Finovate alum Credit Karma recently started providing a private-label version of its credit reporting service to Sears cardholders (see note 1). The service includes free credit scores and other data to help put those scores in an understandable context (see FinovateStartup 2009 video here).

The new service, launched Sep. 2009, is delivered through a dedicated site, searscreditscore.com. Since Sears cardholders must make a purchase each year to use the site, it provides an ongoing usage incentive.

The Credit Karma-powered service is clearly branded as a Sears and Kmart offering (note 2, screenshot #1). Interestingly, Sears also takes the opportunity to offer targeted advertising space to financial companies (screenshot #3). It also markets the credit-analysis service on its own credit card site (screenshot #2).

While Credit Karma traditionally derived revenue from advertising on its site, this move into the private-label channel provides additional growth opportunities. The Sears private-label site had nearly 140,000 unique visitors in February, about one-third the total at Credit Karma (see table below). It's a good deal for Sears, too: Offering credit-score analysis differentiates it from other retail card providers and conveys concern about its customers' financial well-being.

Website traffic at searscreditscore.com vs. creditkarma.com   
Source: Compete.com, March 2010 (link)

1. The Sears credit score site, powered by Credit Karma

2. Sears promotes the credit score service on its website

3. Sample page from Searscreditscore.com
Note ads for Citi and ING Direct

Notes:
1. Sears cards are issued by Citibank, one of the advertisers in the private-label site.
2. Kmart acquired Sears in 2004.

Recently, my college-aged son signed up for his first credit card. He chose Capital One not because of their long history as a card issuer or their flashy TV ads, or even their state-of-the-art website. No, he went with Cap One for the same reason as that of tens of millions before him: a simple, preapproved direct-mail offer at just the right time.

It's enlightening to see the process through the eyes of a credit newcomer. Even though he understands credit cards intellectually and has used debit/prepaid cards for years, a number of things were still less than obvious to him as he went about activating the card over the phone, using it for the first time, signing up for online banking, and paying his first monthly bill. For example:

• The initial card-activation process was a mystery to him. He did not expect to have to call the bank when the card arrived. And the conversation he had with the CSR was confusing. I heard only his side of the call, but evidently Capital One pitched both credit insurance and ID protection services. He successfully said no to ID protection, but to his surprise, the first bill had a 1% fee tacked on for credit insurance, which he absolutely does not want (it's only a $300 credit line).
• He's very concerned he'll miss the payment due date, which seems so far into the future, given the lag in posting, combined with the grace period. The payment on his first charge was more than six weeks later. To him, it almost seemed to too good to be true, and also made it harder to remember.
• He doesn't have experience writing checks nor does he even have stamps around the dorm room; so even the simple act of paying the bill each month is not as easy as it seems. I helped him set up his checking account for ACH payments (see #7 and #7a below), but I'm not sure that would have been obvious to him had I not been looking over his shoulder.
• I also helped him set up mobile and email alerts to remind him to pay, but again, without his father pitching in, I'm not sure he would have known to do that. He hasn't set up alerts on his checking account because he didn't know they existed.

My take: For the most part, things have gone smoothly, and Capital One has done a good job bringing him on board (see below). But it made a mistake with him, one that could ultimately cost the card issuer my son's long-term loyalty, the apparent "misunderstanding" about his agreeing to add credit insurance to the account. 

And it only netted the bank $0.93.

I was surprised how upset my son was at the credit insurance fee tacked onto his bill. Even though it was less than a buck, he was determined to reach someone at the bank right away to get it removed and stopped. He felt that the bank used his naivete against him. He felt betrayed and preyed upon. That's not a good way to start a relationship.

Capital One Online Banking/Card Sign-up Process
I took the opportunity to document Capital One's online banking sign-up process. It was clean and intuitive and took just a few minutes.

Step 1: Terms and conditions (13 Feb. 2010)
Note: The first page, shown below, was reached through a link in an onboarding email message encouraging signup for online banking.

Step 2: Authentication

Step #3: Select username and password
Note: Email address was prefilled from the info from original online app

Step #4: Choose security questions

Step #5: Encouragement to sign up for estatements
Note: Default set to Yes; also, there was no incentive to go paperless,
even $1 might have swayed him

Note: You must call customer service to switch from paperless to paper statement, again a disincentive to choosing paperless

#6 Confirmation (with a dash of humor)

#7 Set up payment account

#7a Confirmation

Stories from our Finovate blog cover some of the most innovative financial companies in the world. More alumni news is available on our Finovate Twitter feed.

BancVue Acquires Financial Literacy Company Skill-Life

In its first corporate acquisition, BancVue purchased fellow Finovate alum Skill-Life, a company that produces interactive games that promote financial literacy. The purchase price was not disclosed. BancVue expects to make more acquisitions and strategic partnerships in the future.

Skill-Life produces customizable game platforms where children can earn real-world rewards as incentives in games that teach financial skills. Skill-Life licenses its platforms to financial institutions, enabling them to add their own branding to the game environment (full post here).

Billeo Adds Bing to Offer Assistant

Billeo has added Microsoft Bing to the list of search engines supporting its Offer Assistant product. Partnering with Bing gives Billeo the top-three players in the Internet search market (it already works with Yahoo! and Google), representing about 97% of U.S. searches.

Offer Assistant helps consumers take advantage of incentives and rewards from credit or debit cards while using search engines to shop online. Billeo's partnership with Microsoft adds Bing's cash-back rewards program to the service (full post here).

Credit Karma Launches New Dashboard Tool

Consumer credit information provider Credit Karma has launched a new feature that provides targeted offers to visitors at its site. The feature, called the Ways to Save Dashboard, draws on information provided by visitors to anonymously shop for and present financial products offers.

With its new Dashboard feature, the Credit Karma site automates the complex process of researching new loans, credit cards, saving accounts, and other financial products (full post  here).

We just launched a new blog focused on important developments at nearly 100 of the most innovative financial companies on the planet: those chosen to demo at our Finovate conference series. We'll have capsule summaries each week on Netbanker, but for the full post we encourage you to subscribe to the Finovate email list or RSS feed here.

We'll also be keeping you posted on even more Finovate alumni news via our Twitter feed here.

Outright.com Launches New 1099 Tax Filing Service

Free online bookkeeping site Outright.com has added its first fee-based service, shedding light on its business model for the first time. The company's new service helps small business owners manage 1099 tax forms for contractors, charging $5 per. Outright intends to introduce more fee-based services in the future while keeping the core service free.

Along with the launch of its 1099 service, Outright also launched a new tax information website, Right Taxes Now. The new site provides tax advice and offers opportunities to sign petitions regarding small-business tax relief legislation.

Read more about Outright.com and its new offerings here.

BillShrink Expands into Small Business Market with Launch of Credit Card Advisor

BillShrink, which provides money-savings advice on a variety of consumer products, has expanded its offerings to include help for business owners.

The company's new BillShrink for Business service helps businesses find better credit card deals. The company also has online tools in the works for comparing business wireless phone services and savings accounts.

Read more about BillShrink's new business services here.

BrightScope Launches 401(k) Data Tool

On January 19, BrightScope launched a new online tool, the Personal 401(k) Fee Report. The new tool expands on BrightScope's previous 401(k) data offerings by comparing the costs and retirement results of selected plans against alternatives such as IRAs, making the data more useful to financial advisors.

The report also provides detailed information on each 401(k) plan, such as a breakdown of the fees and a list of the associated funds. Read more about BrightScope's new 401(k) product here.

Would you like your bank statement to be more interactive? Cardlytics is betting you would. The company's patent-pending technology allows merchants to present their customers with rewards and incentives for shopping with existing bankcards, without needing extra coupons or promotional codes.

But the clever part is that the incentives are placed directly in the customer's online bank statement. The consumer can activate an offer by clicking on it and then using their card at the merchant. No coupons necessary.

Here's how it works:

(1) Bank clients log into online banking. The bank statement includes special offers based on the client's previous spending. As shown below, offers are presented next to the transaction record:

(2) To get more information, users click the expand link.

(3) After seeing the full offer, users can choose to accept it or get more information. Accepting the offer activates the promotional deal.

(4) Once the promotion has been activated, the cardholder simply uses the associated debit or credit card at the merchant. The reward dollars are then automatically credited to the account. Nothing needs to be printed or carried to the store.

(5) Qualifying transactions are instantly confirmed in the consumers' online banking statement.

Analysis:The Cardlytics system is a useful tool for banks seeking to develop incentive programs. According to Cardlytics CEO Scott Grimes, consumers in the current economy are no longer buying into the "pay for it later" mentality fostered by credit cards, making this the perfect time for banks to provide debit card incentives. Merchants fund the rewards in exchange for the highly targeted advertising.

The appeal for the merchants is obvious. They are able to make highly targeted offers directly to customers of their competitors. In the example above, McDonald's places its famous Golden Arches in front of a Burger King customer. That's a definite score.

As a result, more than 50 national retailers have signed up for the platform.

One cautionary note: Will Burger King customers feel they've been sold off to McDonalds by their banks? It's a real concern. Customer education will be important so that consumers understand that no personally identifiable information is being released to advertisers.

The ultimate test for Cardlytics will come from the consumer. Will the Cardlytics program increase bankcard use? It might if the deals are attractive enough to change behavior. So far, the company reports positive results, with an average response rate of 15% and some going as high as 40%.

I'll be watching my bank statement.

Personalized card designs have been offered by Capital One and others for years. But I've yet to see the idea turned into a contest. Discover Card is running a promotion for the best design submitted through its microsite or Facebook page.

The winner will pocket $1000 and the design will be featured on the next Discover Card Student Card. There is also another $1000 split among five runner-up designs.

To enter the contest, users must log in at the Discover microsite using Facebook connect (see screenshot #2, below). After creating the design, users end up on a Facebook page where they can provide optional personal information (screenshot #3). 

The promotion is powered by the Graffiti Facebook app.

As you can see by my handiwork (inset), most card designs are pretty crude. But there are also some pretty creative entrants. There is only one design tool available, a brush you run with your mouse. The only variations are color, brushstroke width and opacity. No uploads are allowed, so you cannot add any fancy graphics created in other apps.

The contest ends tomorrow and so far there are nearly 5,000 entries. 

Bottom line: It's a drop-dead simple contest with excellent Facebook integration and a link to apply for Discover's Student Card. It's a great idea, with good execution, and the card issuer will end up with a cool new card design for a relatively small cost. Grade A+ 

Thanks to Payments News for the link.

1. Discover Card microsite (31 Dec. 2009)
Note: Homepage showing the 10-most recent entries with our lame effort in the lower-right.

2. Discover Card design creation page

3. Facebook optional personal info page

4. Designs appear on the Discover Facebook page under the Graffiti tab (link)
Note: Considering the crude input tool, some of the designs are amazing. As you can see, I will not be in the running for prize money. 

My son is almost half way through his second year of college, so we figured it was time he had a credit card. He's proved incredibly responsible with money, even avoiding dreaded debit card overdrafts so far. It's a good time for him to start building his credit history. And because he flies cross-country to school, I feel better knowing he has an emergency line of credit in his wallet.

Unfortunately, his student checking account provider, Chevy Chase Bank, hadn't offered him a preapproved MasterCard/Visa, so I've been watching his mail at home. It will come as no surprise that preapproved mailers to college underclassmen have been scarce. This summer he was courted by Discover Card and a higher-fee MasterCard (or Visa?).  But I was hoping for a preapproved fee-free MasterCard/Visa for maximum utility. 

This fall, Capital One (note 1) began to send my son MasterCard offers via snail mail. Right before Thanksgiving, the fourth or fifth piece in the series landed in our mailbox. He looked at it over the holidays and applied online for the card on Sunday. The fee-free card is no bargain for revolvers at 22.9%, but that's to be expected in this economic and regulatory environment.

The mailer offered the option of applying by telephone, mail or online. But the latter was clearly encouraged with a red badge, a 60-second response time, and a personalized URL with my son's name (e.g., John.Smith.getmycard.com).

Online application: The application process was a breeze. It was straightforward and fast and took less than five minutes, start to finish. The utilitarian online application design (screenshot 2) was easy to navigate and included ample embedded help, but no 800 number or online chat. The only unusual feature was the ability for users to select from about 16 different card designs. 

Because he was applying from a direct mail piece that included full Reg. Z disclosures, they were not repeated in the online app.

In total, it took about 4.5 minutes to complete the app process, and approval was granted in less than 10 seconds. My only complaint, a 22-digit offer and access code combination. Here's the exact timing:

• 30 seconds -- Type personalized URL and load website
• 30 seconds -- Type 16 digit reservation number and 6-digit access code
• 3 mins and 30 secs -- Complete application form
• 10 seconds -- Wait for credit decision

Onboarding: The initial onboarding process was almost nonexistent. Cap One didn't even send a congratulatory email on what is a major milestone of someone's banking life: their first credit card. All he received was the tiny "Congratulations! You're approved" screen at the end of the online approval process (see screenshot 3 below) along with instructions that his card would arrive in 7 to 10 business days. And there's no way to access the account until the card arrives.  

Grade: Capital One gets an A for account-acquisition marketing and online app mechanics, but earns a B- for first impression, and an incomplete for onboarding so far.

1. Capital One personalized application screen (29 Nov 2009, 8 PM Pacific)
Note: To begin the process, the applicant enters a 16-digit reservation number and 6-digit code found on the snail-mail piece.

2. Online application

3. Congratulations screen

Note:
1. I didn't realize until today that Chevy Chase is now owned by Capital One, which could be why my son has been receiving Capital One credit card offers. However, there has never been any mention of Chevy Chase or his checking account in the mailers. And one of the application questions was: "Do you have a checking account?"
2. For more info on how to create a winning online application, see our Online Banking Report: Online Account Opening published in June 2009.  

Frankly, I haven't got my head completely around the latest acquisition in the alt-payments space (and I'm not the only one). I know that it makes my analyst life more interesting, but not sure what it means to the competitive landscape. Scott Loftesness over at Glenbrook Partners has the best analysis I've seen (also read the comments).

I'll break it down here. Revolution Money has two products:

1. RevolutionCard: Alt-payment card for use at the point of sale, both online and in-store.(see inset below from SeattleLuxe.com where RevolutionCard logo is right below Visa; full screenshot below). Unique PIN-based card with no account number or name (see below).

2. Revolution MoneyExchange: A person-to-person payment service.

Neither product appears to be very large. In the Q&A of the announcement webcast (press release), Revolution Money chairman Ted Leonsis said the company had signed 8,000 customers per day during a 90-day marketing test about a year ago. In total, it registered about 400,000 consumers (note 1). They also said they'd built merchant acceptance to about 1 million locations.  

