Visa Inc awards UnionBank cards for 2009 performance

MANILA, Philippines - UnionBank was recently recognized by Visa Inc. for its 2009 outstanding performance in its credit and debit cards businesses. The awards are for the following:

Credit Card Business:     

• Highest Ave Spend per Card Growth

    for Platinum Visa

• Highest Transaction Volume Growth 

    for Gold Visa

Debit Card Business:

• Highest Transaction Volume Growth

• Highest Payment Volume Growth

Launched in 2008, the UnionBank Platinum Visa offers a dedicated global concierge, a Travel Program consisting of travel accident insurance, global emergency assistance, mileage program, travel rewards and adventures and an airport lounge at Club Manila. It also boasts of a discount program covering world renowned dining and hotel merchants. Its golf access program covers over 200 golf courses with yearly complimentary tee-offs. Having been recognized as the highest average spend per card growth for Visa Platinum category, the average spend per card of UnionBank’s Platinum Visa cardholders has grown by 41percent from 2008 to 2009.

The UnionBank Gold Card which has been recognized by Visa Inc. for two years in a row for having the highest transaction volume growth among Visa Gold cards, has grown in transaction volume by an average of 14 percent for the past two years.

The above growth performances of UnionBank’s Platinum and Gold credit cards have been achieved amidst the credit card industry’s flat receivables growth in 2009.

For the UnionBank Visa Debit Cards, the increased card usage is attributed to the bank’s aggressive marketing campaigns. UnionBank’s Visa Debit Cards recorded the highest transaction volume growth of 43 percent and highest payment volume growth of 45 percent. Among the bank’s issued Visa Debit Cards are UnionBank EON, e-Wallet, and e-Card. The bank has more than 2.6 million Debit Visa cardholders.

Shown (from left) are: Mags Vazquez, AVP-Cards Marketing, UnionBank; Edwin R. Bautista, EVP-Transactional Banking, UnionBank; Justo A. Ortiz, chairman and CEO, UnionBank; Iain Jamieson, the new country head for Visa Philippines, Manuel G. Santiago Jr., SVP and general manager for Credit Cards, UnionBank; and Ramon G. Duarte, SVP-Retail Product Development, UnionBank.