June 29, 2010
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News: MBNA Offers New SPCA Affinity Credit Card
As banks are forced to deal with new credit card and financial reform rules, they are focusing their attentions to more creative measures in raising income. A growing phenomenon has been the affinity card. An affinity card is a credit card that allows the cardholder to contribute to their favorite non-profit organization or charity. Some banks offer a number of different affinity cards each connected to a different cause. Still others offer one card that has several different causes. Most, however, are designated to one cause and the cardholder chooses the bank and card desired. The most recently offered affinity card comes from the MBNA Ireland bank, a subsidiary of the Bank of America. MBNA Ireland has team up with the Dublin SPCA to offer its new Visa Dublin SPCA Credit Card.
For every new Visa Dublin SPCA credit card account that is opened, MBNA will make a contribution to the Dublin SPCA. The SPCA will also receive a small percentage of each purchase transaction that is processed with the Visa Dublin SPCA affinity credit card. Furthermore, cardholders can enjoy a free cup of tea or coffee at the Central Bark Café. The Dublin SPCA has been in existence for over 170 years and is an animal shelter that cares for all animals including those that have lost their home. It is Ireland's largest animal welfare organization.
Not only will the SPCA affinity card benefit animals, but the cardholder will also enjoy some very attractive amenities. Most importantly, the card offers 1.9 percent APR for 10 months on balance transfers from the opening date of the account and a 14.9 percent APR on purchases. The SPCA card is not the only affinity credit card offered by the MBNA Ireland. MBNA specialized in marketing affinity cards that support such organizations as the Celtic Football Club and the Irish Farmers Association. The company's customer based includes over 7 million cardholders.