Monday, 31 May 2010

Numerous Benefits Of Co-Branded Debit Card Programs

Branded debit cards, or co-branded debit cards, are powerful tools for businesses to attract new customers and strengthen relationships with existing customers. Co-branded debit card programs involve collaborations between banks, companies and reputed credit providers such as VISA and MasterCard. Co-branded debit cards have earned huge popularity amongst different business organizations.

Co-branded debit cards have become immensely popular in almost all business organizations. Through co-branded debit card programs, companies can print their names and logos on these co-branded debit cards; these function in association with highly esteemed credit card companies such as MasterCard and Visa.

Since these cards are recognized and command worldwide acceptance, they allow the company to get international exposure. In addition, co-branded debit cards boost the recall value and the overall image of the brands in the market.

These cards also help a business to win the loyalty of the customer. The benefits achieved by the company are directly proportional to the number of times the customer uses the card.

These prepaid cards help companies to increase their customer base, and help to minimize the acquisition costs of the company. Hence, these cards help the companies to grow their business prospects.

These card programs are not only beneficial for companies, but also useful for their customers. Customers are always in search of improved and flexible payment options. Co-branded debit cards can be very helpful in providing the best solution to these customers.

These cards allow customers to make purchases even after they fall short of cash. In addition, customers can also get attractive discounts at merchant establishments that have an association with banks that issue co-branded cards. Co-branded cards offer customers different methods of payment. They can either withdraw money from an ATM to make payments, or they can also shop online and make payments through these cards.

Many financial institutions, Forex companies and insurance companies have benefited immensely from the usage of branded prepaid cards program. Many companies in America, the Middle East and Europe have achieved successful implementation of generic card programs.

Offshore Pro Group

Co-branded Debit Card Program : An Efficient Marketing Tool for Companies

Co-branded debit cards programs involve affiliation of a bank, a business organization, and credit card providers such as MasterCard or Visa. Co-branded cards prove economical for companies business prospects. Hence, many business organizations worldwide are recognizing the advantages offered by these cards.

Business organizations can gain huge benefits from co-branded debit cards. Hence, various business establishments world over have started to involve into co-branded card programs. Today, organizations across different sectors including entertainment, retail, travel ad telecom can use co-branded debit cards.

If you wish to expand your customer-base and want to improve the reputation of your company in the international market, you can consider implementing these card programs. These cards represent the company’s brand name along with the name of esteemed credit card companies such as Visa and MasterCard which have a world-wide acceptance. Thus, by implementing co-branded programs, you can gain more exposure and tap more customers.

Co-branded debit card programs will also help your to study the spending methods of your customers. It can thus help you to formulate suitable marketing strategies.

You can provide attractive bonus and discounts offers to your customers through co-branded card programs. This will help you not only to lure new customers but you can also effectively retain your existing customers.

Co-branded debit cards are also beneficial for your customers. Owing to their flexibility in terms of spending patterns, they can offer a huge amount of convenience to your customers. Your customers can spend money even if they don’t have sufficient amount of cash.

These cards can be used by customers to pay their monthly bills or shopping bills. Besides, they can also be used to make payments over the Internet. Co-branded debit function are similar as prepaid cards. Thus, these cards allow the the customers to continue shopping even after they run short of cash in hand. The bill amount is later subtracted from their accounts.

Various business organizations such as trade organization, insurance firms and financial institutions have been greatly benefited from branded prepaid card program or Generic debit card program. Several business organization based in Asia, America, Middle East and Europe have reaped great benefits from co-branded debit cards.


Offshore Pro Group

Sunday, 30 May 2010

Offshore Pro Group - The Industry Leader in Co-Branded Debit Card Options

Offshore Pro Group - The Industry Leader in Co-Branded Debit Card Options

Consumers today are flooded with payment choices. But they most commonly utilize payment solutions which allow them to express their individuality, while also simplifying their lives. Co-branded debit card programs from Offshore Pro Group satisfy both of these consumer demands.