The company declined to disclose the number of cardholders, but mentioned that each of its dozen marketing partnerships had brought in two or three thousand good cardholders. Leonsis said that given the current credit environment, they elected not to expand the cardholder portfolio, instead "doubling down" on platform features, such as ATM acceptance (note 2). 

But according to traffic figures from Compete, few Revolution Money customers were actively using its services. The P2P service, MoneyExchange, was the most-visited of the company's three sites with about 20,000 unique visitors last month, but that was down from 70,000 a year ago (during the marketing test). On the other hand, the Revolution Card volume was similar, just under 20,000, but up more than 50% year-over-year (see chart from Compete below).

 Compete: 18 Nov 2009, link

American Express opportunities
On the call (replay here through next week), American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault outlined seven opportunities it would pursue when the transaction closes early next year. Notably absent, person-to-person payments:

1. Reloadable prepaid products for new segments

2. Compete with other alternative payment companies (aka PayPal)

3. Payment products in social media services

4. Mobile payment offerings

5. International markets

6. Offer through banks that issue American Express cards

7. Pin-based debit offerings

During Q&A, Chenault emphasized how the acquisition was all about getting the Revolution Money platform/engine to allow AmEx to do things faster and for a lower cost. There was little talk of RM's brand, customers, or merchant base. The biggest discussion, during Q&A, was about reloadable prepaid cards.

My take: American Express purchased a platform they hope will allow it to get various new features/products to market faster and at lower costs to help head off total online-POS domination by PayPal. In addition, it acquired a proven team and management duo, and kept the whole works out of the hands of potential competitors such as Discover Card, Barclays, and others. While no one on the outside can understand the assumptions in the make vs. buy analysis, given its track record, American Express should be able profit from this $300 million IT investment. 

Online cards are sprouting new payment options
SeattleLuxe offers ten choices plus a link to pay by check (18 Nov 2009)

Notes:
1. This is a registered user count, not necessarily a user of the service. Many of the new customers came for the $25 signup bonus or just to kick the tires. There was no cost or obligation to register.
2. On the call, Revolution Money said that 80% of ATMs accept their card.

John Cook, a Seattle tech blogger at TechFlash, was apparently the first customer to use the new Starbucks Mobile Card iPhone app to purchase coffee at the Seattle Columbia Center Starbucks. The video was posted at 3 PM yesterday. For more info on the app, see yesterday's post.

He had a little trouble getting the point-of-sale scanner to read his iPhone-app-generated barcode, but after an extra few seconds (25 seconds actually) of wiggling the phone, the transaction worked (the transaction begins at about the 1:19 mark). Hopefully, with a little practice, users will know where to place their phones in front of the scanner for easy reading. He also demonstrates a card reload after the purchase (at 3:05 mark).

Notes:
1. The myStarbucks app has moved up to number 6 in the iTunes app store, while the mobile card is at number 29 (as of 4:30 PM Pacific).
2. The mobile payments capability is live at all 16 test locations as of yesterday.

This is a huge day, and one that I hadn't expected for at least another couple years. The convergence of mobile payments and caffeine. What more could a mobile banking geek and coffee connoisseur want? 

Starbucks pioneered stored-value cards and launched its first card in 2001. Today, it became the first company (note 1) to create an iPhone app exclusively for a payments card. Apparently, Finovate alum mFoundry helped build the app (cnet story, thanks Brandon).

Users were offered $5 extra credit on their first Starbucks card reload of $25 or more made from the new app. Registered cardholders received an email notification earlier today urging them to "turn your iPhone into a Starbucks card." (see screenshot below).

Note, the Starbucks Card Mobile app (app store link) is in addition to the regular myStarbucks app which has a store locator, coffee/drink info and a favorites-sharing function (app store link). That app also launched today (notes 2, 3). 

The app is gorgeous and shows how important design can be in creating a trustworthy and easy-to-use payment product (note 4). For example:

Home screen (left screenshot):

• The card balance is immediately and prominently displayed

Reload screen (middle screenshot)

• Uses big, easy-to-read buttons--remember, this is a small screen, with a giant green, full-width Continue button  
• Current balance repeats at the top

Mobile payment screen (right screenshot)

• The bar code for mobile point-of-sale payments (test only, see below) is rendered over a background image of the card, complete with card number, a nice touch to reassure users and Starbucks baristas that this is the real thing.

Analysis
Of course, the mobile commerce and banking community will be abuzz about the mobile payments test. At 16 Starbucks locations (8 in Seattle and 8 in Silicon Valley), iPhone users will be able to pay at the counter using a barcode generated on screen (right screenshot). Luckily, several Starbucks are within a couple miles of my home so I'll be able to report back with results as soon as the test locations are live.

But I think the stored value card management functions are more interesting for the present. Just think if you had an application that looked like this for your debit or credit card. Think of the brand-value uptick, PR notice, and word-of-mouth buzz. 

Starbucks Card Mobile screenshots (23 Sep 2009)

Email announcing the new mobile card app (sent to a registered Starbucks cardholder in the mobile payments test market, 23 Sep 2009, 12:43 PM Pacific)

Notes:
1. Starbucks is the first company in the U.S. to have a dedicated app for a payments card. Although unaware of any elsewhere in the world, I would expect that card apps exist, at least in Asian markets.
2. The main Starbucks app is currently the 33rd most popular free app in the store and number 1 in Lifestyle; Starbucks Card Mobile is number 46 overall and 3 in Lifestyle (6 PM Pacific).
Update (9 PM Pacific): myStarbucks has moved to number 19 and Starbucks Card Mobile to 38.
3. The Starbucks apps are huge, 6.3 MB for the regular and 3.7 MB for the card, so makes sure you have good reception or are connected via WiFi.
4. However, I have been unable to log in to my actual Starbucks account as of 7 PM Pacific, owing perhaps to overloaded servers.
5. For more info on financial institution opportunities, see our Online Banking Report: Mobile Banking via iPhone.

Evidently, there is still a disconnect between the print and online advertising groups at major advertisers.

Case in point: American Express kicked off a new campaign (press release) with an impressive full-page ad (p. A9) in Tuesday's WSJ (see inset) and other print media (note 1). It was a timely ad, playing on money fears and overall security concerns. It concluded with the company's new tagline:

Don't Take Chances. Take Charge.

The call-to-action uses a new URL <takecharge.com> that leads to a new microsite (see second screenshot below). Wanting to look at it, I did what I always do, typed "take charge" into Google. Nothing (see first screenshot). I even Binged it. Again, nothing. Searches at Twitter and Facebook also came up empty. Even at American Express's own website, site-search results do not include the microsite (note 2).

It's hard to understand why AmEx would spend millions on a new campaign and microsite without Google AdWords support to help people find it, at least until the microsite starts appearing on the first page of search results (note 3).

But after looking at the Take Charge microsite, I can see why the company might not be ready to direct search traffic there. The site is a good example of what NOT to do. The Flash-based site is slow-loading (note 4) and sparsely filled with ten testimonial videos (notes 5, 6), a list of seven benefits for using a charge card, and a couple links out to the main AmEx site.

So far, the microsite looks like a pure branding play. There's little there that would motivate someone to apply for a card on the spot. But with millions being spent on other media using that URL, it seems like a wasted opportunity, so far. It will be interesting to watch it evolve.

Google search results for "take charge" (9:30 AM Pacific, 1 Sep 2009 from Seattle IP address)

AmEx Take Charge microsite (1 Sep 2009)

Notes:
1. Here's the initial media buy according to the company's press release:

The marketing campaign launches (Sep. 1) with print advertisements in national newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA Today. On September 2, print advertisements will run in major regional newspapers, including Boston Globe, New York Post, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and the Chicago Tribune. Television advertising will begin to air on major broadcast and cable stations such as CBS, FOX, NBC, TNT, A&E and the Discovery Channel breaking during the U.S. Open on September 5.

2. The search results do provide relevant links, just not to the microsite.
3. I haven't tested it on other computers, but AmEx's TakeCharge.com site just about brings my 3-year-old Thinkpad to a grinding halt. It's not a good first impression. The company either needs more server bandwidth or a less demanding page, or preferably both. There should also be a link to a lower-bandwidth version.
4. Currently, the AmEx site does not come up within the first 10 pages. There's also a remote possibility that Google won't let AmEx use "take charge" in search ads due to the similar-sounding TakeCharge Financial. But I have to think AmEx lawyers have worked through that issue already. 
5. There are small "apply now" links displayed at the end of each video.
6. Once it loads, the site is visually interesting (see screenshot above).

Sometimes, banks forget the importance of simplicity, especially when it comes to less-than-crucial, ancillary services such as a prepaid teen account. Sure, I'd love to have a reloadable card that my son could stow in his backpack for emergencies. But I'm not going to spend a half-hour looking for one, applying for a new account, and then trying remember where and how to access it (see note 1).

But if the process was painless and integrated with my online banking, I'd buy a half-dozen prepaid cards, one for each child, one to toss in the glove box of each car, and another for my briefcase (note 2). 

It looks like PayPal is the first to step up to this challenge with its new student account (company blog post) which has been in beta testing since last November (beta site; note 3). The account is free of charge (note 4), and signup takes just 51 seconds.

Signup & funding
Current PayPal customers can sign up their kids for an account in under a minute. That includes clicking on the <paypal.com/StudentAccounts> URL, completing the six-field app (see first screenshot), all the way to the approval screen confirmation (screenshot #2). And, half that time was simply logging in to my PayPal account. If I'd already been logged in, the total time to complete the application, process it, and receive approval would be just 23 seconds! That's the fastest financial services application I've ever completed by a factor of 10 (note 5).

The account, which shows up as a link at the top of the parent's PayPal account (screenshot #3) includes parental controls for all transaction types and comes with both an online account and a PayPal prepaid MasterCard debit card. Both will come in handy for today's teens, who cannot easily shop online without credit or debit cards of their own.

Transferring funds to the account takes mere seconds, and parents can choose from one-time loads or periodic transfers so the card can be used to accumulate an allowance (screenshot #4). Transfers show up in real time, with green color-coding, after hitting enter (screenshot #5).

Overall grade: I give it an A+ for ease of use and an A+ for value, a winning combination. Nice work. 

1. PayPal teen card application for current PayPal customers (12 Aug 2009)

2. Congratulations screen

3. Student account, and prepaid balance, shows up on the parent's main account overview page 

4. Funds transfer screen 

5. The funds transfer is immediately displayed within the student account area

Notes:
1. The final item is why the Visa Buxx card never worked for me. I bought one but could never remember how to access it or add more money.
2. Verient is doing some very cool things to help in this regard; we'll profile them here soon.
3. Hat tip to Payments News for the link.
4. ING Direct's system for creating a new savings sub-account is similar speedwise, but it's not technically a new account. 
5. The only major fees, besides PayPal merchant fees, are the $1 ATM withdrawal fee and a 2.5% foreign currency fee.
6. For more info on online account opening, refer to the latest issue of Online Banking Report: Improving Online Account Opening ROI.

Having just gone through the exercise of calling four banks to tell them I may be using their card outside the country
(see note 1), I'm convinced it's high time for banks and card issuers to upgrade their online services for travelers. It would not only be convenient for customers, but also develop into a sizable profit center for banks. 

Newspapers have supported automated vacation stops/holds for many years primarily to reduce customer service costs. But credit and debit-card issuers have a much stronger business case. For example:

• Fewer fraud losses
• Lower customer service expenses
• More interchange, exchange fees, and interest income from authorizing more transactions
• Cross-sales of travel-related services
• Advertising/sponsor revenues
• Potential subscription or per-trip fees

Here's the features I'd like today:

1. Web-based form to input travel itinerary
2. Ability to update the itinerary when changes occur
3. Ability to establish withdrawal limits while traveling
4. Ability to order foreign currency
5. Ability to switch my email alerts to text-message alerts while traveling (see Alaska Airlines screenshot below)
6. Ability to purchase trip insurance
7. Ability to order prepaid travel card(s)
8. Ability to see exchange rates and have them automatically forwarded to me on a periodic basis while abroad
9. Info on using my debit/credit card abroad, including fees, what to do if it's lost or stolen, calling customer service, cash advances from international banks, and so on
10. ATM/bank maps at my destination
11. A few disposable card numbers I could use if purchasing online while out of town
12. And finally, something I wouldn't have thought of until this past trip, a guarantee that the bank won't cancel and reissue my card while I'm traveling (see Wells Fargo, note 1).

And a few more items for the future file:

1. Automatically track my whereabouts via GPS
2. Ability to forward travel confirmations (e.g., Tripit.com) so I wouldn't be bothered to input my itinerary
3. ATM/bank location on my mobile
4. Automatic coverage of any bills that come due during the travel period

Pricing
Depending on the package, a one-time travel fee of $5 to $20 would make sense. Or, using the telecom model where every value-added service is sold on a subscription basis, a $4.95/month "frequent traveler" upcharge would be palatable.

Alaska Airlines message service (14 July 2009)
Allows user to choose different messaging options depending on whether they are home or on the road 

Notes:
1. And despite my advance call, Wells Fargo canceled my credit card mid-trip, without telling me (there was a letter waiting when I got home), despite the fact the fraud the bank was concerned about happened more than two months prior (see previous post). 
2. Image courtesy of http://etc.usf.edu/clipart.

Chase has great graphic design panache (see previous post here and here). As I was logging in to my account last week to see what the bank had done with a pesky $2 balance remaining from my payoff a month ago (see note 1), I was presented with an eye-catching offer to transfer a balance (see first screenshot below). 

The balance-transfer options weren't quite as enticing as they've been in the past:

• 0.99% for six months plus 3% balance-transfer fee
• 5.99% for a year plus 3% balance-transfer fee

This time last year, the 5.99% offer would have likely been for the life of the balance. However, under new regulations approved by Congress, where monthly payments must be allocated to the highest rates first, it no longer makes financial sense to offer a low rate for the life of the balance.

Note: Chase provided real-time chat support as I considered their balance-transfer offer (see second screenshot below).

Chase Bank's login interstitial (16 June 2009)

Chase offered online chat via a popup window

Notes:
1. Kudos to the bank for automatically eliminating the $2 in extra interest accrued between the day I paid my balance in full online (at the Chase site) and when the payment posted. When I logged in I was afraid I might see a $39 late fee on the $2 remnant balance. 

2. For more info on post-login marketing, see our recent Online Banking Report on Selling Behind the Login.

For many years PayPal has deposited users on its shopping portal when they log out of their PayPal account. This afternoon I saw something different at logout for the first time in recent memory, a pitch for the PayPal Plus MasterCard (screenshot below).

