More affinity card programs initiated by CardPartner

12 new affinity credit card programs were launched by CardPartner, a New York-based company that works with nonprofits and other groups to offer branded Visa credit cards. In the last 9 months the company launched over 100 similar programs for nonprofits that vary from Gilda’s Club New York City to Guide Dogs for the Blind.

The company explains its growth against the background of ubiquitous meltdown by its focusing on helping small groups compete in a crowded marketplace. Mark Levitt, senior director at CardPartner and a former executive at affinity credit card giant MBNA Bank, notes that while major credit card issuers give their preference to larger groups as long as it pays off for their expenses on large marketing campaigns CardPartner enjoys popularity with nonprofits and small groups which can control their own card marketing by leveraging existing social networking channels, email, websites, events, and other media to reach members and supporters.

Free online marketing tools available with CardPartner as well as virtual business environment attract small groups allowing them to profitably offer affinity credit cards. Besides, similarly to the conventional affinity card programs CardPartner pays groups a fee for every card activation plus a share of ongoing charge volume. CardPartner affinity credit cards are issued by UMB Financial Corporation, one of the largest independent banks in the United States.