The eBucks Rewards Programme has announced the launch of the eBucks Card, a debit-card based initiative that will provide members with eBucks functionality in the real world.

With the eBucks Card, members can enjoy even more choice and purchasing power in a bricks and mortar environment. This will be achieved through in-store partners such as CNA, Look & Listen, Arthur Kaplan Jewellers, Spec-Savers and Golfers Club. Through partnerships with these retailers, members will be able to both earn and spend eBucks in the real world. Historically eBucks have been mainly earned through financial services partners, however the introduction of the eBucks Card and these in-store partners signals the start of what is expected to become a strong presence in a variety of sectors.

Since launch eBucks has successfully grown in many areas, firmly positioning itself as South Africa's leading rewards programme. A 'dot.com' achiever, acknowledged by many for its success where other initiatives have failed, the programme has done much in growing online shopping knowledge in its members through channels that are customer-friendly. However, in the eBucks strategy, virtual redemption was only ever considered the first of many channels. The eBucks Card is the next channel, and management have stated others will follow.

Lezanne Human, CEO of eBucks says, "Even though South Africa is seeing an ever-growing market of people comfortable with virtual activity, there is still a strong desire for that which we can feel, see and touch. Up to now members have only been able to spend eBucks virtually, however with the eBucks Card, members can simply walk into one of the partner's stores, swipe their eBucks card and experience instant and real gratification. Member rewards have been taken to a new level and the entire experience made that much more tangible."

As the FirstRand Group's original ecommerce venture, eBucks uses cutting edge technology in the development of all its projects, both on- and offline. In this case eBucks utilized state-of-the-art technology of First National Bank, one of it biggest partners and fellow division of FirstRand Bank. This enabled the creation of a card that not only provides an additional channel for the rewards programme, but that is also up to the highest banking standards in both security as well as transactional ability.

Human said that in discussions with their new partners, best of breed brands and the meeting of customers desires were key factors. However, the calibre of their existing partners and the sophistication of their technology were also substantial draw-cards.

A substantial take-up is expected from the existing eBucks base and new registrations are also forecast to increase. However Human states strongly that the eBucks Card is not an acquisition tool, but an additional channel for members to enjoy. "We have over 700 000 members and to date more than R285m has been allocated for members to spend. Of this, more than R90m worth of eBucks has been spent to date. A rewards programme is only a success when it is utilised and valued by its members. Our members experience the programme best when they complete the loop and spend the eBucks earned. We have designed the programme to encourage this as much as possible through benefits such as non-expiry, the ability to save or top-up and now an added spending channel. Our members have proved this programme's worth, and we are extremely excited about further developing it for them, giving members this 'real world' way of rewarding themselves."

About eBucks:

eBucks, the rewards programme offered by First National Bank (FNB) and RMB Private Bank, is acknowledged as one of South Africa's leading rewards programmes with highly active members spending in excess of 80% of the eBucks earned in any given month.