Although the company has marketed this card to me dozens of times immediately after logging in, it's the first time I remember seeing it after logging out. The hook is the card's new personalized photo option.

But a funny thing happened when I clicked on the Get Started button: I was dropped on to PayPal's homepage where an error message explained:

You must log in before you can access this page.

A very odd requirement for an offer made after logging out. I followed the instructions and logged in, but there was no mention of the credit card. I just ended up at the regular account management page.

I guess it was PayPal's turn for a programming glitch (see yesterday's post on Rudder). Luckily, this problem doesn't impact anything but PayPal's online marketing results (see note 1). When I logged out this time, I was shown the usual PayPal shopping portal (see third screenshot). 

PayPal pitched its PayPal Plus MasterCard at logout
(21 May 2009, 3:30 PM Pacific)

 Error message after clicking "Get Started" on offer page
(21 May 2009)

 PayPal logout offer a few minutes later (21 May 2009)

Note:
1. For more info, see our most recent Online Banking Report: Selling Behind the Password

We just posted our latest Online Banking Report.
It will be mailed to subscribers tomorrow. It's also available online here. There's no charge for current subscribers; others may access it immediately
for US$395.

---------------------------------------------------------

Selling Behind the Password
Unlocking the marketing potential within
online banking

48 pages (published 21 April, 2009)

In this report (abstract), we go behind the login screen and report on the marketing and cross-selling practices of 15 financial institutions and card issuers.

Even among large banks, there's a huge disparity in the amount of cross-selling efforts within online banking. Wells Fargo is the most prolific, with nine marketing messages and product placements alone on its main account-management page. The bank also uses login and logoff activities to display promotions (see screenshot below). On the other hand, US Bank has just a single link to an "offers page" buried below the fold. Most FIs fall somewhere in between.

We looked at the opportunities within six different areas:

• Interstitial pages (splash screen) inserted after performing any online activity, especially after the initial login.
• Banner and keyword promotions within the secure online banking area
• Product placement within online banking and bill pay
• Transactional upgrades
• Page displayed after an online banking session has concluded (either through logout or inactivity)
• Product/shopping/discount portals and third-party ads

The following financial companies were analyzed by logging in to actual accounts and documenting their sales and marketing efforts:

• American Express business gold
• Bank of America online banking
• Chase credit card
• Citibank business card
• Citibank online banking
• Discover Card
• Everbank
• First Tech Credit Union
• ING Direct
• Jwaala (demo only)
• Mint
• Netflix (non-financial)
• PayPal
• Revolution Money
• US Bank
• WaMu
• Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo promotion displayed after logging out from online banking
(27 March 2009)

Today's American Banker tells of AmEx's plans to force electronic statements on an undisclosed portion of its corporate cardholder base, said to number more than 7 million accounts worldwide (note 1). This is probably a bit of an exaggeration, as it's more likely that paper statements are being eliminated as a standard account benefit and must be negotiated separately for an additional fee. The company admitted there would be exceptions for those without Internet access or those that still required paper for customer billings.

But it's still a watershed moment. Today, paper statements are a standard feature of most banking and credit card relationships. In a study last year (note 2), Javelin Research found that only 15% of customers had given up paper statements entirely on their primary credit card.

Currently, the burden falls on the financial institutions to beg, trick, incent, or "green" their customers into giving up paper (see inset above from Texans Credit Union). For example, Citibank frequently uses an interstitial (splash screen) after login that encourages estatements (screenshot below). See our previous posts on those efforts.

The tables are about to turn. With severe profit pressure on most big banks and card issuers, most (all?) will soon adopt the American Express approach and offer electronic statements free of charge, with paper available for an extra charge. This is how checking-account pricing has evolved over the past two decades as banks migrated customers to check truncation as the standard, with paper checks returned for an extra fee (note 3).

Interstitial displayed after logging in to Citibank's online banking
(9 April 2009, note 4)

Notes:
1. This decision will impact less than 10% of American Express cardholders, which number 92 million worldwide as of 31 March 2009, up 4% from 88 million cards a year ago.
2. Javelin survey of 2,500 consumer head of households in 2008.
3. For no valid reason any more, checks are still returned on my U.S. Bank "free" small business checking account for a $10 monthly fee.
4. Example from our latest Online Banking Report: Selling Behind the Password.

I've mostly just observed the Twitter phenomenon, following a few people and seeing how banks and credit unions are using it (see my previous post for financial institutions on Twitter). However, I'd not fully embraced Twitter either as a publishing device or research source. The 300 or so RSS feeds, emails and news items that cross my desk each day seemed like plenty of intelligence to sift through.

But now, I'm reconsidering my priorities after learning about an interesting new alt-payment company BillMyParents from Twitter activity (see notes 1, 2).

How it works: BillMyParents is a new service from IdeaEdge's Socialwise (press release). The service is primarily designed for kids to shop online. They select what they want, then at checkout, redirect the bill to their parents via an email alert to PC or mobile phone. Parents login and complete the payment process at their convenience using MasterCard, Visa, Discover Card (no American Express; see third screenshot below). Card info can be stored for one-click future approvals.

The company charges a $0.50 transaction fee for each purchase. But like PayPal, the real money will be made when the company pushes purchase transactions through the ACH system.  

Currently, BillMyParents is selling prepaid gift cards from its site as a proof-of-concept. I tested it yesterday and everything seemed to work as described (see second screenshot below).

The opportunity: The service reminds me of the unmet need that PayPal filled nine years ago. Purchasing at eBay was a major hassle due to the lack of online payment capabilities. Kids have similar problems when trying to buy things online.

The service could also be adapted to other situations where one party does the shopping but wants someone else to authorize payment such as small businesses, nannies, or even spouses. It could also be used for extra security when the shopping is done in a non-secure environment such as public terminal and payment is redirected to a more secure device, such as your mobile phone.

Like any alternative payment, BillMyParents requires the merchant to add the option to its ecommerce platform and consumers to set up accounts. Both of those are time-consuming and face the chicken-and-egg dilemma, i.e., it's hard to attract merchants without a substantial user base while its difficult to add users without merchants.

Bottom line: This is a winning idea. The massive discretionary purchasing power of teens and pre-teens is a tempting target in this difficult retail environment. And financial institutions, or their payment partners (e.g. Visa, MasterCard), looking to differentiate themselves with the youth market, could jumpstart the program. Or more likely, PayPal and/or Amazon will dive in, either acquiring BillMyParents outright, or building their own version(s).  

BillMyParents homepage after setting up an account (26 March 2009)
Note: Split login screen for kids (left) and parents (right)

Proof-of-concept: Gift card purchase (26 March 2009)

Parent's approval screen (26 March 2009)

Notes:
1.  Thanks to Frederic Baud (@fredericbaud) who was the first in my network to Tweet about BillMyParents; and to Glenbrook's Scott Loftesness (@sjl) who's retweet is actually what caught my eye.

2. BillMyParents appears to have grabbed its Twitter page name (@billmyparents), but it's not yet active.

Yesterday, I looked at a list of free services likely to come under pressure as banks work on the Herculean task of returning to normal profitability. One area that's likely to remain free for the foreseeable future is online and mobile banking, at least the core account-access portion of it.

But we continue to believe that financial institutions are missing a revenue opportunity to provide premium fee-based services to certain segments.

If American Express can command $2500 per year for its black Centurion Card and Barclays $495 per year (see note 1) for its slightly more pedestrian Black Card launched in December (see note 2), why can't banks get $10/mo for a similar premium version of online and mobile banking? The short answer: They haven't tried.

Just for the sake of discussion, here's a "gold online banking" service for which I'd pay $15 per month without a moment's hesitation:

• High-end website and iPhone app
• Long-term (7+ years) online storage of images, transactions, statements
• On-demand credit score like Credit Karma 
• Credit bureau alerts when negative items hit
• Account aggregation with weekly summaries like Mint
• Email customer service with 30-minute or less turnaround time
• VIP phone and tech support with no phone tree
• No overdraft/NSF charges (within limits of course)
• Travel rewards/sweepstakes on electronic transactions
• Pre-filled one-click credit application
• Extra security options
• SMS balance inquiry
• Iron-clad, no-fine-print security guarantee with 100% immediate reimbursement and emergency credit line

For more elaboration on these benefits, see our Online Banking Report on Pricing Online Services.

Visa Black Card homepage (15 Feb. 2009)
Includes one-page online application

Note:
1. The benefits of the Visa Black Card are similar to those from many gold/platinum cards. One of the biggest differentiators is free limited membership to Priority Pass which gets cardholders into 500 airport lounges in 250 cities. However, according to the FAQs, Black Card holders are limited to two complimentary visits per year, so this would cost $154 annually if purchased directly from Priority Pass. In fact, for $349 annually, you could get unlimited access to airport lounges. 
2. The Visa Black Card has been advertised with full-page ads in the New York Times, the latest on 10 Feb. 2009 on p. A5 (national edition).

For card issuers, the latest online application activity is is either good news, bad news, or neither since Compete tracks only applications submitted, not approvals. This following chart was presented in its webinar today. You can request the entire deck at the bottom of its blog post.

According to Compete, there were more than 12 million credit card shoppers in the U.S. in December, up 6% from November and down 11% since a year ago. Of the shoppers, about 20%, or 2.4 million submitted an application. That was an 8% increase from Nov., but a 23% decline from a year ago. 

But Compete has no way to measure whether the card applications it tracks are approved. Recent data from Lending Club shows that less than 10% of its online consumer loan applications were approved in Q4. The big credit card issuers probably do a bit better by driving creditworthy borrowers to their sites via direct mail and online advertising.

Assuming approval rates of 20%, the 2.4 million credit apps in December resulted in about a half-million new accounts.  

Source: Compete, 29 Jan. 2009

Firethorn (owned by Qualcomm) has a new iPhone app called Mobile Banking for AT&T Customers. The app is currently ranked number eight in the finance category of the Apple iTunes App Store (see screenshot below). Of the transactional services, only PayPal and BofA's Mobile Banking are higher.

The application can be used to access online banking at any of the ten financial institution holding companies, and their subsidiaries, currently supported by Firethorn:

• 1st Bank (Colorado)
• America First Credit Union
• Arvest
• BancorpSouth
• Caroline First
• Mercantile Bank
• Suntrust
• Synovus
• USAA
• Wachovia (now owned by Wells Fargo)

The Firethorn application has 27 reviews so far and has scored a 4-star average (out of 5), much better than the typical finance app (see previous coverage here). The main complaint is lack of coverage for the user's bank, which is not the fault of the app.  In comparison, Bank of America's app garnered 434 reviews and a 2.5-star rating.

I downloaded the application today and, unfortunately, I don't have an account at any of the financial institutions; however, that will change next week if they hit the dates contained in the Featured Providers page.

Here are coming-soon financial institutions:

• Citi Cards (Citibank) "coming Nov. 1" (previous press release here)
• Chase Bank "coming soon"
• Regions Bank "beginning this fall"

Providing free credit scores in exchange for viewing a credit card offer seems like a reasonable value exchange (see note 1). That's why we gave Credit Karma our OBR Best of the Web award in August and why it is on stage next week at Finovate (see previous coverage here, video at Finovate Startup here). 

It's also no surprise that others would try the same model. Credit crisis or not, credit-worthy borrowers are still a valuable commodity. Case in point, Bankaholic's recent acquisition by BankRate for a reported $15 million, or $50 per unique visitor (Mashable post here).

The latest entry in free-credit-score lead generation is KnowBeforeYouApply (KBYA) from Centrro, a financial-search company founded in 2006 by Ike Eze and Tuyen Vo. Eze was a founder of QSpace, an OBR Best of the Web winner in 1997 when it became the first company to make credit reports available online (archived OBR article here). QSpace was acquired by Experian several years later.

KnowBeforeYouApply launched on Sept. 3, but was put on the map with Mr. Eze's post today in The Huffington Post entitled, "Stay Away from Me, Credit Card Crisis" (see note 2). The article discusses the value of tracking your credit score and using that knowledge to find the best credit offers. Eze mentions his company along with Credit Karma, Quizzle from Quicken Loans, two other Finovate presenters, Mint and BillShrink.

Using KnowBeforeYouApply.com
It would be difficult to make the site any easier to use. Customers type in their name, address, email address, and last four digits of their social security number. Apparently, that's all that's needed to access your credit file and return a letter grade of A through F.

The whole process takes about 30 seconds (there is no need to enter an entire social security number), and KBYA steers clear of those pesky out-of-wallet authentication questions. Users can get an update of their credit grade every 90 days. In comparison, Credit Karma, which provides an exact 3-digit credit score, will update it daily if the user so desires.

KBYA also has a simple and intuitive sales platform. Just two offers were highlighted in the main screen, one from Chase and one from American Express (see first screenshot below). However, clicking through to "see all offers" led to 25 pages of credit cards, displayed five to a page (121 total for A-grade credit). A handy index along the sidebar allows users to find various categories that most appeal to them such as "travel rewards" or "0% intro rate" cards (see second screenshot).

KBYA appears to use the API from CardOffers.com to build a portion of its database of card offers. CardOffers.com offers its affiliates up to $20 per application or up to $160 per approved application. KBYA also appears to be an affiliate of Credit.com and Discover Card (see note 3).

The site is focused solely on credit cards for now. But a Home Loan tab is built into the user interface, with a "coming soon" label.

Analysis
All in all, it's a good service. The site needs to beef up its FAQs, About Us, and other educational materials so users can better understand who is behind the service and what exactly the credit grade means. But as a month-old beta service, it's presumably coming.

While I prefer the precision and peace of mind of seeing my actual credit score, a letter grade every 90 days will be sufficient for many users and should help keep costs down. And the speed of the application process and lack of social security number are real benefits.

Financial institution opportunities
Banks, credit unions, and card issuers should consider offering similar functionality both inside online banking, where private info would already be known, and on the outside where prospective loan customers could use it. With info about the customer's credit grade, lenders could deliver tailored offers that could lead to increased application volume and approval rates. See our recent Online Banking Report for more info on lead generation sites (note 1). 

Know Before You Apply main page after login (7 Oct 2008)

KnowBeforeYouApply all-offers page (7 Oct 2008)

Notes:
1. For a thorough discussion of the topic, see our August 2008 Online Banking Report on New Models for Lead Generation.

2. Strangely, the article doesn't specifically disclose Mr. Eze's affiliation with Know Before You Apply, although clicking on his name does show he's CEO of Centrro. However, it's left to the reader to discover on their own that Centrro is the parent of Know Before You Apply. Hopefully, that oversight will be corrected.

