Free companion tickets, complimentary international airport lounge access card, comprehensive travel & emergency medical insurance, personal travel services, just some of the benefits available on the new ABN AMRO MasterCard.
Dubai, Nov 17, 2003: ABN AMRO, the first bank to introduce chip based credit cards in the GCC, today launched another unique product - the Smart Traveller Credit Card. The new credit card is innovatively designed to offer travellers an exclusive range of travel-related benefits. The product is distinctly different from other credit cards available in the market and is being issued in conjunction with MasterCard International.
Smart Traveller Credit Card’s unique benefits include an impressive list of partner offers from Thai Airways, Alitalia, Accor Group of Hotels, Shangri-La and Hertz, comprehensive travel & emergency medical insurance, SMiles – Smart Traveller Credit Cards air miles programme, as well as a 24 hour personal travel assistant and concierge service that can assist travellers to booking everything from flights to babysitters, limousines to restaurant bookings in the country to which the cardholder is travelling. This innovative chip technology enabled travel card also offers cardholders a complimentary Priority Pass that provides access to 400 airport executive lounges around the world.
“ABN AMRO is aggressively growing its consumer franchise in key regional markets including UAE. We will tailor our product suite to meet local preferences across the region while simultaneously providing our customers benefits only a global bank can,” said Romesh Sobti, Executive Vice President, Country Representative, India & Head Strategic Value Business Asia & Middle East, ABN AMRO Bank N.V. “This product is another strategic step in demonstrating our commitment to UAE,” he added.
MasterCard issuance forms a corner stone of ABN AMRO’s strategy to become one of the leading players in the Credit Cards business.
“ABN AMRO is committed to offering customers innovative financial products supported by top quality service. We believe that the Smart Traveller Credit Card is truly innovative and raises the benchmark of benefits available to card holders. We are confident that the Smart Traveller credit card will be very popular among all travellers as it provides a real value,” said Burhan Khan, Head of Consumer Banking, ABN AMRO.
Year 2000 saw ABN AMRO introduce the first chip-enabled credit card in the UAE market. The bank continues to follow its strategy to offer differentiated, innovative products. The Smart Traveller Credit Card is a conscious effort to speak to a defined segment and bring value that this segment appreciates. Travellers will not find such powerful benefits on any comparable credit card product in the market.
Speaking on the partnership, Mohamed Belarj, Senior Vice President and General Manager, MasterCard International, Middle East and North Africa said: “MasterCard International and ABN AMRO have a track record of successful partnerships around the world and we are delighted to extend this relationship to the UAE. As innovators in the field of chip based smart cards, MasterCard has worked closely with ABN AMRO to bring advanced MasterCard Chip technology to the UAE.”
With three eye-catching designs to choose from, the card is available from the ABN AMRO’s branches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. Customers can also apply online at www.mysmarttraveller.com or via the ABN AMRO Non-Stop Banking hotline 8004466.
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Notes to Editors:
ABN AMRO is a leading international bank with total assets of approx. EUR 614 bn. It has over 3,000 branches in 66 countries and territories, and has a staff of about 105,000 full time equivalents worldwide. ABN AMRO is listed on the Euronext, London and New York stock exchanges.
ABN AMRO Bank operates through three Strategic Business Units, each responsible for managing a distinct client segment. Wholesale Clients provides integrated corporate and investment banking services to corporate, institutional and public sector clients worldwide. Consumer & Commercial Clients focuses on retail and SME clients in three home markets – the Netherlands, the US and Brazil and in a number of selected growth markets. Private Clients & Asset Management provides private banking services to wealthy clients and investment products to financial intermediaries and institutional clients.
About MasterCard International
MasterCard International is a leading global payments solutions company that provides a broad variety of innovative services in support of our global members’ credit, deposit access, electronic cash, business-to-business and related payment programs. MasterCard International manages a family of well-known, widely accepted payment cards brands including MasterCardâ, Maestroâ and Cirrusâ and serves financial institutions, consumers and businesses in over 210 countries and territories. The MasterCard award-winning Pricelessâ advertising campaign is now seen in 98 countries and in 46 languages, giving the MasterCard brand a truly global reach and scope.
For more information go to www.mastercardinternational.com.
For further information, please contact:
Deborah Cleary /Carmen El Hajj,
Bates PanGulf PR,
P.O. Box 3294,
Dubai,
UAE
Tel: +9714 2219 065;
Fax: +9714 2247839
email: publicrelations@batespangulf.com
© Press Release 2003