Co-branded partnerships strengthen customer loyalty as well as attract new customers, lowering the organization's overall acquisition costs.

Offshore Pro Group is the industry leader for co-branded debit card programs, white label programs, software and payment integration platforms and turnkey payment solutions. Some of the payment programs currently offered by Offshore Pro Group include:

· Co-branded debit card programs

· White label programs

· Co-branded pre-paid credit card programs

· MasterCard or VISA

· Magnetic stripe and/or EMV (chip cards)

· Embossed and un-embossed card programs

· Full suite of services for the un-bankable clientele

· Turnkey solution including licensing and payment processing integration.

The company develops programs for clients within the following regions: Asia, Latin America, Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, Africa, South America, North America.

Offshore Pro Group prepaid debit card programs are used worldwide by clients for a variety of needs, such as Dividend, incentive and Forex payouts, Membership based affiliation applications, Loan and benefit payout applications, Insurance payout programs, Commission payout applications, Travel and remittance card programs, Telecommunications and cellular phone companies, Department stores and supermarkets, Gaming and gambling organizations, Service and utilities companies, etc.


Offshore Pro Group

Saturday, 29 May 2010

Offshore Pro Group advice: “Reward Your Co Branded Debit Card Program Users”

To keep your company competitive, you might find that it needs an edge over the other companies or businesses that you compete with. One tool that you should consider is the co branded debit card program. This program allows you to place your company logo and name on a debit card that your customers will see every time they make a purchase. Keeping your company's name in front of your customer is very important.

If you can keep your company name or logo in front of your customer, you have a better chance of developing more return business. How do you keep these customers is the question you have to ask yourself. One way is to offer special rewards to your customer for using your debit cards. It might be something as simple as a cash back offer on certain amounts of money spent on the card. You might decide to offer something different but it should be something that your customers can appreciate and will find worth their effort.

Many airlines offer miles on their cards and this has proven to be very popular. While you may not be able to offer miles that can be turned into free trips, your co branded debit card program should offer something that is unique to your type of business, yet something that your customers will value. You might have to think carefully about the rewards you offer but it will be worth it to your business in the end. The reward does not have to be something large or difficult to implement. Sometimes the simplest reward is the best.

Everyone appreciates being rewarded for doing something that he or she already does. If your customer does not have to do anything special to get the reward, it makes the reward even much more attractive.


Offshore Pro Group

Pros and cons of going cashless with a credit card

We've all heard the prognosticators say that a cashless society is right around the corner. They've been saying this since the 1970s, when people began using credit or debit cards for the majority of their purchases. Perhaps the much vaunted cashless world is a virtual Neverland where people get around with Jetson-type cars and jet backpacks.

Regardless of the hype, it is quite possible to live a largely cashless existence in this country by relying on a credit card. This is particularly true if one lives in a major metropolitan area that provides major retailers and restaurants on every corner. It's almost hard to find a gas station anymore that doesn't have a pay-at-the-pump with a credit card option.

However, this does not mean that cash is dead, by any means. It's just a matter of choice and financial style that determines the degree to which a person relies on plastic, in the form of prepaid debit cards and credit cards, to get through their day to day lives.

There are distinct advantages and disadvantages to both paper and plastic forms of payment. Concerning cash, it can provide a healthy dose of anonymity when used as legal tender to pay for goods and services. And, privacy is a rapidly vanishing commodity in this country, so that advantage shouldn't be discounted. On the other hand, cash generally requires in-person payments to be made, which can be inconvenient compared to credit card and prepaid debit card transactions. The latter can be used remotely in a point of sale scenario where the customer swipes the card through a reader as well as for online purchases.

Another set of positive and negative aspects of cash exists that should be discussed. Cash has an immediate, visceral quality that can actually help control excess spending relative to making purchases with a credit card or debit card. You can try this experiment the next time you make an impulse purchase and, instead of pulling out the Visa or MasterCard, count out what you owe in cold hard cash. It provides a greater degree of clarity regarding the sacrifice you are making in exchange for the object of your desire. The downside of being a heavy cash user is the security issue. Losing cash or having it stolen is always a risk, and once it's gone, it's gone.

Concerning plastic, there are many reasons to consider moving to this progressive mode of financial management. These include convenience, security and automatic record-keeping of your purchases. But, as with many seemingly great things in life, there is a price to pay for this convenience. One is the fact that it's much easier to let spending get out of control when all you have to do is swipe a plastic card to make your purchase.

Another involves the expense of paying interest for months or years if you are unable to pay your balance in full each month.

So, which is better? Cash will probably never go away completely, much to the consternation of Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card and American Express. Even though the major card companies have been going after the micro-payments market in a big way, there will probably always be currency floating around the globe. But, it's good to be aware of the pros and cons of both cash and plastic and manage your finances accordingly.


Offshore Pro Group

Friday, 28 May 2010

How to Correctly Handle Credit Card Accounts in a Divorce

Each year in the United States there are over 1 Million divorces. There is a lot of great information available to those considering divorce on how to divide up marital assets, determine the custody of children, and deal with the emotional toll a divorce can take on its participants. Unfortunately, many people neglect to handle outstanding debts in a manner, thru the Divorce, that will prevent serious financial problems down the road.


The primary issue results from many believing the Divorce Decree will supersede any original debt obligations or contracts and the impact that can have on someone’s credit and their ability to obtain financing, employment, or housing in the future. It’s not uncommon at the time of divorce to have outstanding credit card debt that is jointly held. You have 3 options to handle this debt to protect you from future problems:

1) Sell Something – The first option is to sell a joint asset and use the proceeds to wipe out any and all outstanding credit card debt while also closing the accounts or converting them into individual accounts.

2) Apply for separate credit – The second option is for each spouse to apply for new credit in their own name and then transfer their share of the existing debt into their new account while closing out the joint account.

3) Free the Account - If you cannot afford to pay off the existing debt and have difficulty applying for new credit, another option is to have the account frozen so new charges cannot be added. While this won’t eliminate your obligation to ensure the debt is being paid, it will prevent your ex-spouse from charging more to the account.

If these options just aren’t feasible in your situation and your ex-spouse will be responsible for making payments on a joint debt, it’s your responsibility to monitor that account and ensure it is being paid on a timely basis. This can be done by having copies of the bills sent to your home, gaining online access to the account, or regularly checking your credit report.

If your ex-spouse is unable to make the payments in a timely manner, regardless of what the Divorce Decree says, to protect your credit, you will need to jump in and begin making payments on that account.

Anyone considering a Divorce should seek legal counseling due to the complexity of what is involved. Do not be bashful in bringing up these issues with your Attorney to prevent a financial nightmare down the road.

Offshore Pro Group

Ways to Cut Credit Card Debt

How to eliminate credit card debt—once and for all—is a common topic for personal finance writers. And a popular way to do so, they write, is as follows:

The objective is to eliminate the carry-over balance on one card at a time, until all your cards have a zero balance. The credit card issuers will hate you for doing this, of course. But if you don’t do it, you’ll continue to pay hefty interest charges every month and will owe a balance until you die. Even then, if any relatives or friends are authorized to use your card, those charges will continue until they die.

If you have several credit cards—as most people do—all with carry-over balances every month, select one card and call it Card A. Call the others Card B, Card C, and so on. Then start paying more than the minimum on Card A, while paying at least the minimum on the other cards.

Now here’s where the personal finance writers are divided. Most say that Card A should be the card with the highest interest rate. That’s because—all else being equal—this card accounts for more finance charges than the other cards.

The problem is,”all else” is usually not equal. The carry-over balances are probably all different. Therefore, a few other personal finance writers argue, you should designate the card with the lowest balance and pay that off first. Then you’ll have a card with a zero balance, and anything you charge on it will not be socked with a finance charge—if you pay the balance in full each month.

Naturally, if one particular card has both the highest interest rate and the lowest balance, that’s definitely the card to pay off first.

As soon as you pay off Card A, select another card and start paying off that one, too.


Offshore Pro Group