3. The affiliate relationships are inferred from the redirects that take place when clicking on the Apply Now arrow.

4. This is one of the ten online finance companies that launched in Sept. (post here).

Visa today put a stake in the ground to be viewed as the innovation leader, a position that American Express has claimed for some time with its chip cards, social media efforts, and even an online lab site. At today's "innovation briefing" in NYC, Visa announced several pilots and upcoming initiatives.

Mobile person-to-person transfers
The most far-reaching announcement was the ability for Visa cardholders to transfer funds from one card to another via mobile device. So far, just one bank is participating in the pilot. US Bank says it will make the service available to a few thousand cardholders as a test later this year. PaymentsNews has more details here.

It sounds good, but as always the devil is in the details. For instance:

• Through what hoops will cardholders have to jump to enable their card and phone for the service?
• Will the transfers be treated as cash advances triggering fees and finance charges?
• Will it be available to all cardholders using any mobile phones? 

Visa jumps on the android bandwagon
A more immediate innovation is a location-and-alert-based service built for Google's android platform, a new mobile system launching in late October. Visa's new service, to be rolled out initially by Chase Bank (no time frame given), promises some important new developments:

• "Near real-time" purchase alerts (see note 1) so you can see immediately whether your server added an extra digit in front of your tip on that bar tab. The real-time alert pilot was announced a month ago (here) involving several thousand accounts at PNC Bank, SunTrust Bank, US Bank, Wachovia, Wells Fargo, Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank, and Vancity.
• Visa merchant finder based on your location-based/GPS technology  (nice!) with targeted marketing offers (hmmm??). The merchant locations will be integrated with Google Maps.

Again, PaymentsNews has the entire press release here.

Notes:
1. Visa says that the alerts will arrive "typically before (the consumer) leaves the store."

2. For more information, see our Online Banking Report on Mobile Money & Payments.

In addition to the 51 companies chosen in advance to demo at TechCrunch's annual conference, 120 more companies (note 1) are in the DemoPit. The DemoPit is an area outside the main hall where the companies that didn't make the final cut to be on stage have a table where they can showcase their companies to attendees. And one lucky company, the one that collects the most tokens from attendees, will appear as company number 52 on stage in the last session tomorrow.

There were several financial services companies in the DemoPit Monday including Billeo, Expensify, and LoanKrunch. Today, there was just one, Rate Surfer from My Best Interest. Although the service will not go live until its debut at Finovate next month, the company today showed it to the public for the first time. It also added a downloadable demo program to its website if you want a sneak peek (note 2).

What it does
Rate Surfer is a credit card manager. It uses account-aggregation technology to import balance and rate data from all your credit cards. It then uses that data to help users initiate and track credit card balance transfers across their credit cards. Although not without rough edges still to work out, it could potentially save users hundreds of dollars in interest every year by helping them take advantage of transfer opportunities.

Main Rate Surfer page from its demo software (9 Sep 2008) 

Notes:
1. There are 120 total companies, but each gets just a 12-hour day in the DemoPit, so there are 40 companies each day. Although, the Monday companies were given an extra day due to a wifi outage that plagued the hall much of Monday. In addition to these companies, there were 33 exhibitor tables and 22 TechCrunch alumni with tables, including Cake Financial and last year's winner Mint.

2. It's a 67MB download.

Since the July opening of Apple's App Store, we've been tracking the apps in the Finance category (see previous coverage here). But there are also several apps in the Productivity category of interest to financial institutions: the eWallets.

There are two wallets available in the U.S. iTunes store:

• eWallet from Ilium Software: #46 in popularity in Productivity with a cost of $9.95 and rated 3.5 stars (out of 5) across 143 reviews (see inset)
• Memengo Wallet: #48 in Productivity with a $0.99 cost and rated 4 stars across 43 reviews (website)

Web-based eWallets never took off because of security concerns and because they provided only marginal improvements in desktop productivity. However, a mobile version has more utility owing to sticky notes with password reminders and credit card info, helpful to users away from their desks.

How it works
Storage of usernames and passwords for websites is the primary use of eWallet, but it also has a Finance category (see inset above) where users can store credit card numbers and contact info (see screenshots below).

That info is helpful when using a card to make a purchase online or through the mobile phone. It's also a great place to store the info in case the card itself is lost or stolen.

Financial institution opportunities
While these apps haven't gained an overwhelming following, a financial institution could offer a free version that highlights its own card offerings while providing storage space for other card numbers. That way, you get your logo on the iPhone instead of Mint, Wesabe, or some other financial institution. 

The bank-branded eWallet could also include a financial calculator and direct connection to online banking.

 Note:
1. For more info see our Online Banking Repot on Mobile Money & Payments.

Even though I have credit cards from Citibank, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, American Express and Chase, I have never been offered the opportunity to add contactless payment capability to my card, so I still have no firsthand experience of that particular wave of the future. 

And it hasn't been too high on my list of things to try, since it still requires carrying a piece of plastic or an additional device such as keychain fob (inset). I don't see much benefit to tapping a piece of plastic compared to swiping it.

However, I do look forward to NFC-enabled mobile phones. But given the hurdles for adoption among carriers, payment processors, and issuing banks, I wasn't expecting that much before the next summer Olympics.

But now an interim workaround is being tested around the world: the contactless payment sticker. It's a quarter-sized sticker you plop on the back of your mobile phone making it instantly payment-enabled.

That allows consumers to leave their wallets at home, a nice benefit for outdoor enthusiasts, club goers, or anyone who doesn't want to worry about losing their wallet while on the go. Of course, we'll need a few million more contactless-enabled merchants before the wallet-free world is realistic for most, but widespread use of stickers could move that along (see note 1).

Who has it?
There are several rollouts under way around the world. For example:

• Turkish banking giant GarantiBank recently won an industry-innovation award for its RFID sticker (press release). The sticker is produced by On Track Innovations. The bank began a pilot a year ago with several thousand Turkish customers.
• Silicon Valley-based Blaze Mobile says it will be delivering a Blaze Debit MasterCard with PayPass payment sticker to subscribers to its $4.99/mo Blaze Wallet this month.
• Though not yet connected to a major credit card, Malvern, PA-based USA Technologies launched its Pay Dot contactless sticker this spring (press release).

Note:
1. There are about 110,000 PayPass merchants worldwide, less than 1% of the 25 million locations that accept regular MasterCard cards. 

Last week, the Puget Sound Business Journal reported on a Pacific Northwest stealth startup that's receiving a lot of attention from Silicon Valley, at least measured in dollars. The $10 million round for Finsphere is an impressive endorsement, especially given the apparent involvement of prominent VC Mohr Davidow.

There's not a lot we know about the company other than the founders are out of the wireless industry, and the company's services are described as "location-based transaction verification services." That sounds like using the GPS-based or triangulated location of mobile phone users to authenticate card transactions and/or online banking logins. Armed with the GPS reading, card companies would know that you (or at least your mobile phone) are where your credit card activity says you are, e.g., buying a tank of gas in Washington D.C.

With GPS capabilities coming to the iPhone next month, this could be a very large market indeed. If we are right about the product, we'll try to convince the company to demo at one of our Finovate conferences. 

Given how many times I've had to tell clerks, "no, I really don't care to save $18 on my purchase today" (by adding yet another revolving credit product to my life), the come-on at checkout must work pretty well. Amazon has used this approach at online checkout for years, offering up to $30 in savings if approved for its co-branded credit card.

eBay recently began pitching its eBay MasterCard to bidders in its online auctions. As you can see below, a small "up to $25 back" is presented to users as they consider what bid amount to enter. The card is issued by GE Money and requires a PayPal account. Customers can opt to display their eBay userid on the no-annual-fee card.

Analysis
I also received an email offer last night (7:34 PM Pacific) for the card (see screenshot below). It's an attractive holiday-themed message with the slightly misleading email subject line, "Get 10% off eBay purchases through Dec. 15." I clicked on it wondering why eBay would offer me, a frequent buyer, such a substantial savings. It turns out to only apply to the first $250 spent, for a $25 savings, not so rich compared to other credit card offers I typically receive in the mail. But with the tight integration and 30-second loan application, it should provide a reasonable flow of new applications.  

The online application is simple and fast with pre-populated personal info and a 30-second approval promise. All I had to do on the first page (note 1) was decide whether to put my eBay ID on the plastic and enter my birthdate (see screenshot below). However, the process is marred by the upsell of credit insurance disguised under the seemingly innocuous heading (see closeup below):

Yes, enroll me in the Account Security program.

Granted, the cost is clearly disclosed, however, many applicants will check the box thinking they are protecting themselves from fraud, and only later find out they are paying an extra 1.5% per month (that's $900 per year on a $5,000 balance) for an insurance product they probably don't need. With all the problems its had with phishing and fraud, eBay should NOT trick customers into signing on for credit insurance under the guise of "security." 

Email solicitation from eBay (19 November 2007)

Landing page for email solicitation of eBay MasterCard (19 November 2007) 

Note:

1. I did not proceed past the first page because I could not tell if hitting "continue" at that point would trigger a credit application. They may ask income and employment questions on the next page.  

As promised in its teaser print buy, American Express delivered my Plum Card invitation in the wee hours Monday morning (2:06 AM Pacific time, see screenshot below). The message, with my first and last name in the salutation, was short and sweet and directed me back to the main website to apply at <plumcard.com>.

It's all first class work, but the generic call-to-action surprised me a bit since I'd put my name on the "wait list" last week (see post here). I expected a more personalized invitation and link. The website doesn't appear to recognize me either (see screenshot below).

Email Invitation (1 Nov 2007)

Plum Card homepage (5 Nov. 2007)

As a financial services junkie, I've long been a fan of American Express (see note 1). During the past 20 years, as credit cards increasingly became a commodity with no annual fees, loss-leader teaser rates, and look-alike marketing, AmEx has done a superb job maintaining a premium image and pricing. I keep my Gold Card in my travel bag and use it once every year or so when I don't want to expose the numbers of my business MasterCard. But I would never cancel it, despite the $75 annual fee, or I'd lose my "member since 1989" status. That, my friends, is what brand loyalty is all about.

The latest product designed for small businesses, those with "6- or 7-figure revenues," is the Plum Card. I learned about it in a 2/3-page full-color burgundy ad in yesterday's Wall Street Journal (Oct. 31, p. A11). An identical ad appears today (Nov. 1, p. A10). Its standard teaser fare tells readers that the "application releases in 5 days" (today, 4). The bottom of the ad contains a special URL, <PlumCard.com> where prospective customers can get more info. The card was originally announced at an INC 5000 event Sep. 7 (see coverage here).

After seeing the print ads, I and another 100,000 people headed to Google to see what was going on. Wisely, the company purchased not only the top spot on Google for "plum card," but also supported the print buy with an additional twist, "Who's getting a Plum Card? Initial release of 10,000 cards." The novelty of a new financial services product with limited availability, a technique AmEx has used for years with Platinum/Black, should attract click-throughs.   

The landing page (here) continues the theme of anticipation and exclusivity, with get this, a WAIT LIST, to be one of the first 10,000 to receive the card. A countdown timer in the upper right lets me know exactly how much time I have to wait, in this case 3 days, 11 hours and 6 minutes. If I'm not mistaken, that's Sunday night at midnight Eastern time.  

I'm on the wait list, so I'll let you know what I learn on Monday when I receive my application.

Plum Card pricing
There's no argument the marketing is first class, but what about the card itself? Is there anything that AmEx or anyone can do to distinguish themselves in the crowded field of business charge cards?

Time will tell, but it has a unique cash flow and discount plan that could be very appealing to business customers. Users that pay their bill within 10 days receive the industry standard "net less 2%" discount (see note 1). Alternatively, users can pay just 10% of the total due and defer the balance for two months interest free. At that time, the balance is due in full. There is no information in the terms and conditions about an annual fee, but I'd expect one.    

Notes:

1. If my wife would have been willing to move to NYC, I'd have tried very hard to get a job there after completing my obligatory MBA. 
2. The 2% discount applies on spending of $5,000 or more; otherwise, the net-10 discount is 1%.

I don't know how I missed this one, but Advanta, a major credit card issuer with 1.2 million small business customers, launched a new Web 2.0 microsite on Sept. 24 at the high-tech DEMOfall conference (press release here). Just being there amongst the digerati was a coup for the card issuer, but they did much better, managing to come home with a coveted DemoGod Peoples Choice trophy at the conference.

The Web 2.0-laden site is called ideablob, and it's a place where entrepreneurs, inventors, and anyone else can post their business idea and compete for the monthly $10,000 prizes (contest rules here).

One month after launch, the site is generating a fair amount of activity. The eight October finalists showcased on the homepage (see below) have received the following: 

• 691 total votes (must be registered to vote, can vote on more than one idea)
• 216 total comments (must be registered to comment)
• 10,300 total views (anyone can view the idea)

Traffic to the site should grow rapidly once word of the $10k prize circulates. That's a large incentive for the millions of Internet users who think they have a better idea. 

Advanta, which uses fairly subdued branding on the site (see small "inspired by Advanta" under the main ideablob logo), is positioned to gain in three ways:

• By associating its brand with innovation, social networks, and a Web 2.0 attitude
• Assuming a good viral kick, and $10k/mo should do it, the site could generate leads more cost effectively than through other channels
• Publicity in blogs and traditional media

Bank of America launched a good business networking site recently, but without the fun of the $10,000 in prize money (see previous coverage here).

Advanta's ideablob main page (25 Oct 2007)

An idea page

In terms of website design, I find most Citibank pages to be somewhat busy. But overall, the pages usually work well due to the eye-catching graphics, appropriate use of colors, and good copywriting.  

I've had a Citibank Business AAdvantage credit card for at least a decade. Even though I don't visit the site often, maybe once every few months, I find that it's generally easy to find what I'm looking for. 

As you can see in the business card example below, the bank uses purple and green "buttons" to catch your eye, then inserts important key words within them to drive action:

1. The purple, "Fraud is not your fault" reinforces that customers are not liable for unauthorized transactions, something most people are still concerned about, even though their liability is minimal. The button leads to a page that discusses advanced fraud fighting tools such as virtual account numbers and a picture card.
2. The navy, "How much have I spent lately?" allows users to quickly drill down into a key area of concern for most card users. Although not as powerful as Wells Fargo's My Spending Report (previous coverage here), it's still a good starting point for many users.
3. Finally, the bright green, "Help prevent an identity crisis" pitches the bank's credit monitoring solutions (note 1).
   

