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Buzz Points launches shop local mobile rewards app
Shop Local, Bank Local” loyalty app allows users to purchase, manage and redeem local offers from businesses immediately, on-the-go, across the country
AUSTIN, TX (November 04, 2014) — Buzz Points, a leader in connecting local businesses, community financial institutions and consumers through rewards, today launched a mobile app for iOS that enables Buzz Points users to purchase, manage and redeem local points and offers from their mobile devices, and explore new local businesses close to home or across the country where Buzz Points operates. Buzz Points is a free service that allows financial institution customers to earn rewards while supporting the local economy by using their debit and/or credit cards for everyday shopping.
“Buzz Points users are savvy consumers who seek to support the local economy and discover local merchants and businesses, no matter where they are in the United States,” said Jay Valanju, CEO of Buzz Points. “In an increasingly mobile world, the Buzz Points app makes the process of discovering and buying local more accessible and intuitive than traditional web-only portals by placing the power to explore, purchase, manage and redeem right in our users’ pockets. We are thrilled to provide the financial institutions we serve with this sophisticated, user-friendly technology that enhances their customers’ banking experience and makes it easier and even more rewarding to shop locally.”
The Buzz Points mobile app is available to individuals nationwide who are enrolled in Buzz Points through their financial institution. To date, Buzz Points is available in 32 markets and 24 states with a continually expanding network of thousands of local merchants. Among its innovative features, the app utilizes geo-targeting to identify and recommend local merchants enrolled in the Buzz Points program, which permits users to earn and use points not only in their own local market, but throughout the country as they travel.
Additional features include:
• Discovery Feed – Featuring a split screen with map and list view, the Discovery Feed is the main source for the user to discover new local businesses, rewards, and special offers near them. By utilizing both a user’s shared preferences and shopping history, Buzz Points presents users with hyper-relevant updates about local businesses. These updates intuitively guide users to interact with the businesses around them or dive deeper into features of the application based on a unique relevancy algorithm that targets the user’s current geo-location.
• Exclusive Offer Directory – This directory features the same type of split screen map / list view as the local business directory to help the user find exclusive offers near them enabling them to save money while earning points. Once the user finds an offer they are interested in, they can save it in a secure wallet for quick access when users are ready to redeem them for discounts or goods and services at their favorite local businesses.
• Rewards Directory – Users in the Buzz Points mobile app can trade in their points for real cash value at all participating local businesses, and select national vendors or they can donate their points to local charities. Rewards can either be saved to Apple Passbook, or easily accessed in-app through the Buzz Points secure wallet.
• eLoyalty Cards – Every time Buzz Points users swipe their enrolled debit or credit card at participating local businesses, users receive an eLoyalty “punch.” Similar to a conventional loyalty punch card, these transactions count toward a reward for repeat visits. Using the application, users can easily access the status of each eLoyalty card. As soon as users complete their last “punch,” they can redeem the associated reward at the issuing business, all with the ease of a paperless transaction.
Participants enrolled in the free Buzz Points program earn points automatically through debit card purchases that can be redeemed easily for gift cards, cash cards and donations to local non-profits. A continually expanding directory within the app of 40,000+ local businesses nationwide allows cardholders to shop locally, accrue points and redeem rewards wherever they are.
For a detailed look at the Buzz Points mobile app, please visit https://buzzpoints.com/info/mobile_walkthrough/.
About Buzz Points, Inc.
Buzz Points, Inc. is the creator of the Buzz Points loyalty product suite, which connects consumers, local merchants and community financial institutions through social media engagement, targeted marketing and rewards. The Buzz Points Program enables credit unions and community banks to generate greater non-interest income, increase transactions, reduce account attrition, drive new loans and attract new customers. The Buzz Points Merchant Program provides additional revenue to financial institutions, increases existing consumer loyalty and supports local businesses by increasing their market reach and attracting new customers. For more information, visit www.buzzpoints.com.