Citi Rewards Program Taps into Amazon.com’s Inventory
Citigroup Inc. will expand the range of rewards-program merchandise offered to its cardholder by partnering with global retail giant Amazon.com.
The deal will give 13 million Citicard users who are part of the financial services company’s Thank You rewards network a chance to redeem their loyalty points for products and services offered and fulfilled by Amazon.com.
“Providing rewards fulfilled through an industry leader such as http://www.Amazon.com reinforces Citi’s commitment to offering world-class rewards to our Thank You members,” Thank You network executive vice president Nancy Gordon said in a release. “Our goal is to create unique experiences for our customers. Providing Thank You members with the opportunity to use the points they’ve earned to shop for millions of goods through this amazing new channel makes that goal a reality.”
Registered loyalty members can browse and claim available rewards at the Citicard loyalty Web site. The Web site has been revamped to incorporate site search features that let users browse rewards by point range, category, brand and specific product, in categories that span from books, music and DVDs to consume electronics, home furnishings, sporting goods and baby gear.
The Amazon expansion also comes with a new expedited shipping option that should let many Thank You members get their loyalty reward products in time for the holidays.
The Thank You network, launched in 2004, lets members earn rewards when they use selected Citi credit cards and other retail banking products. Members can also earn points by spending with their Smith Barney Financial Management Account cards or by booking travel on Expedia. They can also bank points by using the Thank You network’s online shopping mall to buy from merchant brands such as The Gap, Eddie Bauer, Target.com, Home Depot and Barnes & Noble.
The Amazon.com rewards connection will be promoted on the Citi Web site, and promotions may expand to include e-mail and print campaigns.
