Cleveland-based Charter One Financial Inc. has introduced the Make-A-Difference MasterCard, a debit card affinity program supporting charitable giving to eight child-related nonprofits.
The participating charities include: Make-A-Wish Foundation, March of Dimes, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Cure Search – National Childhood Cancer Foundation and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
Statement stuffers to existing customers, collateral materials in the bank’s 615 branch locations and promotions at events sponsored by the nonprofits will be used to promote the card, according to a bank spokesperson. The bank’s Web site (http://www.charterone.com) will also feature information about the program.
The card will be offered to existing bank customers free of charge, and positioned by Charter One as an option for all new checking account relationships. Existing customers will also be able to convert to a Make-A-Difference card from the MegaRewards MasterCard debit card.
Each of the eight charities will have a card bearing their respective logos and images. Two additional cards will also be offered: a generic Make-A-Difference card, for those who wish to give anonymously without displaying the choice charity logo; and a special card called One For All that supports all the organizations in the program.
Under the program, each time debit cardholders sign for purchases, a percentage of each transaction will be donated to the charity the consumer has chosen. Donations will be presented to each of the charities annually.
Charter One has $43 billion in total assets, and branches in Ohio, Michigan, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Vermont, Indiana, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
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