Mastercard, Citibank & MTV launch new form of plastic
By Our Corporate Bureau | 05 Apr 2004
Mumbai:
A major change is being brought about in the look of
the credit card. MasterCard International, Citibank
and MTV have partnered to provide potential cardholders
a credit card that is distinct in its look. As against
the currently available straight-side shaped payment
cards, the MTV-Citibank-MasterCard card has a curved
contour, bold colours and a see-through pattern. The
card is a variant of MasterCard's globally successful
mc2 card design.
The
credit card offers young people a host of benefits from
over 300 merchants across the country including free
entry to some of the country's most popular nightclubs,
pubs and restaurants, discounts at popular bookstores,
on the purchase of mobile phones and mobile phone accessories,
popular apparel stores and gyms and health clubs.
The card has tie-ups with leading merchant establishments
including restaurants such as Domino's Pizza and T.G.I
Friday's, book stores such as Landmark and sports shops
including Fila and Spykar, Mikanos in Mumbai, Incognito,
Tantra in Kolkata and Purple Haze in Bangalore, which
offer exclusive discounts.
Sarvesh Sarup, country business manager, global consumer
group, Citigroup India, said, "The MTV-Citibank-MasterCard
co-branded card has emerged as the most preferred card
brand amongst the youth and the young at heart through
ongoing and relevant innovation. The MTV- Citibank-MasterCard
co-branded initiative was launched with the first-ever
feature programme providing yearlong benefits at some
of the most happening outlets. This was followed by
the immensely successful translucent card with its unique
design. We are confident that this new three corner
plastic, which is another first in the Indian market,
backed by exciting benefits, will find tremendous appeal
with the "young at heart" segment and further
consolidate our leadership position in the cards market."
Nitin Gupta, vice president and general manager, MasterCard
International, South Asia, said at the launch, "mc2
is a hugely successful innovation for MasterCard around
the world. This is the first time that we are launching
a variant of the MasterCard mc2 card in India, in partnership
with MTV and Citibank. We believe the card will become
a style accessory and a fashion statement with the young
and young at heart in India."
Alex
Kuruvilla, managing director, MTV Networks India, said,
"MTV
has
always stood for the shape of things to come, whether
it is innovative programming or the new cutting edge
MTV Citibank MasterCard Credit Card."