Citibank Business Credit Card main account overview page (22 Sep 2007)

Note:

1. For more information on bank and credit union opportunities selling credit report monitoring see our most recent Online Banking Report.

I received an email from American Express late last night after resetting my password earlier in the day (see screenshot below). I can never remember my AmEx password, because I can't use my usual one due to the company's surprisingly short field of just 8 characters that also doesn't support special characters. I have it written down somewhere, but I can never find that either.

I went online late Friday afternoon to pay my overdue bill at AmericanExpress.com. I was pretty sure it was one of three possibilities, but after two unsuccessful attempts, and with the website warning me the third attempt would cause a lockout (note 1), I decided to go through the online reset process instead. 

That was easy. I just needed the card number, the code on the front of the card, and the answer to a security question. At that point, AmEx displayed my username and let me reset the password. It's one of the easier reset processes I've tested. That's a benefit to customers and helps cut customer service costs for AmEx. 

But the thing I liked most was the email message sent later that night informing me of the password reset (screenshot below). But I don't understand why it was sent more than six hours later. Why not send it right away? That would be way more impressive to customers, and would help reduce any potential fraud or privacy violations. Better yet, send a text message right to the customer's mobile, so they have real-time knowledge of the account changes.

Email Critique
Personalization: The company uses two pieces of personalization, cardmember name and the last five digits of the account number, to differentiate this message from the average phish. Excellent.  

Subject line: Your American Express Forgotten User ID is good and right to the point

From: "American Express" using an American Express email address. Good.  

Headline: Verify Your Account Transaction is a little confusing. All I did was reset my password. I'm not sure that average person views that as a "transaction."

Copy: The copy is short and to the point, but it could use a little editing for clarity. The third sentence, "If you did contact us...." seems unnecessary. And "If you did not complete the retrieval...." is not very user friendly language.

Design & Layout: Excellent.

Overall Grade: A- for the message, B- for timeliness

Note:

1. We recommend allowing more than three attempts before lockout. It's pretty easy to forget a digit or make a typing mistake. See our Online Banking Report on Security (#119) for more information.  

The folks at Chase Bank were on the ball today. Less than an hour after I wrote about Whitney Bank joining the long-term statement archive club (here), I received an email from a subscriber* at Chase letting me know they offer six years of online statements for credit cards. 

Below is the bank's announcement to cardholders. It's nicely designed with a green touch. And it reminds cardholders they will receive an email both when the statement is ready and when payment is due. And note the call to action: "TRY" paperless. That lets customers know they can always go back. Now that's the way to get fired up about saving trees, and the bank's cash. The only thing missing: a simple guarantee.

Grade: We score it an "A" 

Chase has been working hard to move customers out of paper. So far this year, the bank has run a $35,000 sweeps to go paperless (see post here) and they currently have a popup on the credit card homepage pitching estatements (see screenshot below).

January 2007 email to Chase credit card customers

Popup at credit card site

*He earns a Starbucks card for his responsiveness. Anyone else have five or more years of statements online? Add your comments or email me.

I never understood the fight against Wal-Mart's limited-purpose banking charter. I say let it "enjoy" all the benefits of being a bank: CRA statements, regulatory audits, compliance committees, and endless questions about trigger terms and the alphabet soup of regulations. Maybe a banking charter would have distracted it from going ahead and providing pretty much the same thing, but as a non-regulated retail partner instead of a bank.   

Take Kroger for example. They are entering the financial services arena through their retail grocery stores with a menu of financial products outsourced from other companies (link here; also see note 1 and screenshot below).

According to a story Monday in the Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader (here), the grocer began quietly rolling out the services to its 2400 stores in February. Most of the  services are sourced through various Royal Bank of Scotland units.

Other than deposits, it's a full-service offering including:

• Credit card issued by RBS National Bank (a unit of Royal Bank)
• Mortgages through a joint venture with CCO Mortgage (a unit of Royal Bank)
• Home equity loans through Charter Bank (a unit of Royal Bank)
• Gift cards issued by Charter Bank
• Pet insurance through PetFirst Healthcare
• Identity theft services through Trilegiant's PrivacyGuard

Analysis
Kroger's product offering seems reasonable and no doubt will have good visibility in the company's stores. But few of these items are impulse buys and much of the success will hinge on whether the Royal Bank phone sales agents can close the deals. The item that has the best chance of earning its keep: pet insurance, a surprisingly popular search term (see Online Banking Report, #95) and one that can be cross-sold effectively with other pet items. 

Will Kroger Personal Finance be be a success? With low fixed costs, it might turn a nice profit, but probably not nearly as much as the rent that bank clients pay for in-store branches (a core Wal-Mart strategy). But will it impact the industry? Highly unlikely.

I'm sure Wal-Mart will be following this rollout closely. If they find it's working at Kroger, you can bet they'll be doing the same thing within a few years, and probably at much lower prices. So, if you think you've dodged the Wal-Mart Bank bullet, think again. 

Note:

1. The homepage of Kroger's personal finance site <krogerpersonalfinance.com>, is dominated by a pitch for its MasterCard rewards card. The only link so far to the broader offering is the "new products" link hidden on the right leading to the following page <krogerpersonalfinance.com/Max/KPFhome.htm>.

If you've been reading this blog for long, you know I'm going through a "mobile" phase. There's two reasons for that:

1. It's an interesting and important extension to online banking, our core area of expertise.

2. I am in the process of writing two extensive reports on the subject, the first was published a few weeks ago on mobile banking (link here) and the second is due out by the end of the month on mobile payments.

So I had to laugh when I opened by Wells Fargo credit card bill today, not at the size of the bill which was not at all funny, but at the insert that fell out pitching, "cellular phone protection at no cost" (see front of insert right, back of insert below).  

This is a different type of "mobile payment" than what I've been thinking about lately. But, this Wells Fargo program is brilliant, and has a much better business case, at least in the short term.

Here's what Wells Fargo is proposing:

1. Put your mobile phone bill on automatic payment via your Wells credit card.

2. In the event your phone is damaged or stolen, you will be reimbursed for up to $100 in damages, after a $50 deductible (see note 1).

Analysis
The business case for this program looks fabulous. Assuming an average mobile phone bill of $60/mo x 12 months x 1.5% ROA = about $10 per year in revenue. While the cost should be just a few pennies per year in insurance payouts, given the difficulty in filing a claim. 

Even though the bank will pay out benefits to cardholders who had their cellphone charged to Wells even without the incentive, the bank should earn 10x to 20x the cost of the program each year. Maybe Wells can put some of that windfall into a new mobile access to online banking and credit card info. 

Note:

1. To keep costs down, the maximum number of claims is two per 12-month period, $200 in total. And the claim procedure is  cumbersome, especially for a maximum payout of $100. You'll need copy of receipts, statements, other insurance coverage, police reports, and so on. The full details of the fine print are online here.   

There is no doubt consumers love debit cards. Despite cloudier fraud protections, no free float, and the confusion of "signature vs. PIN," growth continues at a 20% annual clip, with total U.S. transactions surpassing credit 15 to 18 months ago (see numbers here).

But continued negative press coverage could slow the growth. For instance, today's lead article in the Wall Street Journal's Personal Journal section, How to Protect Your Plastic, focused on recent debit card skimming incidents. 

What can a financial institution do to counteract the negative press?

1. Educate customers on their limited liability

2. Provide clear and understandable zero-liability fraud protection guarantees

3. Provide tools for monitoring checking accounts, such as transaction and security alerts

But once you have those "best practices" in place, you can still boost usage, and differentiate your debit card and checking accounts by integrating actionable text-message alerts (see ClairMail example above). 

While the industry-standard email alerts are helpful, the phishing epidemic, spam filling up the in-box, and  the time lag for reading and responding to bank emails, make them less and less effective for time-sensitive communications such as fraud alerts.

Enter the mobile phone. Most banking customers now keep a mobile device with "three rings" of their person much of the day, and almost always when out of the house. Therefore, a real-time text message each and every time a debit cards is used, will go a long way towards making users comfortable that their card has not been comprised. And in the event their is a fraudulent transaction, a quick text message back to the issuer can lock the debit card down, avoiding any additional unauthorized transactions.

This is about as win-win as you can get in banking. The user is happier with his debit card leading to increased loyalty and more debit transactions, boosting both short- and long-term revenues for the bank, credit union, or card issuer.

For more information see our latest Online Banking Report, Mobile Banking & Payments 2.0 (OBR 138/139).

Advertising-monitoring firm, Mintel Comperemedia reported last week that nearly 9 out of 10 credit card solicitations in 2006 directed recipients to the Web, up sharply from 56% in 2003 (see note 1, 2). Several big mailers, namely American Express, still seem reluctant to use website response as an option, at least in the mailers we see at our house.

American Express tests must show a drop in response by offering too many choices. But if you don't have the budget of American Express, which can afford to drop a mail piece in every credit-worthy household every two or three weeks, you should add website options to your direct mail creative. That way, you can at least capture a lead at your website, even if they don't ultimately accept your credit offer. 

Total mailing volume for 2006 was 9.2 billion pieces (see note 1), or about 3 per week per credit-worthy household. Two of those were from the five largest mailers listed below which accounted for more than 60% of the volume, according to Comperemedia. JPMorgan Chase accounted for 18% on its own. 

In another data slice from Comperemedia, cited by Capital One in a Feb. 2006 investor presentation (PDF here), response rates have fallen from 1.4% in 1995 to 0.3% in 2004 (see note 3).

Here's a breakdown of the billion-piece club, and their percent change compared to 2005:  

1. Chase >>> 1.7 billion (down 4%)

2. Capital One >>> 1.2 billion (up 13%)

3. American Express >>> 1 billion

4. Citibank >>> 980 million (down 2%)

5. Bank of America/MBNA >>> 920 million (down 17%)

Other top-10 mailers: HSBC (up 25%); Discover (up 29%); Barclays Bank (190 million, up 70%)

Note:

1. Comperemedia tracks mailing volume for more than 150 large financial institutions. So the figures here do not include mailings from thousands of smaller banks and credit unions. In total, those probably account for less than 5% of the total from the top-150. 

2. Comperemedia press release is here. Interview of Comperemedia director Jenny Roock by MediaPost is here.

3. Credit card response rate slide from Capital One's investor presentation (PDF) at the Debt & Equity Conference, Feb. 2006; data from Comperemedia.

In a multi-page look at mobile banking (here), BankRate.com reporter Laura Bruce quotes Citibank's Rob Julavits as saying the bank will be:

...testing (mobile banking) in March and allowing customers to enroll in April, with a broad launch expected before midyear

That's a few months later than originally expected. The bank sent Citi Mobile disclosures to checking account customers in January indicating the service would be live in February (see article here). Citibank already provides mobile access to its credit cards in Japan (link here).

Here's a timely email from Bank of America, inviting its credit card customers to start the year off with a 3.99% balance-transfer offer. But the savings won't last long, since the rate resets after August 2007.

Here are the specs:

• Subject: Use your Bank of America® credit card today.
• From: Bank of America [BankofAmerica@loyaltyemail.bankofamerica.com]
• To: jim@netbanker.com
• Product type: Credit card balance transfer
• Offer: 3.99% through August 2007 (cash advance fee NOT waived)
• Customer type: Mailed to current credit card customers
• Personalization: Full name and last 4 digits of account number

Screenshots:

Email body

Landing page

Who'd have guessed banks would become a popular source of holiday gifts, other than good old-fashioned greenbacks of course?

Now that niche audiences can be targeted with online promotions during the holidays, many financial institutions are marketing financial products packaged as gifts. Prepaid Visa/MasterCards are the hottest item, but there's also potential in other areas. 

Gift cards
The second most popular gift item this year, after apparel, is expected to be prepaid cash cards. While the majority of the $20+ billion purchased will be direct from retailers, hundreds of banks and credit unions, such as Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU) have joined the fray (see email below). If marketed right, financial institutions could gain a significant share of total sales. See our previous post here about integrating gift cards into online banking for more information.

Credit reports
Equifax is taking advantage of the giving season to market credit reports and/or FICO score gift certificates. The cost is $20 for a three-bureau credit report, $15 for the FICO score and explanation, or $30 for both (see email below). An even better gift would be a year of credit monitoring.

Investment accounts
For years, ShareBuilder has marketed "the gift of stock" during the holidays. This year, many of its partners, such as National City Bank, are offering a $50 gift card as a bonus for new accounts (see screenshot below). That way grandma and grandpa can give junior something that's good for him, an investment account for the future AND something he'll actually like, $50 to spend at the mall.

Piggy bank 2.0
For the younger set, ING Direct has for a year been selling The Savings Machine, a toy bank/calculator/ATM machine. And judging from the note on its website,* it's proving to be a popular Deal of the Month with a lower $17.95 price tag which includes free shipping (see inset). Several years ago, ING Direct reported nearly a million dollars in sales from its online merchandise store <shop.ingdirect.com>, an inexpensive way to get its name on the street.

*Note by the "Savings Machine" product page today: All orders placed from 4 Dec to 11 Dec will be shipped out the week of 11 Dec due to the large amount of backorders.

Boeing Employees Credit Union <becu.org> starts the holiday shopping season off with an email pitch for its prepaid MasterCard gift card. At $2.50 each, they are a bit less expensive than one hanging in Safeway for $4.95. However, the CU neglected to disclose dormant account fees, a significant issue with consumer advocates.

It's too bad you can't order the cards online. Ideally, members should be able to order with a single click (or two) right from within the online banking function. Maybe next year.

Screenshot (click to enlarge)

Classification

Type: Marketing email for prepaid debit
Product: Prepaid debit cash card (MasterCard)
Offer: None (cost is $2.50 plus the cash value)
Customer Type: Sent to nonmembers
Personalization: None
Links: None
Call to action: Toll-free phone, branch

Header

Date received: Tues 11/28/2006 6:08 AM
From: BECU [reply27974@enews.becu.org]
To: Jim Bruene
Subject: BECU Gift Cards Make the Perfect Holiday Gift

Comments

• Even if gift cards cannot be ordered online, the credit union should include a link or URL for more information. Since many email recipients will automatically go to BECU's website to purchase, it would be helpful to specifically mention the cards cannot be ordered online, and why.
• The opt-out and CAN-SPAM disclosures could be better designed.
• Add disclosures for any monthly fees that kick in if the value is not used by a certain date.

More than 70% of business-email users view most or all of their email messages in the preview pane.* Depending on screen size, resolution, and window sizing, the real estate available in the preview pane can be relatively small.

