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CARDNEWS FOR CONSUMERS
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(12/3/01)
Verified by VISA
Today marks the launch of "Verified by VISA" for consumers, which gives
consumers maximum protection against unauthorized card usage without changing
their online shopping experience. The new service protects cardholders by
allowing the issuing bank to confirm the shopper's identity through use of a
password during the online checkout process.
-READ MORE |
(11/30/01)
United Upgrade
Cardholders of the United Airlines Mileage Platinum VISA card are
receiving an upgrade notice this week. No, it's not for a seat upgrade, it's for a card
upgrade! Starting Monday, December 3rd, cardholders will have access to the
services of VISA's top consumer product, the VISA Signature Card.
-READ MORE |
(11/29/01)
Java Card
A real Java Card has been brewed up just in time for the holidays. Starbucks
Coffee Company introduced the Starbucks Card this week. The stored value card
can be loaded with any monetary denomination between $5 to $500.
-READ MORE |
(11/27/01)
Chase Sweepstakes
VISA has "Magic Moments" and MasterCard has "Priceless Holiday Gifts" to
entice consumers to use their cards this holiday season. Now, Chase has added
another layer with its "Choose Chase Holiday Sweepstakes" offering a chance to
win a $20,000 cash grand prize.
-READ MORE |
(11/26/01)
Fraudulent Offers
More firms have been shutdown by a federal court for allegedly making
fraudulent credit card offers. Today the Federal Trade Commission and the
Illinois Attorney General charged a group of Illinois-based companies with
operating a massive scheme whereby consumers were offered a credit card for a
$219.95 fee and then never received a card.
-READ MORE |
(11/26/01)
Blue Action
The American Express Blue Card has picked up some "smarts" for the holiday
season. The smart Blue Card now offers cardholders 30% off any on-sale and
regular priced merchandise at all U.S. Virgin Megastores. The savings will be
activated at the register by the chip imbedded on the Blue card.
-READ MORE |
(11/21/01)
Xmas 2001
Between now and the end of the year, Americans will spend about $150 billion
on holiday related purchases including gifts, travel, and entertainment. More
than half of these purchases will be made on credit cards.
-READ MORE |
(11/21/01)
Gift Cards
Three out of four Americans are now "aware" of gift cards and nearly 50
million adults have purchased such cards over the past year. With consumers
jittery about venturing far from home and somewhat value conscious this year,
it could be a banner year for pre-paid cards or gift cards.
-READ MORE |
(11/20/01)
Incentives Galore
As air travel has descended to lower altitudes, travel incentive programs are
applying more thrust. From double miles/points to cash back to discounts, the
number of incentives being offered to Americans this year is simply
unprecedented. This week, US Airways and Bank of America launched new debit card programs that enable consumers and businesses to earn miles on a major carrier.
-READ MORE |
(11/19/01)
Priceless Xmas
Capitalizing on its hugely successful 'Priceless" advertising campaign,
MasterCard has unleashed a holiday promotion offering "Priceless" gifts to
share with loved ones. The Priceless Holiday Gifts promotion will award one
winning cardholder with five Priceless experiences including an African
Safari, a visit from a celebrity chef, behind-the-scenes access to the Houston
Space Center, enrollment in the Formula One Race and Racing School in Great
Britain, and VIP treatment at the My VH-1 Music Awards.
-READ MORE |
(11/15/01)
Box Tops VISA
First USA and General Mills have teamed to offer VISA cards that potentially
can generate up to $10,000 annually for each of the more than 67,000 American
schools enrolled in the Box Tops program. Combined with the General Mills
"CLIP" program and the new "SHOP ONLINE" program, schools can now receive a
maximum of $30,000 per year, per school.
-READ MORE |
(11/14/01)
Club Orange
You can apply for VIP tickets to a private party in Times Square for New
Year's Eve, if you spend at least $500 in purchases on your Discover Card
during November. The Discover Card has set up the "Club Orange" party,
featuring a special concert by the Smashmouth, for the first 450 eligible
cardholders who apply for tickets by December 10th.
-READ MORE |
(11/13/01)
Arkansas Rates Rise
The lowest credit card interest rates in the nation are coming to an end
following a recent federal court decision that removed the Arkansas bank usury
law. As a result, Pine Bluff-based Simmons First National Bank has jacked up
interest rates this month for its VISA and MasterCard products from 7.00% to
8.95%.
-READ MORE |
(11/13/01)
Clear Blue Discover
Riding the wave of translucent or clear credit cards, Discover this month
launched a clear, blue Platinum card. The card, promoted as 'Very Now' and
'Very Cool', is "clearly" playing off of the American Express smart Blue Card
and the Providians clear smart VISA cards.
-READ MORE |
(11/9/01)
Card Shuffle
Credit card debt has hit the wall as consumers move revolving debt into
mortgages, and slow down a bit on card usage. During September, Americans
tacked on a mere $1.4 billion to revolving credit, compared to $4.2 billion
last September.
-READ MORE |
(11/8/01)
Couch Potatoes
The terrorist attacks are turning more Americans into couch potatoes, thus
sitting on their credit cards. Surveys released this week show consumers are
traveling less, spending less, and eating more snacks.
-READ MORE |
(11/7/01)
Amazon Credit
The 20 million U.S. households that do not have a credit card can now shop
online at the Earth's Biggest Online Store.
Amazon.com has teamed up with Citibank's credit card division to launch a
virtual store credit card.
-READ MORE |
(11/6/01)
Record Rates
American credit cardholders will save about $600 million in additional
interest charges over the next twelve months thanks to today's action by the
Federal Open Market Committee.With the prime rate expected to drop to 5.00% later today, the lowest in 40
years, credit card rates will be pushed to their lowest level ever.
-READ MORE |
(11/5/01)
Olympic Cards
For the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, cash is out and cards are in. This week,
Bank of America is rolling-out two, new stored-value VISA cards for the
upcoming Games. The VISA Olympic Money and Gift Card provide prepaid spending
as well as reloadable features.
-READ MORE |
(11/2/01)
Discover Mall
The first credit card-named shopping center opened today in Atlanta. Last
year
Discover Financial Services and The Mills Corporation sealed a deal to create
the Discover Mills shopping center. The 10-year co-marketing, multi-million
dollar partnership produced the first-ever naming rights partnership in the
shopping center industry.
-READ MORE |
(11/1/01)
Target VISA
The biggest Smart VISA launch got underway today as Target started taking
applications online for the new smart card. For a limited time Target is
giving
away, to new cardholders, an in-home smart card reader which generates
exclusive offers from target.com, fields.com and GiftCatalog.com from the
computer chip embedded on the VISA card.
-READ MORE |
(11/7/01)
Amazon Credit
The 20 million U.S. households that do not have a credit card can now shop
online at the Earth's Biggest Online Store.
Amazon.com has teamed up with Citibank's credit card division to launch a
virtual store credit card.
-READ MORE |
