eBucks, the reward of choice, which has long been recognised as South Africa's leading rewards programme has stepped up its operation to also include a focus on acquisition for its biggest partner, First National Bank (FNB).

Rewards programmes are typically focused on driving customer retention and activity and eBucks has an enviable track record in this regard with research showing that eBucks customers are 50% more profitable than non-eBucks members.

Lezanne Human, CEO of eBucks, said: "Worldwide there are only a handful of rewards programmes that have successfully driven acquisition for partners, and most of them are not necessarily equally focused on driving retention. We believe that the new strategy will be successful in both retention and acquisition."

The current global financial crisis has forced many institutions to re-evaluate their product offering and FNB is no different. Always quick to respond with innovative solutions, eBucks has added a new layer to its award winning rewards programme and qualifying members are now able to take advantage of significant eBucks Discounts.

"We intend to drive market share for FNB by offering discounts so good that you would be prepared to move your bank to get them - like 15% off on groceries and 20% off on flights. These discounts are available to FNB customers who are eBucks members and exhibit specifically defined behaviour", added Human

All of the most popular items in the eBucks shop (airtime, movie tickets, kulula flights and Woolworths vouchers), will be available at discounted prices to qualifying members.

The extent of the discount depends on whether or not payment is in rands or eBucks, thereby boosting the value of the eBucks virtual currency.

Many rewards programmes tend to either offer you rewards currency or discounts. Where a programme offers both, very few programmes worldwide allow the rewards currency to be directly used to pay for the discounted products/services.

In addition, the eBucks shop has been transformed into a fully accessible online mall with the introduction of the rand payment option.

Over R1 billion worth of eBucks has been allocated by partners since FirstRand Bank launched eBucks a few years ago. The lion's share was allocated by First National Bank (FNB), eBucks' biggest partner. This incredible milestone is testimony to eBucks' unrivalled position as South Africa's leading rewards programme.

eBucks' member base is very active, with an average spend to earn ratio well exceeding 80%. The international benchmark for developed nations is 70%.

For consumers, eBucks is an aspirational brand that gives its members endless choice. The programme offers South Africa's widest choice of spend opportunities as well as an extensive range of spend channels. eBucks can be spent in the eBucks shop, which was recently named as one of the two top online malls in the country, at eBucks auctions, through eBucks travel, with eBucks' online partners or at eBucks' in-store partners with the eBucks card.

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.