash Consumer Protection Act amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to make it unlawful to require a credit card as a condition for doing business.
-READ MORE |
(2/8/99)
ATM Fee Refunder
Don't you hate paying those ATM fees? Yahoo! Finance users can now sign up with TeleBank ATM Refunder to get refunds when they use another bank's ATM.
-READ MORE |
(2/5/99)
New Hotel Card
Simple and rewarding. That's the way Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
characterizes their new breakthrough frequency program, Starwood Preferred
Guest.
-READ MORE |
(2/5/99)
HHonors Stand Tall
Not to be outdone by the recent introduction of the Starwood Preferred Guest
program, Hilton wants the world to know the level of superiority of their
Hilton HHonors Frequent Guest Program.
-READ MORE |
(2/5/99)
More Partners
What could be better than earning rewards from money youre already spending?
Over three million American Express cardholders nationwide have been enjoying
this benefit of the Membership Rewards program.
-READ MORE |
(2/4/99)
File Segregation Crackdown
Scam artists are making such claims as BRAND NEW CREDIT FILE IN 30 DAYS,
appealing to unsuspecting consumers who are trying to repair their bad
credit.
-READ MORE |
(2/4/99)
Diners Wins Freddie
For the second year in a row, The Club Rewards program by Diners Club
International was awarded the prestigious Freddie Award for the "Best Frequent
Traveler Affinity Charge/Credit Card, by the readers of InsideFlyer.
-READ MORE |
(2/3/99)
Seeing Double
Imagine being rewarded for buying things you already need at your local
supermarket or drug store? That's exactly what's happening with the American
Express Membership Rewards Program.
-READ MORE |
(2/2/99)
Magic Moments Results
VISA reported there were 16,826 winners in the 'Magic Moments' holiday
promotion. All together, the winners were awarded free purchases totaling
more than $1.2 million.
-READ MORE |
(2/2/99)
SpeedPass Winner
Mobil Corporation announced that over two million Americans are now using
its revolutionary Mobil Speedpass technology that allows customers to fill
up without ever
opening wallets or purses for credit cards or cash.
-READ MORE |
(2/1/99)
Rubbing Out Credit Fraud
In the ongoing Federal Trade Commission crackdown on fraudulent repair
companies, known as Operation Eraser, another four cases have recently been
settled.
-READ MORE |
(2/1/99)
CyberLoan 2000 Launched
The commercial real estate loan application process just went from two
weeks to
30 minutes, thanks to DataMerge.
-READ MORE |
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