18 November 2003
DUBAI - ABN-Amro yesterday launched the UAEs first credit card specifically targeted to travellers in conjunction with MasterCard.
Called the Smart Traveller Credit Card, the new MasterCard credit card from ABN-Amro offers travellers an exclusive range of travel-related benefits, including up to 50 per cent discounts on the tickets of companions in select airlines.
Romesh Sobti, executive vice-president, country representative India and head of strategic value business Asia and the Middle East of ABN-Amro, said: "ABN-Amro is aggressively growing its customer franchise in key regional markets, including the 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. This product is another strategic step in demonstrating our commitment to the UAE."
Smart Traveller Credit Cards benefits include an impressive list of partner offers from Thai Airways, Alitalia, Accor Group of Hotels, Shangri-La and Hertz. There is also comprehensive travel and emergency medical insurance for members that comes from Oman Insurance apart from a 24 hour personal travel assistant and concierge service that assists travellers to booking everything from flights to baby-sitters and limousines to restaurant in the countries where the they are travelling. It also has its air miles programme called SMiles.
The card is chip enabled and offers cardholders a complimentary priority pass that provides them access to 400 airport executive lounges around the world. The annual fee for the card is Dh400, while existing ABN-Amro cardholders can subscribe to the card by paying just Dh200.
Sonny Sannon, MasterCards president for the South Asia, Middle East and Africa region, said that ABN-Amro was quick to recognise the USP of a travel focused credit card.
Burhan Khan, head of ABN-Amros consumer banking, said that his bank 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 cardholders. We are confident that the card will be very popular among all travellers as it provides real value," he added.
ABN-Amro was the first bank in the UAE to introduce the first chip-enabled credit card in the UAE market. The bank continues to follow its strategy to offer differentiated, innovative products and travellers will not find a more powerful card than Smart Traveller Credit Card, he added.
Speaking on the partnership, Mohammed Belarj, senior vice-president and general manager of 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 very closely with ABN-Amro to bring advanced MasterCard chip technology to the UAE."
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© Press Release 2005