When designing messages, be sure to put the most important information in the upper-left corner to maximize visibility in the preview pane.

Here is a poorly designed email Chase sent to confirm posting of a credit card payment. It requires users to scroll right to view Chase's logo and log-in button. Here's how it looks on my 12-inch laptop screen running at 1024 x 768:

What not to do from Chase:

Better design from Bank of America graphics flush left:

(Note: BofA shows the last four digits of your account number; we changed them to xxxx in the screenshot above.)

Action Items
Even though it's just a routing email message, the poor layout makes it look like a phishing message. Chase could clean this up with just a few minutes of programming work. While they are at it, they should add a personal greeting and additional text disclosures to make it look less phishy. 

*For more information, read our Online Banking Report #129/139, Email Marketing for Financial Services.

At 8:30 AM today, we heard an unusual advertisement on classic rock radio for the Bank of America Alaska Airlines affinity card.

It wasn't the ad itself that was so spectacular, although it's not every day that you hear credit cards being pitched on radio. And it wasn't the offer that made the ad stand out, although 20,000 bonus miles is a pretty good perk.

What made it memorable was the call to action, "visit myalaskacard.com." They didn't even bother to throw an 800 number into the spot.

It's hard to say whether a radio spot will prove cost effective, but using a memorable URL should help. It's far easier to remember than a telephone number, and prospective applicants can be immediately greeted with an effective sales pitch reinforcing the product benefits and bonus offer.

Analysis
However, once again BofA stumbles with its search engine support (see previous article). Searching on Google for "my Alaska card" brings up a single ad for a Web-based portal site, CreditStep.com (click on inset for closeup).

In fact, we tested every variation of "my" + "alaska" + "airlines" + "credit" + "card" and BofA was nowhere to be seen UNLESS we dropped "my" from the search query. Interestingly, Chase was an aggressive advertiser on several of the search terms offering a competing airline card with 15,000 bonus miles. BofA showed up as an advertiser only when we dropped the "my" from the search query.

The lack of advertising against "my alaska card" is especially damaging because the first few organic search results do not link to BofA or Alaska Airlines. Also, if you type a similar URL, such as www.alaskacard.com or www.alaskaairlinescard.com you either end up at a generic link site or an error page. At this point, potential prospects will either apply at the wrong place or give up on the search. 

If you correctly input the exact URL, you end up at the following landing page. It's OK, but should reinforce the impressive benefits of applying now, a free ticket right away and a $50 companion ticket every year on renewal (see screenshot below).

Action Items
Here's what you should do to ensure better search-engine support for your offline advertising:

1. Advertise at search engines on likely search terms that would be used by consumers responding to your advertising
2. Create a memorable URL that is not easily mistyped
3. Register or purchase domains similar to the advertised URL (including common misspellings), or pay the owner to refer traffic to your landing page
4. Design a landing page that boldly supports the benefits in your advertising and includes a prominent "Apply" button

PayPal is advertising its PayPal Plus card with this box located in the upper-right of the main account start-page within the secure area (click screenshot below for a closeup).

With the falloff in response to traditional direct mail raising acquisition costs to $200 or more, a pitch delivered within an online banking session can be far less expensive. And with online banking users typically wanting to get in and out quickly, the 30-second response shows that the company is sensitive to the time constraints of its customers (notice they did NOT say that it was a 30-second process).

The PayPal card is issued by GE Money Bank, the same company behind PayPal Buyers Credit used by sellers to offer longer-term financing of major eBay purchases. The Plus card includes a free rewards program offering 1 point per dollar purchased. The current rewards structure includes three levels:

• 1,000 points – Free shipping up to $7 on a PayPal purchase
• 2,500 points – $25 voucher (for merchandise at most PayPal merchants)
• 9,500 points – $100 voucher (for merchandise at most PayPal merchants)

The card carries a variable rate from 14.24% to 24.24% and has no annual fee.

Here's the main account page displayed after login:

Here's the landing page displayed after clicking on the apply button:

In direct mail, sometimes "big & ugly" beats "short & sweet." But when it comes to preapproved credit card applications, we're pretty sure the 8-screen form posted by Bank of America's FIA Card Services (formerly MBNA) isn't going to help improve response rates (see the full form by clicking the continue link below).

My wife received a preapproved, direct-mail offer from Fidelity Investments where she has an investment account. The solicitation included the usual one-third sheet mail-back "acceptance form." Recipients could also either call a toll-free number, or go online to www.ibscredit.com.

Those that went online were greeted with this almost-blank screen operating under a different URL www.applyforcreditnow.com and had no reassuring message or graphics to assure users they had not arrived at a phishing site.

After entering the 6-digit code from the mailing, prospective cardholders are transported to this boring form, which surprisingly includes MORE fields than its paper-based counterpart (click on inset for closeup; click on continuation below to see the full 800 x 5200 screenshot). For example, it contains a section to be completed by students, who are unlikely to be receiving this particular Fidelity Investments WorldPoints Visa card with no preset spending limits.

Not only are the layout and design dull, but also two major design flaws are readily apparent:

1. No reinforcement of product benefits above the fold, especially the "0% through Nov. 2007" offer
2. No division into smaller segments, the first of which should gather the email address

See Online Banking Report #104 for more on application design.

--- JB

Endnote: Full online application (820 x 5200)

We were impressed with Citibank’s full-page ad in Sunday’s New York Times travel section offering 25,000 miles to take a new American Airlines co-branded credit card. As usual, we looked for a link to the Web-based application and were pleased to find a large, reverse-type URL along the bottom of the ad. Unfortunately, Citi did not follow the usual convention for printed landing-page URLs, creating potential problems for applicants.

Typically, offline advertisements use a special filename after the normal domain name, such as <www.yourbank.com/special>. This allows users to go directly to the landing page explaining the special offer (see landing page below).

Instead, Citibank used the unique server name "miles5" as in: <www.miles5.citicards.com>. There are several problems with this approach. First, it’s long and not easily recalled. But the biggest problem is its non-standard format. Internet users do not expect to see an extra period in the middle of a bank's URL. So many users, myself included, may read this as a unique domain name, <miles5citicards.com>.

Normally, that would be okay. But in this case Citibank neglected to register that domain name. An identity thief could easily have registered that domain, and then taken “applications” for days or weeks before anyone caught on, possibly leaving hundreds of applicants vulnerable to identity theft after entering their personal info, including social security number, in the application.

By mid-day on Monday, almost two days after the ad first appeared in print, the domain was still unregistered. We went ahead and registered it to prove the point, and keep it safe.

Implications
The moral of this story: If you live in a glass house, make sure any transparencies are covered. Register your domain name. Citibank, which has spent millions on its anti-identity theft campaign, left itself and its customers vulnerable for the price of an $8.95 domain name. Make sure you register the domain name of any cute URLs you put out there for marketing campaigns. While you are at it, spend $60 and lock it up for 10 years. 

Memo to Citibank’s legal team: We have no commerical interest in the domain and will happily transfer it to your ownership. All we ask is reimbursement of our 9 bucks.

--JB

Score:
     Tom Brown -- 1
     Citibank -- 0

How many times have you been frustrated by your experience at a call center? Well, if you were a multi-millionaire hedge fund manager with his own blog, you could get back at the company, and then some.

Read today's extremely thorough account (transcribed verbatim from a tape recording) of Second Curve's Tom Brown as he attempts to add a PayPass contactless debit card to his Citibank account <bankstocks.com>.

A couple lessons here:

1. Flag Tom Brown, and other influential VIPs, in your customer database so they get topnotch phone service
2. Be careful with geographic-based product rollouts to avoid irritating customers
3. Simplify call center scripts

--JB

Although they've been around for years, with relatively little success, the time may be right for disposable card numbers. However, this time, the emphasis should be on debit, the payment of choice for many younger consumers.

A compelling case can be made for disposable debit which:

• is the favored payment vehicle for the under-30 crowd, and often the ONLY payment option for high school and college students
• differentiates your checking account from 16,000 other U.S. providers
• encourages more debit card usage
• cements account relationships
• adds value to online banking archives
• provides excellent PR (customer advocacy) and branding benefits

But while great strides have been made in educating consumers about credit card fraud protection, the issue is murkier on the debit side.

Consumer appeal
We were reminded of the appeal of disposable card numbers when reviewing Cambrian House <cambrianhouse.com>, a Web-based venture attempting to "open-source" the business-startup process. While we don't see that taking off, the company does maintain an interesting database of user-submitted business ideas. Of the 433 ideas listed, the most popular according to site visitors is:

Self-destructing credit cards submitted by Rohan Pinto

Essentially what Mr. Pinto is proposing is the one-time-use credit card number offered since the late 1990s by Citibank, American Express, and, more recently, Discover Card (see inset). The main difference is the name, which actually is pretty good, if it hasn't been trademarked yet (we couldn't find any business using the term in a quick Google).

--JB

How does a small bank rate a WSJ-bylined story when it ups its credit card reward percentage by 15 basis points? Sure, it helps to be headquartered in NYC, home to much of the country's financial media. But you also need a compelling story line.

What could be better than a small player eating the big guys' lunch? Layer in the online-only factor, a strategy that had been declared dead by many analysts after botched attempts by Bank One (Wingspan Bank), Citibank (eciti), and Benchmark Capital (Juniper Bank). Finally, top it all off with a 150-year old company all of a sudden making like a Bay-area startup, and you have a story with real legs.

EmigrantDirect, the direct-banking unit of Emigrant Savings Bank, once again landed in the media (WSJ Mar. 28), with a relatively small change to its credit card launched earlier this year. It's the second time this month, and sixth this year, that the bank has been mentioned in personal finance articles in The Wall Street Journal.

This time the story highlighted EmigrantDirect's credit card, touted on its website as America's Highest Cash Back Card, that now pays a cash rebate of 1.4% on all retail purchases, up from 1.25% earlier (see note 1). The fine print on the claim says that other cards may pay a higher percentage, but they require minimum purchase levels before the higher rebate kicks in (see note 2).

Analysis
Since the launch of EmigrantDirect a little over a year ago, the bank has raked in $6 billion in deposits and 225,000 accounts for an average balance of about $27,000. The direct-banking unit's success essentially doubled the deposit base of the bank in a single year, halting a gradual decline in total deposits over the previous decade.

It will be interesting to see how Emigrant reacts as more banks enter the market such as Washington Mutual (NetBanker Nov. 18, 2005) and Puerto Rico-based Popular that is planning to go after U.S. deposits under its own name and that of its well-established E-Loan brand. For more information, refer to last fall's report, Lessons from the High-Rate Marketers (OBR 120/121).

--JB

Notes:
1. Interestingly, the higher rebate is retroactive to Jan. 2006, an unusual bit of financial services generosity.
2. Another bit of crucial fine print: The EmigrantDirect card requires a $10,000 average deposit balance FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS in order to earn the rebate.

Do you ever wonder why American Express, with fewer merchant outlets and higher prices, continues to command a 17% share of all U.S. debit and credit card volume (see note 1)?

Sure, the company's powerful brand supported by vast and memorable advertising is a factor, but it's also the product it delivers, optimized for business users and other big spenders. And the company never rests on its laurels. Even though I'm a light user, in 11 years of card ownership, I've received on average one card, letter, or email message every week, for a total of more than 500. The company does not let you forget about them.

American Express also continually improves their product. For example, the latest innovation, announced in an email today (click on inset left), is a minor new twist in online delivery. Cardmembers can go online and easily print receipts, one page per transaction, to be used to match up with other paper records, invoices, expense-reimbursement requests, and the like.

Simple instructions in the email message explain how to use the new option, one of three choices in the Print Options box (see inset upper left) located in the upper-right corner of the main Summary of Accounts page, the default shown after login (click on screenshot below for a closeup of the Summary page).

Will handy, printable receipts win American Express any awards? Hardly. It barely rates a bullet point in a brochure. But these little things all add up when cardmembers make the decision as to which piece of plastic to pull out of their wallet or purse. 

--JB

Note:
1. Market share of all purchase volume on MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express credit and debit cards during first half of 2005 (Source: The Nilson Report, Aug. 2005, #840)

Bank of America is making it super easy for online banking customers to accept a new business platinum credit card. The preapproved offer is displayed after logging out from an online banking session. In this example, we had just finished paying our Bank of America credit card bill and were greeted with well-crafted page shown here (click on inset left for a closer view).

Analysis
Using the log-off screen is a great way to get your preapproved offers in front of users at just the time they are thinking about their finances. We also recommend offering a link to the offer within the online banking area. That way, if a user is running a bit low on cash, for example, while paying bills, he or she could click on the offer to obtain additional cash.

--JB

Last week, Visa USA redesigned its direct bill-pay area using Billeo's technology to power biller search and facilitate direct payments via credit card. It is a major coup for the fledgling direct bill-pay solutions provider Billeo, which earned an Online Banking Report Best of the Web last year for its innovative bill-pay toolbar (OBR 116/117).

The implementation at Visa bears careful review. It wisely uses biller search to engage users (see inset), then prompts them to save their personal biller list using Billeo. After registering, users download and install the toolbar directly into their browser, then input credit card information to facilitate payments. After the initial setup, users can pay select bills directly from the toolbar using the saved credit card and biller info.

Next week, we'll look at Visa's implementation in more detail and share insights from our conversation with Billeo founder, Murali Subbarao. In the meantime, you might want to give it a spin yourself at Visa's bill-pay site, <usa.visa.com/personal/using_visa/pay_bills_with_visa/> (click on screenshot right for a closer look).

Previous articles:

• NetBanker posts on Billeo
• Online Banking Report #85, Grabbing Desktop Mindshare: Private-branded browser extensions can make online services easier to use

-JB

Although we have concerns about the underlying program (see NetBanker Oct. 5, 2005), you have to tip your hat to the marketing execution of Bank of America's Keep the Change campaign. Today a small but distinctive postage-stamp ad on MSN's homepage, tied in with MSN Money headlines (see inset), invites readers to "Open a Checking Account and Keep the Change."

It's an intriguing headline and likely does well prompting clickthroughs. The landing page (click on inset right for a closeup) is also well done. A graphical explanation of the keep-the-change rebate is shown on the right, which helps alleviate the need for prospects to wade through the 479 words of fine print on the bottom of the landing page.

Another landing-page graphical element that you should immediately consider adopting: pictures of the three key banking products being pitched with simple checkboxes for selection (see below). However, in this case it's used in a backwards fashion. Users are supposed to tell the bank which accounts they already have, rather than the ones they want to buy. This is counter-intuitive and should be redesigned.

