The availability of all forms of payment provides you the valuable edge needed to remain competitive in your industry. It is important to realize the immense revenues credit card transactions could generate for your business and the lost of income in its absence. The wealth of opportunity to increase sales comes with the escalating usage of credits cards by consumers who prefer its ease of use, added security than cash, and flexibility in spending ability. Furthermore, credit card acceptance projects an image of credibility for the business as a more established entity.
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Specialty Credit Cards
These are forms of credit cards that have been developed as spin offs of the traditional. Companies and other entities recognize the immense branding as well as profit opportunities concomitant with maintaining customized credit card programs.
1. Co-Branded Cards
Co-Branded Cards are programs created from joint partnerships between companies and banks with the VISA or MasterCard logo inscribed on the cards. The companies' logos are displayed as well on the cards. In addition, the companies assume risk of loss and make credit decisions. Through these programs, companies are able to extend their brands, generate new revenues, encourage loyalties, and build credibility as established institutions.
2. Affinity Cards
Affinity Cards are programs utilized mostly by Clubs or Associations in partnership with banks. The cards contain the VISA or MasterCard logo on them. Although these cards are similar to the Co-Branded Cards, the banks retain most of the revenues and the credit decisions. These programs allow the organizations or other related groups to offer their members with great rates as well as earn revenues for their entities.
3. Private Label Cards
Private Label Cards are programs created by retail establishments to build their brands, encourage loyalties, and increase their sales. The cards have the retailers' logos on them and are accepted only at the issuing establishments.
Debit Cards
The sudden surge in the use of debit cards provides merchants with an additional means to increase their revenues. Debit card is rapidly gaining a major toehold in the e-payment arena in the U.S. Consumers find it more convenient than checks. It does not have the identification hassles of check cashing, resulting to a faster checkout at the POS. In addition, they find it safer than cash, with a cash back option, and without the finance charges associated with credit cards. Consumers simply love them!
There are two (2) types of Debit Cards namely:
1. ATM or Online Debit Card
ATM or Online Debit Cards involve the submission of Personal Identification Numbers, commonly referred to as PINs. Customers swipe their cards through magnetic card readers and enter their PINs on PIN Pads. The transactions are processed on real time. Funds are transferred from the customers' accounts into the merchants' accounts in a few days, less the discount rates and transaction fees assessed to the business establishments.
2. ATM OR Check Card or Offline Debit Card
These are enhanced ATM cards that carry the VISA or MasterCard Logo. The cards have the combined power of a traditional ATM card and a Credit Card. Large credit card companies like VISA with its Check Card and MasterCard with its MasterMoney Card, issue them through the participating banks.
Customers sign drafts during physical purchases. On the other hand, during web purchases, they enter the check card information on the forms provided. The data are encrypted and transferred through secure gateways for authorizations. The issuing banks debit the transactions from the customers' accounts instead of posting them against credit lines. Merchants are assessed with discount rates and transaction fees, similar to credit card processing.
Other Cards
The proliferation of other card types arises from the demands of consumers to fill needs brought about primarily by their desires for simplification and convenience. Unlike standard credit cards or debit cards, most of these cards are used to meet specific goals.
1. Purchasing Cards
Purchasing Cards are a special type of charge card, primarily designed to meet the needs of Business-to-Business (B2B) or Business-to-Government (B2G), commonly referred to as GSA-Smart Pay Purchase Cards, transactions. These cards are used to pay for the acquisition of goods and services between entities. They are issued to designated employees, mostly officers, to allow them to place orders and make direct payments to the merchants. Suppliers no longer wait for 30 to 90 days or even more to receive payment. Funds are transferred to their checking accounts within a few days after submission of transactions by the card-issuing banks. The Purchasers thereafter, settle with their banks the aggregate amount of purchases made in a billing period.
Card Choice International supports all levels of information reporting, particularly Level-3 Line-item Detail. This type of information feedback is like a detailed invoice which helps in streamlining accounting by merging data with the electronic procurement system.
2. Fleet Cards
Fleet cards are used to pay for fuel as well as vehicle maintenance and repair. Major gas companies honor the cards used primarily by shipping companies. The cards are branded as either VISA or MasterCard.
3. Business Cards
Business Cards are charge cards issued to employees to pay for travel and entertainment expenses. The cards are the equivalent of the T & E cards issued by American Express.
4. Smart Cards
Smart Cards are next-generation microchip-embedded cards which can perform calculation and/or store data. The government and businesses across the nation are moving towards using the available technology to launch initiatives that would increase efficiency, security, and adaptability in usage and purpose. The cards are used primarily to store financial as well as security information, and commonly utilized in prepaid transactions.
Monetary values can be stored in the cards. Purchases are automatically deducted from the consumers' balances and credited to the merchants. The advent of this technology represents a unique opportunity for merchants to enhance their product and service offerings.
5. Stored Value/Gift/Loyalty Cards
Stored Value/Gift/Loyalty Cards are programs created to primarily increase sales, enhance brand identity, and encourage continued patronage. The importance of these cards is immeasurable in improving profitability.
Gift Cards are like portable and miniature billboards. They are excellent Advertising/Promotional and Public Relations tools that encourage increased purchases to meet the stored value amount of the cards. Consumers tend to spend more money to justify the cards' amount. Furthermore, gift cards are more practical than their predecessors, the paper gift certificates, in terms of cost efficiency and system tracking implementation.
Loyalty Cards are programs that constantly reinforce their usage values to the consumers, thereby eliciting increased sales. These card programs are great for market research tracking endeavors. Usage Frequency and Dollar Value Purchases are some of the measurement indicators. Loyalty Cards can assume dual functionality, to record reward points and as stored value gift cards. Our system can accommodate up to six (6) levels of reward. Every redemption is automatically recorded and adjusted.
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