Bangkok--20 Feb--KASIKORNBANK
KASIKORNBANK expects to issue 5 million new debit cards this year as well as expand merchant services to accept more K-Debit Cards to reinforce the “Universal Debit Card” concept, of which debit cards can be used anywhere for any purchase. Three new “Hello Kitty Debit Card” designs are launched in the first quarter to celebrate the character’s 40th anniversary and promote the new campaign in order to boost card spending by 70 percent or more than 50 billion Baht.
Mr. Pakorn Partanapat, Executive Vice President of KASIKORNBANK, said the “Universal Debit Card” concept offers customer convenience in using a single debit card anywhere for any type of purchase by focusing on its functional benefits. K-Debit Cards can be used at ATMs, retail outlets, online shops or websites. Promotional campaigns will be provided to respond to customer lifestyles and to exploit its emotional benefits to attract new cardholders. Card designs with famous cartoon characters are consistently a key strategy to draw customer attention.
KBank expected to issue 5 million new debit cards this year, thus increasing KBank total debit cards to 11 million cards and maintaining KBank as the leader in this business. In addition, the Bank plans to expand merchant services to cover more K-Debit Cardholders; in particular those who spend smaller amounts using debit cards, such as on McDonalds promotions, and special SF Group cinema tickets. Other promotional campaigns will be offered to boost card spending by 70 percent or 50 billion Baht in value, particularly with online channels, as e-commerce has grown by 50 percent among teenagers and office workers.
In the first quarter this year, KBank introduced new Hello Kitty designs of Debit Card, which were successfully launched two years ago, in response to customers urging the Bank to issue new designs. Therefore, in celebrating the character’s 40th anniversary, KBank is introducing three new “Hello Kitty Limited Edition” designs, exclusively provided by Sanrio for KBank. A lovely pink card with a standout black Hello Kitty character and glittering crystal pattern is offered along with a set of Hello Kitty luggage, passbook and multi-purpose plastic package, for 2,000 Baht.
In addition, K-My Debit Card with Hello Kitty and Daniel design and K-Max Debit Card with Hello Kitty and red cherry are also available. Using Hello Kitty Debit Cards for purchases from March 1 to June 30, cardholders will get Hello Kitty bags in various designs depending on the amount spent. One card can be exchanged for one promotion per month. Registration to receive Hello Kitty bags can be done through www.kasikornbank.com/kittydebitcard. The Bank plans to issue at least 500,000 Hello Kitty Debit Cards this year.
Mr. Pakorn added that current ATM and debit card users in Thailand total approximately 57 million, of which 15 million are ATM cards and 42 million are debit cards. Total spending of both cards in 2013 was approximately 98 billion Baht, of which 33 billion Baht or 34 percent was spent through KBank cards, making the Bank the leader in this business.