After selecting the BofA accounts already owned, users arrive on a secure Checking & Savings Account Application page that does a good job reinforcing benefits and referencing the original "Keep the Change" hook (click on inset left). A pop-up box offers live chat with a Deposit Specialist if desired.

Summary
The bank scores high for great online copywriting, superb graphics, and good ad positioning at MSN. We also like how Bank of America reinforces the benefits of automated savings. However, the offer is complicated and smacks of a gimmick that will do little to engender long-term loyalty or create a real savings ethic. Finally, the low 0.50 percent rate paid on the underlying savings account damages the program's credibility and makes it less likely the account will be used to amass meaningful deposit balances.

Grades:
A+ for online advertising and sales (banner, landing page, application)
B+ for encouraging savings
C- for the debit card rewards program

This should be a watershed year for payments cards. The approaching MasterCard IPO, and Visa's likely response, will likely reform the sector's fundamental business structure. Meanwhile, First Data Corp. is undergoing profound changes, and it's unlikely that either Discover or American Express will be twiddling their thumbs while the future of the card associations is decided.

The MasterCard IPO will likely have the greatest impact on the space, thinks David Evans, founder of Market Platform Dynamics. "It will force them to become a much more entrepreneurial and different organization than it's been in the past, partly because of changes in the marketplace, but also because of organizational changes that will change the dynamic of that entity," because of the need to satisfy its new investors, he says.

Continue reading "Payment Cards Watershed - MasterCard IPO" »

In the coming year, low-value payments and prepaid cards will be increasingly mentioned in the same breath, especially in conjunction with off-line, contactless methods, says Gwenn Bezard, partner in Aite Group.

Pilots, and even some deployments of contactless payment cards, will be making a significant appearance, if only because banks are pushing them. The main sticking point from the merchant perspective, Bezard says, will be the cost of interchange, but he expects some banks to offer breaks on fees, if only to give the venue a running start. He is optimistic that big merchants will follow Starbucks’ model and offer rechargeable, merchant-specific stored-value cards as a means of gaining market share and promoting customer loyalty.

Continue reading "Low Value Payments & Stored Value Cards" »

Despite intense competition from MasterCard and Visa issuers, American Express has been able to maintain a substantial share of the high-end market for credit/charge cards. For the twenty years we've followed the company, its marketing has consistently conveyed an upscale image.

Case in point: The email we received today asking us to upgrade from our existing Gold Card to an American Express Platinum (click on inset for a closeup look).

The subject line said it all:

     Upgrade to a card with premium service

The benefits cited included:
* Complimentary airline ticket on any of the 18 participating airline partners
* Airport club access (Continental, Delta, Northwest Airlines)
* Hotels & resort special privileges
* Free Membership Rewards program
* By Invitation Only (privileged access and tickets to events that, in many cases, can't be purchased through any other source)

Analysis
The American Express solicitation is heavily oriented towards travel and entertainment benefits which plays to the company's strengths. A bank could do the same by concentrating more on the "premium service" aspect. For example:

• Front-of-the-line service: Your service request, whether by email or phone, always goes to the front of the queue
• Branch manager access: If you ever need to go direct to the top for any reason, just call (212) 555-1212 or email branchmanager@yourbank.com
• Preferred access to product specialists: If you ever have an unusual problem, whether it be accessing your online banking account from your laptop, or how to fund your Roth IRA, we will connect you with a specialist with state-of-the-art knowledge in that area
• Ft. Knox security: You need not worry about the safety and security of your bank accounts with our upgraded security and authentication algorithms

For more ideas, see "E-Service 2.0" (OBR 105/106).

Credit card companies have been poaching revolving balances from each other for years primarily through direct mail. It helped boost the share of early movers, such as Capital One. But once the tactic was widely copied, it dragged margins down for all.

The same technique has been used online with dedicated balance-transfer microsites posted by Bank of America and others beginning in 2003. The online balance transfer is better than paper because it can be interactive, prompting the user to make additional transfers, or to correct errors in the information input. However, it still requires the user to make a trip to the website to make the transfer.

Enter E*Trade's new Mileage Maximizer program, launched with a page-dominating color ad in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal. With the Mileage Maximizer, the bank encourages users to make purchases on their existing non-E*Trade rewards card, then have the balances AUTOMATICALLY swept to an E*Trade 8.9% APR line of credit each month. The bank's website is used to initiate and maintain the transfer process. But like recurring bill payments, once the sweep is established, it will occur each month with no interaction by the user.

E*Trade may well be the most innovative online financial services company. Here are some of the industry firsts they've logged over the years:

• 2001: MyLoanTeam from E*Trade Mortgage (OBR 73)
• 2003: Real-time funds transfers (OBR 96/97)
• 2005: 7-year online transacation archives (OBR 118)
• 2005 (March): First U.S. bank offering security tokens for online access (NetBanker 2 March 2005)
• 2005 (December): First virtual rewards card, Mileage Maximizer

--JB

Editor's Note: Mileage Mazimizer was awarded an "OBR Best of the Web" in our report on online lending published Jan. 31, 2006 (OBR 126).

On the front page of today's American Banker and on the cover of its Retail Delivery pullout section (see inset), there is an eye-catching EBANK logo presented in eBay's distinctive font. It's an intriguing lead-in to an otherwise predictable story on eBay's PayPal unit and the extent to which it competes with banks. (Note: For American Banker, the cover graphic gave it more "street appeal" so that the paper was more likely to be picked up by the thousands of attendees at BAI's big technology conference in Orlando.)

This is an old story. PayPal has offered a suite of consumer banking services for more than four years (click on table below) including debit cards, bill payment, credit card (issuer), consumer finance loans, credit card processing, ACH processing, money market mutual funds, international payments, interbank transfers, fraud protection, and insurance for funds on deposit. The only new service this year is the credit card payments gateway business it purchased from VeriSign earlier this year; though that is more of a line extension than a new business.

Analysis
Yes, PayPal competes with bank, primarily in merchant processing, an area most banks got out of more than a decade ago. And we'll see more ecommerce players, such as domain registration services company GoDaddy, offering integrated PayPal payment options (see inset). However, none of PayPal's other financial service offerings have a measurable market share, and are unlikely to be causing any lost sleep by execs at Bank of America, Citi, or any other financial institution.

The American Banker article speculated on eBay's interest in moving further into banking by buying a charter and opening a full-service Internet bank. But no evidence was presented for either side of that argument, nor did the author find any industry analysts to comment.

It reminds me of the "controversy" in the mid-90s about Microsoft competing against banks. Although it was mostly fodder for the trade press, we debunked the notion In the very first issue of Online Banking Report (April 1995). There was no way that a successful software company, accustomed to 50%+ margins, would invite the regulatory scrutiny and compliance hassles of the relatively low-margin banking business.

Although eBay has done some strange things, such as jumping into the telecom business via its recent Skype acquisition, we seriously doubt that the auction giant has any plans to open or even lend its name to a full-service Internet bank. It doesn't need those regulatory and compliance headaches.

However, the company will continue to exploit areas of ecommerce, like auction payments and auction purchase financing, that are not well-served by existing players. But if you've put together a franchise that can hold its own against BofA/MBNA, ING Direct, and Schwab, you have little to fear from eBay or Microsoft. In fact, there are opportunities to leverage these trusted brand names to INCREASE your revenues. For example, PayPal provides developer tools that would allow a bank to integrate with the online payments provider to facilitate financing for bank customers.

Previous articles:

• Online Banking Report #113, PayPal Offers Preapproved Credit Lines to Users, Dec. 16, 2004
• Glenbrook Partners, Beware the Doves: Reflections on the PayPal/GE Consumer Finance Alliance, by Scott Loftesness, June 2004

--JB

As we searched Google today for debit card info, we noticed E*Trade on top of the paid search results with an AdWords listing entitled Platinum Visa Debit Card (it was the first "banner" on the top of the search results).

Interestingly, clicking on the link takes you not to a single-product pitch for a debit card, but to the broker's E*Trade Complete product which combines brokerage, banking, and lending into a single offering (click on inset for landing page screenshot).

Note: The graphic image appearing in the middle of E*Trade's landing page features a check, debit card, and security token overlaid on a screenshot of its online banking area.

Analysis
Showcasing its Complete product on debit card searches shows good mastery of search engine marketing by E*Trade. The online giant figures the type of person searching on debit cards will be intrigued by the total control promised by the package account. The out-of-scale security token also adds a reassuring touch to the image (see inset). 

-- JB

For years it’s been a matter of when, not if, the number of debit card transactions would surpass credit cards for purchases in the United States. Depending on who's doing the counting and how you define the market, debit surpassed credit:

a) in 2000
b) in late 2004
c) not yet, but by early 2006

Sources:
a) Dove Consulting as announced in its Oct. 25 news release with The American Bankers Association; includes volume of purchases made in-store only; projections built on research with 3000 consumers
b) The Nilson Report, Sept. 2005 (#842); includes any purchase transaction, in-store, phone, or online; projections built on industry data, much of it provided by the major card brands; credit totals include card purchases made with proprietary cards, such as oil or department stores; debit totals include signature- and PIN-based traditional debit card and prepaid cards
c) SourceMedia's Cards & Payments, Oct. 2005 citing data from its sister publication, ATM & Debit News; projections built on industry data and like Nilson includes proprietary store cards in the credit totals and signature- and PIN-based transactions in debit

The Numbers
The Nilson Report had debit ending the year with 19.7 billion transactions, 600 million more than the 19.1 billion credit card transactions (see note 1). Market share was 51% for debit, 49% for credit. Whereas ATM & Debit News showed credit transactions still running ahead of debit, with 22.1 billion for credit and 17.5 billion for debit (see note 2). For 2005, they project 23.5 billion for credit and 21 billion for debit. Extrapolating from the growth rates, debit should surpass credit in late 2006.

The total dollar volume of charges will continue to be dominated by credit. With more than double the average transaction size, $84 vs. $37 for debit, the share of total dollars spent was nearly 69% for credit vs. 31% for debit, according to Nilson.

It’s helpful to look at these huge numbers on a per household basis. Across all 108 million U.S. households, the average annual number of debit and credit card transactions is 360 per year, or 30 per month.

Looking at debit only, the average across all households is 180 transactions per month. But considering that only about 60% of the country is an active debit user, the average per active household is closer to 300 per year, or almost 1 per day. Unlike credit transactions which are divied up among the 12 cards carried by the average customer, many of the debit transactions occur with plastic from the customer's primary financial institution. This creates a rich data stream for online banking statements and analytics.

Opportunities
As good as this debit data stream is, it's only half the picture without the credit card transactions, especially since the larger purchases still tend to go on a credit card. This is one of the places where account aggregation could play a key role by offering a simple way to aggregate all card transactions into one online storage facility. The full picture, incorporating all plastic volume, will create an information stream that is highly valued and difficult for competitors to match. And by knowing you customers card habits, you can make successful pitches to steal the receivables from competitors.

• Debit rewards: Although debit card spending is not as lucrative as credit cards, especially with the downward trend in debit interchange, major players are still looking to reward spending. Yesterday we looked at Citibank’s ThankYou Points program that offers 1 point for every $2 of spending on signature debit and 1 point for every $3 spent on PIN-based debit. Assuming that two-thirds of debit spending goes to signature, the average customer would earn about 3000 points per year, valued at $25 if redeemed for a gift certificate or $50 if saved and used towards a $400 coach ticket (25,000 points required).
• Credit line cross-selling: How do you make debit cards as profitable as credit cards? Attaching a line of credit to the account. Overdraft credit lines are extremely popular and are even more desirable with heavy debit users who increased transaction levels increase the chances of overdrafting the account. The increased outstandings could help fund a rewards program, therefore improving retention and increasing interest income at the same time.
• Alerts and other messages: If you are a typical debit user, racking up 25 transactions per month, and with no 25-day grace period like credit card users, you will have a great appreciation for a bank that keeps you informed of your debit transaction flow. Transaction confirmations are the simplest and most valuable message. But there is also demand for more advanced alerts that would inform users when a debit card transaction appears out of character (possible fraud) or if holds from hotels or gas companies may significantly impact checking account balances. These value-added alerts could be packaged with rewards and lifetime statement archives into a premium online banking program priced from $3.95 to $9.95/mo (or $39 to $99 per year).

For more information:
Online Banking Report #96/97, Account Aggregation v3.0
Online Banking Report #118: Lifetime Statement Archives
Online Banking Report #109: Pricing (premium products)
The Nilson Report, #842, September 2005
Cards & Payments, Debit Card Report, Oct. 2005, pp. 22-26

Notes:
1. The Nilson Report credit card volume includes Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, proprietary store cards, and gas station cards. It does not include proprietary T&E cards such as Diners Club, Universal Air Travel Plan, car rental cards, or phone cards
2. SourceMedia's debit cards include Visa, MasterCard, and cards issued by financial institution and used through EFT networks.

-- JB

David Spade's "no guy" has helped make Capital One's No Hassle credit card customer service parody one of the most-recognized consumer advertising campaigns of the year. According to the company, the commercials have helped lift the Capital One's name recognition to 98% (see note 1).

Along the same lines,
American Express is test marketing a no-fee automatic-rewards card called Clear. The card, which is available through its website (click on inset for closeup), features no fees (late, overlimit, annual) and an automatic rewards fulfillment, a $25 cash card every time you spend $2500 on the card. Cardmembers also receive a free credit report and credit score each year.

Finally, Citibank is about to jump on the back-to-basics movement with its no-late-fee Simplicity card expected to debut this week at an event in New York City (note 2). The card will come in three flavors: plain, cash-back, and rewards. The bank's website does not contain information on the card yet, but there is a separate customer service number listed that features a "press 0" option to be immediately connected to a live service rep.

Analysis
Although many consumers put up with penalty fees, there is always a point where they just won't take it anymore, especially if lower-cost options are readily available. That's why Blockbuster, faced with increasing competition from NetFlix, eBay, and WalMart, took a significant revenue hit when it eliminated late fees in its core movie rental business.

Citibank and the others are looking to win back consumers that have migrated to debit cards and/or credit unions to avoid penalty fees and interest charges. The cards also appeal to those with a strong aversion to fees either because they've had problems in the past or because they simply cannot stomach bank fees of any type.

--JB

Notes:
1. USA Today, 13 March 2005
2. Citi Simplicty was launched 14 October 2005
    - read the press release
    - see the website, www.citisimplicity.com

We're not sure whether this is incredibly brilliant or insanely stupid, but Bank of America gets high marks for creativity with its latest debit card enhancement. The bank's "Keep the Change" program allows debit card users to round up their purchase transactions to the nearest dollar, with the difference added to a savings account automatically.

