South Africans have spent a record number of eBucks over the 2010 festive season, shelling out over eB890m (equivalent to R89-million) on a wide variety of items.

This represents an 18.7% increase over 2009's festive spend of eB750m and echoes similar growth figures reported by the retail and wholesale industry for December 2010.

eBucks, FNB's rewards virtual currency, can be spent in a number of locations, including the online eBucks Shop, through eBucks Travel, eBucks' online partners, on FNB's cellphone banking channel and at eBucks in-store partners using your eBucks card.

According to eBucks' CEO Jolande Duvenage, eBucks members have proved that using their eBucks rewards to get that something extra – for free –remained top of mind over the festive season (October 2010 – December 2010).

"eBucks members really did go to town, spending their eBucks on a wide variety of items, including vouchers, mobile airtime, gadgets, movie tickets and kitchen appliances to name a few," she says.

This is the second year running that eBucks members have chosen gift vouchers as their number one reward of choice, with Woolworths proving to be a hit with eBucks members.

Gadgets also proved to be all the rage this year – with the most popular being the Amazon Kindle 3, Apple iPads, iPods and iPhones, and High Definition DSTV PVR Decoders.

"The revamped eBucks online shop and FNB's cellphone banking channel - where prepaid airtime and electricity can be purchased - experienced very strong growth amongst eBucks members. In particular, shoppers using the FNB cellphone banking channel to redeem rewards experienced a 25% year-on-year increase in spend," Duvenage says.

eBucks also saw a marked increase in the number of members using their eBucks cards at point of sale over the festive season, particularly as a result of members wanting to earn rewards while doing the necessary festive shopping with earn partners. Members, who are also FNB customers, also earned eBucks when they paid for their purchases using their FNB cards.

"An interesting trend was the increase in eBucks spent on fuel over this period.  Many members used their eBucks to fill their tanks over the holiday period,  ensuring that they had just that little bit extra to spend on their family holiday, without having to worry too much about travelling costs," adds Duvenage.

"eBucks strives to make its member experiences quick, convenient and enjoyable ones so they continue to return and spend their accumulated eBucks with our partners through our redemption channels, including via the eBucks online Shop, through eBucks Travel, via eBucks' online partners, FNB's cellphone banking channel and at eBucks in-store partners using your eBucks card," she adds.

"eBucks together with FNB, also rewarded members over the festive season, when members used their FNB cards to pay for their festive goodies. So, whether our members buy vouchers, extend their wallets with airtime or fuel purchases, or save up their eBucks for that must-have gadget of the year, it's clear that eBucks will remain the rewards programme of choice in South Africa," Duvenage  concludes.

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.