News by SB Informer

The Home Depot Launches Co-Branded Credit Cards

 

SB Informer
Monday, August 28, 2006; 02:24 AM

The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer, announced today the launch of its first co-branded consumer and business rewards credit cards - The Home Depot Rewards MasterCard(R) and The Home Depot Business Rewards MasterCard(R) issued by Citi Cards - providing consumers and business owners with the power to earn rewards for their everyday purchases.

The Home Depot Rewards and Business Rewards MasterCard credit cards provide cardmembers with special incentives and rewards. Cardmembers earn 2,500 bonus points with their first purchase (enough for a $25 gift card), two points on every dollar spent at The Home Depot and EXPO Design Center, and one point for every dollar spent on purchases at the millions of locations worldwide where MasterCard is accepted. Customers can choose from hundreds of reward options, including everything from gift cards to travel and merchandise.

The cards include optional cash access through the worldwide Cirrus ATM network, and consumers enjoy the same MasterCard zero liability protection in the United States that applies to consumer and small business MasterCard cardholders if their card is subject to loss, theft or fraud.

"The Home Depot is pleased to offer our customers a chance to earn points for rewards while still receiving low rates and enjoying no annual fees," said Frank Blake, executive vice president, Business Development and Corporate Operations for The Home Depot. "The MasterCard Rewards and Business Rewards products are the perfect addition to our existing credit financing options."

"Citi Cards is proud of our ongoing relationships with MasterCard and The Home Depot in providing our customers with exceptional value, benefits and rewards for all of their purchases," said Loren Kranz, senior vice president, Citi Cards. "These relationships reinforce our goal to be the 'partner of choice' for innovative, leading business partners who seek new programs to enhance their relationships with current and prospective customers."

"MasterCard Worldwide is always seeking opportunities to provide additional customized benefits that cater to the needs and interests of our cardholders, customer financial institutions and retail partners," said Gareth Forsey, Group Executive, US Commerce Development & Co-brand, MasterCard Worldwide. "With The Home Depot Rewards MasterCard and Business Rewards MasterCard from Citi Cards, cardholders will receive all the purchasing convenience, flexibility and security of a MasterCard card, while earning points for great rewards."

Additional information regarding The Home Depot Rewards MasterCard and The Home Depot Business Rewards MasterCard issued by Citi Cards, including applications, terms and conditions, is available online at www.homedepot.com/cards. Consumers can log on to www.homedepot.com/cards or visit The Home Depot in their neighborhood to apply.

The Home Depot(R) (www.homedepot.com) is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,082 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. Through its HD Supply(SM) businesses, The Home Depot is also one of the largest diversified wholesale distributors in the United States, with more than 900 locations in the United States and Canada offering products and services for building, improving and maintaining homes, businesses and municipal infrastructures. In fiscal 2005, The Home Depot had sales of $81.5 billion and earnings of $5.8 billion. The Company employs approximately 355,000 associates and has been recognized by FORTUNE magazine as the No. 1 Most Admired Specialty Retailer and the No. 13 Most Admired Corporation in America for 2006. The Home Depot's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index. HDG

Citi(R), or Citi Cards (www.citigroup.com), is a member of Citigroup (NYSE:C) . Citigroup, the pre-eminent global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, insurance, securities brokerage, and asset management. Major brand names under Citigroup's trademark red umbrella include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Smith Barney and Banamex.

MasterCard Worldwide (www.mastercardworldwide.com) advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes more than 16 billion payments each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial institution customers and merchants. Through its family of brands, including MasterCard(R), Maestro(R) and Cirrus(R), MasterCard Worldwide serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories.