The value of merchant-funded rewards

Consumers love loyalty programs. In fact, 80 percent of consumer spending today occurs on rewards cards. In a market dominated by industry titans such as Capital One, Citi and American Express, how can a credit union grow a thriving card-based rewards program, engaging members in meaningful ways without breaking the bank?

“Merchant-funded rewards help credit unions very effectively promote card usage by delivering the kind of consumer experience their members have come to expect from loyalty programs,” said Jennifer Kerry, Vice President, Credit Card Services, for CO-OP Financial Services. “And these programs yield a great return on investment because they are funded by the merchants that participate.”

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