To give it a bit more excitement, BofA will add a 5% bonus to each savings deposit. Since the average round-up amount is 50 cents, the bonus costs the bank just 2.5 cents per transaction, a very cost effective incentive program, if it works.

To kick things off, Bank of America will match the round-up amount 100% for the first 3 months. That will be like giving everyone a 50-cent discount on each transaction. That should spur signups for the program. 

Analysis
The overall concept of automatic or forced savings is excellent. The bank's press release tosses out stats on the recent negative savings rate and quotes David Bach, the relatively well-known author of "The Automatic Millionaire," a best-selling book that espouses automated investing.

The webpage touting the program is attractive and well written. There are few items in the fine print that users will find potentially disturbing:

1. You must visit a branch to enroll (ouch!)
2. The savings account pays just 0.50% and will likely have a service charge unless a minimum balance is maintained (e.g., $300 minimum for Regular Savings)
3. The savings account has a $100 minimum opening balance requirement
4. The bank's contribution will be made annually, and only if you keep your account open for a year

But despite the fine print landmines, we like how "Keep the Change" introduces consumers to the concept of automatic savings and helps them store away a few bucks a month. However, most people need more than nickels and dimes going into their savings account. To be more effective, this program needs an easy way for consumers to add to their savings amount beyond the monthly debit card cash.

For example, a month-end email detailing the total debit card change deposited could include a mechanism that allows users to designate an additional amount to be transferred into their savings account.

We don't expect anyone else to copy this program, so it gives BofA a unique selling point for their checking accounts and debit cards. It should make a little money for the bank from increased debit usage and savings account growth, and it will give users a few extra dollars at the end of the year, so what's the harm. But if you are truly interested in spurring automatic savings among your customers, there are more straightforward approaches that should be equally effective and far less complicated (see Online Banking Report, 120/121 for more on automatic savings).

Ref: Screenshot of Bank of America's Keep the Change page on 5 Oct 2005

--JB

Financial institutions have done amazing things with their websites since Bank of America launched the first major commercial banking site 11 years ago (Sept. 1994). However, other than single-market credit unions and community banks, there hasn't been much attention paid to localizing the content to appeal to more narrow geographic segments, for example the customers in a single city or neighborhood.

Beginning a year ago, American Express began a campaign to bring specialized city-based cards to major metro areas. The cards are intended for the 25-to-35 year-old hip urbanites. The card design, marketing, and rewards all cater to the dining out, clubbing, and museum-going single scene.

The first card, IN:NYC <innyc.com> launched a year ago (30 Sep 2004) and was discussed in a front-page WSJ article today. The company won't disclose any results, but did say that 90% of its customers have not previously owned an American Express card, an important statistic for a company worried about cannibalizing its other products.

The IN:NYC card has its own look, website, and rewards program focusing on unique beyond-the-velvet-rope experiences in local clubs and eateries. In an interesting viral marketing strategy, friends are able to pool points in order to qualify for bigger rewards, such as a VIP table in a hot club.

The key cardmember benefits include:

• 0% Introductory APR for 6 months on purchases and balance transfers
• No annual fee
• Option to carry a balance
• One INSIDE Rewards point for every dollar spent
• INSIDE Double points on City Essentials

The second city card was launched this month (19 Sep 2005) in Chicago. The IN:Chicago website is still a static billboard (see inset). Another card is in the works for Los Angeles, IN:LA, which is expected to launch later this year, although the company has yet to secure the rights to the website, inla.com.

Action Items
Many large banks alter their website content by state. However, the customization generally does not extend beyond minor pricing differences.   

To better compete with local institutions, banks should use their websites to deliver highly-customized geographic content. Event calendars, discounts, and other local event marketing could create better brand recognition and more word-of-mouth advertising opportunities. It would also give local branch staff more ownership of "their" website. Banks could use an easily remembered URL such as <ny.wamu.com> to house their local versions.

--JB

Some bad habits are harder to kick than others. In banking, the preapproved credit card mailing is apparently as addictive as nicotine. How else can you explain the record 1.4 billion solicitations mailed in Q1 2005 according to researcher Synovate? (">see previous article on 2004 mail volumes)

We can't speak for the economics of the recent mailings. On a macro level, things are going pretty well. Other than the sub-prime specialists, most credit card companies have weathered the economic slowdown of the past years admirably. However, we still think the online channel is vastly underused as a credit marketing vehicle.

Analysis
First, we'll crunch some numbers to compare traditional direct mail (DM) to online marketing (OM):

***DM***
1.5 billion pieces times $1 per piece = $1.5 billion in marketing
Fraud = 0.04% x 1.5 billion = 60,000 bad accounts x $2500 = $150 million
Teaser rate = 3% subsidy x $1.2 billion outstanding = $360,000 million
Total cost of program = $2 billion

===> Response = 0.4% times 1.5 billion = 600,000 good accounts

DM acquisition cost = $333 per good account

***OM***
30 million online banking households x $5 for 90-days of online credit offers = $150 million
Teaser rate = none
Fraud = 0.04% x 30 million =  12,000 bad accounts x $2500 = $30 million
Total cost of program = $180 million

===> Response = 30 million x 2% = 600,000 accounts

OM acquisition cost = $30 per good account

Implications
Depending on a multitude of factors, a credit card issuer can still make an account costing $333 profitable over its lifetime, but it's not going to be easy, especially with costly rewards programs demanded by most good customers these days.

Why not divert some of the direct mail budget to online marketing programs that eliminate the paper from the equation?

Every credit-worthy online banking customer should have preapproved credit available to them at all times. And it should be very visible when they are conducting activities that could indicate a potential need for extra cash, such as paying bills.

Alternatively, preapproved offers could be timed to appear at login when account balances dip below historical levels indicating potential cash flow difficulties for the consumer.

The beauty of this approach is that it's more about timing than price. Consumers needing $500 for the orthodontist today will be more concerned about a fast, convenient advance rather than playing the field to bag a 0% teaser rate and/or maximum rewards points.

The twin benefits of online credit marketing:

• lower marketing expenses
• less dependency on teaser rates and rewards programs

For an extended discussion of online credit card and loan originations, see:

• OBR 66, Creating an Open Lending Platform
• OBR 72, Online Lending Gains Momentum
• OBR 73, Best of Web Winners in Online Lending
• OBR 104, Lessons from the Credit Card Marketers

Online Banking Report subscribers will receive updates to these reports this fall. 

-- JB

Our new Visa debit card arrived today from U.S. Bancorp. As we were reaching for the phone to activate it, we noticed a new URL on the holder <usbank.com/activate>.

Curious as to how the bank handled security on the process, we went online for activation. It turns out you must be enrolled for online banking. If so, you simply login, navigate to customer service, choose ATM/debit card options, type in your card number, security code on back, and expiration date (click on the inset to see the full screenshot). .

Analysis
This feature certainly falls into the "nice to have" category rather than "must have." The two-minutes it takes to phone in for ATM card activation once every two years is not on anyone's pet-peeve list. And doing it online doesn't even save much time, if any.

But, the bigger issue is making sure that all the routine customer service issues can be handled online, so customers think to go there first to manage their account. Overall, that behavior will save the bank money and if implemented well, improve customer satisfaction.

--JB

American Express, long one of the savviest financial marketers, recently updated the look of its routine "payment received" email confirmation.

It's a nice change from the typical text-only message. Key features include:
- last 5 digits of card number for verification
- account login
- balance transfer offer
- Blue Cash offer

But the "Dear Cardmember" salutation is a mistake.

With all the hysteria about phishing and email fraud, the opening should be personalized, both to differentiate itself from SPAM and to insulate cardmembers (and itself) from phishing attacks. This is especially important in a communication which includes a built-in login button, an inviting target for phishers.

American Express does provide several unique identifiers: the last 5 digits of the card number, the payment date, and payment amount. But those aren't instantly recognizable to all cardmembers. The combination of account name and the last few digits is much more effective (see Citibank article).

Grades
A  for look & feel
A- for cross sales (two offers might be a bit much)
A for self-service with five links to popular online card management functions
B- for security (last 5 digits included, but no cardholder name, no mention of how to verify the authenticity)
--------------------------
A- overall

--JB

If you'd like to learn more about the bank and financial services email trends, check out Email Marketing in Financial Services: Leveraging the Inbox from our sister publication, the Online Banking Report.

Now that Visa, MasterCard, and American Express and others are actively putting so-called contactless cards into the hands of consumers (Chase's blink for instance), it's not such a far-fetched thought that these radio-frequency (RF) cards could be used as the extra factor for online banking login.

PCs equipped with RF card readers could read the user's plastic, allowing the user to log in securely with just a username/password, or conceivably just a password.

But PC makers aren't going to add card reading technology, no matter how cheap it is, just for online banking. But if merchants began insisting on the RF readers to cut down on card fraud for online purchases, perhaps with the associations agreeing that a purchase made with a PC-based RF reader qualified as a "card present" transaction, then the technology could take off.

Using contactless cards online could be more beneficial than using them for off-line purchases. In the physical world, the contactless card merely saves a few seconds compared to swiping it through a conventional terminal. But online the savings could be more dramatic, potentially allowing the customer to skip typing their card and verification number into a web forms. 

--JB

Synovate reported the results of their annual tracking study of U.S. credit card solicitations. Like the number of branches, the totals just keep growing, despite the inevitable decline in their effectiveness.

In 2004, the U.S. card issuers sent a record 5.25 billion solicitations, to about 75 million households (71% of all U.S. households). It averaged 5.7 offers per month, or 70 annually. And you don't need a degree in economics to predict the results: record low response rate of 0.4%, down 2/3 from as recently as 6 years ago (1.2% response in 1998, see chart above).

Analysis
It's almost surprising that the average household gets less than 6 card offers per month, we've gotten that many in a day. And no one here has responded to an offer since the last century. 

But I digress. The point is that financial services marketing departments all over the country are looking for cost-effective alternatives. If you figure traditional DM costs $1 per piece when you load in all costs, the acquisition cost has increased from $80/acct in 1998 to $250/acct in 2004. 

And thanks to the spam overload and phishing hype, it doesn't seem like email will be the answer anytime soon.

What's left? It's that captive audience called online bankers. Here is a group of customers you know extremely well, thanks to tracking their bill pay activity, and that come to you several times a week on average. Grab some of that DM budget this year and show what kind of sales you can deliver. 

--JB

In 1999, we published a report entitled Virtual Checking Accounts: On the Web it's the plastic that matters (OBR 50/51, July 27, 1999). Our hypothesis was that web-based access, electronic transfers, and a Visa or MasterCard were really the primary transaction tools going forward.

It has happened as fast as we thought it might. Two early proponents of this strategy, WingspanBank and Juniper, really never got off the ground, though Juniper did create an impressive credit card portfolio that was recently sold to Barclays.

Fast-forward to six years, HigherOne is working with 13 college campuses to offer its OneAccount, combing college ID, MasterCard debit, financial aid depository, electronic funding, and of course, website access.

Analysis
It's a trend worth watching. As today's teens and twenty-somethings move through their inevitable financial growth, they are going to think less about the bricks-and-mortar of THEIR BANK, and more about the website and plastic.

If you'd like to learn more about the future of online banking, check out the Online Banking & Bill Pay Forecast: Current, future and historical usage: 1994 to 2016 from our sister publication, The Online Banking Report.

PayPal now marketing Buyer Credit directly to buyers

Ebay’s PayPal unit already offers transaction accounts, interest and non-interest bearing, debit cards, credit cards (through First USA), online bill payment, person-to-person payments, interbank transfers, merchant transaction processing, investment accounts, insurance, and indirect lending. About the only thing missing from their line-up, revolving credit and mortgage lending (see Timeline, Table 4, opposite). Correction, make that just mortgage lending.  This summer the auction payments giant added a revolving credit option called PayPal Buyer Credit (see screenshot below). Until recently, it’s been mostly targeted to sellers who are encouraged to offer it as a financing alternative on their auction listings. Depending on the program sellers pay 0.50% to 3.75% of the selling price to fund the financing. The most common offer on eBay during the pre-holiday rush is no payments/no interest until April 2005 (see screenshot opposite). If the buyer takes advantage of the offer, it will cost the seller 0.50% of the purchase price, and the seller will receive the entire purchase price, less PayPal fees, immediately (see Table 5, for more seller costs).

Users are encouraged to apply for Buyer Credit in advance. Assuming they are approved PayPal users can select Buyers Credit as their funding source when checking out or sending money from PayPal. Buyer Credit can be used to pay anywhere that accepts PayPal, it could even be used to send money to an individual, but they must be a Premier or Business member. Buyer Credit is provided by GE Capital Consumer Card Co. at an annual percentage rate of 20.8%, which increases to 24.75% if the user becomes delinquent (late twice during a six-month period). The rate is variable at prime plus 15.5%, with a 20.8% minimum. Late fees vary from $15 to $35 depending on outstanding balance.

Table 4

Product Timeline

PayPal’s moves into banking

Table 5

Seller’s Cost to Offer Special Financing

Minimum
Cost*     Purchase              Offer

0.50%      $199                     No payments for 3 months and no interest if paid in 3 months

1.75%      $199                     No interest if paid in 6 months

3.75%      $199                     No interest if paid in 12 months

0.60%      $999                     12 fixed monthly payments at 12.9% APR

1.50%      $1999                  24 fixed monthly payments at 12.9% APR

Source: PayPal, 12/13/04             *Percent of purchase price

For more information

• Beware the Doves? Reflections on the PayPal/GE Consumer Finance Alliance, by Scott Loftesness, Glenbrook Partners, June 2004,  http://www.glenbrook.com/opinions/beware-the-doves.html  
• PayPal Buyer Credit info for buyers,  www.pages.ebay.com/paypal/buyercredit/buyer
• PayPal Buyer Credit info for sellers  www.pages.ebay.com/paypal/buyercredit/seller  
• PayPal/Providian Visa card  https://www.paypalcreditcard.com/    

Table 6

Recent PayPal Stats

million unless otherwise stated

Source: Ebay financial statements, Online Banking Report, 11/04

MBNA Egg.com?

The Wall Street Journal today reported that MBNA was considering a purchase of Egg, the UK-based Internet bank and credit card issuer. While the primary purpose of the acquisition would be to pick up the bank's 2.8 million card accounts, MBNA would likely consider expanding the Egg.com Internet banking franchise into the United States.

We think the U.S. market is ready for another innovative Internet banking brand. Look at what ING Direct (USA) has accomplished in under four years: built a successful franchise with more than one million accounts and $16 billion in deposits (year-end 2003).