"Hansabankas" is the First to Issue Motorcar Payment Cards in Lithuania
2005-04-06 Back
The Bank "Hansabankas" belonging to the largest financial group in the Baltic States was the first in Lithuania to introduce credit payment cards specially designed for motorcar drivers. The first motorcar payment cards were issued together with the representatives of "Citroën" and "Subaru" in Lithuania. Later the family of motorcar payment cards may be extended. Since all payment cards belong to VISA system, are provided with credits and chips, they represent the so-called safer and more up-to-date generation of payment cards.
According to Vitalij Rancev, "Hansabankas" Payment Cards Department Director, despite the fact, that the number of payment cards in Lithuania exceeds LTL 2,7 million and their market is close to saturation, credit cards still account only for mere 3 per cent of all payment cards.
"It means that the time has come for introducing improved and more individualised products, which satisfy the needs of clients better. Having issued credit cards of new generation a year ago, today we are making one more step offering the innovation to the market - credit cards designed specially for motorcar drivers", - said V.Rancev.
New cards have special design bearing "Citroën" and "Subaru" motorcar logos; they cover a package of services targeted towards drivers of these motorcars.
"However, not only the range of services offered is of importance. In concert with our partners - "Subaru" and "Citroën" representatives in Lithuania - we have developed exclusive cards for our common clients, which enable to distinguish their likings and passion to a particular motorcar. Being well aware how loyal are "Citroën" and "Subaru" drivers to their motorcars, we believe that they will be pleased to hold an individual card emphasising their likings", - said V.Rancev.
"Citroën VISA" and "Subaru VISA" credit cards will enable the clients to use the credit and to benefit from grace period, which means that for 25 days of effecting a settlement with a payment card interest on used credit will not be calculated. These clients will be able to use the credit for the entire period of validity of the credit card - 3 years and to decide freely on the time of full or partial repayment of used credit.
"Hansabankas" will insure motorcar payment card holders and their family members travelling abroad with the insurance company "Lietuvos draudimas" providing them with insurance cover against medical costs and accidents.
Motorcar payment card partners - "UAB Veho" and "UAB Japoniškų markių automobilių centras" - will provide payment card holders with discounts for the acquisition of new motorcars, motorcar repair and maintenance works, original spare parts and accessories.
All motorcar payment cards will be covered by "Hansabankas" security programme - the system of services enabling to recover possible losses incurred within 24 hours of blocking the payment card in the event of its unauthorised use by third parties.
At the end of the first quarter, "Hansabankas" had issued 900,1 thousands of active payment cards of which 62,1 thousand were credit cards. "Hansabankas" is the leader of credit cards in Lithuania. The average number of payment cards issued by all Lithuanian banks in January of this year stood at about 2,7 million units, of which about 34 per cent of cards were issued by "Hansabankas".
