Barclaycard has been awarded two prizes at the 2010 Cards International Awards for its Visa CodeSure card and its innovative loyalty programme, Barclaycard Freedom.
Barclaycard Freedom (www.barclaycardfreedom.co.uk) is the broadest retail rewards scheme the UK has ever known: a rewards coalition of unprecedented size and scope which opened loyalty up to small retailers alongside household names. Barclaycard Freedom was automatically available to eight million Barclaycard holders at launch on 17 March 2010, and more than 30,000 retailers of all sizes were invited to be partners in the scheme. It is a first in the UK market, bringing a new level of simplicity and convenience to the concept of loyalty and rewards.
Barclaycard Commercial’s Visa CodeSure Card is an industry first which expands card functionality beyond payment. The card combines a standard Visa corporate charge card with additional identity protection functionalities. A keypad, LCD screen and battery are embedded into the back of each card, allowing it to become the platform for secure applications such as extranet access.
At the Card Awards 2010, four prizes have been given to Barclaycard (barclaycard.co.uk):
- Best Industry Innovation of the Year – Visa CodeSure Card
- Best Online Initiative – mybarclaycard
- Best Credit Card Marketing Campaign of the Year – Waterslide
- Best Card Design of the Year – Simplifying Payments
Barclaycard developed the CodeSure Card – awarded Best Industry Innovation of the Year – in association with Deloitte and Visa Europe in 2009, with EMUE Technologies. The card has a keypad and LCD screen embedded into it, to support remote network access; it is also compatible with Verified by Visa which could prevent card not present (CNP) fraud and identity theft associated with online banking, telephone authentication and other remote channels.
mybarclaycard, a revolutionary new online account servicing system launched in 2009, scooped Best Online Initiative in recognition of how much simpler it makes account management and monitoring for customers. The new service gives customers more control over their accounts by allowing them to choose how they view their account information and spending.
Best Credit Card Marketing Campaign of the Year was awarded to the Waterslide advertising campaign, which demonstrates how contactless payment technology makes payments simpler for both consumers and retailers. The campaign was viewed as more contemporary than previous campaigns and has helped to signal Barclaycard as a driver of innovation, and specifically contactless payments, as well as making it fresh, flexible and approachable.
This modern, innovative feel is further acknowledged by the judges with Barclaycard winning the Best Card Design of the Year award for its new look cards.
Barclaycard is part of the Barclays Global and Retail Banking division of Barclays Bank PLC (barclays.com).
